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Newbie here - Basic question

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Posted on April 5, 2021 at 03:30:31
Phil_S
Audiophile

Posts: 1145
Location: Washington DC
Joined: July 17, 2003
 Just starting out on the journey and have been doing a fair amount of reading. Currently most of my music is either Vinyl or CD with a bit of FM thrown in. I want to make lossless files of the CD.s and be able to play them on my main system controlling the playback process with an iPhone, tablet, or computer, etc. Budget is a BIG issue, I need to keep the costs down but the audio quality and functionality high.
So here's what I've come up with.
DAC:Shiit Modi3+ $100
Wireless Router: Netgear $200
Wireless Nodes:(3) $60
NAS 2 1TB drives $300

My big question, how do I connect the dots?

 

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RE: Newbie here - Basic question, posted on April 5, 2021 at 06:31:16
FlaCharlie
Audiophile

Posts: 940
Location: Gville, FL
Joined: June 1, 2003
 I'm new to all this too, so probably can't be of much help, and my approach is probably about 10 or 12 years out of date, but . . . if your budget is very limited and your intention is to mostly listen to burned CDs, why not just burn them to iTunes using Apple Lossless format?

That's what I've done in the past whenever I import CDs, many of which were checked out from the library. I usually play CDs from my own collection on a player as I've never gotten around to burning them all to the computer.

More recently, I'm using a few Apple Airport Express units to send music wirelessly (using Wi-Fi) to various systems around the house. The Express has a dual audio output. You can use its internal DAC and send analog out to a stereo or headphones. The same output is also a mini toslink digital output so you can bypass the internal DAC and use a newer external one, like the Modi3+. I just picked up a couple of the Airport Expresses on eBay. One was $13 shipped and the other was under $6. If you stream a lossless file from iTunes the output is also lossless.

I'm using the A1264 version of the Airport Express, which is the second version of the first generation, although some people mistakenly refer to as the second generation. Apple did make a second generation but they apparently have issues with audio skipping. Apple no longer makes or officially supports either version.

I'm sure there are many more modern and technically superior ways to do this but if you're on a tight budget this will work. I've mostly been using streaming sources off my computers (2012 Mac Mini and 2011 Macbook Pro) like Spotify, Radio Paradise, etc, all of which work fine like this too.

 

RE: Newbie here - Basic question, posted on April 5, 2021 at 07:50:54
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18286
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 A few questions..

1.) You say that you want to play them on your Main System? -- Does that mean your Main Stereo System? -- If so, what is it currently?

2.) Since you didn't list your Music Streamer in your list... Does that mean you already have a Music Streamer? -- If so, what kind? -- In other words what would feed the Digital Signal to the Schiit DAC that you listed?

3.) Most of the items on your list are Network Components. -- Does that mean you don't have any Network Gear Currently in your House?

If Budget is a big deal, it would be helpful to list what you currently own, in terms of Network Gear, Music Streamers, DACs etc.




 

RE: Newbie here - Basic question, posted on April 5, 2021 at 09:38:43
Phil_S
Audiophile

Posts: 1145
Location: Washington DC
Joined: July 17, 2003
 Cutthroat,

Good questions, I have an old 10+ years old Apple network. It's slow. No music streaming. No DAC.

I'm using a new Van Alstine 120 control amp and Vision phono phono pre. It only has 4 inputs, 1 for phono, CD/DVD player, Tuner, & TV box.

The DAC would be necessary to handle the CD/DVD player (audio only, probably use the optical input) and the network device to handle the audio playback on the CD files.

FlaCharlie, We've had issues with itunes in the past so may not want to go that route. Good to know about the Express, have one or two at the moment.





 

RE: Newbie here - Basic question, posted on April 5, 2021 at 09:52:16
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18286
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 OK, you mentioned the 'Network Device', which would be a Music Streamer. This was not on your list... But if you want quality within a tight Budget, I would recommend a Raspberry Pi with some free Streaming Software such as PiCorePlayer... this will run you under a $100 (It is what I use) and will have a USB input to your Schiit DAC.

Then to 'connect' the rest of the Dots, you should

1.) get someone over to your house (A knowledgeable friend) to help you get your Home Network Set up. Once that is set up and working. You can get the Music working. Get it set up right to avoid problems down the road.

2.) Then It is a matter of getting your CD's to disk... You need some software such as DBPowerAmp to do the copying (Ripping as it is referred to here).

3.) Get a Raspberry Pi to stream the CDs on your NAS to your Schiit DAC.

4.) Then you can add a Music Streaming Service for around $10-$15 and have access to about 50 Million Tracks of Music..





 

RE: Newbie here - Basic question, posted on April 5, 2021 at 10:42:52
MaggiesAndCats
Audiophile

Posts: 697
Joined: August 31, 2009
Contributor
  Since: July 16, 2010
 I'm new on the path too, but can add one thing I have learned so far. I'm streaming Amazon Music HD on a laptop, connected to the same Schiit DAC you have using a USB cable, then RCA cables to the preamp, etc. The biggest thing I found was my Wi-Fi was barely fast enough when the laptop was right next to the router. The router and laptop in the stereo room were on different floors on opposite ends of the house. I moved the modem/router to the same room as my stereo so I can connect to the laptop using an ethernet cable. Much better, and the Wi-Fi is fast enough to stream TV using a Roku stick in the old location. The bottom line is, make sure your internet speed is fast enough to start with. I'm cheap and try to get away with paying as little for internet as I can...

Regards,

Steve

 

As someone who was advised the same by Cut-Throat..., posted on April 5, 2021 at 21:50:33
raingerz
Audiophile

Posts: 547
Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: July 20, 2013
 I agree. The Raspberry Pi is the best way to go.

 

RE: As someone who was advised the same by Cut-Throat..., posted on April 6, 2021 at 13:36:06
zacster
Audiophile

Posts: 2179
Location: NYC
Joined: November 22, 2003
 I agree on the Pi, but I'd skip putting the CDs to a hard drive and go straight to streaming. Once you are on a service you'll never play them. There is so much music out there in all genres, and it will include everything that has ever been popular. Of the top 1000 classic rock songs I have found only one artist that isn't on Qobuz. And then there is new music Friday. Every Friday there will be a slew of new releases by artists old and new, "some that you recognize, some that you've hardly even heard of" (Celluloid Heroes by The Kinks, which I easily found on Qobuz)

 

I agree with you on this, as I hardly ever play mine ................, posted on April 6, 2021 at 13:55:56
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18286
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 But a newbie to streaming is almost impossible to convince of this, so I give the 'solution'. That's what they ask for, They are convinced they need it, and it is almost impossible to argue with them... So, I don't.



 

I have only about 25 CD albums on hard drive..., posted on April 6, 2021 at 22:28:50
raingerz
Audiophile

Posts: 547
Location: Long Island, NY
Joined: July 20, 2013
 So few that I don't even bother with an NAS, just a small hard drive plugged into the USB port on the RPi.

Qobuz does all the rest of the work.

 

RE: I agree with you on this, as I hardly ever play mine ................, posted on April 7, 2021 at 03:32:47
zacster
Audiophile

Posts: 2179
Location: NYC
Joined: November 22, 2003
 And once they do they'll wonder why they bothered spinning all those disks. If I put all of my CDs into a box and put it out on the street for people to take I wouldn't miss them. In fact, now that I say it, maybe I'll at least get rid of the display racks and just put them away. I've played one, just one, in the last year and that was to check out the new DAC. After 6 months of owning it and using it exclusively for streaming I thought I should at least try it on CD. Streaming sounded better since it was hi-res and that was that.

 

Yup, I gave away all my CDs about 5 years ago and never looked back......., posted on April 7, 2021 at 04:35:11
Cut-Throat
Audiophile

Posts: 18286
Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
Joined: September 2, 2000
Contributor
  Since: May 16, 2021
 Now all 5,000 CDs fit in my shirt pocket, just in case I need to play one.



 

RE: As someone who was advised the same by Cut-Throat..., posted on April 7, 2021 at 08:32:33
Gary
Audiophile

Posts: 1297
Location: New York, NY
Joined: April 21, 2000
 +1. C-T knows whereof he speaks. Raspberry Pi is a great solution.

 

RE: one issue with RPI: no way to stream Amazon HD, posted on April 7, 2021 at 18:56:20
LtMandella
 might be an issue for the OP...

 

RE I just play MCH............, posted on April 8, 2021 at 22:15:49
Javier
Audiophile

Posts: 338
Location: Laredo
Joined: December 14, 2005
 Disc either SACD Blu-ray or dvd audio the rest have been in a box for 6 years

 

RE: RE I just play MCH............, posted on April 9, 2021 at 09:35:53
Kal Rubinson
Reviewer

Posts: 12436
Location: New York
Joined: June 5, 2002
 All my SACD, BD and DVD-A are on my server for streaming and all the discs are in deep storage with the CDs.

 

Local music, posted on April 10, 2021 at 08:34:36
mlsstl
Audiophile

Posts: 1079
Location: Midwest
Joined: September 1, 2015
 I still regularly use my local collection. There are two reasons for that. First, I have a some material that was never released -- stuff that I recorded, demo/promo material that I received, LPs that I transferred that were never released on CD (or the CD wasn't as good) along with a fair amount of open reel material that I digitized. Qobuz is no help with that.

Second, my familiarity with my own collection makes browsing easier there than Qobuz. I often pick what I want to hear via folder browsing. The stuff may still be available on Qobuz but looking for songs there is a different experience. (In fact, the loss of folder browsing was one of the reasons I didn't stick with Roon after trying it.)

I'd guess I'm at 50:50 local v. streaming right now. The Qobuz percentage will probably creep up over time, but the local collection isn't going anywhere.

 

RE: Local music, posted on April 10, 2021 at 12:07:36
zacster
Audiophile

Posts: 2179
Location: NYC
Joined: November 22, 2003
 I guess one reason I never use my local collection is that I never really bought that many CDs. And of what I have maybe 5-10% would ever be played again and only a handful were ever put on iTunes. My LP collection is different and a lot would get played if I weren't lazy about putting them on and taking them off. I'll play one or two and go back to Qobuz. I tried digitizing a few LPs but it was too much trouble.

Here's a funny thing though. I played one of my digitized LPs and then pulled out the original LP and played it. The LP sounded better not because of the digitization but because I'd improved my LP playback! I could hear all the flaws of my TT that I'd tweaked out. The Rega Planar 3 that I use had the motor mounted to the plinth, and I remounted it to an isolation board and it became much quieter. I also have a much better cartridge, better dual belts, better bearing, stable reclocked power, etc... It all adds up to much better analog.

 

Sold the Accuphase CDP. Gave away all my CDs last year except...., posted on April 12, 2021 at 12:12:37
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46302
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
 I kept a small handful of CD's mainly to test the Blu-Ray player and my old Pioneer Elite PDR-19RW CD player/writer. I plan to sell the Pioneer soon.

All of my music now resides on the NAS and on a couple backup disk drives, plus I stream Tidal & Qobuz.



 

RE: Newbie here - Basic question, posted on April 20, 2021 at 04:37:56
Jaundiced Ear
Audiophile

Posts: 179
Joined: May 29, 2020
 Cut-Throat gives good advice. Pay attention to Cut-Throat's posts.

In the meantime, understand that modern audio streams are far beyond what people used to listen to and thought were magnificent. While you continue your pursuit to hear the sounds that Angels enjoy, remember that there is even more music encoded in good enough for humans format that you can enjoy and indeed have an absolute ball with.

JE

 

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