the big question - storing digital music

[admin_exported]

hi, your a. m. article in issue #12 ( dec 2009 ) was really interesting & as Andy rightly commented " .. so i now have to copy …in WAV ! " may be true for me … what i have been doing is making 2 copies of the CD collection; [ 1 ] in the mp3 format converted by iTunes ( all are in mp3 320 kpbs now, this was initially AAC 320kbps format & i had changed it for connivence purpose, to make mp3 CDs .. i really did not find that much of a difference in the AAC & mp3 in 320 kbps. FYI i am using the Sennheiser CX 400, after the CX 300 was gifted to a friend .. ) and [ 2 ] the direct copy of the CD is self ( not ripped ! .. i have dragged & dropped the files onto my EXT HDD ) so i have all the file in AIFF format.

i would appreciate your help, in suggesting a suitable receiver / amp / HT in a Box system, with a USB, where i could connect my EXT HDD to the unit to listen to my music. .. i cannot afford an external DAC unit & other high end stuff .. ! (-:

thanks for the lovely audio mag you come up with .. i really enjoy reading .. the stuff .. specially when is for people not in the TAS ( The Absolute Sound ) league !!

cheers !!!!

 

[idc]

Hi hitarth. Can I clarify a few points.

Would a speaker dock for use with an ipod be a solution?

Are you really wanting a one box hifi which can take a digital signal from your PC via USB so you can listen to itunes that way? Or do you have to connect the hard drive to the hifi directly?

What is your budget, before you right off PC - DAC - amp - speakers?

Would PC - amp - speakers using the analogue signal out of the headphone jack on the PC do?

One specific suggestion would be, since you are using headphones, the Firestone Fireye . It is a DAC/amp which is £67 and can possibly be found cheaper direct from the manufacturer.

 

[Anonymous]

hi,

1 ] Would a speaker dock for use with an ipod be a solution?

>> i think this will be too small a sound for my liking. i had in mind the Zeppelin, but dropped the idea.

2 ] Are you really wanting a one box hifi which can take a digital signal from your PC via USB so you can listen to itunes that way? Or do you have to connect the hard drive to the hifi directly?

>> i would like to connect the HDD directly to the receiver / one box ( the panasonic BT250 &/or 350 have the option, i think )

3 ] What is your budget, before you right off PC - DAC - amp - speakers?

>> my budget would be +/- ZAR 15k including speakers, i had the B&W 685 in mind.

4 ] Would PC - amp - speakers using the analogue signal out of the headphone jack on the PC do?

>> definitely, would not mind .. but if a USB option is available .. then my LIFE is MADE !!!

5 ] One specific suggestion would be, since you are using headphones, the Firestone Fireye . It is a DAC/amp which is £67 and can possibly be found cheaper direct from the manufacturer.

>> does, this DAC/AMP ( i suppose it is a pre amp ) have a USB, where i can connect my HDD directly ? or does it only have RCA in & out, where i connect my laptop to it thru a 3.5 mm cable to RCA, into the DAC/AMP?

 

[idc]

Hopefully this is right, but your are from South Africa and your budget of ZAR 15k is £1225, so not bad at all. So you want the B&W speakers at £370 and stands adds another £100.

You mention connecting a hard drive direct to a Panasonic BT250/350 (SC-PT250?). I will have a look, but I am sure there is a stage missing. (EDIT - I am really sure that there is a stage missing) We need something to do the digital to analogue conversion and for you to control what information (music files) are being converted and to play, stop, pause etc. There are two ways of adding that link....

Have a google for NAS's which come with the likes of itunes preloaded and then Apple Airport Express or Logitech Squeeze box to wirlessly connect to the Hifi. You then use an iphone or the Logitech to control your music but I am not great expert at how they work.

However, since my suggestions of PC - DAC/amp - speakers using USB has resulted in 'my LIFE is MADE !!!' then I would recommend this route.

To confirm again; are you fine with a Hard Drive to your PC, which will act as your music controller (server) which will connect to your DAC/amp with a USB and then the speakers from the amp? Since you looked at the Panasonic Home Cinema system is it hifi or home cinema that you want?

 

[Anonymous]

I will strongly recommend an optical cable between the PC and the DAC/receiver/whatever -- or wireless if you've got a laptop.

USB means a copper connection, that might cause noise problems.

 

[idc]

Fahnsen, if by noise you mean the background hiss that you can hear if you play straight from a PC, then there is nothing to worry about with a USB connection. I have two USB DACs I can use, I have tried three different USB cables and I only get hiss if I turn the volume on the amp right to to maximum, which is unusable in normal listening. Whilst some of that hiss may be from the PC, it has other sources via the mains and RFI and the electronics in the DAC and amp.

USBs have been added to DACs to accommodate the rise of the PC as a source. I am sure action has been taken to prevent noise or else the manufacturer risks losing sales as a consensus goes around the USB causes noise.

 

[PJPro]

Why not have a look at one of these or similar?

Slap the music (and photos and video) onto an external hard drive, attach to the media player and attached the media player via optical to your receiver. Video is via hdmi/component to your TV or receiver.

Just an idea and lots to choose from.

 

[Anonymous]

hi ! idc !

sorry to disturb you again !! i have got my collection in AIFF format, on my ext HDD. Now these files are COPIED from the finder to the HDD and are NOT ripped to AIFF .. was just playing around .. and i discovered that i could not make an AUDIO CD from this ( for instance copying selected files to make a compilation ) .!!! i suppose it is a data format of AIFF . so now the foll questions arise : .. whether i have to import all / any of them into iTunes to make a play list & then make an audio CD ?? is it better to import all the AIFF files into the iTunes & then convert all the files to WAV ( i feel, the iTunes has a good converting engine ) ?? will there be any quality drop in converting from AIFF to WAV ? will the AIFF files play thru the receiver ( .. to which i intend to attach the HDD thru USB, play) ?? .. thanks for your time .. !

 

[Anonymous]

you are abs correct .. i read abt the panasonic & it said it has an option for USB & a SD card . & was wondering whether .. one could just plug in the USB HDD / Memory stick & play from there .. !!

further, i looked at the panasonic for home theatre, but would like to have 2 systems 1 for audio & the other for the H/T. - what do you think

i would prefer that my HDD is connected to a receiver / amp or DAC/amp & then to the speaker.. instead of having the analogue going out of my laptop to the analogue in of the amp.

as i am a total MAC MAN, was also not leaving out the option of the MAC PRO, where there is a OPTICAL DIGITAL OUT . and .. IN .. !!!

 

[Anonymous]

hi, idc !!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

w r t the panasonic .. if you check your article in issue # 11, nov 2009, you have reviewed the Panasonic SC-BT025 .. in this there is a USB & SD card option . what i was talking about earlier .. was .. do these sort of equipment come with a built in DAC ??? i managed to get my hands on a Samsung HT-BD1250 . which had a USB too . i copied an AIFF format file & a WAV file .. it played the WAV file not the AIFF !!! .

so basically , what i wanted to know earlier was i would prefer a receiver with a built in DAC, instead of buying an external DAC/PreAmp & hooking it up to a PowerAmp . can't stretch my budget too much . & ofcourse this receiver would have to go with the B&W 685s . further i had in mind the low end Kimbers cables .. ( 4 TC / 8 TC ) .. what do you say ???

 

[idc]

hitarth:

i have got my collection in AIFF format, on my ext HDD. Now these files are COPIED from the finder to the HDD and are NOT ripped to AIFF .. was just playing around .. and i discovered that i could not make an AUDIO CD from this ( for instance copying selected files to make a compilation ) .!!! i suppose it is a data format of AIFF . so now the foll questions arise :

.. whether i have to import all / any of them into iTunes to make a play list & then make an audio CD ??

is it better to import all the AIFF files into the iTunes & then convert all the files to WAV ( i feel, the iTunes has a good converting engine ) ??

will there be any quality drop in converting from AIFF to WAV ?

will the AIFF files play thru the receiver ( .. to which i intend to attach the HDD thru USB, play) ?? .. thanks for your time .. !

- to make an audio CD all I can suggest is to import your AIFF files onto itunes and then 'Burn Disc' to see whether it will accept them.

- itunes cant convert, it can only accept various files including AIFF and WAV. You may as well leave the files as AIFF.

- both formats are lossless, only a few claim to be able to hear a difference in sound.

- not sure about the DAC in the receiver, but I assume it is like any standalone DAC or DAC in a CDP and it takes a digital signal and converts it to analogue, so it is not concerned with the original file type. I think it is only when you stream music via various servers that files types may not be supported.

 

[idc]

hitarth:

you are abs correct .. i read abt the panasonic & it said it has an option for USB & a SD card . & was wondering whether .. one could just plug in the USB HDD / Memory stick & play from there .. !!

further, i looked at the panasonic for home theatre, but would like to have 2 systems 1 for audio & the other for the H/T. - what do you think

i would prefer that my HDD is connected to a receiver / amp or DAC/amp & then to the speaker.. instead of having the analogue going out of my laptop to the analogue in of the amp.

as i am a total MAC MAN, was also not leaving out the option of the MAC PRO, where there is a OPTICAL DIGITAL OUT . and .. IN .. !!!

- I doubt that you could just plug a hard drive into the receiver via USB. You need a music server to do the job of managing your music in albums, track number etc, selecting the tracks, play, pause. I dont see your receiver being able to that. However, some hifis such as a Denon midi system can take music from a USB stick, so the receiver may be able to work that way, but I cannot advise you as I have no experience of that.

- optimum performance will come from a separate AV and a Hifi, but it not difficult to combine the two. That is a topic in itself.

- your HDD needs a server as I said before to manage the music. HDD to PC to DAC to amp definitely beats PC analogue to receiver for sound.

- if you are a total MAC man then optical to DAC to reveivers phono, or if your receiver will take optical and then you should be sorted, MAC to receiver. Your MAC will act as your music server.

 

[idc]

hitarth:

hi, idc !!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

w r t the panasonic .. if you check your article in issue # 11, nov 2009, you have reviewed the Panasonic SC-BT025 .. in this there is a USB & SD card option . what i was talking about earlier .. was .. do these sort of equipment come with a built in DAC ??? i managed to get my hands on a Samsung HT-BD1250 . which had a USB too . i copied an AIFF format file & a WAV file .. it played the WAV file not the AIFF !!! .

so basically , what i wanted to know earlier was i would prefer a receiver with a built in DAC, instead of buying an external DAC/PreAmp & hooking it up to a PowerAmp . can't stretch my budget too much . & ofcourse this receiver would have to go with the B&W 685s . further i had in mind the low end Kimbers cables .. ( 4 TC / 8 TC ) .. what do you say ???

- if the Panasonic has USB then it will have a DAC, or else there is nothing it can do with the digital signal it would receive via USB. So MAC to receiver as mentioned before should work.

- I have no idea why the Samsung will play WAV but not AIFF.

- when you say receiver do you mean a hifi amp or a home cinema AV amp? Your comment about external DAC/Preamp & power amp is another thin again. I know many DACs also act as a pre amp, but that does not mean that the DAC has to work with the preamp and so a power amp. There are a few amps with DACs in them, many more AV receivers, but then we go back to for hifi a hifi amp will do a better job.

- I had the 4TC speaker cables and they were an improvement on the QED before that. If you say you are on a budget, then the 4TC will be fine.

Merry christmas to you too and I hope that this has helped. If it has not, can I suggest you consider a few specicifc products and then we can narrow down how you are best to get music from your HDD.

 

[Anonymous]

hi, idc ..

many thanks for your prompt reply .. !

yes, what i meant by the receiver, is an AV Amp . .. i was just browsing the net .. to see what i can find .. i came across the Yamaha 797 .. which had the USB . . how is that ?? will it match with the B&W 685s ?? .. where i can hook up the MacPro to it by the Toslink .. i am ready for any of your suggestions .. & it can be something else too .. other than the B&W 685s !!! .

 

[idc]

I have had a look at the specs of the Yamaha. It is not surround sound and it appears to have just composite (analogue) line ins.

Rather than ask a whole load of questions in one post in this part of the forum, which is quite a quiet one, I would suggest you ask separate questions in the relevant parts of the forum.

Your first question in the hifi section would be, how well would the Yamahe go with the B&W speakers? You also need to do some more research yourself and find out the Yamaha had a DAC in it and it can accept a digital signal by Toslink. If it cannot you need a DAC to go between the MAC and the amp. The Musical Fidelity V-DAC is one of the cheaper DAC and it has all sorts of connections.