Digital Output from Mac vs. CD Player

[bieneleve]

Given a stereo integrated amp (I'm interested in the HK 3490 for its optical-in) and a given set of speakers, and a given CD player, will a FLAC file played from a computer and output via optical out to this amp have equivalent quality of sound to a CD played from a CD player hooked to that same amp and speakers?

 

[bieneleve]

Surely someone must have something to say about this...

 

[its phillip]

The answer to your question should be yes. Optical out from your computer and a cd player should be the same.

 

[MDS]

If the FLAC was ripped from the CD and the CD player can accurately read the disc, then the bits sent out the optical output will be identical and thus the sound quality will be identical.

The only way it would be different is if the sound card or audio drivers resample or otherwise alter the PCM samples when the FLAC is decoded.

 

[bieneleve]

Thanks, that's what I thought. Now if I have flac files and compress them to AAC 256kbps will and output the same way, will I have a system that will come very close to approximating the sound from a CD?

 

[MDS]

Thanks, that's what I thought. Now if I have flac files and compress them to AAC 256kbps will and output the same way, will I have a system that will come very close to approximating the sound from a CD?

Yes. I haven't used AAC much but in my opinion even MP3s that are at least 192 kbps sound great for many types of music. So a higher bitrate and a supposedly superior codec should work out well.

 

[jeffsg4mac]

Thanks, that's what I thought. Now if I have flac files and compress them to AAC 256kbps will and output the same way, will I have a system that will come very close to approximating the sound from a CD?

If you have FLAC files that you cherish and were ripped from CD's then I would NOT compress them with AAC or anything else lossy. Since your on a mac just use Apple lossless if you want to save some hard drive space. If space is not an issue, then leave them as uncompressed aiff files. Don't compress your good music with a lossy format unless you are keeping the original and putting the compressed on a portable player.

 

[bieneleve]

Great, thanks for the advice. What I'm really asking, I suppose, is "Is there anything flawed with this setup? Is it the BEST way to approximate the sound of an actual CD given a relatively small budget?" I won't have amazing speakers and I want to be able to play music as one can only do with a computer and mp3/aac formats

 

[cheaprecorder]

should be yes