Computer Audio: confusing, complicated, & INCONVENIENT. About MUSIC or inner nerd?

[Mike Lavigne]

Yep. Redbook is hi-res. Higher sampling rates are overrated and over-sold in audiophile circles. Tim

I am one of those people that really knows that redbook IS high resolution playback. Of course, legit higher resolution files can make things sound better, but the differences are very much exaggerated on forums, which causes folks to get too confused and intimidated about computer audio to even try it. That's a shame, IMO.

my digital listening would be much less if i was limited to PCM in general and Redbook in particular. not that i don't include those high quality formats (yes, they are high quality) too. however dsd and 2xdsd simply get closer to my ideal of how music should sound.

YMMV.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Tim, you've almost described my setup to a T. The only thing I'm missing is Ammara, but I'm also not interested in hi-rez files at this time.

The only "difficult" part was organization, and that was predominately because my iTunes library was a mess. I had my own files ripped at 256k AAC for work, together with a mishmash of other tracks that I had acquired from friends/family in a variety of lossy formats. There were duplicates, corrupted files, etc. that had to be sorted through.

I ripped all of my CD library (roughly 500) in ALAC. I would rip the discs while I watched TV at night. It took less than 3 weeks total. I've kept some of the better lossy files for music that is difficult to replace and for which I didn't have a physical disc.

I took the time to redo some naming, genres, composers, and other issues so that the library would be sorted the way I prefer it. For example, instead of having "The Wall [Disc 1]" and "The Wall [Disc 2]", I just have "The Wall" and the metadata handles the division of the tracks into separate discs. The advantage is that it shows up as a single album, and will automatically play through both discs.

The end result is that I have thousands of songs available at the touch of a finger. Most of my CDs have been boxed and stored. So far I've run into exactly two tracks that needed to be re-ripped due to skips/errors, and that is very easily done.

Currently the library resides on my Mac Mini, which is upstairs from my stereo. I control iTunes using an iPad. iTunes outputs wirelessly to an AppleTV that is attached to a Schiit DAC. When I buy a new desktop computer, I'll move the Mac Mini downstairs and cut out the AppleTV.

Nothing that I have done was complicated, and very easy to set up.

I will continue to buy CDs because I like having a physical copy of the music. And I will buy another CD player eventually, since it's the most convenient way to play visitors' CDs on my system. But the computer-based system will always be my main method of listening.

I just pop visitors' CDs in the Mac and burn while I fetch them a drink.

Tim

 

[Brian Walsh]

caesar - all the problems you are describing, should be solved by your dealer.

My dealer, who sells Aurender (among other things) will come to your house, setup a network, make your DAC/ipPad/server work, and even copy some 2TB of music for a good start

caesar knows about Aurender A dealer who does that last part may not be around for long, though, if you get my drift.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

When I did my short stint selling high-end audio and HT, we had a DLNA system (I forget the brand name) display/demo. It was always screwed up. Most of the time, it was dead in the water waiting for the supplier's tech to come by and get it fixed, and to tell us all the unintuitive things you had to do to keep it operating properly (example: it had to be shut down in a specific order). Unless DNLA has gotten a lot better than that, it's the last thing I would want to see happen to iTunes.

Then don't use DLNA. I use it when experimenting but SMB otherwise.

 

[Elberoth]

caesar knows about Aurender A dealer who does that last part may not be around for long, though, if you get my drift.

He certainly does not advertise this This is exactly why you need to mantain a good relation with your dealer and support him, instead of constantly looking for best deal on the net.

 

[LL21]

...I know I'll be killed for saying this but here goes. I think hi-rez and, and in particular, .dsf files are more of a detractor to those that might otherwise be interested in buying a music server and using a DAC. I am one of those people that really knows that redbook IS high resolution playback. Of course, legit higher resolution files can make things sound better, but the differences are very much exaggerated on forums, which causes folks to get too confused and intimidated about computer audio to even try it. That's a shame, IMO.

Interesting...I have not played around much with hi-res...mainly because the demos by dealers (who had no axe to grind) did a few demos and none of us were blown away to let our redbook go. I am absolutely sure pure DSD to good redbook probably does have some great intrinsic advantages...along with true hi-res. But in the reality of the imperfect mastering and playback world we all live in...I agree that I have truly found that with a good redbook playback tuned and tuned and tuned with isolation, etc...it sounds great (to me).

Further, I do recall Martin Colloms saying EXACTLY those words...something to the effect of "it seems redbook has been hi-res all along...but it took 30 years to unlock it after years of distortions from emi/rfi, noise shaping, etc)..."

 

[dingus]

i went to an all digital rig because of the simplicity in execution and in daily use. got a Vortexbox and Squeezebox v.3, plugged them in, went through their initial config and the system was ready for use. drop a cd into the Vortexbox and its ready to play in a few minutes, and the nuisance factor on ripping 1tb of cd's isnt very much. the secondary system uses the same server via a laptop, foobar and external dac. i cant imagine anything easier for home use.

 

[microstrip]

Are you asking me if I wrote the code?

No. I have written code enough in my life to know you could not have not done it. Please replace the built by designed or decided about the choices.

 

[mep]

my digital listening would be much less if i was limited to PCM in general and Redbook in particular. not that i don't include those high quality formats (yes, they are high quality) too. however dsd and 2xdsd simply get closer to my ideal of how music should sound.

YMMV.

+1

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

No. I have written code enough in my life to know you could not have not done it. Please replace the built by designed or decided about the choices.

So did I decide what software to use? Yes. I use iTunes. It came with my system, but I've deliberately upgraded it a few times and compared it, sighted and blind, with 3 other "audiophile" options and decided to stay with it. I think that's more than enough deciding.

Tim

 

[c1ferrari]

Tim,

Which s/w are you using

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Tim,

Which s/w are you using

S/w?

 

[Bruce B]

S/w?

Even I knew he was asking about "software"...

 

[c1ferrari]

Even I knew he was asking about "software"...

Hehe...what Bruce said

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

I'm using iTunes.

Tim

 

[MylesBAstor]

I totally agree about Apple. It's a great way to computer hi-end. I prefer windows only because it allows me greater server customization which is more unique to my situation. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for other folks.

I know I'll be killed for saying this but here goes. I think hi-rez and, and in particular, .dsf files are more of a detractor to those that might otherwise be interested in buying a music server and using a DAC. I am one of those people that really knows that redbook IS high resolution playback. Of course, legit higher resolution files can make things sound better, but the differences are very much exaggerated on forums, which causes folks to get too confused and intimidated about computer audio to even try it. That's a shame, IMO.

Exaggerated? Hardly. If you think that, then there's something wrong somewhere. It's the difference between an 2014 anorexic woman and a 1950s female pinup.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Then don't use DLNA. I use it when experimenting but SMB otherwise.

That's what I've done, though I'm not sure if the DLNA problem I encountered was DLNA or that particular implementation of it.

Tim

 

[Joe Whip]

Exaggerated? Hardly. If you think that, then there's something wrong somewhere. It's the difference between an 2014 anorexic woman and a 1950s female pinup.

Dallasjustice should listen to the 2012 remaster of Midnight Blue by Kenny Burrell at 24/192. It is like having the 2 channel master tape in your room. NO exaggeration.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Dallasjustice should listen to the 2012 remaster of Midnight Blue by Kenny Burrell at 24/192. It is like having the 2 channel master tape in your room. NO exaggeration.

Have you had the opportunity to listen to exactly the same master at 16/44.1?

Tim

 

[Joe Whip]

Yes but not in awhile. I do not recall it sounding anyway near this good. However, when it comes to audio and video and many other things for that matter, memory can be very flawed. If anyone want to put together a double blind test, level matched, etc., I would love to see if I can distinguish the 2 reliably. I will say that I have heard jazz recordngs of this vintage on CD that sound superb as well. Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster, which I have on a gold MoFi CD comes to mind. I have that ripped onto my computer in AIFF. I will have to compare that with the Burrell recording this weekend when I have the time. The Mulligan/Webster is sensational as well.I didn't have the Burrell recording on any format and it was on sale. It was a no brainer for me.