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FLAK playback from my computer

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Posted on August 9, 2016 at 11:55:28
2-ears
Audiophile

Posts: 240
Location: Orange County, CA
Joined: January 19, 2003
I'm new to the computer audio forum; consequently, what I'm asking may seem pretty elementary. I've ripped a number of CDs to my computer in FLAC format. Is there a "best way" to play back a CD? Right now, I'm using the Windows Media Player, and I've connected a cable from my computer headphone jack to the speaker input (Audioengine A5+). Yeah, it works, but the sound quality is nothing to rave about.

 

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RE: FLAC playback from my computer, posted on August 9, 2016 at 12:29:42
Roseval
Audiophile

Posts: 1843
Joined: March 31, 2008
What "we" do most of the time is using the computer as a transport.
Take an external USB DAC and connect it to a decent stereo system.
You might try media players allowing you to use WASAPI or ASIO but in your case I recommend to improve on the hardware first.
http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/USB_DAC.htm


The Well Tempered Computer

 

RE: FLAK playback from my computer, posted on August 9, 2016 at 19:02:49
Archimago
Audiophile

Posts: 820
Joined: January 18, 2002
So I'm assuming you're asking about the best way to play your FLAC CD rips, not the original CD I assume.

First, try using the line level audio output from your computer rather than headphone out to your A5+ as available. That might be better.

Download foobar and give that a try for playback. You might also want to look at JRiver as another common piece of software used to build music libraries and streaming needs... Many ways to get the job done. Ultimately as Roseval says, you'll need to upgrade the hardware with outboard DAC, better speaker/amp etc. for hi-fi purposes which is what we're mostly discussing here. The A5+ is a great speaker for computer workstation purposes.
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Archimago's Musings: A 'more objective' audiophile blog.

 

good advice on the line out, posted on August 10, 2016 at 19:20:32
if the OP does have a line out that would sound better, also an external USB DAC which can connect to his system would help as well. Therefore removing the sound from the computers internal parts.

 

RE: FLAK playback from my computer, posted on August 10, 2016 at 19:49:44
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23874
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since:
January 29, 2004
If you set up an audio/video system, you might be able to load the FLAC files onto a USB flash drive and plug it into a blu-ray disc player. That's what I do. I have an Oppo BDP-105D blu-ray disc player and I've ripped all my CDs to WAV files, which I load onto high capacity USB flash drives that plug into the USB ports on my BDP-105D blu-ray disc player. The BDP-105D has a built-in volume control so it can connect directly to my power amplifier, which is driving my stereo speakers. The CDs are displayed on my HDTV. I much prefer this system rather than using a computer music server.

Good luck,
John Elison


 

RE: FLAK playback from my computer, posted on August 11, 2016 at 06:33:06
fred76
Audiophile

Posts: 1586
Location: Manila
Joined: February 28, 2004
Hi,

Try an AQ Dragonfly Black or Red (higher output V) with your laptop as DAC with headphone/line out using a good good quality 3.5mm to RCA cable.. That should improve things... Set up and optimization can be found in the Dragonfly's user manual. There are freeware music players out there like Foobar and Musicbee to get you started, and some like Jriver comes with a free limited trial..

Regards...

PS - I have the Red for mobile IEM listening, but is satisfying too for desktop or even 'bigger systems', especially for the price..

 

RE: FLAK playback from my computer, posted on August 11, 2016 at 06:47:35
fred76
Audiophile

Posts: 1586
Location: Manila
Joined: February 28, 2004
Hi John,

I have the BDP-103, and I found that the USB inputs at the back (mounted directly at the board) has less noise and better contrast PQ-wise, and SQ-wise it is a bit cleaner sounding too.. But of course the front panel USB input is more convenient to use. You can compare both front and back panel USB inputs if curiousity strikes, if you haven't yet.. BTW, congrats on your new tube phono stage and tube preamp kit builds.

Regards..

 

RE: FLAK playback from my computer, posted on August 11, 2016 at 18:44:43
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37470
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since:
April 5, 2002
much prefer this system rather than using a computer music server.


Hmmm. I also have an Oppo player that can access my server based music library. With WAV rips and crude interface, what you lose is:

Album art and other metadata
Ability to choose random play
Ability to select genre or release year
Ability to create playlist on the fly quickly with a smartphone.

John - like just realizing the value of tube gear, you really might want to understand what you're missing.

 

RE: FLAK playback from my computer, posted on August 11, 2016 at 19:49:57
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23874
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since:
January 29, 2004
I don't think I'm missing anything. I have no desire for metadata. That's why I ripped all my CDs to WAV files. However, the blue button on my Oppo remote control is the random play button. My Oppo displays album covers on my HDTV. I guess it goes out over the internet and brings up album covers and certain limited metadata. I create playlists using my Oppo remote control all the time, but you're right about not doing them on the fly. You're also right about its inability to select genres so I group my music on high capacity USB flash drives the way I want to listen to it. If it brings up the album cover, it also usually brings up the release year.

At any rate, I am perfectly happy with my Oppo BDP-105D, which I use more often for streaming Netflix and watching DVDs than for listening to music. I use my TASCAM DA-3000 DSD recorder for listening to music as often as I use it for recording because I like the sound of its BurrBrown DACs better than the Oppo's Sabre32 DACs. It plays DSD(128) directly from USB flash drives, too. Of course, it also plays PCM and DSD(64), but I now do all my vinyl recording in DSD(128).

I prefer my Oppo. If I preferred a different component, I'd buy it.

Thanks,
John Elison

 

RE: FLAC playback from my computer, posted on August 13, 2016 at 05:58:22
2-ears
Audiophile

Posts: 240
Location: Orange County, CA
Joined: January 19, 2003
Thank you all for the direction. I ordered the Audioengine D1. Right out of the box, I could hear a quantum improvement. It's like not realizing how poorly you were seeing until you got a new eyeglass prescription.

 

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