![]() These devices are, technically, tiny, low-power computers. This small device receives a digital audio stream from the audio computer (a music server) over a network connection and outputs digital audio to a DAC, typically over S/PDIF or USB. The solution is a Network Audio Transport (sometimes referred to as an NAA or Network Audio Adapter). We browse and control music selection and playback via a remote control app installed on a tablet or smartphone, but how do we get the music to our listening room? The audio computer can be relocated to an office or closet as long as it’s accessible over the home network. The idea behind the Network Audio Transport is to put some distance between that noisy computer and our delicate audio components and listening environment. One is to spend a huge amount of money building a powerful yet ultra-quiet computer. There are a few different approaches to solving this problem. The mere presence of a computer in one’s audio component rack can negatively impact sound quality of the entire system. It would take another decade or so before improvements in interfaces and architecture would bring the Computer Audio Transport up to the level of the finest CD transports.Įventually, more smart people realized that the problem with Computer Audio was the Computer! Computers can be noisy beasts, both mechanically and electrically. While splitting up a CD player to a CD transport and DAC often improved sound quality, for many years, the computer audio transport was a step backward in sound quality. With this discovery, the Computer Audio Transport was born. More smart people discovered that, with a suitable interface card, they could disconnect their CD transport and connect their computer directly to the DAC. Not without its challenges, this approach turned out to be a solid architectural decision, and with it, the external DAC was born.Īt around the same time, multimedia PCs were popular and were starting to become fast enough to play CD-resolution audio (44.1k samples per channel per second at 16-bits per sample). Cost aside, isolating the mechanical vibrations from a disc that spins up to 500 RPM and stepper motors for the laser into a separate chassis with its own power supply makes a certain amount of sense. As similar concepts, consider a turntable and external phono stage or a preamplifier and power amp vs. ![]() CD playback started with single-chassis CD players however, it was not long before folks discovered that better sound was possible by splitting things up. If you’re still with me, I’ll discuss the title from right to left, starting with “Transport.” For many of us, the Compact Disc was our first exposure to digital audio in the home. The rest of you can head on down to the section, “This thing is hot!” ![]() Rewind a bit…if your reaction to the title of this article was, “English, please,” then I should take some time to explain.
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