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I’m been working for some time on a switch from my current CD player to a computer based digital front end and need some advice. My PC and storage are on my office, and my stereo is in a separate listening room. For esthetic reasons, I don’t want to have a lot of computer equipment in the listening room. I’m interested in getting high quality sound and have a decent budget. Here is what I have tentatively decided on. Advice is welcome.
Storage: Music files stored on a Synology 412+ in my office. Synology linked to the router by gigabit Ethernet cable.
Router: To be connected to a computer in the listening room by an Ethernet cable. Alternative: might try a wireless connection at first to see how it sounds. Many say that the wireless sounds worse than the wired.
Computer: To be located in the listening room, in order to be able to connect it to the DAC with a USB cable. Options: either a new Mac Mini with 16gbs of RAM and a SSD, or an HP EliteDesk with similar specs. I’m agnostic between PC and Mac, and was leaning toward the Mac until last month’s Absolute Sound which had an article saying that the PCs sounded better than the Mac.
Software: JR Media Center.
Remote control: Ipad. Question: If I use an HP in the listening room, are there any issues controlling it with an Ipad? What application to use for the control?
DAC: Output of PC/Mac into asynchronous USB port of Oppo 105d with Modwright modifications. Output of Oppo 105 into preamp.
The goal is to set up something that is not harder to use than the CD player and hopefully that sounds better. Since I haven’t bought any this stuff yet, I can have the PC/Mac configured when I buy it, but I’m not planning to upgrade parts myself. Comments and suggestions are welcome.
d3
Follow Ups:
You said "my Oppo." But you also said " Since I haven't bought any this stuff yet"
Sorry, - but I wasn't clear.
""I can have the PC/Mac configured when I buy it, but I'm not planning to upgrade parts myself."
For the Transport: I would recommend that you research other options besides a very expensive, and likely dissatisfying computer mod. Why not try an Auralic Aries, Bryston BPD-2, Sim Audio Mind, SoTM, or Sonore Rendu? All of these products will be much cheaper than a modified computer, and you won't have to spend a lot of time, (also), disabling software, or updating, re-configuring it. And, - they're designed much better.
With the money you save, you can perhaps research, and find a very good USB cable for your Oppo/transport combo.
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.'"
To clarify, I don't own the Oppo 105d either (my bad, my post wasn't clear on this). I'm not wed to buying the Oppo, and I have previously wondered whether it makes sense for me to use a general purpose PC as a server to a DAC, instead of buying a server or something along the lines of what you suggested. The Oppo 105d is about $1300, which is in the middle of the range of two models of the Auralic Aries ($999 and $1599). The Bryston BDP-2 is about $3k, so the Oppo could be cheaper if I can run it off my existing PC.
I thought about the Oppo 105 because (i) it seems to handle a lot of functions, including most disc and data formats as well as having an asynchronous USB input and (ii) it gets generally favorable reviews from a lot of sources. I confess that when I got to do small audition of the Oppo at the Newport High end show, I played the same track off the Oppo and then on a turntable playing through the same system, and everyone including the dealer thought the turntable sounded better (but it was ~$8k).
I hadn't given much thought to using the Oppo as a dlna renderer running off the NAS in my office, but I will look into that. Thanks for the input.
d3
not a scientifically deduced percentage by any means, but I found that I had to spend like money to match the SQ of my Wadia cd player. The DAC is the heart of the playback system. Spend mucho $$$$ and get a quality product. Is that giant killer out there?? Heck if I know.I personally use JRiver Media, but there are others that folks use with good success. JRiver has good remote apps for both Android and Apple. They've put a lot of thought into their software and it's a solid player/manager.
Windows or Apple? Choose your poison. Whatever you are most comfortable with is prob a good choice. You'll find out eventually via experimentation. RAM is a good thing.
WAV or FLAC? Try both and find out. Most cannot tell the difference, but some say they can :)) I say FLAC is good and easily tagged.
NAS, USB hard drive or internal hard drive, which sounds better? Put a couple of the same files different locations, listen and make your own decision. Most can't hear a difference. I use a couple WD external USB hard drives with good success.
Save yourself grief and don't use the laptops internal cd/dvd/blue ray drive. They are cheap and break easily. Purchase an external drive to rip with. They do a good job and are easily replicable.
Edits: 01/25/15 01/25/15
Would you want to get the best performance out of the system by other - pretty much free - means? Or you would start selling and buying DACs?
That's right, if his DAC/Converter doesn't live up to or better his current CDP, then you either live with it or look for something better. I had to do the same, auditioning a few less expensive but decent units until choosing my QB9. This is said, assuming that there isn't something terribly wrong somewhere else. And it's not because it don't believe other things make a difference, it just believe the DAC makes the biggest difference.
You see, I don't even understand the logic.
To me, these 20% are still missing, no matter what DAC you're using - it's just that with better DAC, getting closer to 100% will be more rewarding. Unless, of course, your DAC provides immunity against all the vagaries on the transport side - and you know full well what I think of that idea.
That, and the fact that audiophiles usually deal in rather marginal percentages, much less than 20% - disagree?
Audiophiles are consumed with the other "20%". Did I say 20? Maybe more like 2% :) I happen to be more music lover than audiophile, but I do appreciate those, such as yourself, who go the distance and push boundaries. Remember what I stated: "And it's not because it don't believe other things make a difference, it just believe the DAC makes the biggest difference." So I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, but for a new comer, just getting started in the insanity...umm I mean hobby, to get caught up in the minutia is just silly. If the OP leans that way, then he'll go that way. I think I had the OP's best interest in mind, considering his original post.
What I do have problem with is being somewhat selective, with regards to what you choose to negatively react to.For instance, when some Apple-fixated schmo'llins starts stinking up the air here, and flapping his gums about "crap DAC and/or a crippled computer", no doubt describing HIS crappy DAC, with its input connected to his crippled by design, unsuitable for quality audio playback, Apple-conceived marvel - I would like to see you up in arms, for a change.
Edits: 01/28/15
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Somewhat ... uhhh... what do they teach to use instead of r-word... yes, that's it - intellectually challenged, too.
.
The computer-side tweaks I've tried with my QB-9 have made little to no difference in SQ. Memory playback, JPlay, a $$ USB cable seemed to make very slight sonic improvements but they were on order with upgrading a power cable - seems to help but I wouldn't bet my paycheck that I could distinguish the difference blindfolded. Other stuff I've tried (mostly other software eg, HQPlayer et al) made no difference that I could tell. Most recently, I compared my PC (SMPS) w/ JRMC to a MacBook Pro (battery power) with Audirvana. The Mac set-up sounded a tad more liquid and relaxed but, again, I wouldn't bet my paycheck that I could distinguish them blind.
My conclusion is that the QB-9 is more-or-less immune to computer-side tweaks (the review on Computer Audiophile obliquely said the same thing). Of course, it could also be that the QB-9 is such a POS that it masks any attempt to improve its SQ!
Having said that, I know of others who reported significant improvements in QB-9 SQ by tweak the transport. Go figure . . .
I think the point that JeffH was trying to make is exactly what you have experienced.... and as I have experienced.Forget the percentages.
Is it so far fetched to state that the DAC has more influence on the overall system sound than the computer? I believe this to be true unless you have a crap DAC and/or a crippled computer.
Yes, it's a 'system' but certain components influence the sound of the system more than others.
Edits: 01/26/15
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There are a few free players with very nice user interface - MusicBee, MediaMonkey, even Foobar - that provide equal, or better, sound quality.
The big advantage - you are not supporting a company with business ethics beyond questionable, notorious for bullying competitors, and insisting that bit-perfect playback is the only condition of getting perfect sound from a computer.
"The big advantage - you are not supporting a company with business ethics beyond questionable, notorious for bullying competitors, and insisting that bit-perfect playback is the only condition of getting perfect sound from a computer."
Couldn't agree with you more and I have posted along these lines.
Unfortunately, most people could care less about their impact on the marketplace and general level of ethics in society. For them, it's all about ME, ME, ME. And so our arguments fall on deaf ears.
Tony Lauck
"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar
Because it is the best! Just ask Big Jim...
Edits: 01/25/15
I switched to JRMC 'cuz I had an intermittent stutter with with Foobar plus I wanted to watch "bit perfect" concert videos. Turns out that JRMC can also have hiccups (tho' this might be on my AMD E-350) and it has a LOT of trouble playing videos (JRMC will NOT play my copy of Concert For George, among many others, whereas WMP handles it w/o issue).
Foobar can pretty much do everything JRMC can.
The only reason I thought of JR Media Center was various sites recommending it for the PC. The cost of the software is a rounding error, and I'm more focused on whether it works without substantial user intervention. I have no views on their business ethics. But thanks for the suggestions.
d3
"The only reason I thought of JR Media Center was various sites recommending it for the PC."
They are mostly just paid shills, or rather uninformed.
Plenty of customers out in the real world are happy with JRiver's software and the way they run their business.
my blog: http://carsmusicandnature.blogspot.com/
"Plenty of customers out in the real world are happy with JRiver's software and the way they run their business."
Lots of people liked the way Fuhrer ran his business too...
As the Oppo has DLNA you can skip the PC/Mac and play directly from the NAS
The Well Tempered Computer
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