I'm joining the discless crowd

dthoms · « **on:** 5 Jan 2009, 02:44 am »

I have started the task of scanning in all of my music. It has been rough going. I'm using EAC to rip, FLAC to compress, and WinAmp to validate. So now I can play the music on my computer. The next hurdles are to, play music on my PS3 via media server and have a way to play the files into my Bryston BDA-1. One day, I would like to be able to play hi-res files to my main system. While the computer is in the same room, I would prefer not running a cable from the computer to the stereo.

Any ideas how to proceed are much appreciated.

wilsynet · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Jan 2009, 03:47 am »

I just use iTunes to rip, compress and organize. I'm on a Mac though and I understand that iTunes is better on the Mac than it is on the PC. The Apple lossless format is good enough for me and there's no hassle or fuss. But let me stop trying to distract you from your question. =)

Some wireless solutions include:

1. Logitech/SlimDevices Squeezebox, Transporter or Duet. All have SPDIF and TOSLINK output.
2. Airport Express.

The Logitech/SlimDevices family is a known quantity and the software works pretty well. There are a handful of companies and individuals that do modifications to improve the digital and/or analog sections of these devices, including Bolder and Modwright. If you go this way, you can even get a remote control application for the Slim Devices products for the iPod Touch/iPhone as per this post:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=63059.0

The Airport Express (officially) only works with iTunes, and the mini-optical output is known to be jittery. However, if you believe that DACs like the Benchmark and Bryston are jitter immune, then it doesn't matter how jittery it is, right? Occasionally people do complain that the AE isn't as good as some other transport they have but they are wrong of course because measurements (just like statistics) never lie.

Wilson

richidoo · « **Reply #2 on:** 5 Jan 2009, 04:43 am »

I use dbpoweramp to rip, get artwork, and compress CDs to flac, it is easy, fast and accurate. I use Mp3Tag to edit flac tags. I store them on a ReadyNAS NV. Sonos streams the files to my DAC, and it works flawlessly. Even the amplifier unit sound excellent. I only wish Sonos could serve 24 bit hi res files.

kgturner · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 Jan 2009, 05:53 am »

well, we all do it different, but the goal is the same. i rip to wav with EAC and use Tag&Rename to enter/edit the metadata. i stream it via ethernet cable to my wired squeezebox 3 which is connected via digital coax to a 47 labs shigaraki dac.

kevin t

mcgsxr · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 Jan 2009, 11:54 am »

I use the Logitech (was Slimdevices when I bought it years ago) SB3 (now modded by Wayne at Bolder Cables right here on AC), as my only source for my system. My PC is 2 floors away from my basement system. I use Linksys wireless router and repeater to achieve this.

I think lots of folks have addressed how to play music for you, in your given arrangement.

Can I ask about the hi-res part? Do you mean lossless audio, or other, higher rez formats?

I think the Logitech Transporter might be able to play material more high rez than 44.1 redbook - not sure, I don't own one.

denjo · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 Jan 2009, 01:32 pm »

SB3 stock, digital out (analog is bypassed completely, no volume control from SB3) powered by Paul Hynes' shunt regulated PSU (DC 12 v) via wireless (about 60 to 65% signal strength) into an Accuphase DAC-20 then into an Accuphase Integrated E-450. CDs are ripped using EAC into wav format. Sublime!

dthoms · « **Reply #6 on:** 6 Jan 2009, 03:28 am »

My main question was how to get hi-res from the computer to the stereo. Also, I've been using EAC to rip. How does it compare to dbpoweramp?

woodsyi · « **Reply #7 on:** 6 Jan 2009, 03:35 am »

You can use Transporter or EA Off Ramp (USB out of PC) to play hi res files. People swear by both EAC and dbpoweramp. The latter does FLAC conversion within it whereas EAC needs to be configured to do so. I have not heard any difference in the quality of the ripped files. I have files from both methods. EAC is free; dbpoweramp is not.

Martyn · « **Reply #8 on:** 6 Jan 2009, 07:47 am »

Dee, I'm something of a neophyte at this stuff too. I started with EAC and then switched to dBpoweramp. I found the latter to be simpler to use (and it gets cover art too). I downloaded the free trial version, but will probably cough up the necessary fee. There's also a handy converter for getting from FLAC to mp3, which is useful if you want to use an iPod as well as a lossless home-based Squeezebox system.

ted_b · « **Reply #9 on:** 6 Jan 2009, 12:34 pm »

Quote from: dthoms on 6 Jan 2009, 03:28 am

My main question was how to get hi-res from the computer to the stereo. Also, I've been using EAC to rip. How does it compare to dbpoweramp?

Where are these hi-rez files coming from that you are concerned about? Most of us define hi-rez as something higher than redbook (16/44.1). Those 24/48 or 24/96 files can be played on a Transporter but the real issue is ripping them. MLP-encoded DVD-A or any SACD are not rippable. Only PCM files (off of, say, 24/96 DVD-V's like Neil Young GH or Live at Massey, or the standard side of Classic's HDAD's) are rippable...or some flac or wav 24/96 downloads from a few sites. Not a plethora to worry about, really. Of my 1200 ripped albums, about 15 are hi-rez.

Philistine · « **Reply #10 on:** 6 Jan 2009, 01:49 pm »

Quote from: ted_b on 6 Jan 2009, 12:34 pm

Quote from: dthoms on 6 Jan 2009, 03:28 am
My main question was how to get hi-res from the computer to the stereo. Also, I've been using EAC to rip. How does it compare to dbpoweramp?

Where are these hi-rez files coming from that you are concerned about? Most of us define hi-rez as something higher than redbook (16/44.1). Those 24/48 or 24/96 files can be played on a Transporter but the real issue is ripping them. MLP-encoded DVD-A or any SACD are not rippable. Only PCM files (off of, say, 24/96 DVD-V's like Neil Young GH or Live at Massey, or the standard side of Classic's HDAD's) are rippable...or some flac or wav 24/96 downloads from a few sites. Not a plethora to worry about, really. Of my 1200 ripped albums, about 15 are hi-rez.

Some of the download sites may be creating the confusion by referring to 16/44.1 that is not compressed into an mp3 format, as hi-rez? While most of us here see these as just standard-rez. If this is the case dthoms then your ripping strategy of using EAC to Flac will give you optimized resolution, if you are talking about SACD/DVD-A then its what Ted says.

dthoms · « **Reply #11 on:** 6 Jan 2009, 05:50 pm »

I saw some music on the Linn download site. That stuff was 24/96. I recently picked up a SB. I'm happy with it, but the process of ripping is a pain in the @$. I was looking for a external device to hook up to the laptop to get 24/96 into my Bryston DAC. I won't die without the higher resolution stuff, but my curiosity is killing me.

ted_b · « **Reply #12 on:** 6 Jan 2009, 05:54 pm »

Quote from: dthoms on 6 Jan 2009, 05:50 pm

I saw some music on the Linn download site. That stuff was 24/96. I recently picked up a SB. I'm happy with it, but the process of ripping is a pain in the @$. I was looking for a external device to hook up to the laptop to get 24/96 into my Bryston DAC. I won't die without the higher resolution stuff, but my curiosity is killing me.

Understood, and the SB will not play back 24/96, only 24/48. The Transporter will, and can act as an outboard 24/96 DAC too. But you have a Bryston dac so just use a media player like Foobar and send the Linn 24/96 files to the Bryston.

dthoms · « **Reply #13 on:** 6 Jan 2009, 11:57 pm »

Isn't 24/96 somewhat hardware dependent? My usb connectoin does not do 24/96.

Crimson · « **Reply #14 on:** 7 Jan 2009, 12:31 am »

Quote from: dthoms on 6 Jan 2009, 11:57 pm

Isn't 24/96 somewhat hardware dependent? My usb connectoin does not do 24/96.

USB supports 24/96. But not all USB dacs support 24/96.

wilsynet · « **Reply #15 on:** 7 Jan 2009, 06:39 am »

Ripping is not a pain in the ass for me.

I have iTunes configured to import automatically and eject when finished importing. When I get a new CD I pop it in the drive, come back a bit later and see the tray ejected so I remove the CD and file it away. Pretty easy really.

dthoms · « **Reply #16 on:** 7 Jan 2009, 10:33 am »

That does sound pretty easy. I am in the process of ripping all of my cd's. The process is straight forward, just the sheer number of cd's. I started to use a service, but now I'm determined to do it myself.

dthoms · « **Reply #17 on:** 7 Jan 2009, 10:38 am »

Crimson, I just bought one of the Bryston BDA-1. I think it does usb 24/96. I don't have any usb that outputs that. My laptop is an older model that is not putting out 24/96.

wilsynet · « **Reply #18 on:** 7 Jan 2009, 10:50 am »

If you're using iTunes and Windows XP, there are audio preferences available in the Quicktime settings in the Control Panel. I don't know how you access the Microsoft Media Player audio preferences, or how that applies to Vista. It appears to be a software configuration however rather than a limitation of USB.

1975DCS · « **Reply #19 on:** 16 Jan 2009, 07:17 pm »

Hi Denjo,

Have you made comparisons with the Accuphase CD-players (digital or analogue)? If yes, is the (modified) SB3 a match?

Quote from: denjo on 5 Jan 2009, 01:32 pm

SB3 stock, digital out (analog is bypassed completely, no volume control from SB3) powered by Paul Hynes' shunt regulated PSU (DC 12 v) via wireless (about 60 to 65% signal strength) into an Accuphase DAC-20 then into an Accuphase Integrated E-450. CDs are ripped using EAC into wav format. Sublime!