Computer Audiophile is for people looking to take the next step in their high quality music listening experience and to discuss everything audiophile related in the forums. The main focus is on Hi-Fi audio equipment that produces audiophile quality sound from a computer / music server. Previously using a computer in an audiophile grade system was unheard of. Now, Macs and PCs are quickly supplementing standalone transports, CD players and large collections of physical media. In the near future purchasing physical media, other than vinyl and reel-to-reel tape, will be a thing of the past and computer based systems will be replacing instead of supplementing the physical media based components. Many audiophiles see this as the end of high quality music reproduction. Fortunately the opposite is true. Waiting for format wars like HD-DVD v. Bluray and SACD v. DVD-Audio to play out will only be a memory. Content producers will be offering whatever format they want to audiophiles all over the world through a simple download. As of November 2007 sites like iTrax and Linn Records are offering a wide array of formats from lower quality mp3 files to 24-bit / 96 KHz wav and 24/96 Studio Master FLAC files that are the same files used to produce compact discs. The hardware used currently for computer based systems is already surpassing the level of sound quality from many traditional audiophile grade components. A $600 Mac and a high quality USB or SPDIF DAC can out perform systems costing $10,000 or more and your complete music collection is available with touch screen access or the click of a mouse. Most audio websites are resisting change similar to the major record labels. Fortunately, Computer Audiophile is here to present the latest audiophile equipment and music, and to establish a community of members to discuss this new audiophile territory. The Computer Audiophile forums are the place to find out what other members are doing and to share what you have done or learned. Have a question about what DAC to use with Windows Vista or OS X Leopard and how to bypass the operating system's handling of audio? Want to know what software everyone is using to transfer their music from physical media to their computer or music server? Ask our Computer Audiophile community in one of the forums. Waiting for someone to publish this information in a print or online article is the old way. Using our Computer Audiophile community forums is the only way to get answers and other's experiences quickly and unbiased.

Computer Audiophile will also contain a collection of music reviews, some audiophile quality and some not audiophile quality. These reviews will cover all forms of music, such as CD, Vinyl, SACD, DVD-Audio, and the main emphasis audiophile high quality downloads. Sure, iTunes will be mentioned on this site because it is a valuable resource to music lovers even though the music quality is nonexistent.

Once again, this is the place to find the latest audiophile equipment and music and community forums that will take your listening experience to the next level.

Welcome to Computer Audiophile

Chris Connaker
Founder