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I'd love to have a top notch vinyl system (in fact I have a 401) but it would cost a fortune for arm and cart etc. not to mention I'd have to start collecting LP's again as I don't have any now, so I'm in the same boat, file audio is the way forward for me whether I like it or not. It's sounding pretty good, but I know how far there is still to go having heard some of the setups at our DIY get-togethers, where I've heard some jaw dropping vinyl systems.
I just don’t have the money for a multiple source system Clive so it’s not a problem I’ll be dealing with. ;)
I do have time; full time employment for good or bad is past for me, I don’t need that sort of money any more anyway. :eyebrows:
I have most of what I need, kids are grown up, ex wife has the house (for now :rolleyes:) don’t do telly, cars, drink, smoke, TV, gadgets and poodle along doing pretty much as I please which is pretty much file audio, sax parping, dancing and friends and family.
I’m pleased you appreciate my passion John and yes, its amazing that for a relatively small outlay a well set up file based system can rival some seriously expensive record players.
Over the last 10 years my net spend on my system has been very low, possibly breakeven. My main investment ripe for selling is my Slatedecked 301 and OL Encounter arm but I won't flog it as the 301 won't depreciate. The problem I have is that I have about 700 LPs and 600 CDs so I need both sources. Currently I'm listening Lorena McKeennitt with my OBs almost as headphones. Exquisite!
Yes, I'd find it difficult to go back to box speakers now. Lot to be said for OB's.
Never had an issue with FLAC, have lots too (1.7TB) and I have no intention whatsoever of changing them all to WAV or anything else at the moment. What I might do is get myself a nice new streamer like the Dune H1 perhaps, and another Tripath amp.
Fair enough,
For the moment I have a good audio and video platform for minimum cost and maximum enjoyment, no file type issues, and can convert everything to hdd. Contrary to what you guys have said re laptops, I have zero problems with this particular desktop build in terms of noise or interference, and no disadvantages over laptops bar size and lack of inbuilt screen. Front access, multiple ports, 6 sata drives, and remote control are just some of the upsides though.......
I just might think again over the old system rebuild along John's ideas, but time enough for that....
Enough thread crapping though....I remain interested in the thread to see where it goes, and look forward to any results, but suspect it has done more damage than good in the long run.....
I thought we were all getting on well!
Indeed Clive we are getting along very well, and the discussions have been friendly, open, informative and constructive, even if sometimes peripheral to the thrust of the thread. There is a very clear concensus on the issues and objectives in all our circumstances, and these discussions inform our opinions.;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Clive
The damage I referred to was in relation to the basis of this thread. Not good.:(
AOS is famous for going in different tangents then getting back on track its part of our charm
Not seen those before, they look interesting. Only bugbear is no coax S/PDIF.Quote:
Originally Posted by aquapiranha
or sometimes not getting back on track! :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by John
The important thing is that even when we don't agree, we always remain civil and respectful of others opinions - by and large there are few punch ups on AoS. :)
Tangents I don't mind at all. Obtuse I have difficulty with. I suppose it depends on what the angle is.....;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex_UK
This looks interesting. Anyone heard one?
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/co...-Player-Review
I think you've hit the nail on the head Ali.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ali Tait
Send it to me and I'll dispose of it for you, while you go off and find a decent sounding one :eyebrows:
Thanks mate, I'll send it off!
OK, I spent a little time listening to some CDs ripped into FLAC files by DBPowerAMP, and another copy transcoded back to WAV.
Playback is via ethernet SB Touch into my Cambridge Audio CA840. Source FLAC files were compressed at level 5.
I built some playlists for the sample tracks, and then shuffle played the tracks so that i didn't know which track was playing and listened to the first minute or so.
The test tracks were 'My Bass' by Brian Bromberg, 'Bamboo Forest' by Miroslav Vitous, and 'New York Minute' by Herbie Hancock.
To cut to the chase, I didn't notice any differences consistently and couldn't really tell them apart. I did find that the sound appeared to change slightly as I listened more. I think that this was probably as a result of concentrating on details of the tracks in order to discern a difference, but I couldn't tell which was which.
By comparison, I can easily tell a signficant difference between TOSLINK and Co-ax SPDIF inputs, and any differences I spotted were a lot less significant than this. I'm not sure if I could detect any differences, much less tell which was which.
So, in conclusion, at least in my case I can't tell the difference. I guess this is what I was expecting, but at least I now know that I can carry on using FLAC with confidence. i will do some further testing with playback from USB sticks.
Your mileage may vary - at least in this configuration FLAC playback works as well as LPCM.
Cheers,
Alex
Thanks for the update Alex....
Will be interested in the stick experiment simply out of curiosity....
Here we go again :doh:Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexM
Why didn't you just use the original WAV rip? Why convert to Flac and then back to WAV?
Exactly the same as my experience, although I fed a different DAC (Chord QBD76) from a similarly configured SBT.Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexM
Chris
John,Quote:
Originally Posted by Welder
I didn't rip to wav from the cd so I had to convert the flax to wav in order to do this test. I don't think it made any difference to the outcome.
Chops and I have found that CPU utilisation is higher playing LPCM both at 16/44 and 24/88, and if one is to believe that is a bad thing then best not to bother with wavs, especially as they take up more disk space and sound the same!
All in all, a good outcome as I don't have to worry about doing anything to my library..
Alex
First, oh yes you did assuming you are using Windows computer. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexM
Windows at default will only rip to WAV but I think I understand what you mean, you let the Flac compression run automatically.
If I wanted to carry out a meaningful comparison test between Flac and WAV then I would not want the WAV file to have undergone further processes, compression, decompression, before the comparison otherwise what I would have "tested" is just the ability of the decompresser to return the Flac file to a checksum identical WAV copy.
Given how we/you/us are listening for what are generally acknowledged as inaudible differences then any unnecessary processing of the WAV file renders the test invalid imo.
Just sayin mate, but no sweat if you're happy. :)
I'm a little late to the party on this one, but I have tried varying rips of WAV against the same in FLAC and have not been able to discern any difference between the two, so I'm sticking to FLAC. :)
Yay! Tim :)
Thought you had dropped off the edge of this flat planet we're on mate ;)
Dont spose you've got Mark (Reid) hid in yer skirts have you?
Nope, not here .... I'll check behind the sofa and see if he's munching on my custard creams ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Welder
Had no tinternet due to a move John, it shows how much I depend on it really, as I have a pile of catching up to do now.
Oh,I see. I didn't know you had moved.
I hope it all went well.
Really good to see you back anyway. :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Welder
John,
I take your point, but I think we agree that conversion before playback isn't the issue here as I agree that I could have just done a checksum and then called it a day. I was more interested in the possible effects of real time decompression of the flac stream on playback.
I confirmed that there was no audible difference, as have others, so all is well with the world.
Cheers,
Alex
FWIW I too have done a comparison with rips to FLAC and WAV from CD, and LP at 96/24.
Playing back from both a Squeezebox Transporter and a SB Receiver with a Metrum Octave DAC I couldn't tell them apart. So from my point of view, FLAC is just fine - especially given the tagging attributes of FLAC files.
How are you getting on with the dac Bob?
Ah! I'm loving every moment. Higher, wider, deeper, clearer, and no doubt some more -er words I can't think of right now :eyebrows:.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ali Tait
I haven't got round to doing a head-to-head with my Transporter yet, as they're in different rooms, but I feel music is just that bit more involving with the Metrum. I'm going to be moving my living room rack at some point soon, so I'll probably move the Transporter out to my study (now the main "stereo" room) then and hook up both digital and analogue outputs so I can switch between them.
But, for me, the Metrum DAC is definitely a good piece of kit . . .:)
Yep, all went well John and I live a mile from work now, so walk everyday which is great. The place isn't as nice, but I had to move promptly as my landlady sold the last place 2 weeks after putting it on the market! Amazing really and she got the asking price of £250,000 too! There are still some folk with cash out there.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Welder
Like to hear one with a valve output stage. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by morris_minor
Any results or thoughts from the usb stick experiment Alex?
Curious, not so much as to the flac/wav myth, rather how the network v usb memory injection compares on that logitech device.