Computer Audio Asylum

Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

Use this form to submit comments directly to the Asylum moderators for this forum. We're particularly interested in truly outstanding posts that might be added to our FAQs.
You may also use this form to provide feedback or to call attention to messages that may be in violation of our content rules.

You must login to use this feature.

Inmate Login

By default, logging in will set a session cookie that disappears when you close your browser. Clicking on the 'Remember my Moniker & Password' below will cause a permanent 'Login Cookie' to be set.

Moniker/Username: The Name that you picked or by default, your email. Forgot Moniker?	Examples "Rapper", "Bob W", "joe@aol.com".
Password:	Forgot Password?
	Remember my Moniker & Password ( What's this?)

If you don't have an Asylum Account, you can create one by clicking Here.

Our privacy policy can be reviewed by clicking Here.

Inmate Comments

From:
Your Email:
Subject:

Message Comments

Original Message

You really do not have to be concerned about all this

Posted by PAR on August 18, 2020 at 15:55:45:
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!