Consider spending $10 and getting BitPerfect from the Apple App Store as a low cost way to start. Use BitPerfect in "hog mode" to play an iTunes library. iTunes music files purchased as MP3s might well be less than "audiophile" quality though not all MP3s are created "equal" (i.e., they're not all equally crappy!). Alternatively, your iTunes library might consist of ripped CDs. These might be stored as high quality ALAC or even WAV files. The former (MP4A) while compressed is much better sound quality than MP3. The latter is uncompressed but you give up meta data in iTunes. Personally, I did a lot of A/B-ing between ALAC and WAV ripped CDs and couldn't hear a difference, though others report they can. For me, a relatively low cost option has been External Hard Drive w/ALAC files in iTunes>>MacBook w/BitPefect>>USB out>>Musical Fidelity USB/SPDIF converter>>coax>>Schiit Gungnir DAC>>pre-amp. You can throw silly money at computer audio but there's no guarantee you will hear a commensurate improvement in SQ...which is not to say the sound I have can't be improved. For me it's just a satisfactory balance between $-spent and sound realized. Same applies to Tidal vs Spotify. I didn't find Tidal SQ 2x better than Spotify...though I realize that's "red meat" to some frequenting this forum. Good luck with your explorations.
Please Help!! looking to get into computer audio.
I am looking into exploring the computer audio format, I am a long time audio enthusiast. My Digital front end currently consists of a Oppo bd103 and a Bryston Bda 1 , I currently have the capability to stream my itunes library from my computer via bluetooth to my oppo player , but the sound quality is not up to my standards. Any suggestions on how to increase the sound quality would be great. Please consider that i am a newbie to this and a little confused with the formats of computer audio. Any solution would be appreciated thanks. I have been looking at the w4s remedy and or Blink or recovery. I am also considering just getting a wadia 171 ipod transport and just using my ipod. confused and not sure which route to take for best sound qaulity.
Showing 5 responses by ghosthouse
Whino - unfortunately, just checked (see link here) and it looks like BitPerfect is for MAC OS only. http://bitperfectsound.com/?page_id=2 BUT you could try something like Audirvana or JRiver. These have versions for PC and get lots of positive comments. Supposed to be better than BitPerfect sound-wise. Don't apologize. No one was born with this knowledge and, if they were, it's genetics to thank, not some personal accomplishment. So feel free to ask. Check out the Computer Audiophile website too. Best way to learn is by trying and doing...though it can certainly be frustrating at times. |
Hi @dtc - hope the OP will not mind me butting in on his thread - but will you please elaborate a little on your comment "Chrome is the only browser that supports CD quality Tidal." If I use a MacBook and Safari to stream Tidal’s HiFi quality content (subscription-based) will that be CD quality? How can I tell? Thanks in advance. |
Thanks, dtc. I was on the Tidal site and saw that line you quote. That's what has me scratching my head. Does Web player mean an app for mobile devices (which app doesn't fully reside on the device) - in contrast to whatever necessary Tidal software gets downloaded to the hard drive of a PC or Mac when you subscribe to their HiFi service? Thanks again. |
@dtc - I think you gave me what I needed. What I was not understanding was pretty basic..."web player" vs the alternative : "desktop app". Since I’m using a MacBook, I’m fairly certain TIDAL for Mac will give me the HiFi option in their desktop install. I’m not real worried about portability/web-based access. Thanks for your time. (btw - I agreed with your response to mensch about "small steps when getting started".) |