Steve, I have not - sound is as clean as it gets. I don’t think it matters what the format is, as long as it is lossless and conversion is lossless - at the end it is sent in packets anyway (making timing irrelevant). AE is bit perfect, as it was confirmed in Stereophile test. In my case computer doesn’t even have to convert, since I keep my CDs in ALAC.
Digital Files and Wi-Fi
So, here's my current situation. I'm a Luddite and use my MF Nu-Vista CD as my front end. I like that method just fine, particularly when I read about getting "CD quality" from digital files; to me, if one wants "CD quality," then just play a CD and be done with it. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the prevailing wisdom, and it appears that digital files are the wave of the future.
I started ripping my CDs to a computer with dbpoweramp. That's a bit of a project in and of itself. I don't have an ethernet connection on the floor where my listening room is located and installing one will be difficult from a practical perspective. So, I likely will have to go wi-fi for adding something to my rig that can play digital files. Not really interested in streaming at this point, although many people tell me I will want that in the future. Initially, I thought about going from a PC into an external DAC into my preamp. I've been told that this is doable, but not desirable as a PC adds noise to the system, etc. So, I just don't know where to go from here since I'm essentially limited to wi-fi or a computer based solution. I authored a couple of other threads on this to help with my initial research, but many of the suggestions required a NAS or an ethernet connection, or something with which I'm just not equipped to handle due to a limited knowledge base on the issue; it was much easier back in the day when all I had to worry about were patch cords and logical types of connections. Well, I know enough to know that I don't know.
Your thoughts and suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks.
I started ripping my CDs to a computer with dbpoweramp. That's a bit of a project in and of itself. I don't have an ethernet connection on the floor where my listening room is located and installing one will be difficult from a practical perspective. So, I likely will have to go wi-fi for adding something to my rig that can play digital files. Not really interested in streaming at this point, although many people tell me I will want that in the future. Initially, I thought about going from a PC into an external DAC into my preamp. I've been told that this is doable, but not desirable as a PC adds noise to the system, etc. So, I just don't know where to go from here since I'm essentially limited to wi-fi or a computer based solution. I authored a couple of other threads on this to help with my initial research, but many of the suggestions required a NAS or an ethernet connection, or something with which I'm just not equipped to handle due to a limited knowledge base on the issue; it was much easier back in the day when all I had to worry about were patch cords and logical types of connections. Well, I know enough to know that I don't know.
Your thoughts and suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks.
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@audioengr ... would I have to use a computer monitor to access a library management tool if I went the Bluesound route, or could I use a tablet? Thanks. Not trying to intercept this message! But no, you do not need a computer to do anything. Bluesound was developed, in part, to allow one to use their smartphone or tablet as a controller or remote (if you will) for your digital audio files. The files must be on a readable HDD or NAS in file folders. In that way you are using an external hard drive or computer hard drive, not operating system or monitor. Sometimes metadata or album art is not readable by the file system Bluesound uses. Once you tag the artwork and music files so that Bluesound can see and play them you are fine. |
rlb61, I use Itunes on the Mac Mini to send files over 5GHz Wi-Fi to Airport Express connected by the Toslink to Benchmark DAC3. I use Wi-Fi to separate computer from the audio system and to avoid cables across the room. Computer (speed amount of memeory etc.) and playback program become irrelevant since data has no timing attached (packets). you will be able to use computer during playback. Dual band router is necessary to transmit over 5GHz since 12 channel 2.4GHz in reality has only 3 channels (each channel is 4 channels wide) and I was getting dropouts. 5GHz is rock steady (not that popular, lot of channels, penetrates walls poorly). You will need also jitter suppression before the DAC. There is about 260ps of jitter on the output of AE. Not bad, but audibility level is about 50ps. You could either get jitter suppressing DAC or reclocker (like Synchro Mesh from Empirical Audio - post above). I use jitter suppressing DAC but reclocker has advantage of allowing you choice of any DAC. You need good coax cable after reclocker (to avoid introduction of new jitter), but you can get it from the same source (Empirical Audio). Airport Express is limited to 16/44.1 and that's OK with me (I ripped all my CDs using XLD). I chose AE since Apple TV outputs at 16/48 - not ideal since it is forcing conversion 16/44.1 to 16/48. If you decide to use Itunes make "Smart Playlists" for each genre ("when genre is ......"), and correct genre of each ripped CD (some come with strange genre names). That will place thumbnails in row and columns and will make Itunes much easier to use (in fact close to perfect). I start name of my Smart Playlists with "-" to separate them from other items on the left column menu. |
If you have a limited budget, maybe a Sony HAP-z1es or a Bluesound would do the trick, providing you have strong WIFI at your rack. The Sony is a good way to get started. You can transmit all of the ripped files to the Sony via WIFI. The problem is that I don't believe it supports streaming from Tidal or Qobuz. These require a subscription. The Bluesound Node2 will do your local files as well as streaming if you want that. You can use the DAC inside the Bluesound or add an external DAC. Steve N. Empirical Audio |
