Thanks to all for your suggestions for the direction of the circle. I have no strong feelings about exactly what direction we go, and hope to encourage all of you to post actively, and about whatever topics you feel fit well here.
I think a mix of OS discussion between Microsoft and the various flavors of Linux as well as the different software used to play, sort, and tag music will fit well. Anything from help with software drivers and sound-card choices to what program can make a server system better at playing music, to network storage of your library. I've built a few PCs and will likely have a DIY corner for those people who want to put together their own server.
Obviously, other topics and playback methods including Squeezebox products are welcome and encouraged to keep posting.
As to moderation, I don't pretend to be an expert in this field. I know that audio discussion can be contentious at times. I would ask that everyone remember that opinions are opinions and that facts are facts; and that perception of audio requires the equipment, room, your ears and your brain. What might be an obvious difference to you might not be audible to someone else based on many factors. I'll try to moderate quietly, feel free to PM me with questions. I do work North American night shifts, so daytime here is bedtime most days, but I'll get back to you when I can.
This is my first stab at moderation, but not my first audio forum experience. Be easy on me for a while!
A bit of background about me and my system (if you don't care, stop now) :
I'm 33. I am involved in audio and computers only as a hobby. I work in another field, but spend a fair amount of my free time collecting music and following multiple websites to keep up to date with what's new and different with computer audio, and the wider audiophile world.
A bit about how I ended up here:
I built my first computer in 2006, and soon bought an iPod. I tried to get the best sound from the headphone output on my main stereo, but couldn't ever get sound that was as good as my old sony CD changer. I tried streaming over wifi, but dropouts soon lead to a dedicated audio PC. I eventually grew tired of hearing the HDD seek noise during quiet passages, and moved to a network-based storage system in 2008. In 2009 I moved into a new home and now have a dedicated audio room, with a separate room for the louder equipment.
I'm definitely not normal in my software selection. I had access to deeply discounted Microsoft products when building the audio PC, so Windows XP was an easy decision. iTunes was also free, and I was already comfortable with iTunes and had ripped most of my music as Apple Lossless files. I don't care that I'm running the software of two different companies, because for me and my system, it works fairly well. I've tried ASIO and Foobar, but got dropouts and mouse stuttering during the afternoon I played with it. I'm sure it works, and may be better once my kinks had been worked out. For me (just my opinion and limited experience) trying to re-tag, convert, and troubleshoot a new software setup began to detract from my enjoyment of the music, so I went back to what works well for me now. Over the past 6-9 months, I've started to download Hi-Rez music and am really enjoying the new and great-sounding music available online.
I have the following equipment:
Asus Xonar ST PCI soundcard
Behringer DEQ2496 digital EQ for room EQ
Outlaw 990 preamp
Speakers are actively bi-amped GR Research LS9s (4 outlaw m200 monoblocks)
Subs are low-passed at 40 Hz to augment the low end (4 DIY 15 inch TC Sounds Drivers)
Remote control of itunes with apple remote on ipad and control4 IR control of outlaw volume and room lights
I don't tend to cycle through equipment very often. At some point in the next year-ish I'll likely build a new audio PC and likely replace the outlaw with a 2-channel DAC and preamp.
here's a link to the pics
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=2834if you're still reading, thanks.
