File-based audio playback - compressed vs. uncompressed

[Clive]

Despite my fun poking at JPlay to my ears it did make an audible difference to sound replay on a Win7 system.

The answer is of course, try it and decide for yourself.
My view is standard set PC's and laptops don't make for ideal audio replay.
If your "serious" about file based audio then at some point you have to leave the general purpose computer doing what it does best and build another computer that concentrates on audio.
I understand that JPlay does a lot of the "virtual audio only" server stuff on a general purpose machine, but you are still left with a few hardware problems that are more easily overcome by a server build.
Using JPlay, your laptop isn't really able to anything else apart from the tasks JPlay allows so in effect you don't have a laptop computer at all.
So' you've paid for a laptop and JPlay and still not got what many would argue is the optimal hardware.
One computer for audio,one for general purpose computing; starts getting expensive and neither is quite fit for either task all the time.

You can't generalise on peoples' computers.....in my situation I have 2 or 3 spare laptops that are 3 to 5 years old. I use 1 of these as a music server, I only needed to buy an extra 2GB of memory and I had jplay running soon after, minutes after. Everyones' situation will be personal to them.

[Welder]

I think you can generalise in these circumstances Clive.
A laptop is still a laptop no matter what age it is. It was designed to multi-task and software changes can only do so much.

[Clive]

I think you can generalise in these circumstances Clive.
A laptop is still a laptop no matter what age it is. It was designed to multi-task and software changes can only do so much.

Clearly not! We were at crossed purposes I think....

You said:

So' you've paid for a laptop and JPlay and still not got what many would argue is the optimal hardware.
One computer for audio,one for general purpose computing; starts getting expensive and neither is quite fit for either task all the time.

I was talking about cost because you were.

Interestingly the jplay guys find that laptops sound better than desktop PCs, they reckon there's less RFI.

[Welder]

I think my point got lost a bit. and yes,probably at crossed purposes.

I agree a laptop dedicated to audio replay solves certain aspects.
My point was you are still left with laptop hardware and of course at some point I assume you've bought the laptop and bought JPlay and still not got what many would consider optimal conditions for audio replay.

Yep, I would agree in general that a laptop stands a better chance in standard hardware and software config of producing lovely music than a PC.

I've tried audio on my gaming PC and even with it underclocked and the fans disabled there is just something not quite there.

[John]

In time maybe but for myself I am ok with using only Jplay for serious listening so in my view each to their own needs

[Clive]

John (as in Mr Welder)

What's a touch ironic is that you are obsessing over monitor power supplies and the like. It's a bit like a hi-fi obsession with power cables. It all makes a difference. It seems to me whilst your obsession is a well-founded quest for perfection it also is quite time-consuming. Had I the time I'm sure I would be going down a similar route. I resisted returning to record decks for a long time because I knew I'd have to "do it properly". The same is true for a music server.

W7 with Jplay and a really good DAC has got me to the point where for under 600 euros I have a sound that bears comparison with what is a high-end sounding record deck. This is with redbook software too.

I need to devote time to other things in my life, including listening to music. I can learn Linux as I have done with several operating systems in the past but it's not my priority. Actually I question whether even Linux is ideal, something like RT-11 might be better though we'd need a PDP-11 for that but at least I know these things inside out!

[Welder]

I agree John and you can get excellent file based audio from a laptop with optimisations like JPlay, CPlay, Fidelizer and Black Viper configs.

For many people it's a second system; both you and Clive for example I believe have excellent vinyl replay systems.
Unfortunately, maybe, I can't afford in both financial and practical terms a multi source system so naturally I'm interested in getting the best results I can from my only replay source which is file.

[Welder]

Clive.

Did I ever claim not to be as obsessed as the most ardent vinyl enthusiast?

I must admit, I have put an awful lot of time into file based audio and a fair bit of money.
I don't think I'm that unusual in this respect for those who have decided file based audio is their way forward. On AoS I'll grant you, I must seem a bit weird, mainly because this forum is predominantly a valve and vinyl site. But, when you look at the lengths the vinyl enthusiasts here go to and the money they spend I don't feel any immediate need to rush out and get analysis.

[John]

John were I am now I am very happy with I have "a laptop based system" that is very close to the performance level of one of the best TT out there I love your passion but I am pretty happy were I am.
The value of such a system is crazy considering it performance

[Clive]

It great this is good-natured banter.

As for multiple sources......this is a pain. What I need and have not achieved is a sound from both sources that bear comparison, Indeed it's the mastering of the music now that makes the greatest difference. The problem I had before was that Foobar/ASIO, whilst better a Meridian 588, was miles behind both my record decks. If there's an argument for not tweaking the hell out of a server it because I need to maintain balance between my sources. Should my file-based source get much better it'll give me a big problem as my deck can't get much better!