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  »  New  The commercial music servers...  Touch screen remote...  Didital Things  Forum     37  335047  01-10-2008
  »  New  About the DAW playback software...  Best hardware with best software...  Didital Things  Forum     11  102416  03-22-2008
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04-02-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 61
Post ID: 10153
Reply to: 10152
The sonically approved computer powers supply?
fiogf49gjkf0d

 jp wrote:
I was looking into the power supply situation with my DAW and was wondering what viable options exist out there.  Currently, I am using an internal 600w pc power and cooling unit.  Apparently there arent many out there.  One I found was the xg magnum 600 external power supply but it looks like the company may be out of business...Anyone care to share their experience?

That is very good question but the one the unfortunately has no answers. I use one of the biggest Magnum external fanless power supplies, presuming that if they are not better sonically but at least they remove a lot of heat and a lot of filed noise from a computer enclosure.

However, would I consider it as a good solution? Certainly not. The Magnum and any other PS for PC are essentially very cheap impulse power supply. The biggest question is if any better or other TYPE of power supply would be beneficial to drive DAW – that is THE question. Unfortunately I have no answer and I did not see anybody else seriously observe this subject. I have to admit that it is difficult subjects to observe as DAW in different hands do say many different thighs the it is very hard to say anything defiantly…

Still, I would be welcome to some kind of Aftermarket Company that would offer “sonically approved” computer powers supply – a great market for somebody and I am sure that soon or later we will see something like this available.

The Cat


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
04-04-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
decoud
United Kingdom
Posts 247
Joined on 03-01-2008

Post #: 62
Post ID: 10156
Reply to: 10153
Commonality of power
fiogf49gjkf0d
What is the reason for not building one's own? There is nothing special about computer power supplies, is there, one just has to provide DC with the correct parameters, no? You could run a motherboard off the Milq...
04-04-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
jessie.dazzle


Paris, France
Posts 456
Joined on 04-23-2006

Post #: 63
Post ID: 10157
Reply to: 10156
Home brewed power supply for music server
fiogf49gjkf0d
Seems totally doable to me; you'd just need 12 and 5 volt DC output having adequate current delivery, and a few Molex connectors.

Having said that, I notice no difference when switching to battery when using a laptop model to run the external drive of my music server setup, but this is possibly because power may be routed "through" the battery even with the transformer connected.

jd*


How to short-circuit evolution: Enshrine mediocrity.
04-04-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 64
Post ID: 10159
Reply to: 10157
I think it is different.
fiogf49gjkf0d
 jessie.dazzle wrote:
Having said that, I notice no difference when switching to battery when using a laptop model to run the external drive of my music server setup, but this is possibly because power may be routed "through" the battery even with the transformer connected.
Actually it is not indicative as the power supplies that comes with laptops are regular linear power supplies, not the impulse power supplies. I think the key might be to get rig those switching power supplies. At least if we do so then the DAW would be OK to plug right along with the rest playback as it will injecting noise back to the power lines.

The Cat


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
04-04-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 65
Post ID: 10160
Reply to: 10156
The people who have to do it must do it.
fiogf49gjkf0d

 decoud wrote:
What is the reason for not building one's own? There is nothing special about computer power supplies, is there, one just has to provide DC with the correct parameters, no? You could run a motherboard off the Milq...

Generally, yes, it shell be very simple power supplies with no switching dirt insider and Hi-Fi people might use way better sounding stabilizers then people use in computers. The computer people use switching supplies just because it is cheaper, less space and less heat, no other reasons. You will not find a liner aftermarket PS for PC – I was looking it for a few years. It would not be difficult to build one but I do not plane to install my own DIY projects. I will tolerate the coming conversion of MF channel of Milq to DHT and it will be as far as I will go because no one else will be able to do it for me. To build a typical PS for PC is too generic task for me to make my hand dirty and other shall do it, the professionals – I would just buy it, try and see how it works.  Unfortunate no one look at that direction… Like in many other directions…

Lately the Music Servers got a lot of momentum and a lot of popularity but I am in contrary very disappointed with what going on with Music Servers and with the people who use them. But this is another subject…

The Cat


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
06-16-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
jessie.dazzle


Paris, France
Posts 456
Joined on 04-23-2006

Post #: 66
Post ID: 10799
Reply to: 8418
Best sounding version of iTunes
fiogf49gjkf0d
Is it possible that there are better and worse sounding versions of iTunes?

Since 2004 I've been using iTunes together with a Mac computer and the very addictive Wavelength Cosecant DAC as the main source "component" in a system consisting of horns driven by SET amps (for further info see the Jessie Dazzle Project thread).
 
I've been upgrading iTunes all along, and tonight I installed the latest version (V8.2). 
 
The newly installed version crashed repeatedly; wouldn't even open (presented an error message saying something about an inability to recognize my library), this after several uninstall/reinstalls.
 
I know I could have made it work, but since the previous iTunes update had also given me trouble (some CDs not recognized when loaded for importation, and then impossible to eject!), I decided enough was enough, and reverted to an older version which did not have these issues (V7.7 to be precise).  
 
The additional features in V8x are of no interest to me. I use iTunes to deliver 44.1/16HKz music files to the DAC... I don't use it or the computer for anything else. (BTW, if you listen to classical, the "Genius" feature in V8 is 100% useless).
 
So on to the point :

I reinstalled V7.7, and here I am listening to it, and... I'm certain that what I'm now hearing sounds better than what I'd been hearing for the past few months (or more). A lot better!
  
Has anyone else has had a similar experience with iTunes?

jd*


How to short-circuit evolution: Enshrine mediocrity.
06-16-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
jessie.dazzle


Paris, France
Posts 456
Joined on 04-23-2006

Post #: 67
Post ID: 10800
Reply to: 10799
"Official Response"
fiogf49gjkf0d
I did a search on "best sounding version of itunes" and found the following :

Posted 02-23-2009 on the AudiogoN forum - Ehider wrote :

"...there have been slight variations in the sound of iTunes. Some of the updates (but not all by any means) actually added a slight improvement in high frequency reproduction and better harmonic texturethroughout the entire frequency range. Nothing major mind you, but better for sure. The best part of iTunes is that the LATEST offerings seem to always be the best sounding i.e. just make sure you have the latest variant..."

"...BTW: I should state that the above improvements in iTunes are not necessarily evident unless you are using a USB connected, non-SPIDF DAC with serious high end electronics, very transparent speakers and premium USB cabling i.e. SPDIF connectivity and/or budget minded gear downward in the system chain could absolutely marginalize sonic differences between all of the iTunes variations..."


Uhhh (!).

jd*


 


How to short-circuit evolution: Enshrine mediocrity.
06-17-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
tuga


Posts 174
Joined on 12-26-2007

Post #: 68
Post ID: 10808
Reply to: 10800
A music player for iTunes
fiogf49gjkf0d
Hi jd*,


Have you tried this music player that uses iTunes for "asset acquisition, storage and playlist management"?

http://www.sonicstudio.com/amarra/index.html

I've read good things about it.The UI is uglier than a old goat, though...

Cheers,
Tuga


"Science draws the wave, poetry fills it with water" Teixeira Pascoaes
06-17-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
coops
London, United Kingdom
Posts 115
Joined on 02-16-2007

Post #: 69
Post ID: 10811
Reply to: 10808
Dem in Munich
fiogf49gjkf0d
I heard a demonstration of the software ,versus standard itunes in Munich, I thought it a significant improvement, more texture to the sound, more space around individual components, and the auto sample rate sensing is useful.
06-17-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
jessie.dazzle


Paris, France
Posts 456
Joined on 04-23-2006

Post #: 70
Post ID: 10816
Reply to: 10811
Amarra; I'll try it the day afta tomarra
fiogf49gjkf0d
Thanks to both of you for your responses; I didn't know of this software. Very intersting... I'm definitly going to download the demo trial and see how it compares.

Probably won't get to it before the weekend; I whipped myself into an all-night OCD lather trying to get iTunes to re-associate the once meticulously sorted album illustrations with half a TB of music files. Total nightmare! Need a day or two to recover; plus I want to first get the sound of the "new" old version of iTunes firmly in my head.

I'll post a follow-up here once I've had a chance to compare.

You're right Tuga; that is one horsey looking user interface!

jd*


How to short-circuit evolution: Enshrine mediocrity.
06-17-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Markus
Posts 68
Joined on 03-07-2007

Post #: 71
Post ID: 10818
Reply to: 10811
Must have been convincing
fiogf49gjkf0d
 coops wrote:
I heard a demonstration of the software ,versus standard itunes in Munich, I thought it a significant improvement, more texture to the sound, more space around individual components, and the auto sample rate sensing is useful.


Did you become a dealer on the strength of that demo?
06-17-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
coops
London, United Kingdom
Posts 115
Joined on 02-16-2007

Post #: 72
Post ID: 10819
Reply to: 10818
Markus Hi
fiogf49gjkf0d
Short answer yes, the auto sample rate sensing, dithered volume and eq are useful features , the Metric halo/ Sonic Studio Model 4 is also a cracking adc/dac.
But yes primarily the sound, did you get a chance to listen to Amarra at Flemings? Keith.
06-17-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
jessie.dazzle


Paris, France
Posts 456
Joined on 04-23-2006

Post #: 73
Post ID: 10820
Reply to: 10819
Amarra : Supported Audio Formats and $
fiogf49gjkf0d
In digging through the support section of the Amarra Music Player web page, and finally ending up on the FAQ, http://www.sonicstudio.com/amarra/faq.html I came upon this :

Supported Audio Formats

NOTE: Amarra only supports uncompressed PCM files (AIFF, WAV, BWF). Future updates will include support for FLAC and Apple Loseless

This is a big deal for me; As a younger moron, I started off importing all files as Apple lossless, using error checking/correction. To this day, I cannot hear even the slightest difference when comparing the lossless version to the AIFF version; nevertheless, for my own mental hygene, I now wish I'd elected to import as straight AIFF files using error correction.

Keith, since you are an official dealer, can you tell us :
   
   1 : When can we expect this software to recognize files stored in lossless format such as those by FLAC and Apple ?
   
   2 : How much does it cost (an approximate figure is fine)? Nowhere on the web site is there any mention of price.
   
   3 : How long does the demo version last before requiring that one purchase the product?


Thanks,

jd*


How to short-circuit evolution: Enshrine mediocrity.
06-17-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
coops
London, United Kingdom
Posts 115
Joined on 02-16-2007

Post #: 74
Post ID: 10821
Reply to: 10820
Jessie
fiogf49gjkf0d
Jessie Hi, re question 1, drop Jon a line at Sonic, he is far better placed to advise you on the addition of new codecs and hardware , the 'early adopter' software is I believe $1000, there is a demo version but it cuts out after 30 seconds which is annoying, ask Jon for a loan of the full production software, be interested to hear your opinion, Keith.
06-17-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
jessie.dazzle


Paris, France
Posts 456
Joined on 04-23-2006

Post #: 75
Post ID: 10822
Reply to: 10821
Thanks for the reply
fiogf49gjkf0d
Kieth,

Thanks for the speedy reply; I'll contact Sonic directly. I'm very much looking forward to this.

jd*


How to short-circuit evolution: Enshrine mediocrity.
06-18-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Telstar
Posts 30
Joined on 02-06-2008

Post #: 76
Post ID: 10832
Reply to: 8338
Computer transport
fiogf49gjkf0d
 scooter wrote:

* Regarding playback, I misspoke in my original post of an "Audiophile music server." Upon further reflection, this is an oxymoron, if not a moronic phrase. I think it is highly unlikely that a dedicated audiophile CD player will be beat by a home-brewed or commercially available music server:

- The microcomputer used for a music server is unable to perform specialized application roles at top-tier levels. The microcomputer's operating system and hardware are too generalist, too buggy, too noisy and have too much stuff going on in the background

- The apparently simple task of moving 1s and 0s from a hard drive to a DAC is still a challenge in 2008 (interference, jitter, data loss, etc.). Part of this is due to the limitations of a generalist computer system being utilized in a specialized application


This is not true.

Point one, "The microcomputer used for a music server is unable to perform specialized application roles at top-tier levels": what does this mean?
A today cpu is hundreds of millions times more powerful than any microcontroller used in a cdp or dac. It can perform anything that a cdp/dac can and many things more, all in realtime and without introducing significant delays. Generalist is just a false statement. There are very specific pieces software.
"too buggy": maybe

Point two, the simple task of moving 1s and 0s is still a challenge with any transport used. With a separate transport and DAC, the very same interface issues apply. the best combos have proprietary interfaces (usually based on i2s or ST) with their jitter and interference problems. A single box cdp has an easier life on this.

The issues are basically the same for the computer, as transport, namely (1)- interferences (RFI/EMI), more than within a cdp, also due to fans and other moving parts*, and (2)- jitter, which with some interfaces can be higher than from a SOTA transport, but from other sides can be lower because of no moving parts. it is surely very high using spdif, the worst digital interface ever created (TM by me). Anyway, it's always the DAC which accounts for the vast majority of the sound quality. This is why the guy above feels that his music server with Wavelenght dac sounds better. There is also the unknown rule that NOS sounds better with a computer (and nobody can explain why).

* A computer transport without fans and moving parts can be done with today technlogy, and for a very low cost. The critical point is the interface, the connection to the D/A. I do not have first hand knowledge of the top pro units such as Lavry, Pacific microsonics and Meitner, but i have listened to very good consumer setups. My favourite digital surce is the naim cd555. Yep, extremely regulated psu, in a separate box. Power matters. Everything matters.

06-18-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Telstar
Posts 30
Joined on 02-06-2008

Post #: 77
Post ID: 10833
Reply to: 8390
The interface is the culprit
fiogf49gjkf0d
 manisandher wrote:

I am convinced that the soundcard/interface is the main cause of the inferior performance of HDD vs. CD.


It is.
06-18-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Telstar
Posts 30
Joined on 02-06-2008

Post #: 78
Post ID: 10834
Reply to: 9201
Music servers pop like mushrooms
fiogf49gjkf0d
 alexd wrote:

As far as Music Server goes, the single board computer with linear power supply or battery supply is correct approach, I was talking about MAC or PC.


As long as you isolate the signal that goes to the dac from the noise of the computer, you do NOT need to design an expensive linear power supply for the entire computer.

This is just one of the dozens of so called "audiophile" music servers that are growing like mushrooms and that in common have only two traits: 1 bloated pricetag and 2 some modified soundcards and/or psu.
People with a bit of computer skills can build the same for a fraction of the cost, and tailored for their needs.
06-18-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 79
Post ID: 10835
Reply to: 10834
The main cause of the inferior performance...
fiogf49gjkf0d

 Telstar wrote:
I am convinced that the soundcard/interface is the main cause of the inferior performance of HDD vs. CD.

 I disagree. The main cause of the inferior performance of HDD vs. CD is not the soundcard/interface but the CD format itself and the fact that the CD are over-edited by deaf and semi-moronic people. If the CD be data CD and contain the raw 16/44 files than the qulety would be orders of magnetite more superior.

Also, yes, the music servers pop like mushrooms but it is meaningless. What those people put on their music servers? The copies from crappy CD? That is ridicules. The industry still holds control over music destitution and does not allow to have any row uncompressed files.  Without is anything else is garbage. If I did not have my FM source I would not even have and recognise not reasons in music servers.

The Cat


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
06-19-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
tuga


Posts 174
Joined on 12-26-2007

Post #: 80
Post ID: 10845
Reply to: 10832
PC grounding.
fiogf49gjkf0d
 Telstar wrote:
 scooter wrote:

* Regarding playback, I misspoke in my original post of an "Audiophile music server." Upon further reflection, this is an oxymoron, if not a moronic phrase. I think it is highly unlikely that a dedicated audiophile CD player will be beat by a home-brewed or commercially available music server:

- The microcomputer used for a music server is unable to perform specialized application roles at top-tier levels. The microcomputer's operating system and hardware are too generalist, too buggy, too noisy and have too much stuff going on in the background

- The apparently simple task of moving 1s and 0s from a hard drive to a DAC is still a challenge in 2008 (interference, jitter, data loss, etc.). Part of this is due to the limitations of a generalist computer system being utilized in a specialized application


This is not true.

Point one, "The microcomputer used for a music server is unable to perform specialized application roles at top-tier levels": what does this mean?
A today cpu is hundreds of millions times more powerful than any microcontroller used in a cdp or dac. It can perform anything that a cdp/dac can and many things more, all in realtime and without introducing significant delays. Generalist is just a false statement. There are very specific pieces software.
"too buggy": maybe

Point two, the simple task of moving 1s and 0s is still a challenge with any transport used. With a separate transport and DAC, the very same interface issues apply. the best combos have proprietary interfaces (usually based on i2s or ST) with their jitter and interference problems. A single box cdp has an easier life on this.

The issues are basically the same for the computer, as transport, namely (1)- interferences (RFI/EMI), more than within a cdp, also due to fans and other moving parts*, and (2)- jitter, which with some interfaces can be higher than from a SOTA transport, but from other sides can be lower because of no moving parts. it is surely very high using spdif, the worst digital interface ever created (TM by me). Anyway, it's always the DAC which accounts for the vast majority of the sound quality. This is why the guy above feels that his music server with Wavelenght dac sounds better. There is also the unknown rule that NOS sounds better with a computer (and nobody can explain why).

* A computer transport without fans and moving parts can be done with today technlogy, and for a very low cost. The critical point is the interface, the connection to the D/A. I do not have first hand knowledge of the top pro units such as Lavry, Pacific microsonics and Meitner, but i have listened to very good consumer setups. My favourite digital surce is the naim cd555. Yep, extremely regulated psu, in a separate box. Power matters. Everything matters.


Telstar, what do you think would be the most efficient way to ground a computer? Would this affect performance as much as it does any other audio component?

Cheers,
Tuga


"Science draws the wave, poetry fills it with water" Teixeira Pascoaes
Page 4 of 9 (170 items) Select Pages:  « First ... « 2 3 4 5 6 » ... Last »
   Target    Threads for related reading   Most recent post in related threads   Forum  Replies   Views   Started 
  »  New  The commercial music servers...  Touch screen remote...  Didital Things  Forum     37  335047  01-10-2008
  »  New  About the DAW playback software...  Best hardware with best software...  Didital Things  Forum     11  102416  03-22-2008
  »  New  Recording/Playback software..  Free stuff...  Didital Things  Forum     14  100806  08-24-2008
  »  New  To Rip or not to Rip...  Ripping with better playback...  Didital Things  Forum     2  33082  03-18-2009
  »  New  The contra-ridicules solution for a good DAW?..  Happy to see this thread...  Didital Things  Forum     1  32027  06-18-2009
  »  New  DAW drives configuration and backup strategies...  Not expensive to recover DATA, avoid Corporate Recovery...  Didital Things  Forum     3  38608  10-05-2009
  »  New  Weiss Engineering DAC202..  Attenuation...  Didital Things  Forum     5  51275  06-21-2010
  »  New  Pacific Microsonics Model Two: What Platform, Software ..  XLR to RCA adaptor. Watch out...  Didital Things  Forum     1  27083  03-17-2011
  »  New  Windows Based Transport: A quiet and capable Source?..  DAE Firmware quality...  Didital Things  Forum     47  287987  11-01-2011
  »  New  Memory Player Box?..  Maybe I will not order the Pure Teflon capacitors after...  Didital Things  Forum     2  46306  11-03-2011
  »  New  Why I hate computer playback...  Higher power cpu...  Didital Things  Forum     17  125009  04-16-2012
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