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Post by jdubs on Sept 7, 2016 16:11:53 GMT -5
Background: I always had my music library through iTunes and used an iPod, then iPhone for personal audio and played the CDs through my system. Through a series of upgrades and whatnot I now am fully streaming and use LMS (Logitech Media Server) to play my files and integrate Tidal (important!). LMS seamlessly plays my iTunes files.
The future: I believe I'm done with Apple as far as music is concerned. My next phone likely won't be an iPhone and I'll have no need (or want) for iTunes and will never use Apple Music.
What I want: software that will completely replace iTunes. It should find hi-res files on my system, be able to load a CD, manage artwork, have an app for control, and integrate Tidal. Is that Roon? LMS doesn't do it. It's great for what it is, but it's not fully featured.
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Post by Jean Genie on Sept 7, 2016 18:56:56 GMT -5
I could be wrong but that sounds like an Oppo to me.
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Post by jdubs on Sept 7, 2016 19:07:17 GMT -5
I could be wrong but that sounds like an Oppo to me. Does an Oppo connect to a network and manage digital files? Can I load a CD onto whatever storage I am using? Or am I better off with a Bluesound or similar? |
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Post by Gary Cook on Sept 7, 2016 22:48:41 GMT -5
There are very good reasons why iTunes is the most popular by a very large margin, it's functionality.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by jdubs on Sept 8, 2016 5:21:52 GMT -5
There are very good reasons why iTunes is the most popular by a very large margin, it's functionality. Cheers Gary I get that, but they have really fallen off. It is no longer great for music library management and the remote app absolutely sucks. The music app has gotten so far away from what it was that I downloaded a 3rd party app. |
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Post by Gary Cook on Sept 8, 2016 6:39:13 GMT -5
There are very good reasons why iTunes is the most popular by a very large margin, it's functionality. I get that, but they have really fallen off. It is no longer great for music library management and the remote app absolutely sucks. The music app has gotten so far away from what it was that I downloaded a 3rd party app. I really don't notice any difference for what I use iTunes for, my library is loaded on the MacMini, wifi via an Airport Extreme plus an AppleTV and I can access it via any of the iDevices, iPads, iPhones etc. Or I can play music from the iDevice itself via wifi or bluetooth using the BTM-1 plugged into the UMC-200. Same process if I'm working in the garage (Zone3) or on the veranda (Zone2). Cheers Gary |
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Post by vcautokid on Sept 8, 2016 6:59:31 GMT -5
I think it would be cool if someone came up with a system, and or interface that allowed you to use seamlessly any music provider you want. All without breaking anyone's DRM feelings and so on, and let us the listener chose what is on the hit parade. Tidal,iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Music, and so on. Manage it in a way that I can bounce between them. Buy or stream music from one common shell, or interface that is so easy, anyone can do it. It should be polished, easy to use. Stable on any platform, and take me where I want to go, not what one provider that says how, and what I can have. Okay I woke up, and the dream is over.  |
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KeithL
Administrator 
Posts: 10,256
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Post by KeithL on Sept 8, 2016 9:04:43 GMT -5
That seems to be what Roon is promising.... but I don't think they're quite there yet..... I think it would be cool if someone came up with a system, and or interface that allowed you to use seamlessly any music provider you want. All without breaking anyone's DRM feelings and so on, and let us the listener chose what is on the hit parade. Tidal,iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Music, and so on. Manage it in a way that I can bounce between them. Buy or stream music from one common shell, or interface that is so easy, anyone can do it. It should be polished, easy to use. Stable on any platform, and take me where I want to go, not what one provider that says how, and what I can have. Okay I woke up, and the dream is over. |
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KeithL
Administrator
Posts: 10,256
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Post by KeithL on Sept 8, 2016 9:34:15 GMT -5
I'm sorry, but I must say that there are several things about iTunes that I find quite annoying - although it has improved from what it once was. (DRM is annoying; failing to support THE world standard lossless format - FLAC - is a deal breaker for me; and I've always found it cumbersome to use.) However, Apple hopelessly offended me when they decided to offer only LOSSY compressed music via the iTunes store - thereby admitting that either: 1) They really don't think their customers can hear the difference 2) The really don't care There are very good reasons why iTunes is the most popular by a very large margin, it's functionality. Cheers Gary |
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Post by vcautokid on Sept 8, 2016 9:47:29 GMT -5
I think you missed my point. How did that happen? I was talking about an ecosystem of music. Warts and all it is up too the purveyors how they do it. For better or worse. I want anothing easy way to manage across my music all in one.
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Post by drtrey3 on Sept 8, 2016 13:51:10 GMT -5
I use and love jRiver Media player. I am a bit obsessive about my library, and that program gives me the power to keep it ship shape while playing it very, very well.
Trey
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Post by jdubs on Sept 8, 2016 14:10:13 GMT -5
I use and love jRiver Media player. I am a bit obsessive about my library, and that program gives me the power to keep it ship shape while playing it very, very well. Trey I did the free trial. 2 things stopped me: 1) you had to pay for the iPad app so I couldn't try it free, 2) no Tidal integration. I know I'm asking a lot, but I think Roon does it if I'm not mistaken. The gear hoarder in me would love to get another black box like the Oppo or Bluesound. However, this is going to be a software solution, I feel. |
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Post by Gary Cook on Sept 8, 2016 15:36:17 GMT -5
I'm sorry, but I must say that there are several things about iTunes that I find quite annoying - although it has improved from what it once was. (DRM is annoying; failing to support THE world standard lossless format - FLAC - is a deal breaker for me; and I've always found it cumbersome to use.) However, Apple hopelessly offended me when they decided to offer only LOSSY compressed music via the iTunes store - thereby admitting that either: 1) They really don't think their customers can hear the difference 2) The really don't care There are very good reasons why iTunes is the most popular by a very large margin, it's functionality. I completely agree Keith, but in my case I don't acquire my music via iTunes. Although it annoys me, it really has no effect on me what quality they sell, how much they charge etc. For me iTunes is simply functioning software that facilitates listening to my music whenever, however and wherever I want and to date I haven't found anything else that even comes close to that functionality and ease of use. Cheers Gary |
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Post by qdtjni on Sept 8, 2016 16:44:43 GMT -5
That seems to be what Roon is promising.... but I don't think they're quite there yet..... I think it would be cool if someone came up with a system, and or interface that allowed you to use seamlessly any music provider you want. All without breaking anyone's DRM feelings and so on, and let us the listener chose what is on the hit parade. Tidal,iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Music, and so on. Manage it in a way that I can bounce between them. Buy or stream music from one common shell, or interface that is so easy, anyone can do it. It should be polished, easy to use. Stable on any platform, and take me where I want to go, not what one provider that says how, and what I can have. Okay I woke up, and the dream is over. They only have Tidal @mo |
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Post by Jean Genie on Sept 10, 2016 21:52:27 GMT -5
I could be wrong but that sounds like an Oppo to me. Does an Oppo connect to a network and manage digital files? Can I load a CD onto whatever storage I am using? Or am I better off with a Bluesound or similar? Sorry for the tardy response. I'm not familiar with Bluesound, but I download HD Tracks flac, dsf & wav files to my external drives and play them from the HP Stream to Oppo via hdmi. It has an ethernet input, so network,yeah, I suppose. I don't use it in my rig. It has a media control app I use from a Nook tablet that works very well. I also has a Tidal app. I misunderstood your CD reference, I thought you wanted it to PLAY CDs. What may break the deal for you is CD loading. My CDs are loaded to the external drives via external dvd recorder (pioneer - $30). The Oppo won't do it, no usb out. I hope this helps. |
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Post by Gary Cook on Sept 12, 2016 15:44:42 GMT -5
Functionality example, last weekend I bought a couple of CD's, I popped one in the external DVD drive attached to the MacMini as I walked from the garage through my home office. I hung up my car keys and went upstairs and changed my clothes. By the time I had taken my seat in the lounge room the CD was ready to play via iTunes wifi to the AppleTV with album artwork loaded and displayed on the screen. That works for me, minimal involvement, more time to listen to the music.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by jdubs on Sept 14, 2016 21:40:10 GMT -5
Looks like Roon is probably the right alternative here. I'll try the trial when I have more time. It looks like it does NOT rip, however. I've tried EAC and it's more complicated than I'm looking for. So, if I use Roon, how do I rip CDs?
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Post by dudeisms7 on Sept 19, 2016 3:11:29 GMT -5
I use roon and love it, it's pretty good if you have a very large collection and it works with tidal (I do not have tidal). The key is to choose the right software package for you, I run the headless server
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Post by wilburthegoose on Sept 19, 2016 9:06:39 GMT -5
I've been trying Roon for a few days. I'm getting hooked.
I can play my music on my XMC-1 for critical listening or thru AirPlay on my old Denon AVR-4311 in the office for background music.
I have about 30K songs on my media server and it has allowed me to rediscover great music I had forgotten.
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Post by drtrey3 on Sept 19, 2016 9:44:33 GMT -5
Wilbur, that is the sauce, enjoying the tunes!
Trey
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