Advice on PC stored files to Hifi

[knacker]

Hi,

I have all my CDs stored on an external HDD in Apple Lossless and looking for most HIFI way to play files through Hifi. I currently use a pair of Audioengine A2 which are nic ebut looking for more HiFi - ie either Arcam Solo or Cyrus based system. My PC has a Sounblaster XiFI sound card but can be updated to a Asus Xonar 2 card which I have in my other machine. I do have 99% of files still on CD in storage so I could re rip if required. If so, what format is best for hifi and Itunes compatible??

Ideas would be nice with budget of approx £1-2k but speakers MUST be smallish, pref. desktop

Thanks for help guys and gals

 

[John Duncan]

You're already half way there, having ripped to apple lossless (turn error correction on for best, if slower, results), which is the best format if iTunes is your media player. There are now two ways to get it out of your PC - either by using a good sound card, as you suggest, or using an external DAC. I guess which depends on whether you're happy for your PC to be by your hifi, or you want to untether it, in which case you need a client like Airport Express (I have this, with an iPod Touch as a remote control, into a DACMAgic DAC), Squeezebox or similar.

Once you've done that, the world's your oyster - there are actually several active speaker sets which you could use similar to your audioengines but a bit more upmarket, which could be just what you're looking for - Dynaudio X15s (model number off the top of my head), PMC DB1 actives, AVI ADM9.1 (with built in DAC!), that sort of thing. Alternatively, you could get very satisfactory results with modest, dinky speakers like the 250 quid Dali Lektor 1s, £400 AVI Neutron Vs, £800 PMC DB1i plus a suitable amp or mini like the Arcam. Suppose it depends on whether you want the convenience of a CD player and radio as well, or happy to stick with PC as source.

Any of that sound any good?

 

[knacker]

Thanks for that- some food for thought.

I would probably go with the amp/mini/speaker option as it would be nice to have the wireless, sorry radio!!, as well as a CD player. I am edging towards to Arcam Solo or Solo Mini, depending on deals, and a some speakers. I am in the process of building my new house so will need to wait before deciding as I might have constraints on my space, ie my wife will tell me what room I can have!

Assuming I do go for either amp/cd or mini & speakers option, what would be better sound either a DAC or a good audio cable from PC soundcard?

 

[John Duncan]

I think the mini's prettier and better value, for what worth

Note that practically any station you could want (and thousands more) can be played through iTunes and streamed, so don't necessarily let that constrain you. BBC stations need a workaround if you're tied to iTunes, but not insurmountable.

And obviously it depends on the soundcard, but from experience I'd suggest it's worth going the external DAC route, if only to get audio away from the very noisy and unscreened innards of a PC...

 

[Anonymous]

There was another thread recently where a guy said he replaced thousands of pounds worth of stereo with the AVI actives, so they should be worth a demo.

I always loved their Nu Neutron in an old system I had, so doubt you'll go wrong there.

 

[idc]

No need to re rip (import) your CDs if you have them in Apple Lossless. It is just about the best bit rate around and obviously very compatable with your itunes.

 

[manicm]

JohnDuncan:I think the mini's prettier and better value, for what worth

Note that practically any station you could want (and thousands more) can be played through iTunes and streamed, so don't necessarily let that constrain you. BBC stations need a workaround if you're tied to iTunes, but not insurmountable. And obviously it depends on the soundcard, but from experience I'd suggest it's worth going the external DAC route, if only to get audio away from the very noisy and unscreened innards of a PC...

Have to agree with JD here if you're going the Arcam Solo route, I have the Mini but heard the bigger Solo as well at my dealer and have to say sound and power wise there's little in it, the Mini is surprisingly capable for its 25W.

I have paired it with the B&W 685s - and they do sound good - but that's only cos I'm temporarily spaced out (they're front-ported see) and the Dali Lektor 1s I wanted are not yet available in my country. But if you've some space, consider the Monitor Audio RS1s or Lektor 1s, I suspect they might suit the Mini better.

Ironically, although the 685s are front-ported they need space between them cos otherwise the imaging sucks, I'd say they need at least 2m apart. Then again that's true for most hifi speakers.

 

[Anonymous]

I expect you're causing an awful lot of damage to your 685s by using a 25w amplifier.

It'll be clipping all of the time.

Try a Rotel RA06 or 10 series.

 

[manicm]

Eddie Pound:

I expect you're causing an awful lot of damage to your 685s by using a 25w amplifier.

It'll be clipping all of the time.

Try a Rotel RA06 or 10 series.

Au contraire, I've played it to about 41 (that's a bit more than midway if others say the max is 75 on the Mini) which is nice loud with no problems at all. The Mini is some driver for what it is. They both seem quite robust.

BTW, how does one tell if an amp is 'clipping'? Dropouts?

 

[Anonymous]

The 685s dip to 3.7ohms too, which is going to cause some issues for such a non-amplifier.

 

[manicm]

Eddie Pound:The 685s dip to 3.7ohms too, which is going to cause some issues for such a non-amplifier.

Hmm, ok I've read up a bit on clipping, but how can you really tell by ear if it is? One characteristic is I quote 'audio compression/congestion will occur when all notes appear to be played at the same level - as the louder notes will be clipped to the same level as softer notes'.

Well that's not happening as far as I can hear, and also, the Mini is designed so it can be paired with 4ohm speakers (in theory, but their own Musos are 4ohm).

I don't think paper specs tell you everything. And besides on paper the 685s are not too bad - 88db at 8ohms, and on paper that makes it more efficient than its smaller 686 sibling, as well as the the Dali Lektor 1 (84db).

To be honest, I think the MA RS1s or like Chebby has the Rega R1/R3 might be better suited sonically to the Mini, but perhaps I mistakenly did not go for the former as it's rear-ported which in textbook terms is no-no in my space right now.

Hmm this is an interesting topic which I would like to hear from others - Andrew, how about moving these last few posts to a new topic on 'Speaker sensitivity'?

 

[chebby]

Eddie Pound:
I expect you're causing an awful lot of damage to your 685s by using a 25w amplifier.

It'll be clipping all of the time.

Try a Rotel RA06 or 10 series.

Eddie Pound:The 685s dip to 3.7ohms too, which is going to cause some issues for such a non-amplifier.

Did an Arcam Solo-Mini kill your puppies?

The Arcam Solo-Mini is more than capable of driving my Rega R3's (90db efficiency) to respectable levels without a hint of harshness or clipping.

 

[John Duncan]

chebby:Did an Arcam Solo-Mini kill your puppies?

No, that was a Cyrus/MA combo.

 

[knacker]

Any recommendations on a DAC please and how/ what's needed to connect to the amp

I would also like to maybe use the system to play all audio from the PC as I occasionally game- nothing very heavy just the odd game of CustomPLay Golf 2009/TW 08

I like the idea of the Solo Mini + Speakers- not sure which ones subject to room

 

[John Duncan]

Beresford or DACMagic are the stock answers currently. There's a new Beresford out with USB (dunno how much, the non-USB one is £120 I think), and Chebby's going mental over it, while I'll stick up for my DACMagic. If you want to game, that'll require a direct connection (USB or an optical or electrical out if your soundcard has one), since a wireless client like Airport Express will add some latency.

Edit - apologies, there are some USB-only DACs like the Fubar which Chebby also likes (though he's dropped it like a hot potato now he's got a new Beresford, you'll notice

)

 

[Anonymous]

Rega recommend a minimum of 30 watts for the R3.

 

[Alec]

JohnDuncan:(though he's dropped it like a hot potato now he's got a new Beresford, you'll notice

)

which is just crying out for some CA fan-boy/just as fickle/nice blue writing on it/filter gimmicks/over-priced jibe, but im too big for that...

 

[John Duncan]

al7478:
JohnDuncan:(though he's dropped it like a hot potato now he's got a new Beresford, you'll notice

)

which is just crying out for some CA fan-boy/just as fickle/nice blue writing on it/filter gimmicks/over-priced jibe, but im too big for that...

No you're not. Give it your best shot......

Anyway, I'd have bought a Beresford if it was pretty.

 

[chebby]

[Removed]

 

[chebby]

[Removed]

 

[John Duncan]

You do know I'm taking the ----, don't you......?

 

[chebby]

JohnDuncan:You do know I'm taking the ----, don't you......?

I always assume it.

 

[John Duncan]

Good call.

 

[knacker]

I think I'm going to go with the Cambridge Audio DACMagic as it has decent input numbers and has a USB link to PC.

Just one wee question, in order for me to play my itunes files through the DAC/Amplifier, do I just need to play them in Itunes or is there any other way of doing it?

 

[John Duncan]

It should just be recognised as a soundcard and you just play iTunes as normal, yes.