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Post by geebo on Oct 27, 2016 7:23:37 GMT -5
Now that's great! But can the Sony do that? Not sure, but I don't think so. Plus isn't the Sony like $2000? Yep, and the Aurender is even more.
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Post by vneal on Oct 27, 2016 8:59:21 GMT -5
Now that's great! But can the Sony do that? Not sure, but I don't think so. Plus isn't the Sony like $2000? Actually yes the Sony can go thru any size monitor, I have mine set up so any music that is added to my computer automatically links with the Sony wirelessly for updates. So far so good. And yes it is $2000 but I have seen nothing else that does it all. One disappointment is the unit was designed to work with Spotify-Panadora etc... but due to licensing regulations it currently does not
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Oct 27, 2016 9:18:39 GMT -5
You should definitely try a few conversions yourself (both Foobar2000 and jRiver Media center can convert from DSD to PCM, and jRiver can convert both ways). On the fly conversions are always suspect - especially when they involve DSD. Even converting between various sample rates of PCM requires some filtering. This means that, besides the inevitable loss of quality from converting to a lower sample rate, converting in either direction is going to make tiny differences. This is even more true when you convert between DSD and PCM - in either direction - because that isn't exactly a "simple 1:1 mathematical conversion". You will find that conversions sound slightly different depending on what software you use - and conversions performed in real-time are often lower in quality. However, even when you convert files, and use high-end converters like Weiss Saracon and Korg Audiogate, there are various filter options you can use, and each can sound a tiny bit different. One time I received two samples of a file..... Both the same file, converted to 96k PCM from DSD64, but one converted using Saracon and the other Audiogate (both with their default/recommended settings). Even then, while both sounded pretty good, there was a tiny but audible difference between them - although I didn't personally find one or the other "better". If you want to try lots of different filter options, and you have a really powerful PC, check out HQPlayer. It does on-the-fly upsampling, and offers lost of different options, like filters with different numbers of taps, and different filter rolloffs. And, yes, most of them sound slightly different from each other. (Note that some of them require a VERY fast quad core machine to run, so don't be surprised if some of them just stagger and won't play.) It's also possible that, even though a certain DAC can play both, it may be optimized for DSD or PCM... or may sound better at certain sample rates. And, as has already been noted, SACDs and CDs (or DSD files and PCM files) are often MASTERED differently to begin with. (Either because different equipment was used, or because the engineer assumed that the audience had different expectations - like that the "audiophile DSD version" should sound "smoother".) Obviously you're always going to pay more for a "packaged solution" - both in terms of $$$ and flexibility. But what you get back is a working package - usually some extra features - and support for it. I'd have to say that I've never seen (heard) the need to do DSD (at either rate). Other than the inevitable tiny difference introduced by the conversion process, I simply haven't found that DSD sounds better than PCM. (Whenever you do a conversion, in either direction, the conversion process will introduce a tiny, and sometimes audible, difference... but I simply don't find the DSD version to be better.) I have most certainly found that the DSD versions of certain albums sound better than the CD version, but I just convert them to PCM, and the difference seems to remain (so I guess it's the mastering that's different). I've also got to say that I really don't count the $60 for a Raspberry Pi, case, and power supply as "an investment". (I keep my music files on a USB drive, in hierarchical folders, named for album and group, so I can plug the drive into any player with no re-configuration.) I switched from using a dual-core laptop running Windows 10 and Foobar2000 to a Raspberry Pi using Volumio. I find that the Pi runs more smoothly, with virtually no glitches (the Windows box would hiccough once in a while). (I haven't gotten around to trying the Intel version of Volumio yet.) I use/used USB for both - because, well, it works fine (and I'm connected to an asynch USB input, so jitter is irrelevant). The investment I was referring to what the Emotiva - Pi solution and development needed, which will certainly retail for more than 60$ and probably be less flexible and future proof than whatever we can do ourselves pluging things to a pi. I heard distinct differences between records in PCM high definition and same record in DSD, although I didn't try to convert that same record in PCM myself to listen to it. One test I did though was listen to a DSD64 record and the same in DSD128, which was converted "live" into PCM 24x352.8 since the picoreplayer doesn't support DSD128. That sounded awful! I should try an offline better conversion maybe...
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Post by Chuck Elliot on Oct 27, 2016 9:19:21 GMT -5
Not sure, but I don't think so. Plus isn't the Sony like $2000? Actually yes the Sony can go thru any size monitor, I have mine set up so any music that is added to my computer automatically links with the Sony wirelessly for updates. So far so good. And yes it is $2000 but I have seen nothing else that does it all. One disappointment is the unit was designed to work with Spotify-Panadora etc... but due to licensing regulations it currently does not Out of curiosity what is the video path out of the Sony? I see no HDMI output.
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Oct 27, 2016 9:48:24 GMT -5
Personally I don't care about apps... And, I guess it's an OCD thing, but I NEVER do random shuffle (I don't especially like surprises).... And, I don't care about high-rate DSD... So, now that Volumio supports using a local screen as well as remote control, it's pretty well the ultimate player app for me...
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Post by Loop 7 on Oct 27, 2016 10:16:04 GMT -5
And, I guess it's an OCD thing, but I NEVER do random shuffle (I don't especially like surprises).... I tend to stay away from shuffle because of volume changes. I don't like being jarred or constantly attenuating. Luckily, 70% of my listening is to orchestral music where shuffling different movements from symphonies makes little sense to me.
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Post by linvincible on Oct 27, 2016 10:33:37 GMT -5
you can shuffle by album ;o)
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Oct 27, 2016 10:35:59 GMT -5
I just don't like surprises. I usually listen to entire albums, but I have a few playlists I've made up of songs I like and that seem to go together..... But, even with those, I prefer for them to play in the order I've set up for them. And, as for letting someone else select for me - while I like music from several genres, I can't name a single genre where I like MOST of the music in it. And, I guess it's an OCD thing, but I NEVER do random shuffle (I don't especially like surprises).... I tend to stay away from shuffle because of volume changes. I don't like being jarred or constantly attenuating. Luckily, 70% of my listening is to orchestral music where shuffling different movements from symphonies makes little sense to me.
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Post by Loop 7 on Oct 27, 2016 14:44:18 GMT -5
I just don't like surprises. I usually listen to entire albums, but I have a few playlists I've made up of songs I like and that seem to go together..... But, even with those, I prefer for them to play in the order I've set up for them. And, as for letting someone else select for me - while I like music from several genres, I can't name a single genre where I like MOST of the music in it. On the same thread, there was a version of iOS a few years ago where the music app would shuffle (library wide) anytime the phone was shaken and this was default. It was supremely annoying but what sent me over the edge was that any movement of the phone was considered shaking. I'm no longer using an iOS device but I really hope they removed that. I guess I didn't realize most of the world prefers shuffle.
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Oct 27, 2016 18:57:53 GMT -5
I get a chuckle when I see all the home made remedies above. Now I understand only a few companies have even attempted to address media players and those that have do not always include a DAC, a viewing screen, a traditional audio component size, ease of use or internal memory. A real plug and play media center no DAC, internal or external memory required. I know of two who offer both. Aurender and Sony. View AttachmentThe problem with those (cost aside) is the screen size. I'd need binoculars to be able to read it from across the room. Can they send that video information to the big screen? I agree...a lot of people I know have streamers with a display I cannot see at all. This is a reason I like my Sonos so much. My 10" tablet in my hands is so easy to see. And, unless I need higher resolution, it is great. And so far, I don't. Mark
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