Ok, going to place the question here. MacMini has no outputs except the mini RCA jacks it looks like. Have not bought one was thinking this might be one way to go. Was thinking of using a Mac Mini with itunes. But will I get decent sound out of the Mac/ |
Thesauce - USB 1.1 supports streaming audio, but most USB 1.1 interface chips (in the computer) will probably create more latency than USB 2.0 chips, so eliminating pops and ticks may be more difficult with USB 1.1.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio |
Puerto,
No need for the USB 2.0. USB 1 has more than enough bandwidth to handle 2 channel audio.
Enjoy! |
Thanks for that input Thesauce! I am just now looking at the UD-10 as the interface between my laptop and the main system. My only concern is that the UD-10 is not a 2.0 USB. Maybe that's not an issue?? I'm having the laptop modified to handle my library - only . . .and was going to have them install a couple of 2.0 ports. Your thoughts? Puerto |
I have a similiar question. Currently, I use Vista/Album Player(Jukebox Software)/coax to a Yamaha receiver to play WAVs ripped via Windows Media Player. This system is listened to while playing pool. The touchscreen jukebox sofware is awesome for this application.
My problem is that I also would like to output the same signal to my distributed/whole house audio system and perhaps my dedicated HT rig via multi-room outputs. The Yamaha has multi-room analog outputs, but will not convert the coax input to an analog output required for this application.
The most cost-effective, best sounding solution to me is a DAC or USB DAC. I think the current set-up sounds pretty good for background/parties and I listen to my dedicated rig for more serious listening.
What would be the most value oriented solution? Coax to DAC or USB to DAC? Which product would you recommend? |
Thanks,
So, with Windows XP, I need the Asio driver to avoid the kernel mixer. Off hand, have you tried the Asio driver in Media monkey.
Finally, is the advatage of the dbpoweramp for ripping simply the fidelity and proof reading aforded by that software which seems to reference your rip with some kind of a database |
I use dBpoweramp for ripping and media monkey for playback. With Windows Vista, which I have, or a MAC you have no need for the ASIO driver anymore. That was a kernel mixer workaround for older versions of Windows.
A relatively cheap converter like the Hag or the Trends would turn you're non-USB DAC into a USB DAC so to speak. And theoretically this would be better than a direct coax connection to your computer's internal soundcard. Of course other much more expensive options, such as the above mentioned Apogee, also fit the bill. |
What is the sonic difference between Media Monkey and Foobar2000 media players (for PC's)
The user interface and the library functions for indexing your media look better in media monkey at first glance. Could you use Media Monkey to rip and organize your CD's and have Foobar2000 play the FLAC files from the Media Monkey database?
It seems that one should install an Asio driver but not all media players support this particular driver (Media monkey???).
I have no experience what's so ever with the software or the possible outputs from the PC.
(I have a Sonic Fronteirs DAC (older DAC) and a spare PC.... the simple cheap solution seems to be a hagUSB converter to my exiting coax digital cable.)
Thanks |
One of the best options for PC is the apogee rosetta 200 with X-firewire card,with its own drivers. |
Is Ethernet RJ45 better than USB conversion to optical or XLR coax? The Linn Klimax Ds chose it. |
Ben (Thesauce),
What power supply upgrade do use with your Trends UD-10? I just bought the trends but do not yet have a power supply. |
I agree that you should avoid the digital outputs on your computer. If you are thinking high end I would bypass the USB as well and stream to a Transporter although it does require ongoing computer tweaking to get the most out of it. I also have a Sonos which also bypasses USB, is great and much easier to use (my wife loves it but never once touched the TP) but not as high end. |
Artizen65,
I'd just like to share my experience with you. I own a Paradisea + DAC and it has a USB connection I can use straight from my PC. I use a Trends UD-10 USB converter from the PC with a modified power supply (that cost more than the unit! hehe) and run glass toslinks from the UD-10 to a MSB Digital Director, which re-clocks it and "de-jitters" the signal, then glass toslinks from the MSB to the Paradisea DAC. This opens the sounstage and just sounds more real. This is the same as using my transport, which took me forever to get to using a PC (sounds better than the transport if I don't run the transport to the MSB before the DAC too). It sounds better than the direct USB to the DAC, so I don't even use the direct USB anymore. This is true to my other DAC as well (MSB, but doesn't have a USB to compare with).
As far as your Vista experience... that is very strange. I can hear a huge difference with Vista being MUCH better sounding on my system. I have only been able to match my transport performance by using Vista and yes, I used ASIO drivers in XP. I use Media Center so I have a remote control and not have to use a mouse to get to my music. Media Center or Windows Media player sound just the same to me in Vista as Foobar. Far from the same as XP.
Just my two cents worth. It took me forever to figure this out, so hopefully it helps. It's amazing what difference glass toslinks and the MSB Digital Director does to the music. It's so clear and comfortable to listen to! I have no motivation to try to upgrade my front end anymore. Oh, and I do love the Vinyl too, just not nearly as convenient as Media Center and a PC! Oh, and the power supply upgrade to the Trends UD-10 was necessary to get it to sound as good as my transport.
Enjoy the tunes!
Ben |
Phoenix469,
I am never one to argue with steve he is very knowledgeable.
I run my PC to my main rig as follows. Computer, Ethernet cable to a Roku, SPDIF out to a Musical Fidelity TriVista tube DAC. In this setup I use Itunes as the player. On my vista machine I can hear the difference between my transport, a WAV file and an apple lossless file. There are distinct differences between the three and IMHO the transport is the best. Now when I had an XP machine I could not tell the difference between between my transport and a WAV file. Keep in mind that Itunes was the player on both machines.
For my setup in the office I use a USB DAC. Musical Fidelity XDAC V8 tube output to a MF X-CAN V3 to Sennheiser cans. I use dbpoweramp for ripping FLAC files to an external drive and foobar2000 v0.9.4.3 for play back. IMHO this system rocks. I have Itunes with apple lossless on this machine also on the main drive. I have compared WAV and FLAC in foobar and apple lossless in Itunes briefly and found no difference between the three.
On my vista system I am assuming the operating system is getting in the way with my main rig. I need to do some research. With ethernet out it should not be but with microsoft who knows. There is a conversion from serial to packet IP at the ethernet card so that could be it.
IMHO keep the conversions to different types of protocals to a minimum. Definatly keep the D to A conversion out of the computer. Steve is the DAC expert but it seems to me that with the conversion from USB (universal serial Buss) to analog in the DAC it is one of the better ways to go.
Good luck,
P.S. I use accurate rip with dbpoweramp and have dbpoweramp set in ultra secure mode with my optical drive offset set. |
No, not WMP. With a PC, either use Foobar2000 0.8.3 or Jriver. These deliver the best sound quality.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio |
What would you reccomend other than itunes? Windows media player? |
If you are using Windows XP, then dont use iTunes, unless wireless to a AirPort Express or Apple-TV. Then in order to get decent quality you need a glass Toslink cable. Superb quality is possible with a reclocker.
For non-networked playback, such as S/PDIF or USB, iTunes is good with MAC.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio |
Sooo, if I stick with Windows XP , digital out would be OK, or should I use USB? If i do use USB, what kind of audio driver do I use? |
Besides, I heard that the Kmix problem is fixed in Vista? |
Well, he's saying "I am limited to using a PC"
There are constraints in life... |
Eandylee - iTunes should not be used with USB on a PC. Results are not great. Prefer MAC. |
use Vista and USB. should be better than onboard digital outs. |
OK, thanks for the input. I am limited to using a PC, not a MAC. A MAC is not in the budget and I have a high performance PC already. I don't need to go wirless as I plan on doing my listening while in front of my computer, so everything can be wired right off the computer itself. I had a MHDT labs Paradisea at one point and was thinking of purchasing it again. I just want to know if I need to spring for the USB option. Thanks! |
If you are sticking with iTunes then you have a couple of choices to achieve a high-quality result:
1) Use a MAC and USB converter such as the Off-Ramp, HAGUSB or Trends UD-10 (avoid USB with iTunes on a PC)
2) Use a PC or MAC and the AirPort Express driving a Pace-Car reclocker to get low-jitter
Avoid using the direct S/PDIF outputs from the laptop.
Both of these require an outboard DAC. A standard DAC with S/PDIF input will work, but a DAC with I2S input will work better. Depends on your budget and how good you want this to be. If you want it to rival Vinyl, then the I2S interface and a really good DAC are necessary.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio |
Toslink if you favor the upper freq. and coax if you favor the lows. |
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