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In Reply to: RE: Your HELP Is Needed posted by thetubeguy1954 on August 17, 2020 at 12:31:25
I guess we are of a comarable age. So let's go back to the 1960s. You wanted to hear music at home. You had three choices, radio, records or tape. You could become technically involved and build your own amplifier, speakers etc. If so you needed to acquire huge amounts of electrical and other relevant technical and scientific information. Then become aware of how that manifested itself in real life components and how they could work together and subsequently spend hours with a soldering iron and workbench.
Or you could just go to a store, buy the whole lot ready assembled and be listening that evening.
It is just the same with computer audio. However that phrase is now dated and only precisely fits one part of the hobby - that part that is a metaphor for the guys with the soldering irons on the 1960s. Virtually all of the technology that until recently required a fair amount of computing, software and hardware knowledge is now awaiting you pre-packaged in an off-the-shelf black box. Unfortunately as others have pinted out the Oppo really pre-dates this. You don't even need a computer as such.Prices range from surprisingly low to the sky is the limit.
It is great if you do want to be involved with programming a Raspberry Pi and finding out about various drives etc. and many get great enjoyment from this. But if, like me , you decide that life (or what is left of it) is too short and you just want to listen to your favourite music in great quality but by using the latest technology then just Google "streaming DACs". Just list your requirements (including budget) match the model to them and away you go.
Yes, as others point out, you don't even need a CD collection any more. Just get a streamer that provides access to, say, Qobuz and/or Tidal and you are set (with a subscription). All you need to is connect the streamer to your router and to your existing audio system. Download the control app to your phone or tablet. That's it!
"We need less, but better" - Dieter Rams
Follow Ups:
Quite honestly, I'd like to be able to click on a tablet, see the CDs I have, and then select play to listen to what I want to hear as simply and easily as I possibly can. This is exactly what I'd like to learn how to do...
Thetubeguy1954 (Tom)
Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society
Full-range/Wide-range Drivers --- Front & Back-Loaded Horns --- High Sensitivity Speakers
" I'd like to be able to click on a tablet, see the CDs I have, and then select play to listen to what I want to hear as simply and easily as I possibly can."
A type of simple solution is linked for your interest. This is only an example and it may or may not exactly suit your needs and budget (this one is fairly expensive). I just selected it as I know from personal experience how excellent the Melco streamers/servers are and the publicity flyer linked does show how straightforward it can be. Of course there are numerous alternatives at various price points.
As you want to access your own CDs then you will need to rip them to its (or an alternative's) storage. All you need is a piece of software such as dbpoweramp downloaded to your PC. You will need an optical drive, I use a cheap external USB one from LG. Just insert the CD and the software will automatically find all of the metadata and artwork. You check it (edit f required)then press "Rip". This process does not happen in real time so a few minutes later all will be done.
You will need a USB DAC but this requirement is going to be a common factor for virtually any route that you choose.Loads of alternatives again at various price and quality points.
I note that you have referred to the subject of backups elsewhere. Essential of course and a copy held offsite is needed in the case of burglary or fire or flood.I used to lodge one with a friend but I found that my additions to the dtatabase occured nore frequently than how often I saw him. So I now use cloud storage for the offsite backup.
I hope that is of some help.
"We need less, but better" - Dieter Rams
Thanks, PAR! This is exactly the type of ease in playback that I'm talking about! Oh yeah, and I love the backup copy in the cloud suggestion!
Thetubeguy1954 (Tom)
Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society
Full-range/Wide-range Drivers --- Front & Back-Loaded Horns --- High Sensitivity Speakers
There are a range of choices from free server software like Logitech Media Server (LMS) to metadata rich Roon which does cost a bit. Here's my view using iPeng app on iPad:
You can select content from your library in a number of different ways or simply use the search tool. Build a playlist on the fly. Save them. Select by album. Or, have the player randomly walk through your library. I've rediscovered some old friends that way!
I also subscribe to Qobuz so that and the world of internet radio are other choices. Albums or tracks you have designated as "favorites" on Qobuz appear as though they are stored in your library.
Hi E-Stat!
That's exactly how I want my display to look like! Thanks for showing that to me...
Thetubeguy1954 (Tom)
Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society
Full-range/Wide-range Drivers --- Front & Back-Loaded Horns --- High Sensitivity Speakers
But the thing is that you still have to rip your cds to a hard drive and that takes a considerable amount of time. I subscribed to Qobuz and never looked at my cd collection again.
Yes, as others point out, you don't even need a CD collection any more. Just get a streamer that provides access to, say, Qobuz and/or Tidal and you are set (with a subscription).
Only if that were truly the case. I have lots of titles not found on either service. I currently subscribe to Qobuz Studio.
E-Stat that's exactly what I've heard, I wonder if the jazz band Continuum and their CD "Continuum" or Bill Cunliffe's jazzy "Paul Simon Songbook " is listed on these sites, or the Prog-rock CDs such as Aorta's "Aorta" and Fireballet's " "Night On Bald Mountain" " these are some CDs I just couldn't live without...
Thetubeguy1954 (Tom)
Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society
Full-range/Wide-range Drivers --- Front & Back-Loaded Horns --- High Sensitivity Speakers
On Qobuz I couldn't find Continuum, but there are lots of bands with that name. Bill Cunliffe is out there but I didn't see "Paul Simon Songbook". Both Aorta and Fireballet are there, and even better both are in hi-res 24/96 which surprised even me. This is typical that rock is there but jazz is a lot more spotty as a lot of it wasn't widely distributed in the first place.
As I've stated alreaedy in another post though, there is nothing stopping you from playing your CD of something not on Qobuz. But also, you'll spend so much time on new music you won't want to except on a rare occasion.
Thanks, Zacster! That's the Fireballet recording I was speaking about. I have to admit to being a bit surprised that and Aorta were both listed...
Thetubeguy1954 (Tom)
Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society
Full-range/Wide-range Drivers --- Front & Back-Loaded Horns --- High Sensitivity Speakers
OK I am guilty of exaggeration in the service of encouragement.
But it depends to a great extent on what your record collection is and in what esteem it is held. Many people are now streaming for the great majority of their musical entertainment needs. Me? Mostly streaming, however even my LP collection is still not fully available on silver disc after 37 years. And I daresay people were hanging on to their 78s as the repertoire never made it to LP. The margins will always be there I expect.
"We need less, but better" - Dieter Rams
I made playlists of the top 1043 classic rock songs of all time (104.3 FM in NYC sponsors this each Thanksgiving weekend). Of those 1000+ songs only the music from Bob Seger was not available anywhere on Qobuz.
Now classic rock might not be your thing or your only thing, it isn't mine either, but that's a pretty damn good hit rate. On top of that at least 50% of the titles are in a hi-res format. This is of course because these were mostly recorded in analog and remastered for first CD then DVD-A or SACD and online sales.
I'm sure there are rare classical recordings out there on vinyl, but I would venture to say that a lot of CD is available because the only sales/royalty life left on them is streaming.
I'm not into esoteric music, nor those bands that may have produced 100 copies of a live performance on LP. There is so much to explore on the streaming services that you may never listen to those records again anyway. And nothing is stopping you from popping it into a turntable or CD player. My experience is that you never will.
I agree with just about everything you say. Streaming music is a fabulous resource. However not everything is available but I think it worth remembering that it is also a pretty new format ( Qobuz USA are only just into their second year) so their catalogues are ever expanding with many gaps being filled as time goes by.
Nevertheless I do know of companies who have taken the decision to never allow their titles to be streamed. Unfortunately for my music interests that includes one of the most important labels in classical music (nearly all new classical music now comes from independents). I have spoken with their CEO and he has solid economic reasons for this decision. I just hope that the increasing penetration and value of streaming to the recording industry may eventually serve to change his mind.
"We need less, but better" - Dieter Rams
Which classical label is that? I listen to classical but haven't paid attention to the labels.
Hyperion.
One of the most innovative of the independent classical labels who have built a large and impressive catalogue over the years and continue with a regular diverse monthly release schedule.
"We need less, but better" - Dieter Rams
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