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Post by John on Jun 21, 2014 6:22:12 GMT
I been using files to listen to music for a few years now and over the years been impressed by how the far this medium has moved on. Its strange that I chosen this path as I am not that computer savvy Their are now many paths to using files at present I choose a slightly alternative path compared to most people. What I decided to share is a rough guide to using file based audio. The first bit is the time consuming bit is putting your music onto files I use exact audio copy to rip files exactaudiocopy.de/ This a open source software You can choose if you want to record via WAV or FLAC I use WAV as it makes it easier for me to use with few different systems. Do not use MP3 I also choose not to use loseless The next step is to back up your audio files on separate Hard drives as hard drives can fail. The next is then to chose the transport method Most people will use either a pc or laptop but you can also use media players and blue ray players with USB inputs. If using a PC you have a lot of choice from Apple, Chrome Linux and Windows. Most people will have Windows. With Windows you have a number of different software you can use to access and play files Jriver Very easy to use and gives you the option of up-scaling to DSD shows album covers and can play from memory but you need to purchase Media Monkey Very similar to Jriver Itunes is free but if you using it to record music change settings to either FLAC or WAV if burning music files You then have some expensive software solutions like Jplay and xxxhighend I tried Jplay and used to lie it in terms of SQ its a very minimal player but these days their are open source players like MQn that are being developed online and if you do not mind the minimal playback in return in my view you get the best sound Their are lots of different media players some cheap some expensive I have not heard any so cannot comment on SQ At the moment I am using a blue ray player to play my files it allows me to skip and move around easily and sounds surprisingly good if going through a decent DAC. I connect a SSD drive to the USB input I use a usb adapter (male to female USB3 as using SSD) rather than a cable (why use a cable if you do not have to is my view point) Their a lot you can do to computers to improve their performance but I leave that to someone with more technical knowledge than me |
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Post by The Brookmeister on Jun 21, 2014 8:06:44 GMT
The only problem with file based audio is its computer related and computers like to be left alone! If your music server or macbook pro or whatever else you use to play your flacs etc is connected to the web then its a recipe for disaster IMO. Based on my experiences anyway as an avid music enthusiast but a pc dumbo!
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Post by MartinT on Jun 21, 2014 8:14:05 GMT
I think that's why I like streamers, which only have an Ethernet connection. I too don't really like the idea of a noisy computer in my hi-fi environment.
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Post by John on Jun 21, 2014 8:31:10 GMT
What a lot of the software is trying to work around those issues MQn is worth a try if you can live with its basic function
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Post by John on Jun 21, 2014 8:39:49 GMT
About 2 years back I had a interesting debate with a guy who thought computer audio was in his words not fine wine. So rather than get into a argument I think this etc I decided to take a laptop and dac up against his Merdian top of the range CD player I was using Jplay at the time and a Tara DAC and it was hard to hear the differences. Within that time MQn has taken windows based audio a lot further and DACs have also improved
The issue with MQn is its hard to set up and a very basic player but its back in the same ball park as my tt for a lot less money (I do not use expensive cartridges and phono stages so might be different if I did)
I also think paying a lot of thought to the power supplies on a computer makes a big difference If Tim ever decides to start building audio computers I certainly give it a go. Tim is a poster on AOS that has built his own machine
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Post by The Brookmeister on Jun 21, 2014 8:41:19 GMT
The squeezebox touch was "the" best pc audio device IMO, I will never get rid of mine!
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Post by John on Jun 21, 2014 8:42:01 GMT
Yes a great device shame they stopped it
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Post by MartinT on Jun 21, 2014 8:44:56 GMT
I agree - the Logitech Touch is a superb bit of kit, what a shame it was discontinued. With the EDO and TT2 mods and battery power, it becomes an extremely good streamer into a good DAC like the Beresford Bushmaster Mk.II.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 21, 2014 8:45:18 GMT
I hope that Tim will join us and give us an insight into his PC build.
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Post by John on Jun 21, 2014 11:07:52 GMT
Yes me too I always like his approach to it
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2014 13:05:54 GMT
For the last 12 years I have been personally listening to file bases devices both in the studio and at home, it has taken the last three years to produce a unit that seriously competes with some of the very high end players.
However the software is still the biggest factor in how well a server / PC based system sounds.
You can have both great and dire vinyl, same for CD and files, high resolution is no guarantee quality sounds!
In fact some of the best files I have are red book quality downloads (1.411Mps Flacs)a real natural. open and grain free musical presentation.
I also feel that ripped CD's do not offer the same level of performance despite being bit perfect (big can of worms here however worth the debate)
Both John and Martin have experienced this on a recent visit.
There is still life left in CD without question, however all things being equal the biggest effect (imho)is the original transfer from the source material to the other formats which count as much as the playback chain.
Whether you are dragging a rock around a piece of plastic, shinning a specific frequency light at a spinning disc, recovering data from a magnetic drum or reading data from a flash drive / memory stick / SSD think how each process is performing this?
Currently working on a new idea that involves me slaving the outgoing usb clock from the PC to the my Rubidium master clock(which already has a dedicated ultra low noise power supply and rebuilt mother board)
Early indications are quite positive
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Post by John on Jun 21, 2014 13:12:24 GMT
Yes wish their was more redbook downloads
File based audio has come a long way in the last few years
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Post by John on Jun 21, 2014 13:15:59 GMT
Any tips you can pass on Tony
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2014 13:38:10 GMT
John do check out Rhino records for more decent red book quality tracks. www.rhino.co.uk/With regard to building a server / pc there are many options available to people, most as Martin has commented on would refer a branded streamer / ripper as it involves the minimum of fuss plus the auto cataloging etc. There are a few who wish to take sound quality to the next level, however this is a minefield of CAPS / Raspberry PI / dedicated pc music servers each with their own guru's and way of making it work. They key for PC audio is keeping things quiet, low powered processing, separate graphics board (cheapy), improved power supplies and a significant amount of internal shielding as most pC's are awash with RFI (clocks generate this in abundance)and EMI PC on the whole use high powered switch mode power supplies which really are the anti thesis of quality audio. Isolating the useable data stream, good incoming mains supply also helps. the software player is equally important There is much more to it, however starting somewhere and understanding the basis will help guide you to constructing your own quality digital transport. |
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Post by John on Jun 21, 2014 13:49:36 GMT
Yes Rhino is good but still find it hard to get music I want (just a fussy old sod these days)
What you say about quality PC audio makes a lot of sense
I think if you using a PC also seeing it as dedicated player without other stuff going on makes a lot of sense if you taking it seriously
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2014 14:56:37 GMT
Hi John
My server is not connected to net, nor does it perform any task other than being a dedicated player.
Files / software updates are loaded on via portable SSD's.
Most people will use their pc for multiple uses so may not be possible to totally achieve the best in playback, however improvements can still be obtained.
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Post by Tim on Jun 21, 2014 16:34:13 GMT
. . . nor does it perform any task other than being a dedicated player. Couldn't agree more that this is the way to achieve the best results, with the addition of a good power supply which can under certain circumstances be a SMPS, but it has to be a good one and not a cheap Chinese massed produced PSU. |
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Post by brian2957 on Jun 29, 2014 9:14:21 GMT
I've also been into file based audio foe a few years now and agree with much of what has been written here . Like some on here I'm a bit of a computer numpty and rely on a friend to keep my computer / server in good working order . I currently use a Power Inspired AG500 mains regererator and a Maplins PSU , or sometimes a 12v car battery to power my PC . I use JRiver media player and it's surprising the amount of options which I have to tailor the sound within this programme . There are also various programmes like Fidelizer available to close down certain elements of the computers background activities to improve the sound and IMHO most of them work.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 29, 2014 13:07:24 GMT
I've been running a squeezebox classic from a hacked linkstation NAS unit since 2006/2007. The disk is now full and the whole thing is creaking somewhat. It is connected to the internet but is restricted to MP3 streams as the cpu will only support slimserver up to 6.2.2(sqlite), so no BBC streams. I've been threatening to upgrade for a couple of years but just havn't got round to it.
I was thinking of an atom based, fanless server, but there are now caddy type NAS units that you can telnet into or that already have server software loaded, that you can just insert a number of HDDs into. This time I want to avoid the hastle of hacking into the server box.
I might stick with the squeezebox for the interim but I have a beaglebone black which I could knock into shape as a client sometime in the future.
I'm looking for suggestions along these lines at the moment. It's a minefield when you get out of touch with this technology.
edit: I have to add that the buffalo linkstation has been running 24/7 for the last 8 years and has only ever been switched off to take to exhibitions for demo purposes. I wonder if it's replacement will be as reliable...heres 1 vote for buffalo NAS units.
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Post by MartinT on Jun 29, 2014 14:32:56 GMT
Some people are having great success with a Raspbery Pi and all the streaming software available for it. I like my Touch and will stay with it, especially since hearing it with a Caiman II (more about that soon).
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