cd transport/dac vs computer/dac

heiney9

If it were me, I'd buy a good USB to SPDIF converter and go that route. You can do the soundcard, but configuring it takes a lot more time and knowledge depending on what operationg system you are using. Of course if you don't care about bit perfect playback then you just plug and go, but it won't give you the best possible sound. But then you are used to bluetooth streaming from your phone so I'm not sure how far down the rabbit hole you want to or are willing to go. Or what your expectation is.

I always assume people want the best possible fidelity from what they have, I'm finding most don't share my obsession with that and are fine to just make due with slightly compromised sound for convenience or lesser cost. You have to decide what balance you want to strike.

What program are you going to use to play the files? I assume you will have a screen of some sort, keyboard, mouse, etc.

The SQB makes all the above very, very easy so I'd definitely give it some thought.

heiney9

Does you computer have digital outputs from the soundcard? If not, I'd go USB before spending money on a soundcard.

H9

heiney9

soundfreak1 wrote: »

does the db power amp have a player in it to select and play from the "down loads or rupped files" or will nees to use some other player? And not sure the best way to connect tje dac to the computer.

It does, but it's rudimentary and not the best option, IMO. If you are going to go the computer route and need a player I highly, highly recommend a free version of Media Monkey

http://www.mediamonkey.com/

Get your read on because MM does a lot of cool stuff and helps manage your music database.

Others may have different suggestions, but I just recommend what I use and how it works for me. Some of this will be trial and error as we all have different expectations and comfort levels as far as simplicity and implementation and features, etc. I've tried some other music players and didn't care for them. MM is simply an awesome program that does a lot.

H9

heiney9

I will also note above that I use Media Monkey in my office rig where the physical computer is located and hooked up to the office rig. The main rig I use the Squeezebox so there isn't a need to use Media Monkey or any other player. The SQB handles all that and I control it with my Android phone via the Squeeze Commander app.

H9

soundfreak1

yes I read about the media monkey and it sounded really good hence my question on the db power amp. The db seemed to be a very good ripper, then i assume u r recomending the monkey for playing and mtg. Of files.i seem to have optical, usb, eathernet outputs from tje computer and i do want the best i can afford.i have adj. My budget up to 800.00 for dac and computer . So i dont see any pit falls.still jave 550. Left to play with after dac.may have enough left to just about do the sbt.aftet the computer is done.or at least a start of savings for the sqb. The idea is to set the computer up and dac first then make the desision on sqb or sonos or what ever.

Face

Or just pick up J. River and have the best of both worlds for playback, tagging, and ripping.

heiney9

Face wrote: »

Or just pick up J. River and have the best of both worlds for playback, tagging, and ripping.

Media Monkey does that as well plus more, but either would be a good choice.

Soundfreak, if you get one of the above, you really don't need dB Poweramp even though it is a better ripping program, but not sure you would notice the difference.

H9

Face

heiney9 wrote: »

Media Monkey does that as well plus more, but either would be a good choice.

Soundfreak, if you get one of the above, you really don't need dB Poweramp even though it is a better ripping program, but not sure you would notice the difference.

H9

FYI, J. River also has error correction.

heiney9

Before you pick a player, you need to decide how you are going to run the dac in your system. Soundfreak, do you have a digital output from the soundcard on your computer? What OS are you using?

H9

soundfreak1

There seems to opt
and ethernet outputs. The os is wind. Xp pro 64bit.untill i deside on sqb i intend to come out of the computer into the dac and into the preamp. As far as db pa goes it seems to cost only 38.00 not much! If its the best for ripping as i see that the start of all things.not sure of price of mm.but can afford both if better.

soundfreak1

Btw would there be any advantage as far is the harddrive goes to go to a outboard drive just for the music. thinking of noise reduction to the computer I e separating it from the computer tower with its own power supply. just thinking

heiney9

soundfreak1 wrote: »

There seems to opt
and ethernet outputs. The os is wind. Xp pro 64bit.untill i deside on sqb i intend to come out of the computer into the dac and into the preamp. As far as db pa goes it seems to cost only 38.00 not much! If its the best for ripping as i see that the start of all things.not sure of price of mm.but can afford both if better.

Well, XP is going to take some knowledge to configure properly if you do in fact have an optical out and use that instead of USB. Ethernet has nothing to do in this scenario. Media Monkey is a free DL, the pay version offers a few more options.

soundfreak1 wrote: »

Btw would there be any advantage as far is the harddrive goes to go to a outboard drive just for the music. thinking of noise reduction to the computer I e separating it from the computer tower with its own power supply. just thinking

Your choice, I don't really see an advantage to one over the other except internal HD's tend to fail less, be sure to get a large enough one so you don't run out of space in the future. Noise isn't a issue at the HD stage, it is at the output stage.

H9

steveinaz

Again? Really? reported.

steveinaz

soundfreak1 wrote: »

Btw would there be any advantage as far is the harddrive goes to go to a outboard drive just for the music. thinking of noise reduction to the computer I e separating it from the computer tower with its own power supply. just thinking

Aside from portability...I can't think of any advantage.

heiney9

Another disadvantage to external is the need for another power cable and usb cable. Sometimes I wish I could eliminate those two as I have enough cables running everywhere already.

H9

soundfreak1

Got cha! far as hard drive size I guess I'm gonna go a terabyte also would it be any advantage in separating hard drive so that 1 hard drive for the computer processes and a separate hard drive just for music storage and playing just curious

heiney9

If this is a server only, as you stated before, no not necessary. What are you going to be doing for active back-ups? Keep that in mind when you are choosing your drive size and type. I use Acronis and back-up to an external HD. Soon I will be moving to a RAID 5 NAS.

soundfreak1

when you say backing up are you speaking of keeping a separate copy bsn original copy of all your downloads in rips?

heiney9

soundfreak1 wrote: »

when you say backing up are you speaking of keeping a separate copy bsn original copy of all your downloads in rips?

For me it's an entire image of all my files, so no I'm not talking just a copy of my music files. Although, I do have that too. By using a program like Acronis you can restore an entire image of a HD from the last scheduled back-up date. Saved my a$$ the last time.

H9

soundfreak1

Ok i got it. Almost have my head wrapped around this.what is your recommendation regarding the media monkey and the db pa? 1 or the other or both 1 for ripping 1 for playing price pretty much seems irrelevant on these.

Fongolio

Give serious consideratio to J River Media Player. It does all the other two do and more. Do some research, you'll see.

heiney9

Getting a little ahead of yourself here. FIRST, you need to decide how you are going to output the digital signal. If you in fact do have optical out and you are using XP you will have to configure the output for KERNEL streaming to get a bit perfect output. If not, it goes throught the Windows K-mixer and IMO, after comparing the two on my old computer, the K-mixer sounds pretty poor comparatively.

If you decide to purchase a USB to SPDIF converter so you can use the USB output you can attain bit perfect extraction via a generic interphase or with the software shipped with the USB converter (if it has proprietary software like the Musiland does).

You need to decide this first. Perhaps you don't care about the K-mixer output with the optical connection, if that's the case then carry on. Again simplicity and ease of set-up vs. ultimate sound quality. Only you can decide.

H9

soundfreak1

is that the k mixer that comes just before the L mixer WTF. No clue so i will ck out the converter and do some more reading.

heiney9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_legacy_audio_components

Scroll down to K-mixer and Kernel streaming.

H9

soundfreak1

I smelling a rabit hole here!LOL and crying at the same time.

steveinaz

did he mention that a squeezebox would be easier?....LOL I'm kiddin man, I kid cause I care.

heiney9

soundfreak1 wrote: »

I smelling a rabit hole here!LOL and crying at the same time.

Dude, I told you using the computer directly hooked to a rig was not kids stuff if you wanted the best possible sound. That's why I've been heavily recommending the SQB as a simpler approach. When you are done, you will have formidable and very convenient set-up.

:cheesygrin::eek:

H9

P.s. In the end it's not that daunting, but you have started from scratch with almost no knowledge, so your learning curve is steep.

soundfreak1

yes you are absolutely correct regarding the learning curve and it hurts my head, the learning curve I mean. yeah I did want the best possible found it I could afford but geeese I can smell a very big rabbit hole coming. I may just have to bite the bullet and do the squeeze box but I still have to do the hard drive.ect

steveinaz

There's far less to worry about, and less chance of messing something up with a squeezebox---not to mention it works extremely well, and is easier to learn. It's just basically a network transport with a user interface.

heiney9

........and you don't need a computer screen/TV or keyboard or mouse. Yes, you still actually use the computer and HD, the SQB is just the interphase as Steve said. The SQB controls the info on the computer.

H9