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Post by julesd68 on Nov 9, 2018 9:53:02 GMT
My digital journey is about to begin - how long it lasts I don't know but for the first time ever I'm determined to see if it can satisfy my needs or at least a major part of them. So I thought I would start a blog to document the progress, good or bad. One thing is for sure - I need a break from vinyl, simple as that. Whether it is temporary or permanent at this stage, I can’t say. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sound of great vinyl on my current system - to me it reproduces the timbre of non-electronic instruments most accurately, and to my ears feels closest to the 'live experience' I have in my head, but I have had it up to my neck with the problems of buying vinyl. Just too many disappointments with both new and old vinyl, and also the time wasted in trying to find the right quality and having to return dodgy discs. Then there's the long cleaning sessions on the RCM! Prices are another matter - I think it has become way too expensive collecting vinyl and I often found myself waiting a long time trying to get a particular record at a price I liked. Then there is access to new recordings. In classical music there are still relatively few new releases on vinyl and they are very much of varying quality and price. The best can be eye-wateringly expensive. With Spotify I will be able to try and enjoy the latest classical releases. That really does open up my listening to an entirely new level and I'm really looking forward to discovering new artists. I'm certainly not planning on selling my vinyl collection any time soon though; it has taken blood, sweat and tears to reach where it is now and I hope to be able to enjoy it again, but I really don't see myself buying any more. I actually find this somewhat of a release for the reasons mentioned earlier. And to be honest I think I have pretty much everything that I really wanted to get now.  |
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Post by John on Nov 9, 2018 10:07:28 GMT
I am interested in his car you will go down on the dark side. Will you get to the point like Martin and myself where you no longer care about the source of will you get frustrated with getting digital to sound right
I think best to connect to your Tannoys first before trying them in the ST just to get your hear around the sound.
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Post by MikeMusic on Nov 9, 2018 10:29:16 GMT
Promiscuity is the way forward Vinyl, CD, files can all deliver and I see them staying as part of my system for a long time to come. Streaming is set to be the easiest to access and deliver if not already so. |
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Post by MartinT on Nov 9, 2018 10:41:07 GMT
I have found it surprisingly easy to adapt to streaming as a source. In fact, the user interface is the most important thing between me and the music and Spotify satisfies (mostly) with an intuitive set of controls and search that works most of the time. I felt some resistance getting used to the idiosyncrasies but that has passed now. What I'm left with is fast access to my playlists and search that's not perfect but usable.
The sound quality never ceases to amaze me although it handles limited analogue recordings (e.g. Hawkwind Space Ritual or the Mercury Chicago Fritz Reiners) much better than dodgy digital recordings (e.g. Coldplay X&Y or the mid 1980s DGs).
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Post by Slinger on Nov 9, 2018 12:09:28 GMT
Can we assume you're heading for the Pi/Volumio/SEG confluence, Jules, or are you looking at more 'exotic' solutions?
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 9, 2018 12:33:08 GMT
A very timely question Paul - I'm hoping for a couple of 'hardware' deliveries this afternoon! So this is what the system is going to look like - allo digione player / volumio >
Topping D30 DAC >
Consonance Cyber 222 mkII pre >
Philips DC380 >
Sonus Faber Venere 2.5 The only component of my analogue system that I am definitely using is the Philips power amp which I already love, and it was incredible in John's digital system so an absolute no-brainer keeping it here. I’m going to try both my valve pre and a passive with it to see what works best. I am quite happy to admit that the speakers were an impulse purchase and bought them with around 30 mins ex-dem use. I wanted to try something different for this system. Their size and front port means they have a good chance of working in my room. And they look rather gorgeous too ... However as a result I have had to 'downsize' my DAC possibilities and so I'm trying a Topping D30 which I've heard very good things about and am looking forward to seeing what it can do. This is all a starting point - I will develop the system when and where I feel it's necessary. Most importantly I want to really start exploring Spoti and enjoying some new music ...  |
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Post by Slinger on Nov 9, 2018 12:44:15 GMT
I have never, knowingly, heard one, but I can only applaud your decision to go for something with great big, f*ck off, meters on the front, Jules.  And the speakers do, indeed, look gorgeous. You will be able to spend many happy hours just sitting and looking at your new system. |
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 9, 2018 12:54:38 GMT
I've already spent quite a few hours just looking at the new speakers Paul as I've not been able to shift the Tannoys yet - when loading the massive cartons into my car I managed to upset my lower back again (chronic problem I have) and have actually been struggling to even walk much the past few days!
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Post by Slinger on Nov 9, 2018 13:08:46 GMT
I've already spent quite a few hours just looking at the new speakers Paul as I've not been able to shift the Tannoys yet - when loading the massive cartons into my car I managed to upset my lower back again (chronic problem I have) and have actually been struggling to even walk much the past few days! I can empathise with that, Jules. The first time my back "went" I was getting up, out of my chair, at work, nothing else, just that. It was so bad I had to go home. I ended up being off work for a couple of weeks and one of the managing directors, who also suffered with his back, paid for some sessions with a chiropractor. I've also seen a physiotherapist about it and was given some useful exercises. I hope you're pain-free again very soon. I wonder if excessive head-banging has weakened your back... |
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digititis
Nov 9, 2018 13:09:38 GMT
via mobile
Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2018 13:09:38 GMT
It’s a pity you’ve fallen out of love with Vinyl, but you now have an opportunity to explore so much more varied music and genres via streaming solutions like, Spotify.
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digititis
Nov 9, 2018 13:17:50 GMT
via mobile
Post by Clive on Nov 9, 2018 13:17:50 GMT
Good luck with your back....these things are very dibilitating and are hardly conducive to making relaxed choices.
Are you planning for a decent power supply for the Pi?
How come you've fallen out of Tannoy love?
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Post by MartinT on Nov 9, 2018 13:27:55 GMT
I managed to upset my lower back again (chronic problem I have) and have actually been struggling to even walk much the past few days! I hope my rather low car didn't make it worse! |
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 9, 2018 13:36:49 GMT
I managed to upset my lower back again (chronic problem I have) and have actually been struggling to even walk much the past few days! I hope my rather low car didn't make it worse! Not at all Martin - I wouldn't have missed that either! |
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 9, 2018 13:40:50 GMT
Good luck with your back....these things are very dibilitating and are hardly conducive to making relaxed choices. Are you planning for a decent power supply for the Pi? How come you've fallen out of Tannoy love? Hi Clive - yes the back issue has caused me a lot of problems over recent years but it's really up to me to try and do the right exercises and stay out of trouble. Some times I am my own worst enemy in this regard. Not thought much about the Pi power side of things I must admit - do you have any suggestions? The funny thing is that I absolutely love my Tannoys with vinyl but just thought it would be good to try something more contemporary with this digital system. Just a hunch I guess! I’ll end up keeping which ever wins me over as I can’t keep both sadly. It would be a real wrench to move on the Tannoys but will cross that bridge when and if we come to it. |
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 9, 2018 13:43:11 GMT
I've already spent quite a few hours just looking at the new speakers Paul as I've not been able to shift the Tannoys yet - when loading the massive cartons into my car I managed to upset my lower back again (chronic problem I have) and have actually been struggling to even walk much the past few days! I can empathise with that, Jules. The first time my back "went" I was getting up, out of my chair, at work, nothing else, just that. It was so bad I had to go home. I ended up being off work for a couple of weeks and one of the managing directors, who also suffered with his back, paid for some sessions with a chiropractor. I've also seen a physiotherapist about it and was given some useful exercises. I hope you're pain-free again very soon. I wonder if excessive head-banging has weakened your back... LOL there was certainly a fair bit of head-banging at the Manchester Apollo back in the day ...  I think it was actually an injury playing football that did for me. My back has never been the same since. And it took many years to get a proper diagnosis that I have a disc problem and as such will never actually be 'cured' - all I can do, as far as I know, is to build up the muscle around it to prevent complete break-downs like this. |
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Post by jandl100 on Nov 9, 2018 13:53:46 GMT
Good luck with your new digital streaming system, Jules, I hope you are able to get it all up and running soon.
"I have a disc problem and as such will never actually be 'cured' - all I can do, as far as I know, is to build up the muscle around it to prevent complete break-downs like this."
My wife has a similar type of problwm with her knee - in her case detached ligament - if she doesn't get enough exercise (serious hikes and bike rides) and then neglects home exercising then she definitely gets the wobbles. The problem is many times lessened by building and keeping the surrounding muscles up to strength.
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Post by Slinger on Nov 9, 2018 14:41:59 GMT
...Are you planning for a decent power supply for the Pi? ...Not thought much about the Pi power side of things I must admit - do you have any suggestions? I'd suggest that a decent PSU for the DAC (when you settle on one) would be the first major upgrade, rather than one for the Pi. You could, perhaps, consider one of the dual-output PSUs that Martin has, and spec one output at 5v and the other for whatever your DAC craves. To be honest, though, I'm not sure how much improvement, if any, a linear PSU for the Pi brings to the party when using a decent outboard DAC. I'm only going by what I read, of course, but I've not tempted in the slightest to get a PSU for my Pi. |
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Post by Stratmangler on Nov 9, 2018 14:48:18 GMT
A linear supply makes a noticeable difference to my Squeezebox Touch, and it's noticable whether I use the analogue outputs out of the player or when I use the SPDIF to feed an external DAC. I'd expect a Pi player to be no different.
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Post by Clive on Nov 9, 2018 15:01:12 GMT
Good luck with your back....these things are very dibilitating and are hardly conducive to making relaxed choices. Are you planning for a decent power supply for the Pi? How come you've fallen out of Tannoy love? Not thought much about the Pi power side of things I must admit - do you have any suggestions? The world is your lobster in terms of Pi power supplies. Have you any linear 5V power supplies? Almost any linear will be an improvement over a basic switcher. Whilst the digione has a lot of power treatment onboard it does benefit from clean power - you can go extreme as Martin did and power the digione separately but for now that would be overkill - just a simple linear ps to power both Pi and digione would help. There are lots of way to do this but if you have something already it would get 50% to 70% there vs a really good PS. |
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Post by julesd68 on Nov 9, 2018 15:30:02 GMT
Good luck with your new digital streaming system, Jules, I hope you are able to get it all up and running soon. "I have a disc problem and as such will never actually be 'cured' - all I can do, as far as I know, is to build up the muscle around it to prevent complete break-downs like this."My wife has a similar type of problwm with her knee - in her case detached ligament - if she doesn't get enough exercise (serious hikes and bike rides) and then neglects home exercising then she definitely gets the wobbles. The problem is many times lessened by building and keeping the surrounding muscles up to strength. Thanks J - yes indeed we are in a similar position. I need to do exercises at home every day with my weights and go to the gym probably twice a week. The pain is easing off but my lower back muscles are still just too weak to support my back properly for long at all when standing up. I suspect my physio will give my back a slight ‘correction’ tomorrow after bollocking me for being an idiot and I’ll then start light exercises asap. On a more cheerful note the digione player and Topping have arrived today! |
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And the speakers do, indeed, look gorgeous. You will be able to spend many happy hours just sitting and looking at your new system.
