Computer Audio Asylum

Why, why, WHY does this sound as good as it does?

216.99.99.197

Indulge me, folks: this is no high-end configuration, but of the fair number of sound cards and lower end CDPs or DACs and music player combinations I've tried this is offering about the best tonal neutrality, detail, and air that I've heard:
. ALAC or FLAC files from an external drive to dedicated WinXP =>
. Foobar2000 9.6.9 with SoX resampler at 176.4 kbps, 97% bandpass, linear phase =>
. Kernel streaming to M-Audio Revolution 7.1 sound card =>
. The Revo's S/PDIF output via 30-foot Blue Jeans/Belden 1694A coax =>
. Very cheap DAC consisting of CS8416 receiver => CS4397 DAC => OPA2604 opamp => CD4053 multiplex/demuliplexer.
Experts, any thoughts??
___
My Stereo Configuration
Feanor's Classical Music Survey, 250 Compositions

Edits: 11/06/09

Follow Ups:

RE: Why, why, WHY does this sound as good as it does? - Presto 11:31:32 11/09/09 (1)
- That's what I heard - Feanor 13:14:33 11/09/09 (0)
RE: Why, why, WHY does this sound as good as it does? - audioengr 10:52:29 11/07/09 (22)
- What is "AKM"?? ~nt - Feanor 04:33:54 11/08/09 (1)
  - RE: What is "AKM"?? ~nt - Tony Lauck 06:43:52 11/08/09 (0)
- RE: Why, why, WHY does this sound as good as it does? - Dynaudio_Rules 13:07:21 11/07/09 (15)
  - Agree - audioengr 13:58:42 11/09/09 (0)
  - Not out of line with my own impression - Feanor 13:09:21 11/09/09 (10)
    - RE: Not out of line with my own impression - Phelonious Ponk 05:23:16 11/10/09 (8)
      - Well, I could do that - Feanor 08:22:08 11/10/09 (7)
        
        RE: Well, I could do that - Phelonious Ponk 14:53:39 11/10/09 (3)
        
        RE: Well, I could do that - Tony Lauck 10:07:32 11/11/09 (2)
        
        RE: Well, I could do that - Phelonious Ponk 10:53:07 11/11/09 (1)
        
        RECYCLED long grain fibers, PLEASE nt - Tony Lauck 11:18:23 11/11/09 (0)
        
        Try a bit of toilet paper over the tweeters. nt - Tony Lauck 09:22:19 11/10/09 (2)
        
        LOL. Strong WAF for that ~nt - Feanor 11:03:01 11/10/09 (1)
        
        RE: LOL. Strong WAF for that ~nt - Tony Lauck 12:10:21 11/10/09 (0)
    - RE: Not out of line with my own impression - Dynaudio_Rules 13:24:35 11/09/09 (0)
  - RE: Why, why, WHY does this sound as good as it does? - cfmsp 12:44:36 11/08/09 (2)
    - RE: Why, why, WHY does this sound as good as it does? - Dynaudio_Rules 13:02:01 11/08/09 (1)
      - RE: Why, why, WHY does this sound as good as it does? - cfmsp 13:29:00 11/08/09 (0)
- As for that ... - Feanor 13:04:08 11/07/09 (3)
  - Mux - audioengr 14:01:44 11/07/09 (2)
    - Doesn't look like it - Feanor 17:14:57 11/07/09 (1)
      - RE: Doesn't look like it - audioengr 11:01:29 11/08/09 (0)
Hehehe! Thanks, folks, for comments so far - Feanor 04:22:41 11/07/09 (5)
- RE: Hehehe! Thanks, folks, for comments so far - Dawnrazor 07:26:42 11/07/09 (4)
  - Haven't tried changing it - Feanor 07:56:59 11/07/09 (3)
    - OK, now I have - Feanor 08:46:26 11/07/09 (2)
      - RE: OK, now I have - Tony Lauck 10:13:14 11/07/09 (1)
        
        RE: OK, now I have - Feanor 10:39:25 11/07/09 (0)
I Don't Know...................... - Todd Krieger 00:06:01 11/07/09 (2)
- Yup. - rick_m 06:37:27 11/07/09 (0)
- RE: I Don't Know...................... - Squonk 03:13:48 11/07/09 (0)
No idea. Of all that, I have experience only with Foobar + SoX - ... - carcass93 19:59:00 11/06/09 (0)
It Can't - Dynaudio_Rules 18:33:10 11/06/09 (0)

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