Fri Mar 31, 2017 11:00 am
Hi Joe:
From my experience, the most recognizable upgrade would be to an audio interface. You would be moving from a consumer grade D/A (digital to analog) electronics to a professional or semi-professional grade D/A.
Back in the day, as it was explained to me, there were 2 basic camps to enhance your music listening pleasure:
A - start with the best sound source you can or
B - have the best amplification (amps and speakers) you can afford.
For group "A" that meant half-master vinyl records, imported stylus usually over a $100, and high end grade turn table. Follow this path and you can keep your existing stereo deck and speakers as once you've upgraded the source, it will sound really good played back on almost anything.
Group "B" said keep your existing record collection but upgrade your amps and speakers and you'll enjoy listening experience that much more. If you were a serious audiophile you'd subscribe to both camps..
Fast forward here to the digital age and we have Group A covered, especially with Hauptwerk given the various high quality, professionally recorded, mulit-released, de-noised, etc. pipe samples. Speaker technology has improved a lot over the years with better bass response and clarity found in smaller sizes, moderately priced. Add a plus mark for Group B.
What gets overlooked is there is now a step between A and B which involves converting the digital data into an analog signal. Group A was right as commercial digital recordings sound pretty good played back from a pair inexpensive computer speakers. I ran my HW setup like yours for over a year. I think many forum members started this same way. I had a Soundblaster card with extra digital inputs and outputs with 5.1 surround sound capability running through a decent AV deck and large 3 way speakers. When I added a MOTU audio interface the clarity and dynamics improved so much it was as though moving quilts had been taken off the speakers! Many of the voicing details of the recorded pipes like the harmonics of a Diapason or the air attack on a reed or a crispness in a tuned percussion were now all audible!
Danny B.