[SeaNile]

Just bought Revel Studio2 speakers and a Hegel h300 integrated amp (has DAC).

I have a pretty big iTunes library and have no CD's at all.  Not sure of the format of the music files when I put my CD's into iTunes.  I'd really like to get great sound out of my system and would like NOT to re-buy hundreds of CD's.

I'm OK with buying a Mac Mini but not sure how to hook up everything.  I'll transfer over my library to the Mac Mini but then I'm a bit lost.  Best to hook the Mini up to the Hegel via USB?  And then use something like jRiver to manage the music?  What about wanting to buy new music that may not be available on a high resolution site, do I buy the CD and just import it to the iTunes library?

Thanks for the help..

[srb]

Look at your music library in Song view and see if the column headers "Kind", "Sample Rate" & "Bit Rate" are visible and if not enable them.  Then sort by Kind and analyze the format of your library.  WAV and AIFF are  uncompressed with a corresponding bit rate of 1411 kbps for albums you ripped from CD at 16/44.1.  Apple Lossless is also uncompressed.

If you have AAC or MPEG files, they are compressed and you probably won't be satisfied with the sound especially considering the quality and resolution of your system.

The Hegel H300 USB input is limited to 24/96, so if you plan to buy higher resolution 24/192 files, you may be better off getting an outboard USB to S/PDIF converter and going into the 24/192 capable coaxial S/PDIF input on the Hegel.

Steve

[milford3]

Using the USB to connect the Hegel h300 integrated amp to a computer is the way to go.  As for the music files another member can address that issue.

[SeaNile]

Oh man, just what I was afraid of, at least 85% of my library is AAC and purchased AAC.  Then a combination of AIFF, Apple Lossless, MPEG audio.

Looks like I will be re-buying a lot of music??

[Bemopti123]

I don't know, but if I were in your shoes, I would not attempt to or worry about the theoretical limitations of what files you have.  First and foremost, I would attempt to listen and see if there are any incredible aural deficiencies, if any of the system.  After all, if you have purchased and most likely enjoyed such a large amount of what some audiophiles called lower resolution audio files, why can't you attempt to enjoy them now instead of looking for what might be wrong?  I have too much $$$ invested in audio and yet, almost everything is gathering dust and the files and music I enjoy the most now are actually low resolution or simply ripped music files from cd...that I play either in my car or on my bicycle while I ride to work or on my desktop, while I am working on something.  Enjoy man.  I am pretty sure the tracks will sound great but if you are looking for shangrila....then, it will be a slippery path in order to get there.

[jimdgoulding]

Now, for the last step, positioning your speakers and that's a biggie if you care about a live stage in front of you.

[JLM]

Pulling on my fire suit as I say this...

A study out of McGill University, presented at the 2009 AES convention, showed that trained listeners (studio professionals and musicians) couldn't tell the difference between MP3 and Redbook:

http://www.music.mcgill.ca/~hockman/documents/Pras_presentation2009.pdf

So try it first before you start sweating it.

(The same group wants to compare Redbook to high resolution formats.)

[oskar]

My almost 20.000 song library has every kind of format including older 128kbps mp3's. Sometimes on random play an unfamiliar song will come up that sounds really good. When I look to see what it is : THAT BAND at 128k res! My ears must be shot.

[Bemopti123]

My almost 20.000 song library has every kind of format including older 128kbps mp3's. Sometimes on random play an unfamiliar song will come up that sounds really good. When I look to see what it is : THAT BAND at 128k res! My ears must be shot.

I cannot remember when I have heard those 128KBPS files in my library......It must have been years but then, I am too busy enjoying the tunes which leads me to say...Who has time to check the resolution?  jajajaja. 

But honestly, I am afraid to say that myself as well as many other people can border on having Audionervosa..and that is something that you do not want....It is not covered by any insurance.  All out of pocket expenses.