What's happening to this forum?

[Stratmangler]

the dilution of 'proper' hifi with computer audio

Dinosaur

[MartinT]

One recent thread I particularly enjoyed was SQ's restoration of his Krell Power amp, the pictorial account of the amp being restored was a joy to read.

Agreed, that was a joy to read and what this forum is all about.

I promise to get back to my Gale restoration soon, only my craftsmanship is about one tenth that of Simon's.

[Audioman]

I think the problem has been an excess of threads trying to convince people that some outrageously expensive cable is going to significantly change the basic sound of a hi-fi system. Full marks to people like Oldpinkman who are prepared to challenge the assumptions put forward by the cable fanboys (and girl ).

A notable absence of administrators including Marco who occasionally pops up only to close down a thread where the argument is not going in a direction that suits. And of course censorship in not mentioning certain forums and certain persons who's names I will resist mentioning on pain of banishment.

Yes let's get back to discussing real hi-fi equipment topics and music with less self promotion of 'accessories' with dubious audio properties. No banned subjects with members acting responsible and not introducing personal issues by introducing innuendo about certain manufacturers. Ban those doing the shilling and undermining not the victims. Free and responsible speech and sensible discussion please.

Paul.

[Oldpinkman]

Don't PCs have a password manager built in? My computer (can't say its a Mac 'cos....well, you know) just logs me in automatically. If there's a problem, I can access the encripted passwords and redo them.

Have you tried it on sites you last used 6 years ago, with a PC replaced 3 times since then? These Mac's are awesome!
Oh no - it'll be 25 years old and still the best there is. I remember the old Apple II I used Supercalc on (that's the one long before Excel children)...

[Rare Bird]

I think forums in general are feeling the effects of the dilution of 'proper' hifi with computer audio, which maybe has less tinkering potential.

+1 I personally think computer audio is a cop out, it's the easy way out imho

[Frankyc2003]

Well, when you start tweaking parameters in Unix on your SBT, I feel well out of my league though.

Computer audio can be incredibly complicated too, its just a different type of tinkering!

[Ali Tait]

I think the problem has been an excess of threads trying to convince people that some outrageously expensive cable is going to significantly change the basic sound of a hi-fi system. Full marks to people like Oldpinkman who are prepared to challenge the assumptions put forward by the cable fanboys (and girl ).

A notable absence of administrators including Marco who occasionally pops up only to close down a thread were the argument is not going in a direction that suits. And of course censorship in not mentioning certain forums and certain persons who's names I will resist mentioning on pain of banishment.

Yes let's get back to discussing real hi-fi equipment topics and music with less self promotion of 'accessories' with dubious audio properties. No banned subjects with members acting responsible and not introducing personal issues by introducing innuendo about certain manufacturers. Ban those doing the shilling and undermining not the victims. Free and responsible speech and sensible discussion please.

Paul.

Hear Hear!!

[Ali Tait]

+1 I personally think computer audio is a cop out, it's the easy way out imho

Why should hi fi be hard?

[Marco]

+1 I personally think computer audio is a cop out, it's the easy way out imho

I guess it depends on your lifestyle... For me there are three main possible advantages with computer audio:

1) Access to unlimited amounts of music/introduction to lots of new stuff.

2) Greater convenience/less clutter.

3) Possible sonic upgrades over a mainstream CD player.

Of those, only the first one applies in my circumstances and is of any real interest. Convenience isn't a priority for me (all my music, CDs and vinyl, is within easy reach in my dedicated music room (and correctly catalogued in genre and in alphabetical order).

Clutter doesn't matter because the music room is there for one purpose only: to house my hi-fi system and music, and keep it separate from the rest of the house. Therefore 'clutter' isn't an issue, although I do keep the room clean and tidy.

As for 3), so far, I've found no streaming solution that outperforms my modified Sony CDP and DAC - and I suspect that I'll probably always struggle with that one.

However, in other people's circumstances, the situation will be very different. Therefore, computer audio (done well) definitely has its merits!

Marco.

[Audioman]

+1 I personally think computer audio is a cop out, it's the easy way out imho

Well it's a cop out in as much as collecting music is concerned. How they don't miss all the fun of scouting for that illusive vinyl LP I don't know? Maybe a valid way of having HQ background music though.