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In Reply to: RE: Digital music posted by disgustipated on June 04, 2015 at 05:41:50
Probably even more of a moving target than a disc or vinyl based system.
Especially if you agree with me that there are zero digital file playback systems that compare favorably with the likes of the other recognized SOTA manufacturers.
What kind of non-digital system do you have, or want to have that you'll be comparing a digital file playback system to?
"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"
Follow Ups:
I have a VPI Scout, I am toying with the idea of starting over with digital. To simplify my live, if for no other reason, but I don't want to sacrifice sound quality. If a good digital system will cost me too much, I will simply stick with my vinyl rig. Problem is that I have no idea what a good digital system would consist of. So I am looking for help with planning a system.
Hiya,
You'd probably have to spend about the same, $4000, to $5000....
NAS Drive, DAC, cables, & Digital File Transport, like the Bryston, Auralic Aries, Mehbee the Sim Audio Mind...
Cheers,
"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"
So the Sony would be a dac, NAS and transport in 1, correct? Any downside to such a system? The Marantz would still need a NAS? How does an iPod fit into all of this or does it not?
All in one boxes are fine for the 2nd or 3rd rate system, - IMO.
You're paying for a DAC, Hard drive, and transport. Traditionally, buying separates garners you more control, and doesn't stifle you when, and/or in case new tech becomes available. (I can't remember if the HD in the Sony is "difficult" to use a NAS and share out with other components in your household.
Maybe it's easy to replace the Sony hard drive? But maybe you just don't want to do it. What if you fill it up? What if you want to pursue something like the APL DSD DAC, or the PS Audio Directstream DAC, (Excellent DACs that upconvert everything to DSD)?
Both of the aforementioned boxes also have volume controls, that have the reputation of sounding better directly into a power amplifier. Perhaps you may find better sound by eliminating your pre.
If you're thinking long term, you need a NAS drive. That puts movies, music, photos, etc. accessible, (or more accessible), to all your media devices.
Cheers,
"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"
I am still confused about many things:
1. how do you hook up a NAS to the DAC? If you use a USB, does this negatively affect sound? Is there a better method?
2. Does it make a difference if you upload CDs from a computer or from some other device? Sound quality is the same?
3. What exactly is the transport for? What does it do?
4. Can an iPod be hooked up? By what method? What is the preferred method?
Again, I am clueless, sorry.
1. A NAS is a "networked attached storage" drive. Think of it like a mini-computer that is also a hard drive that "serves up" your files to other networked computing devices. It can also run mini-apps like the Squeezebox server that can run apps for your playback devices. A media server to allow your networked DVD player to play movies... It has an IP address, almost always an ethernet port, you plug it into your home router via an Ethernet cable.The NAS doesn't hook up to the DAC. It hooks up to the router & the transport plays it via ethernet/wireless network. The Transport is either like a computer, or is a computer that has an IP address that connects to the router that the NAS or "file server" that is also connected to the router. It plays the file via an ethernet cable that is also plugged into the router. Some transports have wireless, and can connect to your wireless router. But that is lower quality and subject to interference with sub optimal wireless connections: IMO.
2. You "rip" CDs on a computer via a program like DBPOWERAMP. That's what "creates" the digital file for you to use. The quality is largely determined by what format you rip to. You can rip to .mp3 which is low quality. Most people rip to either FLAC or ALAC (apple lossless). They are compressed and that saves space. I rip to AIFF, - which is uncompressed. I have noticed on my system that uncompressed sounds better. YMMV. You then copy the digital files/albums that you've just ripped to your NAS drive.
3. The "transport" is the software/hardware, that plays back your digital files. These are components like the Auralic Aries, Sim Audio Mind, Sonore Rendu, SqueezeBox, (although Squeezebox also has a DAC), that take the digital file play it, (but do not convert it to analog), and send the digital signal to the DAC. It seems that many people here are also using their computers as transports, I still have a MAC Mini that I've not gotten rid of yet. It plays the files from my NAS drive via software, (Pure Music), and outputs digital USB to a converter, then onto my Universal CD/SACD/DVD player that bypasses it's disc spinning transport via a digital coax input.
4. It depends on the transport. Some have USB inputs that will allow for a USB thumb drive that contains digital files to play. Several also have wireless capability, - so if your IPOD has Airtunes, - (transport or "streamer)" accepts that... then yes, - it'll play from an Iphone or Ipod.
Cheers,
"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"
Edits: 06/04/15 06/04/15 06/04/15
A friend of mine has a VPI turntable. He has probably $15 Grand into the Table, Tonearm, Stand etc. He got a Squeezebox Touch and a Nice $500 DAC and he listens to the Touch about 90% of time.
My Advice to the OP is to "Get your Feet Wet" first in Digital and decide that if it a route that you want to pursue. (I'm never going back) and then spend some dollars down the road.
A Squeezebox Touch used on E-Bay is a Great Introduction.
Cut-Throat
Does it have comparable sound is what matters....
I understand that streaming is important to you, - but under traditional, "buy it and it's yours" audiophile standards, - streaming is not up to quality. To many others streaming is not important at all, and a waste of good money.
Besides; the few quality streaming services available have very limited selection, compared to buying CDs and ripping them. That's not even talking about the crappy bandwidth at inflated, (and only getting worse), prices in the USA.
The best quality for playback, (whether it be digital files or discs), is what you have sitting in your rack, - or your own HD. The OP, may be excluding streaming entirely from his analysis.
""in Digital and decide that if it a route that you want to pursue.""
If the route is high quality, - it does NOT include a Squeezebox.
""A Squeezebox Touch used on E-Bay is a Great Introduction."
It's not clear that he wants an introduction, or at least, he appears to want a higher quality introduction than the Squeezebox can provide..
I say this as a lover of the Squeezebox, - who appreciates it for what it is, a wonderful little box, that nonetheless, has no place in a high-end audio rack.
"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"
And I can tell you for most Audiophiles, the weakest Link is NOT the Source! It is Speakers and Amplifiers. I have a Pair of Oris Horns with Khorn Bass Bins, Bi-amped with 45 amps. The Squeezebox Touch with a great DAC will most likely sound a lot better than the speakers you are currently using. And this goes for Streaming Music Also! I would say to you that your current speakers have no business in the high-end Audio Rack either!And for the Original Poster, if you get into Digital Audio with your Wallet first and then your understanding, you will be buying and selling a lot of equipment.
Cut-Throat
Edits: 06/04/15
Garbage in, - garbage out.....
1 case in point is the USB playback functionality of the SBT with a large USB drive hooked up to it. Essentially it doesn't work....
""And this goes for Streaming Music Also!""
NO!! !! If you have a dial-up modem for Internet Access, - streaming will not work.
Try to tell me that .mp3 file sounds just as good as a WAV or AIFF file, with a "great" amp, or "Great" speaker.
The VRDS NEO transport is proof positive that all transports are not created equal.
The title of your post is a myth.
""And for the Original Poster, if you get into Digital Audio with your Wallet first and then your understanding, you will be buying and selling a lot of equipment. ""
No worries, - it's clear from his posts and follow ups that he's not doing that, - as it's clear that he's thinking long term, and NOT just throwing money at something....
"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"
nt
Cut-Throat
.
"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"
.
Cut-Throat,
Thank you for the advice. I hate buying and selling equipment. If I decide to go for the digital setup, I will do my homework and go all in. The Sony sounds great, but I fear that it has limitations that I am unaware of since I essentially know nothing about this topic.
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