Steve Toy
09-04-2008, 01:11
The key to enjoying your music collection at all hi-fi levels
Originally posted by Marco:
One thing though, I'm 100% convinced that streaming lossless files via a PC/laptop and high quality media player, connected to a top-notch DAC (such as my DAS-R1), or a similar quality computer audio set-up, produces results that *NO* CD player can replicate, regardless of cost - purely because of the lack of mechanical interfaces in the chain and the sonic signature they impose on the sound.
I still have some phase coherence/timing issues regarding computer audio. As long as they are addressed I'll be happy to proceed.
We had a chat on the phone yesterday during which you stated that you were less concerned with issues of timing than I am, suggesting that timing is something, if important at all, that can just drop into place when all other aspects of so-called realism have been addressed.
Me, I'm not so sure. I think it entirely possible that you can have a system that gets all the musical fundamentals spot on, including timing. You then upgrade it in various different ways, revel in and wax lyrical about the improvements to detail, timbre, tone, dynamics, scale, harshness removed etc. only for it to dawn upon you some weeks or even months later that the very essence of musical enjoyment has quietly slipped away in all those extra hi-fi improvements.
Timing really is the key. To me it does not fall into place by accident and without it the music is devoid of meaning or soul. It is also what gives us the sense of tunefulness. Human emotional responses live or die by it so lets not neglect it in our quest for hi-fi nirvana.
My new Pure sound A30 valve amp is truly excellent in the timing department in part because it is very (subjectively at least) tonally neutral allowing the entire frequency spectrum an equal say in allowing all the musical info on the disc, and hopefully the rest of the audio chain, to reach my ears. I'm looking to have this amp modified extensively in the coming weeks and I hope that whatever improvements in terms of refinement and insight that can be derived from any modifications will also enhance this particular quality above all else.
Originally posted by Marco:
One thing though, I'm 100% convinced that streaming lossless files via a PC/laptop and high quality media player, connected to a top-notch DAC (such as my DAS-R1), or a similar quality computer audio set-up, produces results that *NO* CD player can replicate, regardless of cost - purely because of the lack of mechanical interfaces in the chain and the sonic signature they impose on the sound.
I still have some phase coherence/timing issues regarding computer audio. As long as they are addressed I'll be happy to proceed.
We had a chat on the phone yesterday during which you stated that you were less concerned with issues of timing than I am, suggesting that timing is something, if important at all, that can just drop into place when all other aspects of so-called realism have been addressed.
Me, I'm not so sure. I think it entirely possible that you can have a system that gets all the musical fundamentals spot on, including timing. You then upgrade it in various different ways, revel in and wax lyrical about the improvements to detail, timbre, tone, dynamics, scale, harshness removed etc. only for it to dawn upon you some weeks or even months later that the very essence of musical enjoyment has quietly slipped away in all those extra hi-fi improvements.
Timing really is the key. To me it does not fall into place by accident and without it the music is devoid of meaning or soul. It is also what gives us the sense of tunefulness. Human emotional responses live or die by it so lets not neglect it in our quest for hi-fi nirvana.
My new Pure sound A30 valve amp is truly excellent in the timing department in part because it is very (subjectively at least) tonally neutral allowing the entire frequency spectrum an equal say in allowing all the musical info on the disc, and hopefully the rest of the audio chain, to reach my ears. I'm looking to have this amp modified extensively in the coming weeks and I hope that whatever improvements in terms of refinement and insight that can be derived from any modifications will also enhance this particular quality above all else.