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In Reply to: RE: Three Steps posted by E-Stat on June 18, 2016 at 06:57:49
Do you people actually ever just listen to music?
Follow Ups:
the initial ripping of your library takes a goodly amount of time. Was it worth it?
Absolutely! Once you've crossed over to the world of server based music, you spend more time listening than locating and shuffling disks from shelves, in and out of transports, and back again. You rediscover content that you forgot about because you can have the player randomly go through your library. Across all genres. Across one. Create a playlist on the fly. Use a smart phone based remote at your listening position. Or out in the yard or by the pool.
It also means that your digital library is accessible across all the systems in your home. I used to burn CDR copies of content for the garage system. I can listen at night via IEMs in the bedroom streaming from my iPad.
For new music, ripping one disk and adding to server library takes only a couple of minutes.
It is truly a beautiful thing. And, BTW I'm an older boomer, too. Still have two turntables (one purchased in '76), but I end up spending more time playing from the server.
Yeah, it'd be great to have all my stuff on the 'puter. Actually, just this morning, I was looking for Stan Kenton's 1951 version of "Over The Rainbow". Then, I realized it was on another 'puter which typically works for about ten minutes before it locks up. I really should boot that puppy up, copy everything, and then just boot it.Is there a way to make a digital copy of an analog recording, where the copy is better than the original? (Just kidding.)
:)
Edits: 06/18/16
I purchased an HRT Streamer which is an ADC for capturing analog sources to 96/24 digital. I have quite a few records that are simply unavailable in digital format and would like to play them in other places than the main listening room.
Better than analog? Don't think so! :)
I am often pleasantly surprised how good vinyl can sound played over the PC.
I to use a LineStreamer+ and Vinyl Studio. With a well recorded LP, declicked with the default setting, if it was on the record I get the same wide sound stage, and detail.
The one thing that does suffer a little is dynamics. It is slight and only noticeable with direct comparison to the LP.
Doing vinyl is time consuming as you have to create the files in real time, then run cleanup and adjust the track breaks. I also edit out the lead in and the run out noise.
The declicker is really good for those albums like most of the King Crimson LPs that were impossible to get a quiet copy, when they went to cheap vinyl during the oil crisis in tbe early to mid '70s.
I have about 800 CD's, approximately 10% of which are jazz, female vocalists & film soundtracks. The other 90% are classical which are arranged chronologically by composer. The equipment is always powered on. There is no elaborate ritual or time involved in selecting a CD, placing it in the transport and sitting down to listen. I have a dedicated room and my wife is not at all interested in music or equipment. There is no need for me to access the library and play it throughout the house.
Perhaps the never ending cycle of popular music releases necessitates access to a streaming source offering such variety but I have no need of it. The classical selection was carefully built up over years through much research, trial and error. It quite adequately satisfies my needs at my age.
Consequently, my system is very simple, although the price of admission was high.
I keep reading threads like this and never see much of anything devoted to the way computer audio SOUNDS. In my experience, listening to four systems where it was possible to compare music-from-CD to music-from-server, there was never any question in my mind as to which sounded better.
Of course there's the convenience factor and I'm sure it would be real convenient to rip my 1100+ CDs and SACDs (what, you can't rip SACDs? Who knew?), but I'd just as soon spend the time in some old-fashioned, retro way.
Besides, I spend most listening time with vinyl and open reel tape, so I'm a hopeless case anyway :-)
Besides, I spend most listening time with vinyl and open reel tape
That's the most compelling reason for folks like you.
Can't speak for the computer based systems you've heard, but my arrangement of a linear powered Touch via a remotely located server through an Audio Research DAC8 offers more realism than the previous GamuT CD-1 player.
And I have a uRendu player on order which is said to be much better. :)
Thanks for the instant psychoanalysis. Where do I send the five cents ?
:-)
Seriously, my audiobuddies' systems reflect many decades of experience and knowhow. If they find it very difficult to equal the sonics they achieved back in the BC era, a computer illiterate like me ain't likely to find nirvana following in their footsteps. I assume you'd rather I followed in yours but that isn't real likely either. Sorry.
All I meant was that if you don't listen to digital content, i.e."Besides, I spend most listening time with vinyl and open reel tape"
then using a better and more convenient way is moot. I follow the music. If you limit yourself to those media, then you will be missing out on decades of content.
I assume you'd rather I followed in yours but that isn't real likely either. Sorry.
No. To each his own. I'm not a horn enthusiast, either. :)
Clearly, you haven't heard a computer server based transport at its best. After all, that's how all recordings have been made for the past twenty years or so. :)
Edits: 06/18/16
Computer power supplies offer a very noisy environment. I have selected my equipment for simplicity and purity always having in mind the old principle of straight wire with gain. It is no more than it needs to be. My dedicated room design supports that low noise floor. Computer technology can only deviate from it.
I do not wish to complicate things and compromise sound quality for mere accessibility and convenience. I also do not want to be dependent on what some outside source thinks things should sound like and have to pay for it.
Computer power supplies offer a very noisy environment.
They do. Which is why the server is located on another floor of the house hundreds of feet from the listening room. Playback is via a small appliance in the room connected via Ethernet.
I still find it valuable to be able to quickly switch from one album to another. Or, compare one conductor's version of a movement to that of another.
To each his own.
Several things appeal to me here in my retirement. I am not dependent on anything outside of my room, except for electricity, of course. Also, I feel I have everything I will ever need for my musical enjoyment.
I occasionally do buy a highly recommended CD but my current library is quite inclusive and comprehensive. I am not critical of anyone such as yourself choosing a different path. However, for my personal needs that choice involves all too much fuss, clutter and additional and unnecessary expense for provider services.
However, for my personal needs that choice involves all too much fuss, clutter and additional and unnecessary expense for provider services.Largely for the benefit of others who may read this post:
1. The "fuss" is eliminated by the increasing number of releases available by downloads. My library contains a fairly good sized collection of high resolution releases. Even for rips, there is no question that I spend less time for the one time capture and eliminate ongoing time required for every subsequent access. It's no different from the benefit of using electronic document management vs. storing and retrieving paper files. And yes, all of my financial records are stored electronically. I don't do paper any more. Don't have any clue as to the "clutter". The wall of CDs can be eliminated.
2. Perhaps your environment is different, but quite a few households today already have a home network infrastructure. Ours is used not only for music, but streaming movies both via internet providers and from content on the server. It also supports the security cameras.
3. There are no "provider services" required for me to stream music from my server via my network to my players. Perhaps you are thinking of dependence via the subscription services such as Tidal, Spotify, etc. Since two of our cars have XM access, we can also stream their content over the 'net, but that has nothing to do with my music library. At no expense, I regularly stream music from a wide range of classical radio stations.
Maybe it helps that I am an IT guy. :)
Edits: 06/18/16
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