[macrojack]

For digital I use a Sony DVP-S7000 and an RWA Scott Nixon DAC. I bought the DVD player about 5 years ago used for $200 and I payed $500 for the DAC including the digital interconnect. Best digital I've ever heard.

I think Phil is right about convenience influencing listening habits and I think it is true that the real point of diminishing returns is actually pretty low. Do we listen to the music actively or passively? Do we scrutinize the  quality of reproduction? Are we concerned with our ability to hear problems in the reproduction or do we approach it from the other end and concern ourselves only with problems that can't be overlooked? In other words, are we looking for trouble?

It would seem that the whole absolute sound/critical listening mystique is about seeking headaches. Why not just play your records or CDs or FM and just go about your business instead of sitting transfixed in search of flaws?
I like to lapse into a listening coma where I don't "awaken" until I realize that the music has stopped and I confess that I don't do that much any more even though my opportunities are frequent. I can assure you, however, that I am not evaluating anything when I do this. It's more like meditation.

[Bill Baker]

I like to lapse into a listening coma where I don't "awaken" until I realize that the music has stopped

 For some of us, music is about emotion and getting to that "coma" stage is harder these days. It seems life is far to fast pace for most people these days with many having to keep both spouses working just to stay ahead of the bills.

 The convienance factor of today's CD's and computer based systems allows for people to more easily just turn of their system and go about their daily routine and not having to worry about warming up their tube amps to get back into the mood. People simply don't have time to truly enjoy music these days.

 Another problem with today's music is the quality. Engineers are more concerned about how loud a recording can play rather than the quality of the music on it. Then there is the music TV channels where the only concern of those watching is how hot these young female artist performers look in the video. This is more about choreography that singing talent.

 I don't think it is the high-end audio industry that is dying out rather the quality of music and today's rat race that is killing it.

 I will remain dedicated as long as possible. I will also stay with tubes as long as there is any market for it. Hopefully in the end, it is this trickle down technology that keeps our passion alive.

 We need to educate people about just how good music can be and how much it can touch the soul when NOT played on a $1000 Circuit City "Home Theater in a box". Music is about emotion and we need the emotion back.

[Spirit]

For digital I use a Sony DVP-S7000 and an RWA Scott Nixon DAC. I bought the DVD player about 5 years ago used for $200 and I payed $500 for the DAC including the digital interconnect. Best digital I've ever heard.

I am familiar with the Scott Nixon Tube DACS but what is RWA?
Please explain.

[macrojack]

For digital I use a Sony DVP-S7000 and an RWA Scott Nixon DAC. I bought the DVD player about 5 years ago used for $200 and I payed $500 for the DAC including the digital interconnect. Best digital I've ever heard.

I am familiar with the Scott Nixon Tube DACS but what is RWA?
Please explain.

Red Wine Audio -- battery powered. They have a circle on AC.

[Spirit]

For digital I use a Sony DVP-S7000 and an RWA Scott Nixon DAC. I bought the DVD player about 5 years ago used for $200 and I payed $500 for the DAC including the digital interconnect. Best digital I've ever heard.

I am familiar with the Scott Nixon Tube DACS but what is RWA?
Please explain.

Red Wine Audio -- battery powered. They have a circle on AC.

Pardon my inexperience with RWA, but I see no mention of a DAC on their website.
Perhaps you can clue me in as to what the DAC does and where I can get info on it.
Thanks MJ

[macrojack]

Vinnie just revamped his website within the last week or so. Apparently he deleted some of his offerings at that time. I received my DAC at the same time I received my Signature 30 so it has only been about 5 weeks. I guess I got one of the last ones.
This part is conjecture, of course, but I think the success of his Olive Music Server mod may have obsoleted the DAC. Word has it that the server is better than almost anything available. You'll have to research that yourself since I have not seen or heard one. I am curious, however.
Perhaps there is mention in the RWA circle under manufacturers, I think. Or maybe you should start a thread asking members what they know. Isn't this just how all things digital work? I just obtained the finest digital I've ever heard and the manufacturer makes a move implying that it is obsolete. Whatever, I'm still very impressed. And I still think Vinnie is the greatest.

[Spirit]

Isn't this just how all things digital work? I just obtained the finest digital I've ever heard and the manufacturer makes a move implying that it is obsolete. Whatever, I'm still very impressed. And I still think Vinnie is the greatest.

Obsolescence...the plague of the 21st century and the thorn in every Audiophile's backside.
You touch on something very pertinent.
Back in audio's infancy, the 50's and 60's,  Dad bought a Hifi, loved it, and kept it forever.
Today, this hobby is like on the onset of clinical neurosis.  Your happy with your gear, the sound in superb and
then all of sudden it hits you - it could be a lot better.  Time to change, to upgrade, to spend more money, to
lose money on what you already bought.  It never ends.
You wrote one word which is a cure for this neurosis - "whatever".  Your laissez faire attitude is the way it should
be.  Make a decision; listen to the music, and be happy.

[JLM]

Spirit,

The lifespan of CD/DVD/SACD players is also typically too short.  I guess is that it's due to the mechanical precision needed and the speed of technical advancements.  (Who'd want a run of the mill player from 20 years ago anyway?)  Inexpensive players are obviously really built cheaply.  What's the life expectancy of any of those 3 inch tall players?

Boulder Cable (see their circle below) also mods Squeeze Boxes (SB).  I do believe RWA no longer mods SB as their product line has moved more upscale and Vinnie is a one man shop.  On the plus side SB has no moving parts, but relies on a hard drive that can crash (fortunately they are becoming dirt cheap so you should be able to afford a backup).

SB is a new product type.  It interfaces between a PC and the rest of your audio system.  CDs are ripped onto the PC hard drive and sent in digital format to SB.  SB includes a DAC or can used with an external DAC.  SB is also a user interface, including a large display, a volume control in the digital realm, remote control (it has no buttons), and can also handle internet audio streaming to replace your tuner.  Free software can be downloaded to use on the computer for ripping, losslessly compress the signal, organizing, accessing, etc.  Vinyl can now be ripped as well.  Sound quality is exceptional.  Convenience (once you've ripped and assuming you have no computer hickups) is also exceptional.  Once you've ripped any vinyl you're audio system can be reduced to SB, power amp, and speakers.

[Spirit]

[quote author=JLM link=topic=31503.msg279892#msg279892 date=1158487006
SB is a new product type.  It interfaces between a PC and the rest of your audio system.  CDs are ripped onto the PC hard drive and sent in digital format to SB.  SB includes a DAC or can used with an external DAC.  SB is also a user interface, including a large display, a volume control in the digital realm, remote control (it has no buttons), and can also handle internet audio streaming to replace your tuner.  Free software can be downloaded to use on the computer for ripping, losslessly compress the signal, organizing, accessing, etc.  Vinyl can now be ripped as well.  Sound quality is exceptional.  Convenience (once you've ripped and assuming you have no computer hickups) is also exceptional.  Once you've ripped any vinyl you're audio system can be reduced to SB, power amp, and speakers.
[/quote]
Good morning JLM:
Seeing that I am over 50 and not as adept as you youngsters with computer technology would you be willing to
give me a very simple step-by-step primer as to how to easily rip my CD collection onto my hardrive.
I do understand that there are ways to rip in lossless method.
If you arre willing to do so, and if this is off topic, please send me a PM.
BTW, please don't spend more then a few minutes on your reply; I don't mean to take up your time.
Thanks

[avta]

Spirit:
About a year ago Carlman asked me a simple question when I was trying to choose a new cd player.." Why don't you consider a computer based system? " Well, it all changed for me. I agree with all the comments made by JLM. I'm using a Squeezebox 2 with an Apple Mac Mini computer I bought used on Ebay. I was using a Windows based pc but switched about 6 mos. ago. I like Apple products because of their simplicity and freedom from viruses and spyware. In addition there is a program called iTunes which came with the computer software ( already installed ) which allows you to rip and play music files. It's very easy to use. I store the files on an external drive. The quality of sound is far better than anything I've heard on my system and the cost of switching was very modest. If you decide to make the change I'm sure you will find plenty of help on Audio Circle.
Guy

[totoro]

Spirit:

ITunes is a good choice for ease of use, slimserver (the server you need to run if you want to use a squeezebox) integrates with it OK, and you can use it to rip lossless files (in the apple lossless format). You can download itunes at:

http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

Once you've installed it, you will need to make one modification to the preferences in order to rip lossless.

In the menus, choose edit/preferences. Then click on the advanced tab, and finally on the importing tab inside of that. You will see a pulldown menu next to a piece of text saying "Import using:". Set that to "Apple Lossless Encoder",  hit OK, and you're all set.

If you want to be really finicky, you can get into using EAC (just google it) to encode into flac: eac offers better control over behavior when errors are encountered. You probably don't really want to go there just now, and I found that on 500 cds I imported using Itunes, I had exactly 2 tracks that were at all different (once automatically transcoded back to wav and then to flac) from what I got using flac. So if your cds are in OK shape and you don't have an ancient cd drive, this should be nearly a non-issue.

BTW, it really doesn't matter which lossless encoding you choose. You can always transcode into another. This is simply a matter of math (although you can easily verify it if you wish.

--t

As an experiment, I took 500 cds I