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Post by leonski on May 25, 2021 12:45:54 GMT -5
Reviews of MQA are shall we say? .....Mixed......
I'm sure fees associated with using it would add to the price of whatever it was added to.....
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Post by rcheliguy on May 26, 2021 6:02:07 GMT -5
Apparently Apple is now preparing to launch a new high rez streaming service with music "up to" 192kHz x 24 bit wide. With that announcement and the one by Spotify, it appears that overkill bitrate streaming is coming of age.
At the moment my Raspberry Pi 4 Volumio music box is streaming Spotify at 320kbps and feeding local ripped/downloaded high rez files by USB to my OPPO 105D's DAC.
I've been using my OPPO 105D as my preamp since day one 6 years ago feeding my XPA-2 Gen 2.
Other than a few Christmas movies and cartoons each year at Christmas my 105D does not see any media for the rest of the year. So it wouldn't be a stretch to replace it with a DAC/Preamp. I have an older OPPO BD player in my media room that gets more use and I could move the 105D down there at some point.
Streaming services appear to be ramping up in the short term, so I just want to make sure whatever I purchase won't be obsolete in short order.
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Post by rcheliguy on May 26, 2021 12:30:56 GMT -5
I just found out that the Apple streaming service as it stands now requires a Mac for high resolution sources, so looks like there not even be be anything to license there. They appear to want to keep it closed.
Nothing like forcing a fragmented market.
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Post by rcheliguy on May 27, 2021 6:29:40 GMT -5
Right now there is software that does MQA unfolding to FLAC files. It's just not available as a plugin that runs in real time.
It's possible that in a few years a Raspberry Pi will have the power and software to handle the real time conversion of most formats to something that most DACs can understand. For all I know it has the power now.
I'm not a proponent of MQA or trying to add licensing costs into the next Emotiva DAC/preamp. I would just like a reasonable solution to stream whatever is out there.
I'm also not a Volumio fan boy. It works and was extremely easy to setup, but I haven't tried Roon and some of the other options out there. JRiver even has a port to run on a Raspberry Pi, but while I enjoyed using it on a PC music server for many years, I don't hear many people talking about it in Raspberry Pi circles.
Right now is a challenging time to build a music streamer that will be long term compatible with everything coming. A small inexpensive/disposable $100 device like a Raspberry Pi may be the best answer for a while. It has both USB and HDMI outputs and the ability to be very flexible over time.
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Post by indyscammer on May 27, 2021 7:30:21 GMT -5
Right now there is software that does MQA unfolding to FLAC files. It's just not available as a plugin that runs in real time. It's possible that in a few years a Raspberry Pi will have the power and software to handle the real time conversion of most formats to something that most DACs can understand. For all I know it has the power now. I'm not a proponent of MQA or trying to add licensing costs into the next Emotiva DAC/preamp. I would just like a reasonable solution to stream whatever is out there. I'm also not a Volumio fan boy. It works and was extremely easy to setup, but I haven't tried Roon and some of the other options out there. JRiver even has a port to run on a Raspberry Pi, but while I enjoyed using it on a PC music server for many years, I don't hear many people talking about it in Raspberry Pi circles. Right now is a challenging time to build a music streamer that will be long term compatible with everything coming. A small inexpensive/disposable $100 device like a Raspberry Pi may be the best answer for a while. It has both USB and HDMI outputs and the ability to be very flexible over time. I run JRiver and use Raspberry PIs to distribute. Works really well. I purchased JRiver's IDPi version. Basically runs a very full version of JRiver on the PI. You can cast to it from your PC or pull to it from your PC. I run JRiver's Gizmo app on a phone or tablet and play to the PI so I have complete control of what is played wherever I'm at around the house. Works for me. I would love to try Roon but I can't currently justify the time or cost to attempt to convert. CAVEAT: I don't stream from the net. I'm playing ripped files from my NAS. I know there is some streaming abilities in JRiver but I've never tried. I can say that if JRiver can do it, it will play on the PI. |
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Post by rcheliguy on May 27, 2021 9:48:09 GMT -5
I have a Roku Ultra with an optical output that I run into my OPPO 105D as well, and it runs the Spotify interface natively and allows my wife and I to easily swap between our profiles. However it has one issue that irritates me. When you change songs it cuts off the initial second or so every time. Once it is playing songs in a playlist it is fine going from song to song. I don't know if my Roku is running the full 320kbps either. The music sounds noticeably worse over my Roku. The Volumio Spotify Plugin is not nearly as fully featured in terms of supporting all of the Spotify interface, but it sounds better.
What version of JRiver are you using? They used to have a PI specific option that ended at Version 26. Now they have a Linux version that runs on the PI that is up to version 27 and the latest version 28.
One nice thing that JRiver does is pad out any dead space with dead air. Without that some DAC's will have little pops until the music starts without that. Most newer DAC's are smart enough to be quiet until they have a music source playing and won't make popping sounds.
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Post by jslim49 on Sept 29, 2021 14:24:04 GMT -5
I have the pt-100 preamp and the XPA 2 Gen 3 . And the pt-100 sounds vary lean for
My speakers that are a little power
Hungry. I'm in search of some good
recommendation. I don't want to go the avr
rout .
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Post by leonski on Sept 30, 2021 2:12:46 GMT -5
I just found out that the Apple streaming service as it stands now requires a Mac for high resolution sources, so looks like there not even be be anything to license there. They appear to want to keep it closed. Nothing like forcing a fragmented market. I won't 'pick' on any one manufacturer / tech company, but they ALL at one time or another try to 'force' the issue by making something 'exclusive'. OK, I lied. SONY tried the Memory Stick. ALL camera manufacturers of interchangeable lens cameras have 'exclusive' lens mount. And lines of lenses...... Stereo / Hifi? Got off easy, in some regards. Single ended OR Balanced connects are standard. Speaker Impedance and amp power are all 'regulated', in a sense. But than you have the wildcard tossed in. MQA? I give it another couple years and it'll go the way of APS film. Or Sony memory stick. DAC will be around for years....or decades.....but even chip X will be at different levels depending on IMPLIMENTATION....... Apple? Somethimes I just wanna SCREAM. Lots of OS changes seem like rearranging the Deck Chairs on the Titanic...... |
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Post by 405x5 on Sept 30, 2021 7:55:28 GMT -5
I have the pt-100 preamp and the XPA 2 Gen 3 . And the pt-100 sounds vary lean for My speakers that are a little power Hungry. I'm in search of some good recommendation. I don't want to go the avr rout . This sounds odd…. Don’t think your electronics are at fault. Have you checked to make sure your speakers are not wired out of phase and what model are they? |
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Post by rbk123 on Sept 30, 2021 10:04:48 GMT -5
I have the pt-100 preamp and the XPA 2 Gen 3 . And the pt-100 sounds vary lean for My speakers that are a little power Hungry. I'm in search of some good recommendation. I don't want to go the avr rout . The preamp doesn't impact the power needs of the speakers, that is your amp - the XPA2. If it sounds like the XPA2 is not providing sufficient power, then changing the preamp won't help. That being said, I'd be amazed if the XPA2 isn't strong enough - what kind of speakers do you have? |
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Post by leonski on Sept 30, 2021 13:45:09 GMT -5
I have the pt-100 preamp and the XPA 2 Gen 3 . And the pt-100 sounds vary lean for My speakers that are a little power Hungry. I'm in search of some good recommendation. I don't want to go the avr rout . What speakers do yo have that will tap-out a XPA-2 G3 of 300x2@8? That's a lot of power for all but a select few (like panel) speakers. Any speaker over maybe 88db sensitive should be driven to some pretty exotic levels. What exactly does 'lean' mean? What is the lack? Have you gone thru room SETUP? And how LARGE a room? (cubic feet) ONE possible reason? The speakers are some load which the amp simply does NOT like. Very low impedance dip at a place where the phase angle is high......Say....Under 3 ohms at 45degrees or HIGHER. (phase angle is NOT generally pulished data) Start looking into 'system' rather than 'stuff'.....It all must work together. Is the PT-1 the right pre for that amp? Are the speakers 'enough' for the size room? Do you have enough power at the wall for all this stuff? BAD EXAMPLE:: I was running a recip saw yesterday and it would DIM the lights. How much do you have plugged into that (I imagine) single circuit? Is this part of some kind of HT setup? I see you mention AVR.....NONE of which will be an improvement on the XPA-2 |
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Post by jslim49 on Sept 30, 2021 14:10:43 GMT -5
I have the pt-100 preamp and the XPA 2 Gen 3 . And the pt-100 sounds vary lean for My speakers that are a little power Hungry. I'm in search of some good recommendation. I don't want to go the avr rout . The preamp doesn't impact the power needs of the speakers, that is your amp - the XPA2. If it sounds like the XPA2 is not providing sufficient power, then changing the preamp won't help. That being said, I'd be amazed if the XPA2 isn't strong enough - what kind of speakers do you have? |
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Post by jslim49 on Sept 30, 2021 14:21:58 GMT -5
All of you are wrong. I've tested my yamaha Av receiver pre outs
Outs and it's like night and day. Differents
My music sounded very full and rich.And the bass is was amazing. I can't get that type of performance from the pt-100 and my tower
Speakers are some cheap polks rti a 7 and as soon as reconnect the pt-100 its back to dull flat bass I've been in the hifi game since the 80's I know how to get Speakers to get Speakers to thump .
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2021 14:30:58 GMT -5
All of you are wrong. I've tested a air pre Outs and it's like night and day. Differents My music sounded very full and rich.And the bass is was amazing. I can't get that type of performance from the pt-100 and my tower Speakers are some cheap polks rti a 7 and as soon as reconnect the pt-100 its back to dull flat bass I've been in the hifi game since the 80's I know how to get Speakers to get Speakers to thump . It's not so much what the chicken said but how the chicken said it!!!  |
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Post by leonski on Sept 30, 2021 14:51:58 GMT -5
The preamp doesn't impact the power needs of the speakers, that is your amp - the XPA2. If it sounds like the XPA2 is not providing sufficient power, then changing the preamp won't help. That being said, I'd be amazed if the XPA2 isn't strong enough - what kind of speakers do you have? 2 'measures' possible.....Pre OUTPUT (in volts) and amplifier INPUT needs....also in volts.(sensitivity) If the pre doesn't the amp can't......Not a usual event but CAN happen when system building is completely ignored. I give it 50:1 against. That being said? VERY unlikely the amp can't provide enough power. In some cases of very bad speaker loads it maybe true, but for the majority? No. I've heard a speaker DESTROY an amp. Amp gave out an Ultrasonic Chirp and ceased to function. NOT a fuse. A very unusual happening. Caused by the speaker, an electrostat. I'd try another pre....and unless I was getting wrapped up in HT, it'd be a good STEREO pre. Buying a HT receiver FOR the pre? absolute LAST resort. An expensive move AND buying into planned obsolescence. USED market has many choices <1000$ which can be resold with minimal headaches IF not the right piece.... OP wasn't clear about HT or STEREO? |
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Post by rbk123 on Sept 30, 2021 15:24:44 GMT -5
That being said? VERY unlikely the amp can't provide enough power. In some cases of very bad speaker loads it maybe true, but for the majority? No. Yeah, he's just not getting the sound out of the PT100 that he wants; or more likely is used to (bass heavy). This is perfectly fine and I misunderstood his 'lean' comment as applying to the amp running out of gas (for his "power hungry" speakers) when I believe he is/was just describing the way the PT100 sounds. My bad. Certainly try other pre-amps, as there are billions out there. Send the PT100 back and give Schiit a try. |
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Post by leonski on Sept 30, 2021 17:16:38 GMT -5
I have the pt-100 preamp and the XPA 2 Gen 3 . And the pt-100 sounds vary lean for My speakers that are a little power Hungry. I'm in search of some good recommendation. I don't want to go the avr rout . This sounds odd…. Don’t think your electronics are at fault. Have you checked to make sure your speakers are not wired out of phase and what model are they? Actully NOT a bad idea. But speakers mis-wired would suck the BASS out, is that 'lean'? Do a +/- swap on ONE speaker and 'listen'..... |
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Post by 405x5 on Sept 30, 2021 17:22:37 GMT -5
All of you are wrong. I've tested a air pre Outs and it's like night and day. Differents My music sounded very full and rich.And the bass is was amazing. I can't get that type of performance from the pt-100 and my tower Speakers are some cheap polks rti a 7 and as soon as reconnect the pt-100 its back to dull flat bass I've been in the hifi game since the 80's I know how to get Speakers to get Speakers to thump . WELL EXCUSE ME!!!! LOL….then WHY (pray tell) did yew ask?? |
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Post by donh50 on Sept 30, 2021 18:41:10 GMT -5
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Post by leonski on Sept 30, 2021 20:50:03 GMT -5
118 to 137 Mhz is Air Band.......for those who like to listen to AIRPANE chatter between pilots and (depending on frequency) ground control, ATC or other planes......
don't need MUCH of an antenna, either 128mhz is about 2 1/3 meters for 'full wave'.....call it 9 feet and change?
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