April 2017 - TAS - Guest Editorial

[Mike]

Did anyone read Valin's Guest Editorial in the April edition of the TAS?

His 24 month challenge into computer audio was an interesting read. The differences between "the good old CD player" (similar to my thread here: http://www.audioshark.org/computer-digital-audio-11/good-old-cd-player-10300.html) vs Computer Audio. He also outlined 6 clear advantages of digital audio.

His conclusion was interesting. Definitely a good (and fair) read.

 

[rbbert]

Apparently not yet online.

 

[Odyssey]

I liked RH's editorial rebuttal (May issues) to JV's self confessed "minority report" of digital.

If I had a 3000 LP collection I supposed I would be more invested into vinyl. And vinyl has so many more recordings available to it that are not available on digital.

But there is still an ocean of digital out there.

Well done digital is closing the gap, IMHO.

 

[rbbert]

I liked RH's editorial rebuttal (May issues) to JV's self confessed "minority report" of digital.

If I had a 3000 LP collection I supposed I would be more invested into vinyl. And vinyl has so many more recordings available to it that are not available on digital.

But there is still an ocean of digital out there.

Well done digital is closing the gap, IMHO.

I'm pretty sure there is more music available only digitally than only on LP

 

[anji12305]

The analog "archive" will be the repository of forgotten wonder. Much as beach combers with metal detectors keep coming back, or hard pan prospectors seek gold, vinyl will have OOP gems hidden in the stacks.



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[wisnon]

Can you guys give a synopsis? Neither issue looks interesting enough to purchase...none of the gear interests me.

 

[Mike]

I haven't read RH's, but Valin undertook the task of getting into computer audio. I think he's always been a vinyl and cd/sacd guy. He outlined 6 advantages of computer audio and digital in general, but in the end, concludes that vinyl sounds more like the real thing (music).

The last thing we need is another analog vs digital debate, but I just found his list of the advantages of digital interesting, (and arguably true), and I was more interested in someone new tackling computer audio (not digital per say).

With the likes of Aurender, Lumin, Auralic, and others, Computer audio has become a lot easier, but many still try to make it more complicated than it needs to be - constantly adding that one last REGEN, Jitterbug, reclocker, LANRover, SSD in the chain to perceivably get the sound closer to "analog". The irony.

I have a background in computers, but even for me, reading some of the threads over at CA gives me a headache. I often ask myself, "are these guys more interested in playing computer, than playing music?"

 

[rbbert]

But Valin is so generally clueless about good sound, and technology, that it makes it hard for me to give creedence to anything he says (or writes)

 

[Mike]

But Valin is so generally clueless about good sound, and technology, that it makes it hard for me to give creedence to anything he says (or writes)

LOL.


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[wisnon]

I have a background in computers, but even for me, reading some of the threads over at CA gives me a headache. I often ask myself, "are these guys more interested in playing computer, than playing music?"

LoL

 

[Devg]

The last thing we need is another analog vs digital debate, but I just found his list of the advantages of digital interesting, (and arguably true), and I was more interested in someone new tackling computer audio (not digital per say).

With the likes of Aurender, Lumin, Auralic, and others, Computer audio has become a lot easier, but many still try to make it more complicated than it needs to be - constantly adding that one last REGEN, Jitterbug, reclocker, LANRover, SSD in the chain to perceivably get the sound closer to "analog". The irony.

I have a background in computers, but even for me, reading some of the threads over at CA gives me a headache. I often ask myself, "are these guys more interested in playing computer, than playing music?"

+++1

The proliferation of these USB audio gadgets and their power supply has become unspeakable - I just can't imagine how painstaking it is for someone to do a permutation/combination of these devices to find out what sounds best. I did go through these ordeal at one point though and my music room looked more of a lab than anything else; I remember at one point I ran of outlets of my audience power conditioner

 

[asiufy]

With the likes of Aurender, Lumin, Auralic, and others, Computer audio has become a lot easier, but many still try to make it more complicated than it needs to be - constantly adding that one last REGEN, Jitterbug, reclocker, LANRover, SSD in the chain to perceivably get the sound closer to "analog". The irony.

I have a background in computers, but even for me, reading some of the threads over at CA gives me a headache. I often ask myself, "are these guys more interested in playing computer, than playing music?"

Mike,

Me too I know what a pain computers can be, and it puzzles me that people with NO computer literacy still want to mess with them for audio.
I think the whole computer audio thing brought back the DIY days of audio, where anybody in a garage could have a taste of the "good stuff", or at least imagine they're getting a taste...
Now you have all these gadgets that supposedly "take you there".
To me, that's a whole different hobby altogether. It's like when you're faced with a turntable purchase. Do you buy a vintage one (to tweak it) or just buy a new, proper turntable? Normally, I ask what the person wants. If you just want to put a record on and listen, DON'T buy the vintage. Same thing for computer/digital audio. Do you just want to get lost in the streaming sea? Just buy a proper streamer and off you go.


cheers,
alex

 

[anji12305]

Mike,

Me too I know what a pain computers can be, and it puzzles me that people with NO computer literacy still want to mess with them for audio.
I think the whole computer audio thing brought back the DIY days of audio, where anybody in a garage could have a taste of the "good stuff", or at least imagine they're getting a taste...



cheers,
alex

I spent near two years trying to get a stable, easy to use PC to manage my music.

I bought a Bluesound product for roughly the same cost - it has always worked.

No oddball glitches, mechanical failures or endless updates have interrupted use.





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[brad225]

Mike,

Me too I know what a pain computers can be, and it puzzles me that people with NO computer literacy still want to mess with them for audio.
I think the whole computer audio thing brought back the DIY days of audio, where anybody in a garage could have a taste of the "good stuff", or at least imagine they're getting a taste...
Now you have all these gadgets that supposedly "take you there".
To me, that's a whole different hobby altogether. It's like when you're faced with a turntable purchase. Do you buy a vintage one (to tweak it) or just buy a new, proper turntable? Normally, I ask what the person wants. If you just want to put a record on and listen, DON'T buy the vintage. Same thing for computer/digital audio. Do you just want to get lost in the streaming sea? Just buy a proper streamer and off you go.


cheers,
alex

You are clearly describing me relating to understanding computers. I said for a few years I would never go to a computer/NAS based system for that exact reason. Stating the enjoyment of handling the disc and placing it in the machine.

Then with the amount of HiRez music on download I bit the bullet but still need help with fairly simple things.

Last weekend it became obvious I was hooked, when I had a connection issue and after 15 minutes said to my self " You mean I have to get up and walk 8 feet to put on a disc".

 

[nicoff]

....
Last weekend it became obvious I was hooked, when I had a connection issue and after 15 minutes said to my self " You mean I have to get up and walk 8 feet to put on a disc".

No wonder CD players are going extinct!

 

[Mike]

No wonder CD players are going extinct!

The same prediction they made about the turntable.

 

[asiufy]

The same prediction they made about the turntable.

Well, that was more due to an orchestrated marketing effort than public outcry.
And show me someone who really LONGS for that postage stamp sized CD booklet, housed in that glorious jewel case?
CDs are as good as dead to me, and I expect them to stay dead. I'm selling all mine, all 9000 or so, and don't look back. A proper DAC+streamer is the way to go, along with a turntable, of course, because if you're going to put the legwork, it better be extra worth it!


cheers,
alex

 

[Mike]

Well, that was more due to an orchestrated marketing effort than public outcry.
And show me someone who really LONGS for that postage stamp sized CD booklet, housed in that glorious jewel case?
CDs are as good as dead to me, and I expect them to stay dead. I'm selling all mine, all 9000 or so, and don't look back. A proper DAC+streamer is the way to go, along with a turntable, of course, because if you're going to put the legwork, it better be extra worth it!


cheers,
alex

I think a top CD/SACD still has some sonic advantages and there is no need to stand there and wait while the computer "rips". I can't tell you the number of times a stack of CD's or SACD's arrive on my doorstep on a Friday night and the last thing I want to do is "rip". I just want to listen. But admittedly, a DAC/Streamer has appeal too.




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[asiufy]

I think a top CD/SACD still has some sonic advantages and there is no need to stand there and wait while the computer "rips". I can't tell you the number of times a stack of CD's or SACD's arrive on my doorstep on a Friday night and the last thing I want to do is "rip". I just want to listen. But admittedly, a DAC/Streamer has appeal too.

So keep a transport handy With MSB, the transport actually uses the same interface/bus as an internal module, as if it was a single-box CD/SACD player.
Or, get a music server that can rip and play at the same time. I currently have one in, and I have a hunch one of the brands we have in common is working on something just like that
But no, I never had the urge to play a CD right away. Maybe because I just have too many of them, and I kept buying more and more, so much that I had multiple drawers full of CDs I had purchased but never listened to... Now that I'm selling everything, I'm finding still sealed CDs that I didn't even knew I had!!! The addiction is/was severe!

 

[Mike]

I'm finding still sealed CDs that I didn't even knew I had!!! The addiction is/was severe!

You've proven my point. The ripping is/was a PITA. Anyway, there is no doubt stand alone DAC technology has inched ahead of the best of breed CD/SACD technology in some respects and Tidal is making the argument to buy a CD ever again a thing of the past. Ditto for MQA.


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