I've heard arguments on both sides, however given my current set up, which of the following options is the best bet
1 : Play Audio CD in PS3/ DVD player and take output via Optical/ HDMI to AVR
2 : Use ITunes download (320 kbps MP4) directly to AVR and use it's inbuilt DAC and amplifier
Thanks again
What's your setup?
Sound is highly subjective... and so its a matter of personal taste. Also, a lot depends on whether you truly love music or are a gadget freak. Some people like listening to equipment you know... its the equipment its played on that's more important than the music that is being played.
I'm a tech guy so I can assure you give me the right PC and the right s/w and equalizer and you can pretty much make anything sound excellent or awful entirely dependent on the media player settings, the sound equalizer, etc.
End of the day its what gives you nirvana and if convenience is your nirvana then go with it.
PS - My wife has no time nor the inclination to turn on the HTPC, the PS3, the projector, the Onkyo home theater to watch Game of Thrones. She'd rather use the Android tablet and headphones to stream the content from the HTPC (shared drive).
I on the other hand give equal importance to the SFX as much as the video. Sound has to be in 5.1 and the video has to be 720P before I even decide to even "waste" my time starting with a TV series. So you can be assured I have to watch on the 55" Plasma or the projector based setup along with the home theater and 5.1 setup.
End of the day can I say I enjoy my TV serials more than my wife? Not really... she's watches tons more stuff than I can ever hope to. She knows all about Bates Motel, Hannibal, Game of Thrones and all the latest serials that I can not even begin to name.
So if convenience is your thing and iTunes gives that to you then by all means go with it.
PS - I'm the guy who ripped over 600 CDs in FLAC format and then patiently tagged and created multiple copies for backup over a 2-3 month period. So you know exactly where I stand when listening to music too.