all computers are problematic, It's the nature of computers, I will also say I have none, that's because I maintance my computer daily to keep it running tip top, with all this, why would I spend more time with a computer and arrive with more problems from more useage?, I do not desire that at all. |
08-09-14: Tbg
Audiolabyrinth, I have no idea why you have, "to keep viruses and malware, hard drive clear of errors off the computer" troubles. I have none. Hmmm! Should I take a stab at it? I have some suspicions. Hmmm! |
Audiolabyrinth, were I to have your problems, I guess I too would have reservations, but I have none. I have never had a virus. What problems I have are with internet connection because of provider issues. Perhaps it is because I have only Macs, seven of them, including one on my music server running in Windows 7 using JRiver MC 19.
I have well over 1000 cds and find what I seek in storage is a major put off for me. I also have 400 sacds with 100 of them in DSD on my server. If you compare sacds played off the shinny disc versus in DSD on the server, you would never go back.
I have no desire to take what can be read by the optical reader with many error corrections off a disc that I spent a half hour finding. Enjoy yourself! |
08-09-14: Audiolabyrinth
all computers are problematic, It's the nature of computers, Boiling water is problematic if you have NO clue. I will also say I have none, that's because I maintance my computer daily to keep it running tip top, with all this, why would I spend more time with a computer and arrive with more problems from more useage?, I do not desire that at all. I run Windows and Linux and they just work. The only time I tinker is rip a new CD. What daily maintenance is REQUIRED and you doing? Computer is a just tool I use to improve quality life. I'm not a nerd and only tinker when required. When I play music, I just launch an app on the iPhone. Like Tbg said, I guess I too would have reservations if have all these computer problems and no clue what I'm doing. |
"Steve, have you compare it to a Bryston BDP-2? Do you know if it buffers data in RAM before play?"
Of course. It is Linux based too, very skinny OS. It beats the Bryston. Bryston is pretty good though.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio |
joecasey, why would you say no clue what I'm doing for?, Because I know what I'm doing with a computer, I have no computer problems!,I still say, computers are problematic by nature, never have I seen a computer, smart phone, tablet, lap top, that did not need clearing of task, defragment, etc..., My virus protection shows me when it blocks viruses here on audiogon every other day, so I do not understand that anyone would not believe computers are not problematic, cheers. |
08-10-14: Audioengr
"Steve, have you compare it to a Bryston BDP-2? Do you know if it buffers data in RAM before play?"
Of course. It is Linux based too, very skinny OS. It beats the Bryston. Bryston is pretty good though. I found a review ... going to checkout a DX. /*** Music isnÂt streamed direct from the hard disk. That would result in increased noise and a wandering bit rate at the first step. Instead the Antipodes box uses scripts and MPD tweaks to ensure that music files are guided through the server in a way that keeps timing tight and minimises noise interference. The main scripts are managed and maintained by Andrew Gillis at Vortexbox with whom Jenkins has reaped the benefits of collaborative work scale. Further scripts are added by Jenkins to the final product. You could say that the Antipodes music server babies the signal at every step. The data is read from hard disk to RAM, buffering approximately 1GB. It is then clocked out of RAM to the output card where it is buffered and high-precision reclocked again before being sent to the DAC, which in turn buffers and reclocks it yet again in theÂusually asynchronousÂUSB input. Even as UPnP server pushing digital audio out over its Ethernet connection, Jenkins claims less noise and better sound than a standard Vortexbox appliance. ***/ |
Audiolabyrinth, all I can say is that I don't live where you do. I would hate to have to go back to relying on an optical reader with all its errors and other problems. |
well I admitt TBG, I do not have any apple products, just PC, Dell top computer of the year I bought it, likly you do not have maintainance requirememnts that I have, cheers. |
Joecasey, I enjoyed your last post, keep up the good work, I would like to learn all that I can, anything audio, cheers to you Joe. |
AFAIK every computer buffers data in RAM before playback since music is stored on hard disk without timing as data and timing has to be always recreated. Hard disk has hefty cache buffer to start with. At the end everything comes to quality of final clock governing D/A conversion.
I like wireless transfer since it allows to discard everything on computer side of the wireless bridge. It also allows me to keep computer away from DAC. Computer speed, amount of RAM playback program etc. play no role. Clock on the DAC side can be greatly improved by reclocking. |
Anyone listen to the Audiophile Vortexbox? It looks to be a simple solution for computer audio. |
It's my understanding that you can't rip SACDs by yourself to a harddrive without going the out-of-production Sony PS3 route. Tbg, is this what you did? Thanks. |
Rgs92, no, I did not do it myself. Empirical Audio Legacy did it for me. He is a pro guy who also made my prototype Mac Mini and makes the TuneBank. He hopes ultimately to sell his units retail and to make this service available.
On the Exemplar eXpo T105 modified Oppo 105, I could play the SACDs that he had put on the TuneBank from that source and the same SACDs using the universal player. Those on the TuneBank sounded much better, but there are reasons. One, off the TuneBank I was playing with the filters moved up greatly and in DSD. I'm not sure what the SACDs were playing on the universal player. And two, the TuneBank doesn't have the errors of the optical drive. |
I love computer audio -- After many years in the format wars - LP / Cassette / Beta / CD / SACD -- I got fed up.
If you don't mind fiddling with computers & you can get a decent network set up - nothing beats it - but you have to feel comfortable with computers. I use a QNAP 32 TB server with raid 5 -- to a Modwright transporter and have a logitech touch and radio in other rooms networked. Nothing beats being able to use your phone or Ipad and select music to play in any room in the house - or outside. Once it's set up properly - it's bulletproof and so easy to use -- I've got a couple hundred CD's gathering dust --- but with about 1500 LP's -- I've recently invested in a good vinyl rig --- I'm still not convinced that it sounds better than the transporter (just different) -- but the convenience of a 200 song playlist -- can't be matched with any other format --- next step is to look at a good DAC to see if I can improve on the Modwright Transporter. For me -- there's no question that computer audio will be around for a long time |
