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Post by MartinT on Nov 13, 2017 20:43:22 GMT
I never want to do that again! I did it for car mp3 files and that was enough.
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Post by John on Dec 1, 2017 15:51:51 GMT
I am now using a battery with a 12v to 5v converter In my system adds more detail so my digital front end is all battery powered Bargain upgrade
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Post by MartinT on Dec 1, 2017 17:51:04 GMT
Mine, too (for Spotify, don't bother much with files).
The 12V DC to 5V DC converter works really well, doesn't it?
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Post by speedysteve on Dec 2, 2017 17:24:32 GMT
This is very interesting. I'm undecided too as to wanting or needing a Pi. Is a tricked up Pi solution better than a laptop that's been configured nicely for file serving and or a dedicated music server such as Gigabyte brix? Lets stick to flac files only for this comparison. Next question is, does the Pi do something wonderful with Spotify? I generally find music with Spotify sounds less good than flac. Esp complex pieces. I can't tolerate second best so don't use it for hifi. This is of course just running Spotify on my laptop instead of flac. So does Pi do something special? It is such that I really wasn't using Spotify for anything these days and thus cancelled my sub last month!! Quite the opposite of you Martin I was a very early adopter. Way, way back when you had to be invited by an existing subscriber. I used it on my phone to download music to listen to on the train.. don't require that anymore.
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Post by John on Dec 2, 2017 20:34:38 GMT
I had a interesting day So the pi in my system with the Caiman SEQ on windows SQ quite weak no good with complex music I would not use this as a prime source. With the Digi 1 can enjoy complex music. With my friends cunas dac and reclocker on the dedicated file player Spotify better than the Digi 1 and much better using bughead. The Cunas with the reclocker is four times the cost so its not a fair comparison but shows possible to get decent sounds from Windows using Spotify. The Digi 1 still sounded excellent in its own right.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 2, 2017 21:06:59 GMT
Is a tricked up Pi solution better than a laptop that's been configured nicely for file serving and or a dedicated music server such as Gigabyte brix? Lets stick to flac files only for this comparison. Next question is, does the Pi do something wonderful with Spotify? For the Pi versus laptop as source, I think the Pi wins every time if you use a dedicated build such as Volumio. FLAC versus Spotify is a tricky one. For me, I've tried various FLAC files versus the same music from Spotify and the latter sounds better. Can't explain it, but it's very repeatable in my system. Files do sound better when remotely served compared with using the local USB sockets.
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Post by speedysteve on Dec 2, 2017 23:20:33 GMT
Well, now I'm confused but on a higher level
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Post by John on Dec 3, 2017 7:22:37 GMT
I still think my PC server is very good with the Cunas ISO DAC is pretty much in your Ayre ball park listening to the difference so in terms of just sound quality that is pretty good value, but cannot afford and very happy with the Digi 1
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Post by Tim on Dec 3, 2017 9:58:02 GMT
I'll add to the confusion, but FLAC files on a well built (PC/Windows) server have always sounded better than the majority of Spotify music for me, in fact I'm struggling to think of when Spotify has bettered it?
That's not to say Spotify isn't listenable or enjoyable, as that would be unfair. Just when it comes to a direct comparison, FLAC on my server is sonically superior to Spotify playing the same music - it's not hard to spot either. It's better whether that be music played from a directly connected HDD or from a NAS.
In my experience on both laptops and on dedicated music servers, a USB connected drive sounds inferior to the two aforementioned methods (HDD/NAS) - for convenience and speed of loading artwork I personally prefer a HDD connected direct to the motherboard - the difference in sound quality is marginal in my case, so much so I struggle to tell the difference at times. I tend to use a NAS for a backup of the FLAC library on my music server. Also, the laptops (3) I have tried also suffer sound quality wise against a purpose built server - again it's marginal, but enough for me to prefer a purpose built server with a good power supply over a laptop. Having said that, I'm using a laptop at the moment as I'm building a new server and it's certainly doing a good enough job.
I use a USB connected Rega DAC and almost exclusively play Red Book files.
I have not carried out a direct comparison between a Raspberry Pi and my music server playing Spoitfy.
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2017 14:20:56 GMT
If something Digital is too much pissing about i cut it straight off. I refuse to fart about with any boxes or Software setting up..
I even used a Tablet connected to my Streamer to good effect. I never ever take Digital as serious Hi-Fi anyway so what sounds good & easy will do.
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Post by speedysteve on Dec 3, 2017 15:25:16 GMT
Not wanting to go to far off topic but this may apply to all.. I've found switching WiFi off and using LAN to give better SQ. Also, no upsampling in the player and shutting all else down in Windows helps.
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Post by MartinT on Dec 3, 2017 17:36:40 GMT
Ethernet cable always gives better quality over wi-fi due to less laggy packets and fewer retries.
Not a choice for me at the moment.
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Post by speedysteve on Dec 3, 2017 19:05:06 GMT
Ethernet cable always gives better quality over wi-fi due to less laggy packets and fewer retries. Not a choice for me at the moment. Is that OTA streaming Martin? I can fully understand that. I meant from HDD through USB and in. Turning WiFi off improves the sound in the latter case too. Not spitting stuff in, or less load I don't know..
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Post by MartinT on Dec 4, 2017 7:02:30 GMT
Yes, I was referring to internet streaming Steve.
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Post by Tim on Dec 4, 2017 8:00:07 GMT
I've found switching WiFi off and using LAN to give better SQ. Scott Berry from CAD has for sometime shared a lot of his knowledge on how to set-up a Windows machine for music playback Steve, I've been switching off pretty much everything in my servers for years now, you can be quite brutal but of course by doing this it loses functionality as a Windows PC, but as mine are always purely music players and nothing else, that's not an issue. I used to go as far as editing the registry, but tinker a lot less these days as I'm happy with where I am as far as a Windows player is concerned. I use JRiver for software. There's a whole host of optimization tweaks on his support pages. I've never met Scott but used to communicate via email when he first started down this road. He's a top guy and has advanced file based audio from a fledgling product into a very serious contender in the Hi-Fi market. It's certainly worth having a browse through his papers if you never have before?
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Post by speedysteve on Dec 4, 2017 13:27:03 GMT
I've found switching WiFi off and using LAN to give better SQ. Scott Berry from CAD has for sometime shared a lot of his knowledge on how to set-up a Windows machine for music playback Steve, I've been switching off pretty much everything in my servers for years now, you can be quite brutal but of course by doing this it loses functionality as a Windows PC, but as mine are always purely music players and nothing else, that's not an issue. I used to go as far as editing the registry, but tinker a lot less these days as I'm happy with where I am as far as a Windows player is concerned. I use JRiver for software. There's a whole host of optimization tweaks on his support pages. I've never met Scott but used to communicate via email when he first started down this road. He's a top guy and has advanced file based audio from a fledgling product into a very serious contender in the Hi-Fi market. It's certainly worth having a browse through his papers if you never have before? Yep, I've been through the how tos and done the tweaks. I use jriver too. Great with Gizmo to control it.. I tried a few 'hair shirt' players and didn't find them any better TBH.
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Post by John on Dec 17, 2017 20:28:36 GMT
A few little inexpensive tweaks Using Ethernet cable Cat 7se and added Snap chokes to leads to the pi and Caiman. This has given better mids and treble retrieval My own experience with Spotify with Windows really struggled unless using the IsoDac which is the best I heard Spotify. WAV still better on the server with this set up. I used to really dislike Spotify due to not getting the bass I wanted on more complex music. With the Digi One and Caiman I prefer Spotify to WAV slight edge in treble in my system when using WAV. Spotify now my main listening preference due to ease of use, sound quality being better than it has any right to be and access to music. I am not saying its better than WAV AS IT NOT. I JUST NOT BOTHERED WITH THE DIFFERENCE ANYMORE
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Post by MartinT on Dec 17, 2017 21:06:14 GMT
I'm using snap chokes too, John, on the power cable from battery to DC-DC converter and to the Pi. Didn't think of trying one on the S/PDIF co-ax cable but will try it.
I honestly find Spotify really good now, it's a complete revelation having access to so much music.
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Post by John on Dec 17, 2017 21:44:13 GMT
I'm using snap chokes too, John, on the power cable from battery to DC-DC converter and to the Pi. Didn't think of trying one on the S/PDIF co-ax cable but will try it. I honestly find Spotify really good now, it's a complete revelation having access to so much music. Yes constantly surprises me how good it can Sound
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Post by MikeMusic on Dec 18, 2017 10:47:15 GMT
Well, now I'm confused but on a higher level Story of my life !
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