WAV on portable HDD - Can i do better than my PS3?

[Oldboy]

Hello all,

First of all please excuse my complete lack of knowledge on this subject, first post in this section!

Currently i have all my music ripped in WAV on my portable HDD and i am using my PS3 as a media server to listen to it but my question is can i get better quality music from some sort of other media server? I feel my music is lacking a little overall when using the PS3, and my music sounds better through an ipod than it does through my home setup which is disappointing.

I know i can't beat the sound from a dedicated cd player but i know my music can and should sound better than it currently does, it may even be that i can get gains elsewhere but i have no idea where to start so any suggestions would be very welcome but bear in mind i am a complete newbie to ripping and media servers lol.

Many thanks, Nick.

 

[professorhat]

You could try adding an external DAC (like the DacMagic) between the PS3 and the amp for when you're listening to music, but I think the main limiting factor for music in your setup is that Sony AV receiver and that money would be better spent either going towards putting in a separate hi-fi system, or going towards an upgrade of the AV receiver.

 

[Oldboy]

Many thanks prof!

That's funny as i've been looking at changing my amp as i have new components everywhere else i just wasn't sure if that was where the problem lies, been looking at the Denon 1910 but as it is going to be replaced shortly i have held off until the new models are introduced but it is the next part of my system to be changed so perhaps i will just have to live with it until i get a new amp. Is there anything you would suggest for my system at around the £400 - £500 mark that perhaps i have not looked at? The only reason i have been looking at the 1910 is because of WHF and recommendations from friends.

I am well aware that my amp is a weak link at the mo but after a new TV, bluray player and floorstanders already this year, the amp will have to wait untill my bank balance recovers lol, but it does give me a little time to research and get the right amp when i do upgrade my amp. Once again many thanks for the reply and help

 

[professorhat]

No probs!

It all comes down to how seriously you take your music compared to movies. As a general rule, any AV amp is going to struggle to compare to a stereo amp at even a third of the price. Having said that, some perform better with music than others - the Denon is supposed to be a good all rounder so should perform better with music than your current amp, but it will depend on your level of expectation.

The best advice I can give would be to give it a demo before you purchase so you can hear its musical ability - if you take along your current Sony, any dealer should be able to swap them quite easily so you can compare them and see how much it improves the system.

Other options are to look for an AV amp with front pre-out sockets (Yamaha do some in that price range) which will allow you to add a stereo amp later on to further improve your musical sources, whilst 5.1 home cinema is still handled by the AV receiver.

 

[bigboss]

I have compared the Denon 1910 & Rotel stereo amplifier in last month's Big Question. A stereo amplifier, without doubt, will perform much better than an AV receiver. But I must say that I was quite pleased with the way the Denon 1910 sounded, much better than the Sony which was five times more expensive.

As Prof suggested, you can buy a Yamaha receiver with front pre-out sockets & add a stereo amplifier at a later date when funds allow & you want better performance. Even Yamahas are good receivers for music.

 

[PJPro]

For me, the big problem with the PS3 was the fan noise. I ended up going for one of these instead. These WD media players provide an excellent source, are totally slient, are nice and small, will decode just about anything and are cheap, costing as little as £40 depending on the model. They'll also play back photos and videos as well. I can't understand why everyone doesn't have them.

The SQ you get from these little boxes will be primary dependent on what you use to convert the digital signal to analog (assuming lossless rips). The cheapest (and lowest quality) solution will be using your AV amp to do the conversion. To improve SQ, simply buy a dedicated DAC.

 

[Oldboy]

Many thanks to you all!

I think what i will do is change my amp ASAP plus get the WD media player (thanks PJPro for that, just what i needed!). I must clarify that i don't expect my music to take the same leap in quality that i would get with a dedicated stereo amp but i know it can sound alot better than it does currently.

The Yamaha amp solution sounds like a great idea but as an AV amp they can be well beaten at the moment so i'm hoping this years models will re-adress the balance making it a real prospect for me, i really like the idea of pre-outs on the amp so i can drive a stereo amp later down the line as i would like to add a CD player at some point and that would be ideal!

Once again many thanks for the replies, lots to think about and money to find

 

[Anonymous]

To get the best sound out of your PS3 :-

make sure u have the following settings selected in Settings --> Music Settings

Output Frequency --> 44.1/88.2/176.4

Bitmapping --> Type 3

Playing flac files through my ps3 - the sound is stunning. If u think the ipod sounds better than the ps3 I suggest theres something wrong with your settings or perhaps the way u've encoded the music.

If ur going to get a new amp get an hdmi 1.4 one to future-proof yourself.

 

[Oldboy]

Thank you!

Immediately different sound with those settings and much improved already....now for that amp ASAP! Thanks again for the heads up with the music settings, much appreciated