CD vs Laptop sound

[dx052]

Is it possible to get the same sound quality from my Laptop that I get from my CD player? When I play from my CD player & even my tuner the sounds great however when I switch over to my MBP laptop via Audio 8DJ interface the sound isn't as good, its not terrible but not as defined as when I am playing a CD. I would like to think the source/wav files that I am playing are of good quality after all they are both the same 44khz/16bit. Thanks

 

[idc]

Hi dx052. It is very much possible to get as good as from a PC based setup as a CDP. But what you need to do to get the best out of a PC is to import CDs at a lossless bit rate and then connect the PC to your amp with a good DAC inbetween. It sounds like your Audio 8DJ is not doing as good a conversion of digital to analogue as your CDP is doing. That is why it does not sound so good.

I had a look at the Audio8 DJ and it is a nice looking bit of kit with a Cirrus DAC, but maybe you would be better getting a more 'audiophile' DAC instead.

 

[dx052]

I hear you. I think the main problem I have which is giving me a headache is were I get my music from. A lot of the music I use gets downloaded because its not on CD. I am beginning to believe that the source/quality of the wav files are not up to scratch. I ran a few tests and changed the audio interface and there wasn' t loads of difference I then downloaded a Flac file from here & noticed a big change which tells me a lot. I also think I need to invest in a DAC.
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=3550&terid=4629

Re the Audio 8 DJ its used for my Traktor software program, I could use a Firefox 400 I hear.

 

[idc]

If the wav files are lossy and you have now downloaded a lossless file and noticed the difference, you have a large part of the answer. Looking at the specs for the Audio 8DJ, which is a nice looking piece of kit BTW, you should try and audition another DAC rather than just go out and buy one.

I have no idea about Traktors and Firefox. But what you could do is try out music from Spotify, Sky Songs, Grooveshark or We7 and see how much of a difference you can hear detween their different streaming codecs and bit rates. That could help confirm if your hardware is fine and the software (music files) was the problem.