HDD music. How do you get it done and why?

mantis

Ok another craze is using a computer as your source in your HT or 2ch system.
There are many ways to get this done. I'd like to focus on music and wanted to know what everyone was using.

My idea right now is using a Mac Mini with a 7200hd or a solid state , using itunes with some software overtop of it to correct the output issues I have read and learned about , using a external DAC like this Audioquest USB DAC I found which seems to be kinda cool or going with a Peachtree or Cambridige DAC Magic.

Simple effective and clean. No tower , cards , etc . I'm a mac guy but if it's a much better way to go with a Windows based PC for music , I'm all ears.

On a side note , 95% of my music came from ripping CD's into iTunes using .wav or Apple Lossless. I never really heard any difference in them so I stuck with Apple Lossless. I really enjoy iTunes interface and once in a blue moon I'll purchase a song or old album from the iTunes store. I don't like to do that as they only offer 256k right now. I have compared 256k stuff from iTunes to the actual cd playing in my player and the rip in .wav or apple lossless. I prefer the cd and ripped version over the 256k. Shame as it would save a lot of disk space but who cares right? Space is cheap now and getting a 7200rpm 2T drive is very affordable. So space is no concern. I'm also wondering if I don't hear any differences due to itunes issues with output or not sounding as good as other formats. I have no idea how the Apple Tv outputs or if there is a way to check.

Right now I have 2 Apple Tv's as my main music sources.I have a 160g Apple Tv and a brand new Streamer 1080p. The older Apple TV I use mainly as I have my entire cd collection on it.I use the streamer mainly for movies and Airplay. I do however spin cd's , SACD's and DVD Audio disc's and want to move away from looking through my collection and putting in a single disc.

I would continue to use my Apple TV 160g IF it sounded as good or better then my Cambridge Audio BD560. Wiring wise I'm using both DAC's and prefer the sound of the Cambridge internal DAC's over my AVR's( SC-07 Wolfson 8740's which I'm planning on going back to separates).
Apple TV 160g is using HDMI(Audioquest Cinnamon) , Optical (Audioquest Optilink 1) and analog RCA(Audioquest custom ITA1.1). Apple TV Streamer is also using the same kind of HDMI and Optical cables.
I have them both wired up this way so I can compare HDMI and Optical to hear if one sounds better then the other.Honestly they sound exactly the same.I must not have any jitter issues with either connection. The analog connection was purely for zone 2 and 3 as I have speakers all over the house. I tried listening to the Apple tv 160 using the analog connection and I think it sounds better over digital meaning the internal DAC sounds better in the AVR over the Apple Tv's. I have no idea what Apple is using as a DAC. I have used very high end analog cable as well with not much of any difference over the ITA1.1's
I'm considering trying a external DAC with my Apple TV and seeing if I can get it closer to the quality I get from the Cambridge or equal to or even better.We have both the Peachtree and Cambridge in stock so trying them would be very easy. This is when I started to really consider getting a brand new Mac mini and going that route. Then I wouldn't need either of these Apple TV's. Maybe keep the streamer for guests and parties with Airplay and such.

thsmith

The nice thing about using the Mac Mini is you can use an Ipad, Iphone, Android or pC to control it.

I use an external FW drive for the music and never bothered with a SSD. Upgrade the ram and use something like Amarra that plays the music from RAM.

mdaudioguy

VortexBox server loaded with FLACs, distributed to Squeezeboxes in several systems in and around the house, with the ability to stream to my phone anywhere. If I'm in my car, then phone to headunit via Bluetooth. Quality depends on application. Main system gets unadulterated FLACs, while files streamed to mobile receive more compression to save bandwidth. It all works well for me - my music, basically anywhere I want it..

LuSh

A few suggestions:

I use a PC and I rip into iTunes in AIFF (which is Apple speak for WAV) so I can still get my beloved album art. From that I stream using a Squeezbox into a DAC (Simaudio) and use an amazing app (Squezepad) to control everything through my iPad.

I used this layout because what I originally wanted to use was a proper MAC based system with Amarra running overtop. But at the time couldn't justify the expense as I only had a PC.

In your case I'd strongly recommend the following:

Use the Mac Mini. And start ripping in using AIFF.

Purchase Amarra Hifi http://www.sonicstudio.com/amarra/amarra_hifi.html

Buy an Arcam rDAC (better then a Cambridge and works off a USB interface using technology licenced from dCS)

DON'T use Apple TV. Connect the rDAC directly to the DAC. In email conversations I've had with Steve Nugent of Emperical Audio fame and lead designer of the Pentium 2 for intel 'back in the day' Apple TV does not output bit perfect data - it basically packs streams and unpacks but it isn't bit perfect.

If a hard wired connection from your computer is not possible consider Arcams wireless option.

I've used an Apple TV in he past, while it was great initially and helped in the learning process it is inferior to almost every alternative option out there.

Streaming audio is incredible and might change your listening habits.

EndersShadow

Mantis, given your files are Apple lossless from the get go and your using a MAC, I would suggest staying the course there. iTunes on PC's creates problems with how music is sent out via that program (see thread). You also can run programs over the top of iTunes on a MAC that can make it sound better, whereas on a PC its not so much.

In my case I started with a Windows 7 PC and installed dbpoweramp's free trial (which I intend to purchase). After converting all my CD's to FLAC on a 1 TB internal drive I shared that drive with all the other computers in my network. I then as needed would connect my laptop to my AVR via HDMI and stream audio through it to my setup downstairs. In my office I had a HK 3490 connected via Coaxial and controlled playback through Media Monkey as needed.

I also had a Zune HD so I converted a copy of all that stuff to MP3 and combined it with my older crappier MP3's for Zune use only.

I then got an iPhone recently and was planning on using iTunes for everything and then get a Apple TV for downstairs to stream my music there and be able to use my iPhone as a remote. After reading a bunch of threads about how iTunes in Windows just doesnt do hi-fi well I scrapped that idea and went back to FLAC for everything.

I plan on building another small HTPC eventually (in addition to the work computer I am building now) whose only goal is to be able to stream my music over my network so I dont have to use my laptop via HDMI anymore, but thats how I have it setup.

I thought I would mention to folks out there that XBMC (windows program) will play FLAC and has a app that lets you browse your library via a Android or iPhone device as long as its connected to your network. This is how I control playback of music through my laptop.

So here is how my music gets to my systems:

Main Rig: Main Computer with 1TB HDD with FLAC shared - Laptop running XBMC connected to network - Integra DTR 5.9 via HDMI - playback controlled by iPhone as remote
Office Setup (in progress) - Main Computer with 1TB HDD with FLAC shared - USB DAC (thinking Keces) - pre (unsure) - amp (unsure) - Magnepan MMG's (need to purchase) - playback controlled by Media Monkey and keyboard/mouse
Headphone setup for work: Standalone PC with all FLAC and MP3's - Audio GD- NFB 5 - Headphones

I may throw in a squeezebox instead of building the HTPC downstairs, but I like the idea of having my library on my 60" screen when browsing, rather than just on my iPhone screen.

Also eventually the idea is to build myself a server to house all my music, pictures, video, ect so I can start building smaller faster computers utilizing mini-itx boards, onboard graphics and SSD's and keep all my data on the server.

pearsall001

CD's ripped to FLAC via dBpoweramp...stored on NOS...played thru SONOS > CA DacMagic > Yagin Tube Buffer. Totally controlled by either SONOS controller or iPhone. Simple as pie & sounds fantastic. Music everywhere with total control at my fingertips.

stretchl

I would check out this software, as it bypasses all iTunes processing of the audio signal but still lets you use iTunes as a UI.

It gets great reviews on any number of audiophile forums, and it's affordable -

http://www.channld.com/puremusic/

cowtrimmer

I'm sure there are better programs out there, but I have always been a fan of Realplayer and its lossless audio sound.

erniejade

Read this http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?136195-An-interesting-read.


For me, I am using win 7, Jriver, FALC ripped onto an external 3tb drive, the 3tb drive is wirelessly being backed up to a 3tb nas ( quick, easy setup, as soon as something gets put into the FLAC folder, it backs itself up without me having to do anything) going to an W4S dac2.

If I didnt have the DAC2, and wanted to get something a big cheaper that was tube with great reviews, I would have picked up a Grant dac11

EndersShadow

erniejade wrote: »

Read this http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?136195-An-interesting-read.


For me, I am using win 7, Jriver, FALC ripped onto an external 3tb drive, the 3tb drive is wirelessly being backed up to a 3tb nas ( quick, easy setup, as soon as something gets put into the FLAC folder, it backs itself up without me having to do anything) going to an W4S dac2.

If I didnt have the DAC2, and wanted to get something a big cheaper that was tube with great reviews, I would have picked up a Grant dac11

Great minds think alike Ernie! I posted that link in my comment as well LOL :biggrin:

mantis

Very interesting , I did think of the Sonos connect with a external DAC , we do that alot with excellent results. It's fully streaming but I could build a subnet and use a Network drive in a 7200 or see what Solid state is going for in larger sizes. That would make for a very simple yet effective system. Not to mention suing Sonos for all my other 9 audio zones.

BlueFox

Bryston BDP-1, and controlled via iPhone or iPad. Connects to Bryston BDA-1 DAC via a Shunyata XLR digital cable. Works great, and sounds great.

Drenis

mdaudioguy wrote: »

VortexBox server loaded with FLACs, distributed to Squeezeboxes in several systems in and around the house, with the ability to stream to my phone anywhere. If I'm in my car, then phone to headunit via Bluetooth. Quality depends on application. Main system gets unadulterated FLACs, while files streamed to mobile receive more compression to save bandwidth. It all works well for me - my music, basically anywhere I want it..

Must read up about this VortexBox someday.

mdaudioguy

Drenis wrote: »

Must read up about this VortexBox someday.

I'll make it easy for you: http://vortexbox.org/content/134-About-VortexBox

Syndil

I would go with a Squeezebox or Sonos solution. Actually I'd just go with Squeezebox (and I am), but since they aren't going to be around much longer, might have to check out Sonos. Rip music to FLAC, store it on a NAS, use the NAS to serve the Squeezebox or Sonos, feed an external DAC from there if you feel like it. No need to reinvent the wheel, IMO.

tonyb

There's always more than one way to skin that cat when it comes to digital music and streaming, as obvious by all the above posts. Find what works for you and your wallet and start exploring the possibilities and you just might be surprised.

As a side note to those not wanting to view their library on a small Iphone screen, buy a cheapo tablet for a hundie, works pretty good.

mantis

Ok guys I got a strange problem and need some help figuring it out.
I have 2 USB DAC's here Audioengine D1 USB and Peachtree IDAC using USB.
I set up the sound out to the given DAC I have connected , also set it up in the Midi section. Now all computer sounds go out , internet sounds , youtube , everything works just fine except iTunes. I don't get it. If I open a Itunes file in Quicktime , it plays out the DAC , why wouldn't itunes have the ability to play out the USB DAC? What happens is Itunes plays out my Macbook Pro's internal speakers. Strange right?


Any Ideas?

mantis

Nevermind , I forgot to set up Bit Perfect's output. It comes default to internal.

seabeerob213

zune hd and software is capable of playing and ripping cds to WMA. lossless, i have found much better results as far as sound quality go with that format

seabeerob213

also another solution to the small screen is the zune hd media dock, which lets you view on your tv screen al your zune music movie(in 720p) and pictures, make sure you have a good hdmi cable for it though, and keep dust out of the dock slot, or you may expirience issues with syncing your device, it is also capable of using digital audio out(via toslink) which could free up your tv for aanother application

EndersShadow

The OP wont go to Zune for anything, he was first on the happy wagon when the Zune died, despite its software being easier to use, cheaper than the iDevices, and allowing a higher bitrate.

but thats a different thread.

seabeerob213

i figure we can spout out logic at him all day long and let the readers who may just be looking for advice get some help