81.151.2.115
In Reply to: RE: Ripp Flac files and dump the CDP?? posted by astrostar59 on December 11, 2012 at 06:50:31
I use Amarra (does not upsample) and Audivarna (can upsample, I beg to differ, it can be very interesting when it does at say 2 X 44.1kHz) into a NOS DAC.
Bitperfect is also good. There is also Pure Music. As stated try them all. Yes I use the cheapo optical drive inside the Mac, robustness counts for little IMHO as ripping is not a real time activity like a CDP (Yes I know some of them buffer now) and rips can be error corrected.
As stated Memory Play is good as exclusive programme access often known as Hog mode.
I have done a great deal of tweaking and I have no doubt 'Computer Audio' can be a better digital play back system than CDP, but as I said there are some hard miles in getting to this point....there is a Rubicon and once crossed there is no return....
Follow Ups:
Hi Blueixus
I read your post with interest. What tweaking have you done to feed your AN DAC with a pure music stream?
If I go ahead with the computer streamer route, it would probably me Mac Mini and V-Link as apposed to Naim and UnitiServe. I like the idea of a Mac Mini being expandible and fixable. The Naim UnitiServe, though probably ok 'out of the box' could prove to hold things back as technology progresses. Also the Niam no doubt has a budget typical CD drive that has to read DVD as well as CD, and thus will no doubt fall over in 2 years, as all other cheapo PC based opticals seem to.
I am tempted to go V-Link from my iMac to try out the sound first, maybe with Real Music and some tweaks. If it proved close to my CEC CDP into my AN DAC 3.1, I might look at Off-Ramp 5, as that claims to be a world beater for USB to SPDIFF.
It is a shame Apple don't make a dedicated music server Mac Mini, to take the heart ache, lost cash and guesswork out of the set-ups. I noticed around half the guys on AudioGon have got to a place where they are happy, the rest are still not close it seems?
Firstly I absolutely agree with your thoughts on the Naim route, destined to obsolete.
A quick list of my tweaks:
Hardware:
Mac Mini has SSD for the operating system and as much RAM as it will take. I use a Mac Mini that has an external PSU which is Linear. (This dates my Mac Mini as the last two generations have in built PSUs!)
I store all my music on an external Hard Drive. This is bespoke and uses an SoTM in line Sata filter and a 2.5" 5400 rpm drive in a modified Weibetech ToughTech Q 3.5" caddy, it has it's own linear PSU. It is connected to the Mac by firewire.
The key thing about the USB converter are the quality of the clocks & PSUs. I am not sure that V-Link is great in this department and interestingly the Off Ramp is probably to good for the Audio Note Dac as the SPDIF receiver on the AN DAC board is OK but not up to the quality and precision of the Off Ramp 5. The mid price M2Tech EVO is a good middle ground as it has the ability to be upgraded with a better PSU and Clock in time. ( i may be wrong here but I think the M2Tech and the Off Ramp use the same XMOS chipset)
Software:
iTunes as the base (controlled by itunes remote via ipad), reading AIFF files.
For playback I use Amarra, it is my favorite but PM, Bitperfect, Fidelia and Audivarna are all good. Prior to this set up I had a Teac Esoteric Transport, my system now outperforms that but it has taken time.......
Great reply Blueixus!
I would probably try a similar setup. I would need to buy an alternative firewire external, as I xcan't see any Tough Tech for sale in the UK?
Another question, what cd-reader (external) do use use. I have read somewhere that reading at 1x is important for error free cd reads to AIFF files.
I am struggling to find a decent audiophile build external cd reader. All the ones seem to be 50 US plastic models. Any insight on a decent model would be great.
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: