The future of vinyl

[Al ears]

The point im trying to make and i respect each to their own ways but most english people do not embrace change and look for any excuse not to improve.. - andrewjvt

Hi Andrewjvt - don't quite follow that point - not seen any evidence of this on the forum - explain ? - bit of a narrow viewpoint? Lots of ridiculous comments from some on this board at times - just another one?

I love modern technology and how it has revolutionised the music listening experience. Lots of choice for everyone - feel free to choose what suits. Vinyl still sounds great ( got rid of mine long ago tho!) Never bought a download yet either. Internet radio - spotify - cds - streaming off laptop hard drive - all do it for me . Best quality for sure is cd and hard drive streaming - fact! May go for the NAS option in the near future.

cheers tonky

This thread is way off of the question posted initially, however you pretty much nailed it with whatever format suits your purpose.

Far be it for me to question or even criticise another's listening habits, it's a pointless exercise.

 

[MeanandGreen]

My NAS is hard-wired to my network, as is my Sonos, what's your point?

My point is my 2 hi Fi systems have a digital storage music library conected directly to a DAC.

Why would I need to stream the same library over a network? The only way to stream to either of my hifi systems is to do it via my iMac or iPod touch. Why do that when the iMac and iPod touch are already conected digitally to both systems? The music library is already stored on those devices.

You don't leave your amp and CD player on all the time then? Or your PC that you play your iTunes from?

No never, why would I do that?

Iturn my stuff off when we're away for any length of time.

So when you get home from work you must have to wait for your NAS drive to boot up then?

Other software is no doubt available.

There is nothing wrong with the software. The actual issue is because I control my older generation iPod from my newer generation iPad, the apps do not necessarily update together. It's a third party control app I use for my playlists, the issue is iOS 6 running along with iOS 9. It actually works (very well) but app updates on the older iOS can be slow.

The way around this is to either buy a newer iPod, or add a network player. Both expensive options which I don't think are worth the expense.

Sure, once you've come in, switched everything on, put the CD in, waited for it to spin up and ready the toc, you find the remote...

That takes all of 5 to 10 seconds at the most. How long does a NAS drive take to start up and be ready to play from power up?

I've no idea, I couldn't dream of living without my vinyl.

Why bother with the inconvieneice of that then? It's measurably inferior in every way, it degrades and is anything but convienient. So what's the point, why don't you just play music via your network?

Nothing, simply pointing out that your objections are trivial to non-existent at the worst.

Yes they are trivial. I have no real issue with digitally stored music and playback what so ever. I use it regularly, right now infact.

People, seem to have an issue with people enjoying CD's though. My points are only to try and clarify why it could be convineient to spin a CD every once in a while. I'm not a network hater.

There is no reason but you don't gain anything by playing the CD, it is in no measurable or definable way "better" than playing a digital file.

It can be more convineient for the reasons I've mentioned. Especially if you have just got a new CD and you just want to hear it straight away. You could make the same argument for vinyl records. It is not "better" than playing a digital file either and it's a complete faff.

 

[MeanandGreen]

This thread is way off of the question posted initially, however you pretty much nailed it with whatever format suits your purpose.

Far be it for me to question or even criticise another's listening habits, it's a pointless exercise.

Indeed, I agree.

I don't know why people feel the need to question people's preferences.

I don't see what is hard to grasp about the fact that nothing is simpler than putting a disc into a machine and pressing play. For some people particularly the older less tech savvy generation will find this easier than ripping files and setting up networks etc...

We all have a choice and preference, so why try forcing the view that one way is better and the other is pointless?

I see the benefit to all of the popular formats, I see no point in dissing one over the other. They each have a place IMO.

 

[Vladimir]

I see the benefit to all of the popular formats, I see no point in dissing one over the other. They each have a place IMO.

I hated rewinding cassettes. I hated how they sounded. The day I bought my first CDP I was extatic and eventually trashed all my tape players. The only thing I liked about them was the option to pirate music and make mix tapes for listening on the go with my walkman. I was also very very happy when I got a CD-R drive on my PC and my first discman. And when torrents became popular I dropped everything and just hoarded FLACs for free. I had a vinyl phase over 10 years ago because I was heavily into electronic music, and that genre was hot for buying new vinyl and owning good TTs. When I lowered my interest in electronica, I sold my vinyl collection and gear. When MOG came out, followed by other streaming services, including Youtube, I eventually dropped keeping any form of copy of music, now I just subscribe to Tidal. I can have any music I want in any resolution for free, but I prefer the convenience and lack of clutter by just paying a streaming subscription.

For me past media formats have absolutely no room in my life. I only went step back with vinyl since I never experienced it as a kid, so it looked cool, for a while. I'll continue to follow the most convenient way of enjoying music. I'm not drawn by the idea that I should save money to buy music in physical format simply because it is less instantly gratifying. I spent plenty of money on CDs, cassettes and LPs, on a very limited budget as an adolescent and student, you can imagine, and I feel zero appeal to go back to that ritual. If I don't find some music enjoyable, I don't need starvation to make it more appealing to me, I just don't listen to it. I move on searching for new music that will interest me without a crutch. I will never enjoy music like I did when I was 16, and I've come to peace with that.

 

[tino]

I don't see what is hard to grasp about the fact that nothing is simpler than putting a disc into a machine and pressing play. For some people particularly the older less tech savvy generation will find this easier than ripping files and setting up networks etc...

I have an even simpler solution ...

Imagine a turntable with no arm or cartridge. You vinyl record has an embedded memory card containing the digital version of the vinyl master. You place your record on the platter. The file from the embedded memory is read and streamed to ýour amp. It stops streaming when side A finishes. You get up and flip the record over. The streaming starts again but for side B. How easy is that? ;-)
You could still play the vinyl on a conventional turntable if you wished. Could be the future of vinyl ???

 

[MeanandGreen]

I see the benefit to all of the popular formats, I see no point in dissing one over the other. They each have a place IMO.

I hated rewinding cassettes. I hated how they sounded. The day I bought my first CDP I was extatic and eventually trashed all my tape players. The only thing I liked about them was the option to pirate music and make mix tapes for listening on the go with my walkman. I was also very very happy when I got a CD-R drive on my PC and my first discman. And when torrents became popular I dropped everything and just hoarded FLACs for free. I had a vinyl phase over 10 years ago because I was heavily into electronic music, and that genre was hot for buying new vinyl and owning good TTs. When I lowered my interest in electronica, I sold my vinyl collection and gear. When MOG came out, followed by other streaming services, including Youtube, I eventually dropped keeping any form of copy of music, now I just subscribe to Tidal. I can have any music I want in any resolution for free, but I prefer the convenience and lack of clutter by just paying a streaming subscription.

For me past media formats have absolutely no room in my life. I only went step back with vinyl since I never experienced it as a kid, so it looked cool, for a while. I'll continue to follow the most convenient way of enjoying music. I'm not drawn by the idea that I should save money to buy music in physical format simply because it is less instantly gratifying. I spent plenty of money on CDs, cassettes and LPs, on a very limited budget as an adolescent and student, you can imagine, and I feel zero appeal to go back to that ritual. If I don't find some music enjoyable, I don't need starvation to make it more appealing to me, I just don't listen to it. I move on searching for new music that will interest me without a crutch. I will never enjoy music like I did when I was 16, and I've come to peace with that.

I completely understand that. Again it is personal preference and everyone can make their own choice.

I agree cassette tape is of no use these days. It was a poor pre recorded format so it's best use was for copying. Now we can make bit perfect digital copies in any resolution from any source.

Personally for me I see no point in paying a subscription to listen to stuff I have already. I could sell my collection, but I enjoy having it and I will continue to grow it.

It's different preferences and choices that makes the world go round.

 

[Vladimir]

I completely understand that. Again it is personal preference and everyone can make their own choice.

I agree cassette tape is of no use these days. It was a poor pre recorded format so it's best use was for copying. Now we can make bit perfect digital copies in any resolution from any source.

Personally for me I see no point in paying a subscription to listen to stuff I have already. I could sell my collection, but I enjoy having it and I will continue to grow it.

It's different preferences and choices that makes the world go round.

Indeed. I'm just sharing my own journey through the format changes.

Some people never changed their mainstream formats or prefered music genres and kept growing their collections. I have bunch of CDs in cardboard boxes but I never bother taking them out on display or even using them. To me they do not symbolize music or embody music. They are just bits of plastic that are now useless clutter, but I am reluctent to throw them away because I spent so much money on them. I wish I didn't, but I did. I can't give them away, no one wants them. I gave away some LPs though, to a new vinyl convert friend. And few years back I gifted a Jarrett CD to a UK royalty at a reception. I wonder if that ended up recycled for patio furniture in Kent.

 

[paulkebab]

think it'll become mainstream again but it's definitely got people talking about hi-fi and that can only be a good thing. Personally I was glad to see the back of it, and FWIW my amp takes longer to boot up than anything connected to it !

 

[Al ears]

I don't see what is hard to grasp about the fact that nothing is simpler than putting a disc into a machine and pressing play. For some people particularly the older less tech savvy generation will find this easier than ripping files and setting up networks etc...

I have an even simpler solution ...

Imagine a turntable with no arm or cartridge. You vinyl record has an embedded memory card containing the digital version of the vinyl master. You place your record on the platter. The file from the embedded memory is read and streamed to ýour amp. It stops streaming when side A finishes. You get up and flip the record over. The streaming starts again but for side B. How easy is that? ;-) You could still play the vinyl on a conventional turntable if you wished. Could be the future of vinyl ???

And where exactly does vinyl occur in this setup? Surely this is the future of the turntable. I for one hope not.

 

[Al ears]

I completely understand that. Again it is personal preference and everyone can make their own choice.

I agree cassette tape is of no use these days. It was a poor pre recorded format so it's best use was for copying. Now we can make bit perfect digital copies in any resolution from any source.

Personally for me I see no point in paying a subscription to listen to stuff I have already. I could sell my collection, but I enjoy having it and I will continue to grow it.

It's different preferences and choices that makes the world go round.

Indeed. I'm just sharing my own journey through the format changes.

Some people never changed their mainstream formats or prefered music genres and kept growing their collections. I have bunch of CDs in cardboard boxes but I never bother taking them out on display or even using them. To me they do not symbolize music or embody music. They are just bits of plastic that are now useless clutter, but I am reluctent to throw them away because I spent so much money on them. I wish I didn't, but I did. I can't give them away, no one wants them. I gave away some LPs though, to a new vinyl convert friend. And few years back I gifted a Jarrett CD to a UK royalty at a reception. I wonder if that ended up recycled for patio furniture in Kent.

I must confess that I progressed pretty much the same way, however I kept vinyl stash at my mother's whilst at college and never did sell my Sony Walkman Professional (first birthday present from she that is now wife). It is still utilised occasionally to play some of my compilation tapes and family history recordings that I made many moons ago.

 

[The_Lhc]

My NAS is hard-wired to my network, as is my Sonos, what's your point?

My point is my 2 hi Fi systems have a digital storage music library conected directly to a DAC.

Hang on, this is getting complicated now, the DAC is connected to two different hi-fis or you have two separate copies of your library on different devices?

Why would I need to stream the same library over a network? The only way to stream to either of my hifi systems is to do it via my iMac or iPod touch. Why do that when the iMac and iPod touch are already conected digitally to both systems? The music library is already stored on those devices.

Right, so you have a COMPUTER running all the time when you want to listen to music? A NAS is far more power efficient than any PC, would allow you to stream to any system without having separate devices holding separate copies of the audio that then need to be kept synchronized together. That's not a very elegant solution is it? Either way it is fundamentally NO DIFFERENT to passing the files over a network, the end result is EXACTLY the same, the only difference between your system and mine is the length of the cable between the storage and the DAC.

You don't leave your amp and CD player on all the time then? Or your PC that you play your iTunes from?

No never, why would I do that?

Many people do, just curious.

Iturn my stuff off when we're away for any length of time.

So when you get home from work you must have to wait for your NAS drive to boot up then?

No, don't be daft, that wouldn't be a long enough period of time to worry about it and my other half is usually around most days. I turn it off when we're away (away) for more than a day or two, when we get back it gets switched on with all the other equipment, it takes a minute or two I guess, I don't know I've never sat there and watched it because at that point I'm not thinking about playing music, I'm more concerned with getting the bags in, getting unpacked and putting the kettle on. By the time I am thinking about listening to anything it'll be ready and waiting. Any other time it's there waiting.

Other software is no doubt available.

There is nothing wrong with the software. The actual issue is because I control my older generation iPod from my newer generation iPad, the apps do not necessarily update together. It's a third party control app I use for my playlists, the issue is iOS 6 running along with iOS 9. It actually works (very well) but app updates on the older iOS can be slow.

Sounds like a horrific rigmarole to me but if you will use Apple products...

Sure, once you've come in, switched everything on, put the CD in, waited for it to spin up and ready the toc, you find the remote...

That takes all of 5 to 10 seconds at the most. How long does a NAS drive take to start up and be ready to play from power up?

It doesn't, as I said it's almost never switched off.

I've no idea, I couldn't dream of living without my vinyl.

Why bother with the inconvieneice of that then? It's measurably inferior in every way, it degrades and is anything but convienient. So what's the point, why don't you just play music via your network?

Because it's fun and it sounds different (you can read that as better if you wish), either down to the format or the mastering, something that you will never get from CD, which will always sound EXACTLY the same as a file ripped from it.

Nothing, simply pointing out that your objections are trivial to non-existent at the worst.

Yes they are trivial. I have no real issue with digitally stored music and playback what so ever. I use it regularly, right now infact. People, seem to have an issue with people enjoying CD's though. My points are only to try and clarify why it could be convineient to spin a CD every once in a while. I'm not a network hater.

I'm not against you doing anything, I just don't understand that you do seem very opposed to the idea of playing your stored files over a network, illogically so to be honest.

There is no reason but you don't gain anything by playing the CD, it is in no measurable or definable way "better" than playing a digital file.

It can be more convineient for the reasons I've mentioned. Especially if you have just got a new CD and you just want to hear it straight away. You could make the same argument for vinyl records. It is not "better" than playing a digital file either and it's a complete faff.

I don't see it as much of a faff at all, ripping vinyl, yes, that's a complete ballache, I tried it once, wasn't worth the effort, which is why I keep the TT around, I've got too much that I only have on vinyl and I don't see the point in buying it all again in a digital format.

 

[Freddy58]

I'm just like a lot of boring old farts that are stuck in the past. I grew up with vinyl, then as CD's came out, I converted, re-buying a lot of stuff I had on vinyl, even though it really was quite expensive, around £15 a disc. Luckily, I hung on to most of my vinyl, as I couldn't bear to part with it. I also had the good sense to hang on to my mid eighties Rega Planar 3, which is now in use and thanks to a recent cartridge upgrade, is sounding pretty good. I still buy CD's when buying new, but it's great fun buying second-hand vinyl, as long as I'm careful about condition. I also use Spotify to listen to new/undiscovered music. But to me, there's something 'nice' about putting on an LP, more of occasion maybe? None of that 'flicking'? I'm not going to comment on the thorny issue about sound quality, but to say that vinyl can sound very good indeed! As for the future of vinyl, it's been around for quite a while, and can only imagine it'll be around for a good while yet *smile*

 

[Al ears]

I'm just like a lot of boring old farts that are stuck in the past. I grew up with vinyl, then as CD's came out, I converted, re-buying a lot of stuff I had on vinyl, even though it really was quite expensive, around £15 a disc. Luckily, I hung on to most of my vinyl, as I couldn't bear to part with it. I also had the good sense to hang on to my mid eighties Rega Planar 3, which is now in use and thanks to a recent cartridge upgrade, is sounding pretty good. I still buy CD's when buying new, but it's great fun buying second-hand vinyl, as long as I'm careful about condition. I also use Spotify to listen to new/undiscovered music. But to me, there's something 'nice' about putting on an LP, more of occasion maybe? None of that 'flicking'? I'm not going to comment on the thorny issue about sound quality, but to say that vinyl can sound very good indeed! As for the future of vinyl, it's been around for quite a while, and can only imagine it'll be around for a good while yet *smile*

I'm with you there. I too had Planar 3 stashed at mothers along with vinyl. When I first pulled it out of cupboard they motor fell out. Only then realised it was held in place by a rubber band (long-since perished). Soon upgraded motor package and it kept going nicely for years until I gave it to brothers bride-to-be.

My vinyl has been around since the seventies and I am pretty sure it's going to stay around for quite a while yet.

 

[tonky]

I had a planar 2 many moons ago. What an amazingly solid 3D sound from a wobbly arm, chipboard plinth, thick glass platter and driven by an elastic band. Stupidly I got rid - I bought a Thorens TD 320 suspended deck. A soft undynamic sound - my biggest mistake - buying a reputation! My brother still uses a rega planar 3 with RB300 - superb solid dynamic sound. - Historic gem.

tonky

 

[Freddy58]

I had a planar 2 many moons ago. What an amazingly solid 3D sound from a wobbly arm, chipboard plinth, thick glass platter and driven by an elastic band. Stupidly I got rid - I bought a Thorens TD 320 suspended deck. A soft undynamic sound - my biggest mistake - buying a reputation! My brother still uses a rega planar 3 with RB300 - superb solid dynamic sound. - Historic gem.

tonky

Yeah, mine has the RB300. I'm planning on getting a new deck this year, but given your post, I'm having doubts. Thanks for that *unknw* *biggrin*

 

[tino]

And where exactly does vinyl occur in this setup? Surely this is the future of the turntable. I for one hope not.

Vinyl could be a dual format medium ... you can play it the old fashioned way, or digitally stream from it's embedded memory ;-)

 

[Gazzip]

I buy everything on CD and then rip it to FLAC.

I tend to listen to the music I have recently purchased exclusively on my CDP. When the pile of CD's gets too high then the ripping process takes place, those CD's are boxed and stored, and then the process starts again.

One day I will have a Hifi room big enough to have my whole CD library/collection shelved and on display, but for now those several thousand shiny discs will remain entombed in my shed.

For me the collecting hobby and the music hobby are related but not one and the same. Some collect stamps. Some (like my gran) collect shoe horns. I collect CD's. I know that FLAC is technically identical to the CD but I just like having them. Can't explain it.

 

[Blacksabbath25]

I see the benefit to all of the popular formats, I see no point in dissing one over the other. They each have a place IMO.

I hated rewinding cassettes. I hated how they sounded. The day I bought my first CDP I was extatic and eventually trashed all my tape players. The only thing I liked about them was the option to pirate music and make mix tapes for listening on the go with my walkman. I was also very very happy when I got a CD-R drive on my PC and my first discman. And when torrents became popular I dropped everything and just hoarded FLACs for free. I had a vinyl phase over 10 years ago because I was heavily into electronic music, and that genre was hot for buying new vinyl and owning good TTs. When I lowered my interest in electronica, I sold my vinyl collection and gear. When MOG came out, followed by other streaming services, including Youtube, I eventually dropped keeping any form of copy of music, now I just subscribe to Tidal. I can have any music I want in any resolution for free, but I prefer the convenience and lack of clutter by just paying a streaming subscription.

For me past media formats have absolutely no room in my life. I only went step back with vinyl since I never experienced it as a kid, so it looked cool, for a while. I'll continue to follow the most convenient way of enjoying music. I'm not drawn by the idea that I should save money to buy music in physical format simply because it is less instantly gratifying. I spent plenty of money on CDs, cassettes and LPs, on a very limited budget as an adolescent and student, you can imagine, and I feel zero appeal to go back to that ritual. If I don't find some music enjoyable, I don't need starvation to make it more appealing to me, I just don't listen to it. I move on searching for new music that will interest me without a crutch. I will never enjoy music like I did when I was 16, and I've come to peace with that.

i like cds myself have some records but no record player i had cassettes and when cd player's first came out i thought they were amazing but like you when i was 16 i spent most of my wages on music i still love music but its not the same feelings as it was when i was 16 but buying new cds is getting harder to find bands that i like now as all the bands that i like which are old school i have all there album's anyway but finding new music from modern bands is so hard too do as they are just not the same as the old school bands so i find myself looking backwards at old bands that maybe i missed . i did read in this month's what hifi that downloaded music has taken a hit too in sales of downloads so that format does not look too good . i will buy myself a record player and play my records and still like cds but i am not into the download or stream thing

 

[Freddy58]

I see the benefit to all of the popular formats, I see no point in dissing one over the other. They each have a place IMO.

I hated rewinding cassettes. I hated how they sounded. The day I bought my first CDP I was extatic and eventually trashed all my tape players. The only thing I liked about them was the option to pirate music and make mix tapes for listening on the go with my walkman. I was also very very happy when I got a CD-R drive on my PC and my first discman. And when torrents became popular I dropped everything and just hoarded FLACs for free. I had a vinyl phase over 10 years ago because I was heavily into electronic music, and that genre was hot for buying new vinyl and owning good TTs. When I lowered my interest in electronica, I sold my vinyl collection and gear. When MOG came out, followed by other streaming services, including Youtube, I eventually dropped keeping any form of copy of music, now I just subscribe to Tidal. I can have any music I want in any resolution for free, but I prefer the convenience and lack of clutter by just paying a streaming subscription.

For me past media formats have absolutely no room in my life. I only went step back with vinyl since I never experienced it as a kid, so it looked cool, for a while. I'll continue to follow the most convenient way of enjoying music. I'm not drawn by the idea that I should save money to buy music in physical format simply because it is less instantly gratifying. I spent plenty of money on CDs, cassettes and LPs, on a very limited budget as an adolescent and student, you can imagine, and I feel zero appeal to go back to that ritual. If I don't find some music enjoyable, I don't need starvation to make it more appealing to me, I just don't listen to it. I move on searching for new music that will interest me without a crutch. I will never enjoy music like I did when I was 16, and I've come to peace with that.

i like cds myself have some records but no record player i had cassettes and when cd player's first came out i thought they were amazing but like you when i was 16 i spent most of my wages on music i still love music but its not the same feelings as it was when i was 16 but buying new cds is getting harder to find bands that i like now as all the bands that i like which are old school i have all there album's anyway but finding new music from modern bands is so hard too do as they are just not the same as the old school bands so i find myself looking backwards at old bands that maybe i missed . i did read in this month's what hifi that downloaded music has taken a hit too in sales of downloads so that format does not look too good . i will buy myself a record player and play my records and still like cds but i am not into the download or stream thing

Hiya Mr Sabbath

Have you tried Spotify? It great for listening to new music, or discovering bands that passed you by back in the day.

 

[Blacksabbath25]

I see the benefit to all of the popular formats, I see no point in dissing one over the other. They each have a place IMO.

I hated rewinding cassettes. I hated how they sounded. The day I bought my first CDP I was extatic and eventually trashed all my tape players. The only thing I liked about them was the option to pirate music and make mix tapes for listening on the go with my walkman. I was also very very happy when I got a CD-R drive on my PC and my first discman. And when torrents became popular I dropped everything and just hoarded FLACs for free. I had a vinyl phase over 10 years ago because I was heavily into electronic music, and that genre was hot for buying new vinyl and owning good TTs. When I lowered my interest in electronica, I sold my vinyl collection and gear. When MOG came out, followed by other streaming services, including Youtube, I eventually dropped keeping any form of copy of music, now I just subscribe to Tidal. I can have any music I want in any resolution for free, but I prefer the convenience and lack of clutter by just paying a streaming subscription.

For me past media formats have absolutely no room in my life. I only went step back with vinyl since I never experienced it as a kid, so it looked cool, for a while. I'll continue to follow the most convenient way of enjoying music. I'm not drawn by the idea that I should save money to buy music in physical format simply because it is less instantly gratifying. I spent plenty of money on CDs, cassettes and LPs, on a very limited budget as an adolescent and student, you can imagine, and I feel zero appeal to go back to that ritual. If I don't find some music enjoyable, I don't need starvation to make it more appealing to me, I just don't listen to it. I move on searching for new music that will interest me without a crutch. I will never enjoy music like I did when I was 16, and I've come to peace with that.

i like cds myself have some records but no record player i had cassettes and when cd player's first came out i thought they were amazing but like you when i was 16 i spent most of my wages on music i still love music but its not the same feelings as it was when i was 16 but buying new cds is getting harder to find bands that i like now as all the bands that i like which are old school i have all there album's anyway but finding new music from modern bands is so hard too do as they are just not the same as the old school bands so i find myself looking backwards at old bands that maybe i missed . i did read in this month's what hifi that downloaded music has taken a hit too in sales of downloads so that format does not look too good . i will buy myself a record player and play my records and still like cds but i am not into the download or stream thing

Hiya Mr Sabbath Have you tried Spotify? It great for listening to new music, or discovering bands that passed you by back in the day.

no not yet but i do have some itune downloads

 

[Freddy58]

no not yet

Then, what are you waiting for?! *biggrin* The free version is pretty good. Half-decent sound quality, and plenty to choose from

 

[MeanandGreen]

Hang on, this is getting complicated now, the DAC is connected to two different hi-fis or you have two separate copies of your library on different devices?

Two separate systems with a DAC each. Two separate music libraries.

Right, so you have a COMPUTER running all the time when you want to listen to music? A NAS is far more power efficient than any PC, would allow you to stream to any system without having separate devices holding separate copies of the audio that then need to be kept synchronized together. That's not a very elegant solution is it? Either way it is fundamentally NO DIFFERENT to passing the files over a network, the end result is EXACTLY the same, the only difference between your system and mine is the length of the cable between the storage and the DAC.

The computer is in the room I use as an office. I only use it for music when I'm in there using the computer anyway.

Having a NAS would still require having to keep two copies of the same library. One on the computer one on the NAS. How does that differ from me currently keeping one on a computer and one on an iOS device?

I'm not against a network, I just don't see the benefit of me personally having to go and buy a NAS drive rip all of my music to it and then buy and add a streamer to my system. My computer would still be the main hub of my music library, that's where I rip discs and download music. The NAS would still have to sync with it, that is no different to me currently syncing an iPod with it and then plugging that into my other system when I want to play music there.

I see no benefit to switching to a network. I'd still need to use a smart device with a touch screen to operate the NAS from my sofa ( as I do now with my iPad controlling my iPod) so there's no real difference. As you have just said the end result is exactly the same so am I missing something? What are you saying I should be doing?

I'm not against you doing anything, I just don't understand that you do seem very opposed to the idea of playing your stored files over a network, illogically so to be honest.

As I have repeated a few times now I'm not opposed to digital storage and playback. Not in the slightest, I regularly play ripped music as playlists. How I play my stored music files and how you play your stored music files results in exactly the same outcome. Hence I see no need to go down the expense and re ripping of the NAS/streamer route. I'd still have a computer and a storage device sharing a music library and I'd still be using a smart device to use it.

Either way, however a digital file is stored and played or streamed I personally still like to have the option of just putting a disc in a player and playing it when I want to. Why is that such an alien concept?

I don't see it as much of a faff at all, ripping vinyl, yes, that's a complete ballache, I tried it once, wasn't worth the effort, which is why I keep the TT around, I've got too much that I only have on vinyl and I don't see the point in buying it all again in a digital format.

You must be joking if you're saying vinyl isn't a faff compared to playing a digital file. Everything from storing records and and caring for them to playing them is an effort in comparison.

Ripping vinyl is no more of a ball ache then it is playing a record if you have a CD recorder in your system. I have a CD Recorder and a turntable in both of my systems. You can record to CD then rip the CD to your computer. The digital files of a vinyl rip sound exactly like the vinyl so one could even argue why get the record out again once ripped?

This is getting tedious now. Hopefully I've clarified I'm not against digital storage or networks.

I participate in digital storage and playback, but I also like to play the actual CD. I like to play records too even though the vinyl rips I've made sound exactly the same. It's not about differences in sound quality, it's about being tactile with what you are listening to. It's about walking over to your collection and flicking through. It's about looking at the artwork if you choose. It's about having the lyrics there and the info on who and where the album written/recorded & produced. Yes Google tells us all of that, but so what? It's an experience.

I like hifi, I like to be able to press physical buttons on piece of equipment to play/stop. I enjoy the tactile aspect of it all. I enjoy loading a CD and hearing the mechanical swish of the servo. (Maybe I'm odd?) I like rotating my Sony's jog dial to select a track and then pushing it to play.

Playing back recorded music has been around long before software, computers, smart devices and digital storage. I've always had a love of music and enjoyed playing it on a separates system. It's embedded deep into me, ever since I was very young playing stuff on my Dad's Pioneer system. The anticipation of waiting to play something for the first time. "How is it going to sound?" You wonder as the TOC pops up on the display.

It's just like playing a record. You take it from it's sleeve, you hold this big object in your hands. You can look at the recorded sound on it's surface. You can smell the vinyl, you dust it off with a carbon brush put it on the platter and lower the tonearm onto it. It's a complete experience.

Hi Fi is a complete experience. To me music playback will always include a components system with physical playback sources. Digital networks and storage are great for when you want aural wallpaper whilst you're busy doing other things. When I want to enjoy the experience I want to go for the physical object. How much more clear can that be?

 

[Vladimir]

Q1: Why did everyone discard their TTs and LP collections either in the trash or in storage when CD came out?

Wasn't it obvious that vinyl sounded better? You would think at least audiophiles would stick to vinyl. I completely skipped the initial iPod era of hoarding 128kbps MP3s and just held on to CDs because I couldn't withstand the sound quality drop. I even walked around with a clunky Sony discman and never bought an iPod, Cowon or equivalent.

I only joined the digital file (r)evolution when lossless formats like .ape and .flac came out. Hard drives became cheaper and with higher capacity. There was no way you could have a reasonably large .wav music collection or download any of that online at dial-up and early ISDN/ADSL speeds. Back then it was cheaper and simpler to just burn a CD-R instead of keeping lossless files on your HDD.

Q2: Why did the vinyl revival happen in the first place?

 

[Freddy58]

Q1: Why did everyone discard their TTs and LP collections either in the trash or in storage when CD came out?

Wasn't it obvious that vinyl sounded better? You would think at least audiophiles would stick to vinyl. I completely skipped the initial iPod era of hoarding 128kbps MP3s and just held on to CDs because I couldn't withstand the sound quality drop. I even walked around with a clunky Sony discman and never bought an iPod, Cowon or equivalent.

I only joined the digital file (r)evolution when lossless formats like .ape and .flac came out. Hard drives became cheaper and with higher capacity. There was no way you could have a reasonably large .wav music collection or download any of that online at dial-up and early ISDN/ADSL speeds. Back then it was cheaper and simpler to just burn a CD-R instead of keeping lossless files on your HDD.

Q2: Why did the vinyl revival happen in the first place?

You're very naughty Vlad *biggrin*

In my case, I didn't get rid, but easily could have done. I was sold on the idea that CD's sound better, and that they were indestructible, plus various other things.

As to why they are making a bit of a comeback, maybe folks realise they don't sound as bad as lots of people make out, given some decent kit? Maybe people are beginning to like the idea of owning something more physical in nature? Maybe even the act of looking around/browsing record stalls? I really don't know.

 

[tonky]

and there was an element of "emperor's new clothes" and of course "the convenience factor" that new technology brings.

tonky