Digital Drive

Posted by Dawnrazor (A) on June 24, 2012 at 14:02:04

In Reply to: RE: Don't know much about computer playback but . . . posted by psgary on June 24, 2012 at 10:08:56

Hey PSG,

I know what I like. Others can enlighten me about computer-based playback systems if they like. I have no objection to that because I am definitely out of touch with new methods of playing music.

Now that sounds like an open mind! You are ALREADY ahead of the pack.

What I like is to be able to peruse my shelves of CDs and quickly pluck whatever suits my fancy. The only digital files I deal with are on my mp3 players, and overall they are a pain in the neck. I detest having to scroll through a list of songs and programs. The same is true when I look for music tracks on my computer. It is much faster to scan a shelf of CDs. Feel free to explain how computer-based music changes that. I really don't know.

You are right. Most programs I know of are "Song Based" and I dont know about you but I am not. I am album based and am used to the whole 10 songs being on the album. Like you I find navigating on a song basis tiresome. BUT not every player like that and some that is just the default. You are probably used to iTunes. I hate that program mostly for what you describe. Though I bet it can be set up to be album based.

I for one set up my computer to act like a cdp. It is album based and I can search for albums as i used to on my cd collection. Everyone is different on this. The main thing is that once you get it, the computer can be much faster and more powerful. Some love being able in seconds to find all their Mahler 5ths sorted by composer. How about all the works that Karajan conducted. I'll race you on those!! Old listener can chime in on that point as he is better versed. But especially if you have classical the computer is much more powerful.

One thing to check out is album player (www.albumplayer.com). It is album based and while the setup is more challenging than most it can function like a cd collection complete with the cases. It can be configured to play directly the album you select. And IIRC you can get it to random through your whole collection. Try doing that on a cdp.

Playlists come to mind too. I dont use them but a lot do. This is the genesis of my "you listen to more music because it is easier" comment that has confused some people.

I also like the convenience of skipping back and forth for tracks on a CD player. Again, on my mp3 player it is most incovenient, unless I'm moving forward. To back up, I have to go back to the menu and fiddle around. Of course, on a computer that is not true. The mouse can move up or down to select a track.

Yes. You can also have the computer work with a remote control or a network player function without a mouse using a smart device. Mouse control is not what I like. Moving a cursor around is not something I want in my computer audio. But some do and that is fine for them. You definitely can skip easily between tracks on the same disk.

Few in this thread have touched on aesthetics. Personally, I don't want a computer, even a laptop, in my living room, which is also my music room. Doesn't computer playback require a screen? Having one TV screen in a room is enough for me.

LOL. For me 100s of cds in racks and shelves are not aesthetic at all! Much better to ditch the disks. Now adays the computer doesnt have to look like a computer. Here is an old post with some non-computer looking components and today there are many more options:

here

And yes a screen is needed. It could be built into the "computer" and be a touch screen:

There are players that are networked like Linn, Ps Audio, Solos, squeezebox, etc. The Screen can be your ipad or smartphone.

You can probably find a system that can use your existing TV.

The "screen" is no longer and issue.

Today the "computers" can be even smaller than a cdp.

Attempting to deal with reality, I recognize that people are moving to computer-based systems more and more. Therefore, I am building up a collection of CDs that could last a lifetime much longer than what I have left. That is also true of CD players. I have 3 good backup units, having just acquired a used Cary 303/300 as my main player. Speaking of which, I intend to look into buying another transport for it and keeping that in my audio closet, should the laser on the Cary ever die. That happened to a Rotel I had, my first audiophile CDP. My fingers will be crossed that someone can be found to swap transports if necessary.

Good for you. But I have to tell you, you already know things are inevitable!!!! And those disks might not last as long as you think. IIRC there has been some reports of the data layer or something disintegrating. Sure hard drives are an issue but you can make many copies.

None of this is meant to imply that those who enjoy computer systems should change their choice of playback. Just as I no longer care for dealing with vinyl, some find purely digital files more to their liking. I only hope that CD lovers will be able to indulge their passion for many years to come.

If you get not dealing with vinyl you are already heading to a diskless system. You just dont know it yet. The same thoughts of vinyl apply to disks once you ditch them....

I hope that any audiophile can indulge their passion for years to come. I am just not optimistic that cds and the players are anykind of long term play.

Also if you do it right the computer can have no fan and no moving parts....

Afterwards we discovered faith; it's all you need