I view it also as a matter of architecture.
Stand-alone software tends to evolve at a quicker pace than embedded software, and embedded software tends to evolve faster than circuit revisions (which may not be capable of being retrofitted at all).
Those parts of my system that are likely to most benefit from Moore's law and its cousins, I want to be abstracted away from the dedicated audio-only hardware as much as possible.
I prefer to use a standalone NAS (which I can upgrade at will using commodity parts) and general purpose computer running software of my choice (Roon, JRiver, Alsamixer, whatever), connected using commodity networking to various endpoints around the house.
The flexibility to use what pieces I want, upgrade or change them piecemeal, and the relative bang for the buck, is far superior for me than buying, say, an all-in-0ne music server, which has vendor lock-in and obsolescence issues.
Software is now a system component, and I prefer it to be architected as "separates".
I completely agree, but I think we both understand this approach is not for everyone. There are integration issues, and, with software, those can sometimes be maddening. Help in that is not always easy to find.
About 3 years or so ago, maybe more, not sure, as a dedicated listener to hi rez Mch, I committed to PC playback from my large JRiver library of DSD and BD rips on a 52 TB NAS. I have no CDs in my library, though I could quite easily. First, I used HDMI from the PC into a Mch Integra preamp/processor I had been using for years. Many friends of mine still do that with their Anthem, Marantz, etc. prepros, though I think HDMI may be too much of a sonic compromise compared to USB. This is consistent with Amir's findings.
But, I soon realizied that JRiver software functionality included pretty much everything I needed that the prepro offered, except 2 things: a DAC and comprehensive DSP EQ. I acquired an Exasound E28 7.1 channel DAC and Dirac Live's Mch version on trial. My own listening comparisons, together with the ears of some friends for confirmation, convinced me that this was easily much better sounding than my prepro including its Audyssey XT/32 with an Audyssey Pro calibration. Kal's reviews of the E28/Dirac were also to me quite compelling in deciding to try this route, since he has long term credibility with me (unlike most every other reviewer on the planet).
So, sonically I was really in a much better place, and I remain there quite deliriously happy. Mostly, I select music using an iPad with JRiver's excellent JRemote interface, But, I also view my system as an integrated audio and video system. Music predominates my use of it, but there are occasions when I want to watch a Blu-ray or when I want to watch Cable TV. JRiver also handles that with certain 3rd party software, such as MakeMKV software to decrypt BDs, and HDHomerun Prime plus a Fios Cable card in their hardware/software to enable cable TV. The video side proved much bumpier in integration issues and it took months to fine tune that to an acceptable level. But, even watching the Super Bowl or Masterpiece Theater or an opera or concert Blu-Ray with the great sound my system provides is a great pleasure.
But, I am there now quite happily but with some quirks I can work around and live with, though audio quality is substantially better and video quality is at least as good as I had before. Video is still provided to my TV monitor via HDMI.
Old system:
Integra 80.2 prepro with Audyssey and input sources all via HDMI:
- Oppo BD/SACD/CD player
- Comcast or Fios cable box
- PC with network NAS library using JRiver
New system:
PC controlled by JRiver with Dirac Live Room EQ plugin software using input sources:
-NAS library
-Internal CD/BD optical drives
-HD Homerun Prime cable card tuner with Fios 3 tuner Cable Card via Ethernet
The prepro, player and cable box are now out of my system, though I still have an Oppo 103 for SACD ripping to the library via Ethernet. Amps and speakers are the same as before. Less hardware, more software yields better sound and more freedom from hardware obsolescence, in my opinion. To achieve comparable levels of sound quality would take much more $$$, I think. I will gladly put up with a few quirks, mainly on the video side used occasionally. The PC, incidentally, is an aging $1,000 tower with an older Intel I7 chip and 16GB of RAM, nothing too fancy. It is in an adjoining room so I do not hear it.