Vote

Let's face it, we're all short on attention spans these days. Review a few more products in each issue and keep each review to a shorter length.

More soundcard reviews. I have a lot of vinyl to record!

I've been using PCs to supply studio master quality data streams (192kHz/24-bit) to my DACs for some time now. I think this option needs to be more visible for it to flourish. We shouldn't let it go the way of SACD and DVD-A. The output is far superior to CDs, imho.

Vinyl and computers (not at the same time, however) are my preferred sources. Can't remember the last time I touched a CD—years.

This is the wave of the future.

Computers/music servers will play a huge role in the future of our wonderful hobby. Stereophile should review more computer audio products and help pull the industry into its next phase. It's a great time to be an audiophile.

I voted less. I can't put my finger on it, but there is something cheesy about computer audio. Yes, I have almost 5000 MP3s ripped from my LPs/CDs sitting on my hard drive right now, but that is just for background music.

It is too nice to be able to play anything you own at any time with minimal noticeable difference from the actual source media.

Once in a while is okay but you may begin losing your subscriber base. People who want computer audio products will probably read about them somewhere else.

I can see it won't be long until I cancel my subscription!

Its not a replacement for CDs or vinyl, but computer-based audio is a fun experiment for tweakers.

Just a tad more...

Include a feature on "getting started with hi-rez computer-based music"—Keith Howard, perhaps, as author?

Stereophile serves many kingdoms out there, so you still need to cover the traditional equipment. Still, there is no denying that the computer is making its way into high-end audio. I recently set up a music "server" using an old laptop I got from work on which I upgraded disk and RAM, and purchased a DevilSound DAC and now attach that to my Classe pre/Forte amp/Proac speakers setup. It sounds great. I won't be replacing my CD player ever again. Instead, I will upgrade my laptop to something else when I run out of disk (only a matter of time). Stereophile has done better recently with computer audio products. A bit more would be great.

It's the digital future of music.

I would like to see a few more options for making my music more portable by digitizing it and putting it on my iPod.

Although I'm not into it yet, a bit more "budget" products would be good. Yes, I know "budget" is a relative term.

its the way to digital...

It is the future. Come on and get with it!

Please no!

Computer audio is a major part of the future of high-end and lower-end audio, what with all the young people using iPods.

I think many are leaning that way for convenience. With the number of hi- rez music files available, many would like to try them. I for one would like to avoid the pitfalls and get a music server set up and working with a good DAC. Right now I am confused as to what is the best cabling to use. USB, coax, or Toslink. Whatever would give me the best sound, if I know ahead of time, that’s how I would set it up. I am looking real hard at the new ARC DAC8.

Right now it looks like hi-rez downloads are the way of the future.

This is a very fast-moving field, with a lot of competition and innovation. Prices are going down and access to incredible high-resolution recording are more and more available. Still, to put together a well working system is not totally trivial.

Wayyyyy more.

I haven't been as interested in music in years as since I started listening mostly at my computer. This happened in dribs and drabs, as I ripped one CD after another into iTunes. I started doing that to make CDRs, then realized I was spending more time listening on my computer than on my regular stereo. I've added an amplifier and "real" speakers, and soon a DAC, as I now spend 90% of my listening at my computer. So, yeah, I'd like to read more about it. I wish you'd do a really basic intro to it. There are so many variables compared to playing records and CDs, and there's nowhere you can really go and listen and compare equipment and then buy. You basically need to know what you want to buy before you've even heard it, or know what to do with it. Sure, people with engineering backgrounds "get" all this computer stuff, but I don't.

Yes, I would like to see more reviews of computer audio based products. I would also prefer to see Stereophile concentrate its reviews on computer audio products that emphasize sound quality, rather than convenience.

This is the wave of the future. This is a way to re-engage the greater public around high fidelity products.

I say 50/50—analog vs DAC/streamer coverage.

I'd love to see as many products as possible.