07-22-14: Audiolabyrinth
Joecasey, There is some world class transports out there that computer audio cannot touch period, Why? How did you derive to this conclusion? Price? LOLs? if computer audio could, then this is the biggest fleasing in american history of audio!, look at DCS for an example, LOL!, Degree of "fleasing" is tied to one's level of obsession to this crazy hobby. IMO, you got FLEASED spending $15,950.00 retail for the balanced 1-meter interconnect. Performance has nothing to do with price of a component. Price is dictated by markets. This is a cottage industry so demand is low and price will be high in order for companies to stay in business. IMO, DCS and Esoteric understand demographics of their customers so why release computer base products and jeapolized their tradition line. to get this straight here, I am saying transports, Dacs, cd-players are all in the same catorgory, that is NOT computer audio, though I agree, cd-players,dacs, transports are computers, no doubt, however, they are dedicated to audio! That's the definition of embedded system but still a computer. Like I said earlier, the debate boils down to storage medium. CD, hdd, sdd, usb drive ... From Lamp Web Site:
Once again - how can a "stupid" computer modem sound better than reputable real CD transport ? Computers are supposed to be BAD.
I will try to explain how I see it:
Just imagine: It thakes 70 minutes for the Philips CDM2-Pro mechanism to read all data from CD disk. The same amount of data is read by DVD drive in 2 minutes. Blue Ray reads it in half minute. Hard drive reads it in 4 seconds. RAM buffer reads it in less than a second. MY LampizatOr Transport plays from own FIFO RAM Buffer.
The Data from CD must be read by a laser, which constantly needs to adjust focus, servo adjusts linear speed of motor, and track tracking. The data is demodulated from laser waves, and missing bits or errors are interpolated and corrected. Vibrations make reading difficult.
The HDD Lampizator Transport player needs nothing of that. Perfect, 100% accurate data is fed to RAM buffer and just (FIFO) - sent out to DAC according to external precision clock.
This scenario is 100 x more simple, errofr free and accurate. I am surprized that CD players play anything at all ;-)
These are benchmarks, not subjective #, not system dependent ... If starting from scratch, which storage medium would you choose? The whole not doing Computer Audio is really just a generational thing, like it or not it is the future. Agree! My attorney, an intelligent elderly gentleman, doesn't understand or trust computers so still uses hard currency. I grew up with technology and can't wait for the next great thing to improve quality of life. To digress, I configured JRiver to cache the entire file into memory, up to a gigabyte at a time, which mitigates the "spinning media" issues, or at least moves them to a error-free source. Bingo! Cache is agnostic with storage medium as long as read in before play. They actually have marketing/development groups dedicated to developing apps and uses that require more powerful CPU's, more memory etc.. in order to get you to upgrade your PC. IMO, one major reason for increase foot print is due to managed code such as Java and .NET. It's a pig and slow. C or C++ is still use if fast and lightweight are priorities but need competent engineers to develop them. I suggest when shopping for a new computer, get the maximum of RAM. I bought a laptop for one of my consultant gig years ago and has 2GB of RAM. CPU is fine but not enough to RAM to run some applications that requires 4+ GB. |
Eventually, if the techno-dust settles, I might become persuaded to migrate to a dedicated music server, such as the Bryston BDP-2, or hypothetical follow-on device that supports data rates higher than 192K... and a large internal solid-state storage option. Bryston BDP-2 buffers data in memory (I believe at least 1 track) before play so SQ should not be dependent on data storage device. Wired ethernet network has had the most impact on sonics ... Try replacing your generic with AQ ethernet cable. I am still interested in trying the Lampizator transport with my Lessloss DAC for comparative purposes because I am told the wifi is superior to wired Ethernet. Not sure I buy that statement completely though as Resolution Audio states the opposite with their Cantata. IMO, that's BS! |
Thank you JoeCasey, interesting about BDP-2 buffering capability. Are you talking about Ethernet from server to DAC? BDP-2 does not have RJ45 out, and Aeris does not have RJ-45 in. Ethernet reply was not for BDP-2. BTW, you don't need a network or computer to play music if stored in attached USB drive to BDP-2. You do need network for installing updates and controlling BPD-2 with PDA APPS and computer to manage the unit. |
07-16-14: Pkoegz
Kr4 same set up as you at least with fan-less, closet, USB and hard wired. The rest of you for the most part most have found it very difficult to go from incandescent bulb to CFLs to LEDs. "So confusing which to chose? Each works differently. It depends on the implementation". Hog wash. I am a 58yr old. Not in any type of hight tech or tech at all industry. 1.5yrs of college. No issues. Minor hiccups. But I have a brain. I am able to think and process thought and ask questions. Stop crying about change and embrace it you will be the better for it. Nothing wrong with the old ways darth vaders, but the technologies can exist together. My turntable has no issues. Live long and prosper.
Pkoegz (Threads | Answers | This Thread) What a GREAT attitude. Too bad you're in the SMALL minority. Can't believe people are complaining too many options. 07-15-14: Bcgator
Computer audio is a passing fad, just like sex and marijuana (not necessarily together, but not necessarily not together). You wait - in 5 years, nobody will want any of the three. You heard it here first. Hate to break it to you, DACs are computers. It's not a general purpose computer like Mac, Windows ... but I guess you can classify as embedded system. You still need to load data in memory before it works so basically the discussion boils down to how. CD transport reading a CD in real time, computer from HDD, computer from USB Drive ... If you're tech/computer/software savvy, you would never choose off a CD in real time. |
07-24-14: Audiolabyrinth
onhwy61, you are correct on my cable profound tweek, I am sorry,I am tired at this point at tring to get my point across, I have discussed this same issue on other threads, they understand and agree with my findings, tring to express the truth here is like talking to the deaf, BTW, FWIW, I have done computer audio with a usb cable before to a dac and cd-player, I also have used a computer straight to a reciever, not using a dac or cd-player before I ever posted my statements, neitherless, I believe I have said all that I can here. You're the poster boy for failing in computer audio. CLUELESS! LOL!!!!!!!!!!! |
For those not in the know, the definition of troll taken from the Urban dictionary is:
07-23-14: Onhwy61
Audiolabyrinth, you're becoming overwrought and approaching troll like comments. You're just another person with a profound tweak. It speaks for itself.
Onhwy61 (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)
08-05-14: Agear
Oops. Here is the definition from Urban dictionary:
troll
One who posts a deliberately provocative message to a newsgroup or message board with the intention of causing maximum disruption and argument Are you trying to be kind??? You're giving him way too much credit. |
08-06-14: Agear
08-06-14: Joecasey
Are you trying to be kind??? You're giving him way too much credit.
Now you're the one being bad Joecasey (but also funny...) If the shoe fits, wear it! |
08-06-14: Cerrot
Computer audio via USB is an absolute BUST! USB is for connecting peripherials - not for music! I don't have experience with computer audio via USB but isn't DACs consider a peripheral? Like a printer, ... it receives data from server? So why is it a BUST? They can't improve the USB hardware, drivers and cables? |
09-03-14: Charles1dad
Grannyring's decision to return to a CD player is a move I'm sure he'd not consider "half empty". He seems happier than ever since ditching the computer. Really though, this 1/2 full,1/2 empty applies to neither format. There's a ton of music available with both and we will choose what fits us best.My CD jazz collection just keeps expanding with beautiful recordings I keep discovering. Good luck and happy listening to all regardless of your preferred path.
Charles, I'm trying to make a general point and has nothing to do with Grannying or cd vs music server. One can use failures for excuses in not trying or successful results for inspiration. Basically the old Nike slogan, Just Do It! Just tired of people making excuses not trying computer audio because Joe Blow had problems. How about the success stories? |
That is to say: I definately concur with poster Raymonda here as his impresssions and views reflect my own as well. But indeed, to each his own. It's a personal decision to live life half full or half empty. If half empty, you are missing out on lots of good stuff. There will always be failures with the simplest task. |
09-07-14: Audiolabyrinth
What's one of the better computer audio software available to rip music to cds for playback through my cd player for my system?, Thankyou gentleman in advance. Audiolabyrinth, What do you rip and burn to cds? Downloads? So you're creating another level of work and transformation. Interesting! |
09-03-14: Mitch4t
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Computer audio for me is kind of like exercising. I know it's good for me, I know if I keep at it that it will give positive results. I know that in the beginning it could be a little uncomfortable, but if I want long term results, I need to fight through the initial discomfort.
The real key for me is that I just have to get started...snd stick with it. and ask for help when necessary. |
09-03-14: Charles1dad
Joe ,
I can appreciate you're happy with computer audio and that's fine. I guess you take this issue more seriously than I. For me they don't sound better and thus I felt no need to to take it further. You chose that direction and that's good for you. I see no point in turning this into some battle, it isn't that important. I'm forced to work with computers all day at work and feel comfortable with them. Just don't want them in my audio system at home, for those who do, enjoy.
Charles,
Charles1dad (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread) Frankly I could care less what anybody do except for myself. Like you, I'm just contributing and offering my .02. Nothing more and nothing less. |
09-07-14: Tbg
My music server comes with a TEAC optical drive with Linux program for ripping with many checks for errors. I have found that ripping is much faster when the cds are treated with the Essence of Music cd treatment and clearly sound better also. Does the time to treat a cd negate the shorter ripped time of a treated cd? Since ripping is not real-time, it really doesn't matter IMO. |
09-08-14: Tbg
Joecasey, I agree but it does suggest that the longer time means that errors are more common, that Essence of Music reduces them. It probably does not mean much in ripping, but the ripping with the treatment sounds noticeably better, and I suspect that on a universal player would be quite a good deal better. There are tons of benchmarks extracting data off different mediums. It's a known issue and impact greatly magnified in real time. |
steve, I was not aware that usb cables have a common ground like balanced analog cables?, never heard of that, if they do not, usb cables are inferrior, having an interface to help or force the usb cable to work better, still does not change the fact a usb cable is inferrior, I am not talking about interfacees, just the usb cable period, thankyou steve.
Audiolabyrinth (Threads | Answers | This Thread) WHY is it inferior, period?? |
