Copying LP's to your computer - Dont overspend Dont overcomplicate

Rob,

Did you mention somewhere what resolution you used for these rips?

This whole exercise has been good for me. Thanks.
 
Hi Mike,

16bit/44,100 The sound card and software (on my dell desktop) support. I could go 16bit 48000 but 44,100 (so I have read) is recommended

Now the new device I will record 24bit 96khz sampling rate
HARDOCP - Introduction - Creative X-FI HD USB Sound Card Review

REALLY great write-up ..will this be my DAC ? Maybe not...I am purchasing to get a nice streamlined input system...and it may be an awesome DAC also..I will see..

Right now, I am OVERJOYED with my AUNE T1 Tube DAC...for $159, it is pretty miraculous...and the fact you can tailor with NOS tubes..

sometimes its not always about money, but about a product that somehow, someway, rise above its price point into something special.

You really should try one...everyone I recommended it to and did? Has thank me for a great find...

Aune T1 24bit Tube USB DAC ( new products) - News- HIFI AUDIO-HIFIDIY.NET-CHINA - HIFIDIY.NET
 
Thanks Rob.

Back in 2008 I purchased a Creative Audigy 2NX USB device. The two test LP's I ripped back then (actually 2010 was the first time I got around to use it :huh:) were done with the intent to burn to CD so were done at 16/44.1khz. They are pretty good recordings but I never explored further.

Well, this thread encouraged me to dig the Audigy 2NX out of storage and try again. I now see that it'll also do the 24/96Khz resolution. I'm ripping one LP now with Audacity and will do a few additional LP's tonight as a new test. I want to stream them to my Squeezebox to see what kind of difference I hear between my vinyl playback and this entry level digital chain at the new found 24/96 option. I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised with the quality, but if they're not good then I'll start hunting for a better solution again.
 
Good deal !!! I am just wondering...You will have this really high quality rip...and if you listened to that through a DAC into a main system, I know you would be quite happy...but not sure how the squeezebox works in terms of retaining that quality. Are you going Ethernet or wi-fi ?

I can't say either way...but the squeezebox may or may not be a weak link in the chain.

As simple test (if you had one) is use a PC/DAC and system. Example, an AUNE T1 or Maverick DAC with the files on a laptop. Play the music USB out to the DAC and DAC RCA out to the system. Should sound damn good.

Now do the same thing, no DAC, just PC to squeezebox to system. Does it sound as good ?

I only bring this up because one method (PC/DAC/SYSTEM) is a direct audio quality connection. The weak spot in the 2nd method is it streams via the net (Ethernet or wi-fi) bringing all the inherent noise and computer jitter.

Does this make sense ?
 
Yeah, I agree Rob that ideally I need to compare the Squeezebox streaming (currently wireless for both Squeezeboxes in both systems) vs. a good dedicated DAC, but the SB's are all I have at this time. I gotta say that with the rips I just made, what I'm hearing is very close to the original LP. I think the clicks/pops are a little more present on the digital copy vs. sitting listening to the vinyl and I'm not sure why that is....
 
Hmm..that is interesting, perhaps the rips picks up and enhances what it finds more at that frequency...I will be doing some tests on that Creative software to rid myself of clicks...hope it doesn't compress...but I can live with some...

so if your rips are coming out close and the squeeze box is working out, a DAC may not be necessary for you...
 
This is my first attempt at a 96kHz/24bit LP to .wav transfer using Audacity and is a straight transfer without addressing any clicks/pops. The only thing I did was go back in to the Audacity project and add labels to allow the export into individual movements/songs rather than having a single gigantic .wav file.

Feel free to download this track (Philips Haydn Nos 87 and 103 Drum Roll COA - Colin Davis) and let me know what you think of the quality. http://1drv.ms/MpThNe The file is big (248mb) so may take a bit of time to download.
 
Hey...I wanted to get back to you ..sounded good except not knowing how the original source sounds, I can't tell. I am going to compare to some (same) on XBOX music later to see if there is more separation through the DAC. Tonality it sounded great, but the stage is flat. So I want to see if that is because I am listening (right now) non DAC. Still wont tell me what you hear though...LOL
 
ohbythebay said:
Good deal !!! I am just wondering...You will have this really high quality rip...and if you listened to that through a DAC into a main system, I know you would be quite happy...but not sure how the squeezebox works in terms of retaining that quality. Are you going Ethernet or wi-fi ?

I can't say either way...but the squeezebox may or may not be a weak link in the chain.

As simple test (if you had one) is use a PC/DAC and system. Example, an AUNE T1 or Maverick DAC with the files on a laptop. Play the music USB out to the DAC and DAC RCA out to the system. Should sound damn good.

Now do the same thing, no DAC, just PC to squeezebox to system. Does it sound as good ?

I only bring this up because one method (PC/DAC/SYSTEM) is a direct audio quality connection. The weak spot in the 2nd method is it streams via the net (Ethernet or wi-fi) bringing all the inherent noise and computer jitter.

Does this make sense ?
Click to expand...

I assume we are talking about the Squeezebox Touch here. The Squeezebox will NOT be the weak link in the chain. It has a fantastic dac in it. No, it won't do Hi-rez or 32-bit, but that is not of issue here. It does however handle FLAC as well as the highest rate MP3s and does a fine job of it. The weakest link will be either the source from whence the recording was made or something down-stream in the system. As to whether any weakness will be noticeable, well that's up to the ears of the beholder of course.

I wish I had need for an outboard DAC now, if I did I'd be running to get one of those AUNE T1 jobs. Hmm, let's see, CD player already has the best dac built in I have ever heard, Squeezebox is also good for what it is.......Hmm, I wonder though what the AUNE would do for my vintage system? I have a older NEC CD player in it, but not complaining about the sound.
Ah!!!! Perhaps I could get an AUNE for using a PC as a source? (Although I don't do that usually...no need to, I think?)
 
MusicDirector said:
I assume we are talking about the Squeezebox Touch here. The Squeezebox will NOT be the weak link in the chain. It has a fantastic dac in it. No, it won't do Hi-rez or 32-bit, but that is not of issue here. It does however handle FLAC as well as the highest rate MP3s and does a fine job of it. The weakest link will be either the source from whence the recording was made or something down-stream in the system. As to whether any weakness will be noticeable, well that's up to the ears of the beholder of course.

I wish I had need for an outboard DAC now, if I did I'd be running to get one of those AUNE T1 jobs. Hmm, let's see, CD player already has the best dac built in I have ever heard, Squeezebox is also good for what it is.......Hmm, I wonder though what the AUNE would do for my vintage system? I have a older NEC CD player in it, but not complaining about the sound.
Ah!!!! Perhaps I could get an AUNE for using a PC as a source? (Although I don't do that usually...no need to, I think?)
Click to expand...

I was not saying that with certainty..if the squeezebox has a DAC , that's great. I just wondered what the effect was once that signal traveled via Ethernet or wi-fi...would it retain its detail ..it should ..thinking about the signal it gets, that would be a digital signal which would then convert via its internal dac and analog out the system , yes ?

There are also mixed reviews on the DAC's in squeezebox (the touch having the nicest, the others, not so good)

Not all DAC's are created equal and a spec of 24/96 or even 24/192 are meaningless. They all sound different in quality regardless of specs.

Hardware comparison - SqueezeboxWiki

A quote from one review
Serious audiophiles will want to connect the digital output to the outboard equipment of their choice, but the onboard DAC isn't too bad: according to the Hi-Fi Vision forum the device uses the budget AKM AK4420 DAC capable of 24-bit/192KHz conversion.
 
ohbythebay said:
I was not saying that with certainty..if the squeezebox has a DAC , that's great. I just wondered what the effect was once that signal traveled via Ethernet or wi-fi...would it retain its detail ..it should ..thinking about the signal it gets, that would be a digital signal which would then convert via its internal dac and analog out the system , yes ?

There are also mixed reviews on the DAC's in squeezebox (the touch having the nicest, the others, not so good)

Not all DAC's are created equal and a spec of 24/96 or even 24/192 are meaningless. They all sound different in quality regardless of specs.

Hardware comparison - SqueezeboxWiki

A quote from one review
Serious audiophiles will want to connect the digital output to the outboard equipment of their choice, but the onboard DAC isn't too bad: according to the Hi-Fi Vision forum the device uses the budget AKM AK4420 DAC capable of 24-bit/192KHz conversion.
Click to expand...

Well, nobody said the Touch has a fantastic dac, just a rather good dac for what it is. The dac in my CD player blows the stuffing out of the dac in the Touch. The difference is in the implementation of the dac, not necessarily the dac itself barring any built in capability limits of course.
As for retaining detail, the dac in the Touch will retain whatever detail is fed to it in the formats it handles. Of course we are talking streaming, so the variables, speed bumps and any anomalies that may be present between the source and the box are limitless.
As for the other Squeezebox models, I can't speak to them as I have never heard or have experience with anything but the Touch in Squeezebox land.
 
ohbythebay said:
Hey...I wanted to get back to you ..sounded good except not knowing how the original source sounds, I can't tell. I am going to compare to some (same) on XBOX music later to see if there is more separation through the DAC. Tonality it sounded great, but the stage is flat. So I want to see if that is because I am listening (right now) non DAC. Still wont tell me what you hear though...LOL
Click to expand...

Hey Rob. When played from my turntable, that particular LP isn't all that deep of a sound stage to begin with, and I agree that when comparing the digital version to the LP, it's even a little flatter. So your assessment is correct. I suppose I should rip another LP with known deeper sound stage representation and do the same digital comparison. Many of my mono records have a more defined stage depth to them, so may try one of them next.

My Squeezeboxes (both of them) are the Classic 3 and it appears do not house the better DAC like that of the SB Touch.

I guess to really get a good idea of how to compare, I now need to get a better dedicated DAC.

And here my problem is presented all over again....if I'm going to get a better DAC in the long run, then is the next flawed piece going to be revealed in the Creative Audigy 2NX for the ADC side? I have a feeling it might play out that way, so why not get a better "combo" ADC + DAC like the Mytek 192 that can do both sides of the digital conversion (and do it well with flexibility) and just be done with it?
 
And that is a good thought...

BTW...wait till I do the writeup on the Creative X-FI...really nice unit and a total pain in the ass to get working right the first time....drivers, turning devices on and off...9 on quality and features, 2 on support, information and initial install...you'll see,,,It will all be worth it if I like the recordings...
 
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