[SET Man]

Hey!

   Well, after I finished my "Little Buddy" DAC kit it opened one more possibility of how I could play my music that I've have not try yet.

   And that is using my PowerBook with iTune as a source to play music from my CD collection Since I already have some music in my iTune... about 10g of music in "Apple Lossless Compression" So, 2 nights ago I gave it a try. By using the M-Audio "M-Groove" (same as the "Transit") connected via USB I get the optical output from this than feed it via a 10 foot long cheap optical cable to my DAC.

     Okay, so how is the sound? Well, I have to say that I'm pretty surprised that it acturally pretty good! Compared to the sound from my Sony SACD/CD changer via coaxial the sound of the computer based is a bit hard to tell at first. But after a few tracks the only big different I picked up is that the computer based is a tad seem rolled off on top... but everything is there on top.... or was it less edgy and smoother? The bottom still tight.

     There is something that I think really caught my attention. It that the computer based sound got a better sense of flow to the overall sound! This is something I rarely hear with CDP based system at any price Kinda make we wonder maybe there is something here. And why Wavelength Audio is saying that thier $1250 computer based system could match a $10k transport one.... well I don't want to go that far yet. Maybe it is because with computer based there is less error than CD reading by CDP?

       But! What I can say the with this there is one thing that I think is the biggest change.   So with my computer on my lap in my listening chair I've been listen to music while surfing the web at the time! And now I have control instance tracks access and volume control without getting up! This is very quite addictive I must say

        So far with this positive exprience I'm getting so far. I am now in process of copying all my CDs about 400 of them on to my external 400g Seagate HDD of which I will use about 250g of it and save the rest for back up my files and other work. Because I pretty much maxed out my PowerBook internal 60g HDD I will now copy CDs as uncompress "AIFF" files on to my external HDD and use it as iTune server.  Well the down side now would be I will have 3 wires dangling off to the side of my computer But that is okay.

        I will see how I like the sound of this. So far is very promising But copying CDs will take a while Wel, let see how this will turn out. But it is unlikely that I will stop spinning CD altogether   Than turn in to a "lazy ass audiophile"

       BTW.... the sound of vinyls still better than this and I'm not going to rip all of my vinyls in to iTune I still like to spin vinyls the old fashion way

Take care,
Buddy

[zybar]

Welcome to computer audio Buddy.   

Pretty cool when it sounds BETTER AND is MORE CONVIENENT!!!

George

[tomjtx]

        I will see how I like the sound of this. So far is very promising But copying CDs will take a while Wel, let see how this will turn out. But it is unlikely that I will stop spinning CD altogether   Than turn in to a "lazy ass audiophile"
Take care,
Buddy
[/quote]

Check out a squezebox or the Transporter from SlimDevices, It's wi-fi so you wont need wires.

[JohninCR]

But it is unlikely that I will stop spinning CD altogether   Than turn in to a "lazy ass audiophile"

Buddy,

Yes, welcome to the future.  I don't know what kind of library functions your iTune setup has, but
you want to use a library that takes convenience to another dimension early on.  I use Media Monkey
for my library and player, and love it due to the features and low demand on the system.  I can tell it eg
"Play me 2 hours of jazz and blues songs that I have rated 4 stars or better that I haven't listened to in the
last 90 days".  Sure it takes some work categorizing and rating your collection, but it's well worth the effort.
Then you just rip and rate as you get new music.

I strongly recommend keeping a library backup on a separate drive, because you don't want to put that
work in a second time.  You'll quickly forget about spinning another CD.

[Rocket_Ronny]

Hey Buddy:

Don't worry about it being a little rolled off on the top.

Just hit the e.q. button on the bottom right and add a little 8 or 16 khz. Or for that matter, fix any other frequency response problems you may have. Digital e.q. if done right sound very good, and the I-tunes e.q. sounds very good.

I know a guy who has put his records on his powerbook via the M-Audio and is very pleased. He can not hear the difference. You might want to try a disc.

Rocket_Ronny

[LightFire]

     ...Okay, so how is the sound? Well, I have to say that I'm pretty surprised that it acturally pretty good! Compared to the sound from my Sony SACD/CD changer via coaxial the sound of the computer based is a bit hard to tell at first. But after a few tracks the only big different I picked up is that the computer based is a tad seem rolled off on top... but everything is there on top.... or was it less edgy and smoother? The bottom still tight...

     

Once you used 2 digital sources, they sounded exactly the same and the best it can be. That's why it is so hard to you to find a (inexistent) difference.

[SET Man]

Welcome to computer audio Buddy.   

Pretty cool when it sounds BETTER AND is MORE CONVIENENT!!!

George

Hey!

    Ain't that the truth The world adopted CD because is more convienent  and this sure taking it to the next level.

Check out a squezebox or the Transporter from SlimDevices, It's wi-fi so you wont need wires.

     Yes, tomjtx I know about the Squeezbox but I don't think I will go for that.

...I strongly recommend keeping a library backup on a separate drive, because you don't want to put that
work in a second time.  You'll quickly forget about spinning another CD.

    John. I'm still  ripping my CDs collection in to my external HDD right now in uncompressed file. This will take a while. And if this turn to be good than I will surely get another HDD for "music only". Acturally I've been checking tigerdirect.com for a fanless HDD case so it will be quieter. And now could get a 500g for less than $200 too!

Hey Buddy:

Don't worry about it being a little rolled off on the top.

Just hit the e.q. button on the bottom right and add a little 8 or 16 khz. Or for that matter, fix any other frequency response problems you may have. Digital e.q. if done right sound very good, and the I-tunes e.q. sounds very good.

I know a guy who has put his records on his powerbook via the M-Audio and is very pleased. He can not hear the difference. You might want to try a disc.

Rocket_Ronny

     Ronny, I totally forgot about the EQ on the iTune... well I don't know if I will use it but it could be fun.

      Yes, I have used the M-Audio "M-Groov" same as "Transit" to digitized 3 of my LPs Yes, I found the CD copy to be much better than I expected. The CD copy sure have that analog feel to it For the price it is very impressive. But I still prefer the original LP. It is time consuming but I'm planning to make copy of couple of album of LPs on to CDs in case I want to take it somewhere... in car.... friends place and of cause to NY Rave, well we usually ended up not having turntable most of the time

    Anyway, thanks guys It is fun but the worst part is still not done yet... I'm still not even half way done putting all of my CDs on to HDD yet

Take care,
Buddy

   

[acd483]

Now get yourself an Airport Express, connect the the toslink to its optical out and enjoy wireless bliss!

Computer is indisputably better than any transport period.

[jqp]

Now all you need is little white earbuds 

[TONEPUB]

Once I got all my CD's ripped in uncompressed form (took 2TB of HD space),
the Squeezebox was a great thing for the living room system, very convenient
and sounds pretty good too.

Being almost 50, I like the big type!!  You can read it from across the room...

It was a great way to keep my teenage daughter from borrowing and scratching
my CD's.  I just bought her a squeezebox for her room and now she has access
to all our music, she really enjoys it!

I say enjoy the laziness.  Besides, you had to work to import all those CD's in
the first place!