[Adarsh]

That's another thing which I cant weigh correctly.  Using a laptop can be time consuming....I have to start it up, set all the controls, make a playlist...I mean how the hell will you make a playlist for 3000 songs?

A Deck CD Player is simple, just select the album you want to listen to (cant fiddle with playlists) and press play. Heck its much quieter than my laptop too!

What's the downside?

I have more music ripped onto my server and cant record all those to CD at this stage...

Someone??

-A

[Carlman]

A Deck CD Player is simple, just select the album you want to listen to (cant fiddle with playlists)

But you do have a playlist... you have organized all your cd's by some type of system.  You are essentially performing the duties of a tape backup for a mainframe.
Step 1: Give yourself command for software title, track, or genre
Step 2: Go to general area for that software
Step 3: Fine tune sort and select cd with software desired
Step 4: Remove media from case
Step 5: Open cd player
Step 6: Insert software
Step 7: Get back to listening position
Step 8: Select track from cd and play

You're taking for granted these steps you already perform.  

There's a million ways for me explain how I personally enjoy the audio PC's method of playback.  It's simpler for me than the traditional methods.  I had a hard time figuring out how it would be easier or better.  But, the sound quality is there and the organization doesn't change.  My music stays in one place and it's a very tiny place and neatly organized.

I listen to more music I want to hear with the audio PC rather than cd's.  I used to just listen to the last few cd's I'd bought for a long time because it was easier than trying to find something I really wanted to hear.

I could go on and on... But it's for me personally... You have to decide what's best for you.  If a cd player works, go for it.  If you don't want to change, that's OK.. cd players will be around for a long time... but audio PC's will be around too... and they'll be better for people like me who are willing to change methods for better sound quality per dollar.

BTW,  your old business laptop with a buzzing fan covered in dust probably won't cut it.  You need an audiophile PC not a business PC.  There's a lot to it and a lot to learn.  It's a big task but with big rewards if you're into it.

-C

[Jon L]

I'm currently demo'ing SAS 10A tubed preamp with my Lynx Audio PC, and I'm happy to report that 10A has no problems with the brutal +4dBv output from the Lynx card.  

For those experimenting with audio PC's, just remember to treat the audio PC with care like any other hi-fi gear.  You get significant gains with good power conditioning, interconnects (don't settle for supplied breakout cables), power cords(!), and support platform (!!).  

Method of Preamplification is very important as well; don't use PC's digital volume control if you have to reach down to 12-20 dB type of attenuation.  It's better to use something like EVS ultimate attenuators or a nice preamp like SAS 10A.

As far as ripping CD's, yes it's a pain, but you do it once, period.  Just make sure to use a good lossless format like Flac.  What I did was rip a bunch of favorite CD's I listen to all the time all at once, then every time I listen to music, I rip a few CD's with EAC in the background while I'm enjoying music.  Pretty soon, it's all done.

The most powerful argument for audio PC is the instantaneous access to ALL your music.  Once you've tasted this powerful benefit, there can be no going back to jewel boxes and CD racks.

[mcgsxr]

I am in the research phase for building a PC front end - I cannot decide if I will include HT into the equation, I likely should but don't get me started on the should haves...

In any case, I suspect that what I build will be a play only device - as we speak I sit in front of a 1 year old PC, with horsepower, 1.25GB of RAM, fast processor etc, so I think I would install all the ripping s/w here, rip it onto a HD, and then walk the HD downstairs to the playback PC.

That way the playback PC can be optimized for just that - quiet, efficient playback of music.

Sort of like having a minivan, and Boxster!  I figure I might as well leverage my investment last year, and then concentrate on how to build the best playback into my Audio system - that would be the natural extension of my approach to audio anyway - budget, fidelity, convenience, in that order, though I sometimes confuse 1 and 2...

It is the interface that stalls me - I don't want to carry a PDA as a remote, a laptop is right out, I don't want to use a Roku or Soundbridge (or I might as well build a 10g LAN in the house to begin with) so I am not sure what to do.  I guess I could splurge for a case with a VLD, but that might defeat the whole value prop...

For the record, considering a Asus A8N-SLI motherboard (has SPDIF output right off the motherboard, to my Monarchy, to my Mensa...), AMD Athlon processor (likely in the 1.8Ghz range), 120GB HD for music, small HD for OS, not sure if XP pro, or Linux will be the OS, still reading.

Any thoughts?  Perhaps I should take this to the dedicated PC circle - still, what do you guys think?

[JLM]

Gawd,  I'm so dumb when it comes to this stuff...

1.  With an audio PC would you still need (or could you use) a DAC?

2.  Are "full format" CDs available on-line to copy (for a fee I'd guess)?  Why go to the store or have to deal with disks/jewel boxes at home if you have a high speed connection?

3.  I've read that the ideal audio PC would involve a remote server with tons of disk space with a connected laptop or dumb terminal or PDA with bluetooth to use as an interface.  Right?  Generally accepted is the notion that the interconnect should be about 1/3 the length of the speaker cables, so how would that square with the remote PC idea?

4.  When will an audiophile audio PC for dummies get here?

5.  Do any of these have automatic backup (I'd want it off site).

thanks

[dave_c]

I've been using my PC as the source of choice for the past 8 months.  It certainly is the best sounding front I've had, except when using low quality mp3's.  WAV and FLAC files are pretty incredible, however.  Space could be an issue, but at the rate that HD space is going for these days, I think the cost is rather negligable for what you get.  It really helps if you are somewhat PC savvy, but I think after some use you well get used to the routine and relative ease of having your collection available on your HD.

The only thing that I have yet to experience is a good remote control system for PC's.  I think there are 2 ways to solve this problem.  The first being a simple remote to control track, pause stop and another PDA system that will allow you to use remote desktop protocol to control your entire PC remotely including creating playlists and browsing files.  I have no experience with either, but I imagine that good versions of both are either available or will be shortly.

[Al Garay]

I wish I worked for SlimDevices. Their Squeezebox does have a remote control and it works well. They offer a 30 day trial period.

Al

[mcgsxr]

JLM I will take a stab at your questions.

1 - depending on how you configure your AudioPC, you CAN still use a DAC.  Many will speak of this as heresy, and will keep the signal digital, to a Panny or something.  Others will sneer at the audio DAC, and prefer a pro audio card, allowing them to use a DAC built onto the high end sound card of their choice.  For me, since I have invested in the Mensa, I will configure my AudioPC to work with it.

2 - I am not familiar with anywhere that you can download WAV files of current music legally - however, I am FAR from an authority on downloading music - I steer clear of that - it is usually low fidelity MP3 (and by this I mean 128 or so, not that MP3 cannot be good quality - I know it CAN, but I am not for it) and thus not my cuppa!

3 - Sure, lots of people run a LAN in the house with a server full of music and video, and a "light" front end as you describe.  I live in a 3 level townhouse, and my home/office PC is on the top floor, and my audio bunker in the basement.  By the time I buy the router, and the repeater for the middle floor, I think I would be better off configuring my system as I describe - likely to be lots of opinion on that one, but for me, I only have to please me!

4 - Not sure - heck, when will LCD/Plasma TV's cost what CRT's used to, for that matter?  Jeff, I would guess that the new HP HTPC is the thin edge of the wedge for consumer grade computer/tv convergence.  One of the user interfaces will take off, and then it will be as simple as installing that (or having it done) into a PC of your choice.  I would guess that decent front ends for music and video will be commonplace in as little as 18 months.  Not interested in waiting that long personally, and I can likely go out and buy one then, after building a PC sooner...

5 - Not sure what you mean by offsite automatic backup - are you desiring that your music HD be mirrored somewhere else, in the case of a fire or something?  It can be done, but sounds custom and not cheap to me.  Personally, if my music is destroyed, it is covered under my homeowner's policy etc.  You could buy an external HD, and plug it into your sytem, and backup your audio HD that way.

All in all, I will take this as a learning experience, and try to have some fun with it.  I already have  remote for my Dell, that works for Windows Media Player, but I don't think that is an audiophile approved front end...

[dave_c]

To use the PC as a seriuos front end you would probably be more inclined to rip your own CD's into lossless formats or WAV files.  I don't think you'll get as much enjoyment out of mp3's regardless of bitrate if you're playing them back on a really hi resolution system.

[JLM]

Thanks, I definitely want high end.

I'm going to order an Ack dAck! v.2 this week (before the price goes up $100).  Will initially use it with a little used Sony S7700 I have laying around and then either:

1.  Mod the S7700 (probably from Empirical Audio);

2.  Replace it with a CEC TL-51 belt drive for about the same price;

3.  Go with an audio PC once this stuff shakes out a bit and gets dummy friendly.

BTW my listening room is next to the utility room so I could get very clean power and run a cable through the wall if a I wanted so that a normal/noisy PC used for audio would be outside the room.

[Adarsh]

I haven't tried this yet but will do so soon. From what I understand  using a CD Player (even a boombox) connected to my system, playing Redbook Standard CDs will sound better than my Uberstandard MP3s played on my laptop. Correct?

Consider that both have 16 BIT Audio Resolution.

-A

[CSMR]

I haven't tried this yet but will do so soon. From what I understand  using a CD Player (even a boombox) connected to my system, playing Redbook Standard CDs will sound better than my Uberstandard MP3s played on my laptop. Correct?

Consider that both have 16 BIT Audio Resolution.

-A

Depends on the bitrate, the CD player, and the laptop sound card.

[Adarsh]

1) How do you measure the quality of the sound card.
2) The MP3s are encoded at the best possible rating.
3) How do you measure the audio quality of the boombox

-A

[Adarsh]

Take your time...

[nickspicks]

Considerations:

- jukebox software, like winblows media, or winamp...will not sound as good as a decent CD player.  I can hear a difference in sound playing files in winamp vs. a real audio application like Wavelab (a $500 app).  Its about how the software "reads" the binary and interprets it.
To my knowledge, there is no great sounding jukebox software.
That factor alone doesnt stop me from having a huge 16bit audio collection that I play off of hard drives.  Its just something to think about.

- a decent DVD player will play the shit out of redbook, video, and SACD/DVD-A if supported by the player.  Software will not play DVD-A or SACD w/o spending A LOT of money.  So that is a factor for some folks.
DVD decks can also play 24bit audio burnt as a hybrid DVD disc w/a graphical menu system.  You can't play 24bit audio worth a shit on PC w/o using good editing / mastering software as your playback "source".  Yes, winamp will do it, but it sounds like ass comparred to a real audio application.

So my money is with the DVD player as the best single source for tunes  in terms of sound / ease of use / options for different audio formats.

PCs are noisey, dirty environments for music in the analog domain.  Sending a digital signal from a PC to a DAC is the only acceptable way to get good audio w/o spending a lot on a "pro level" type of sound card..which will have many I/O features and is not really built as a way to stream music from hard drives, but more for mastering.  complete overkill for the average audophile needs.  $150 will get you a quality card that has decent analog specs as well as the ability to pass surround and 24/192 via digital outputs.  That is the way to go.
Optimal setup, a PC in a different room w/a DIP box that will clean up the signal and boost the voltage so you can drive a long digi cable to the hi-fi.  Keep the PC plugged into different circuits.  Controll it remotely via another computer (wireless connection via laptop is the best way.  use it like a giant remote controll).