HD music vs Analog

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by 1KW

Thanks Jim,

You said that the Olive will not allow you to output to the sonos ? Couldn't you use a cable with RCA left/right on one end and 1/8 inch headphone jack on the other end to connect to the sonos and use the fiberoptic out from the Olive to the MCD500 ?

When I indicated that the SonoS could not access the Olive I meant it could not see the files wirelessly and you would not see them listed on and of the SonoS devices. I will try what you ask tomorrow.

I see no real benefit of sending the digital out from the Olive 4HD to the MCD-500, just send it direct to your pre-amp.

[80B]

Thanks Jim, that's a great summary.

[blacsno]

Originally Posted by 1KW

I have been reading, researching and educating myself about having better analog performance and have concluded it just may not be worth the expense or effort to me when you consider HD music is almost here. I say almost because the only problem is that the available titles of music on HD is just not that great yet. When you think that you can buy a Olive 4HD for less than just the price of a good MC cartridge the cost benefit ratio scale goes in favor HD music which is as good or better than LP. Ok I know good vinyl can be amazing but you need a good turntable, cartridge, phono pre amp, record cleaning machine and lots and lots of space to store a decent LP collection. For those involved in the HD music game...Jim, please educate the rest of us newbie's .

I was at that same fork in the road. Yes! I can understand your point fully. I went with the converting LP process. Since I was staying in 2 channel mode. Just couldn't justify re-buying or hope they release in a new format. Once I got the 1000+ LP's to FLAC process down. Yes... It's a pain/fun to clean and to do a LP setup. Audiogon has removed the major cost barrier in going the analog route. I Did have to replace the Lorian cartrigde once!

Ken

[-E-]

I would like to comment and add to Jim's post.

For starters, he is spot on with his analysis. HD music, streaming, and a fully digitized library has all the quality and convenience you could possibly ask for.

A proper vinyl rig can quickly become cost-prohibitive and certainly eats up tremendous real estate. Also, ripping vinyl has inherent artifacts that show up in the digital reproduction of it - in other words: it doesn't sound as good as listening to the original LP. While this may not distract some since they want the convenience aspect to listening to all of their LP's at a touch of a button, the hardened audiophile (or avid digital-hater) would rather /wrists than rip their beloved vinyls.

The Olive system is a remarkable (and reasonable) unit for the price. It outperforms everything McIntosh offers as far as media servers are concerned. There is also no doubt it sounds better.

The reason I post is this: a lot more can be done with a non-branded, custom built rig. Options become endless, upgrading becomes easier, and sound quality has the potential to be vastly improved (especially if sending a digital feed to MDA1K or MCD500, etc.). You can also introduce a multi-box approach (similar to SoolooS), where you can house the loud hard drives with massive storage elsewhere, and rely on much smaller, faster, quieter solid state drives for playback.

Another solid plus for this method is: free apps to control all of your audio, wherever you are. Yes, that is right. You can connect a video out to a large monitor and run wireless mouse/keyboard for total control (eliminating the horrific task of trying to key in names for songs), control how your filing schema is, and most importantly, utilize your iPhone to remotely control the box. (Yes, I know the Olive has this now, too, but it's proprietary; Boulder and SoolooS have similar apps)

One of the most fun things to do is to change the track while you are sitting in your hot tub - not just changing the track, but saying to your guests "Meh, I don't want to pick the music, I'll just hit a 192k feed of Shoutcast and we can get back to drinking." Watch jealousy ensue after pulling this party trick.

Combining quality with versatility is paramount in dealing with digital media, which some companies are actively pursuing, and enthusiasts can go even further (creating the bleeding edge approach).

Over here, I can state, with certainty, my redbook CD's are equal to their FLAC counterparts, but the convenience of how they are accessed, how they can be upconverted, and the versatility of adding the 24/96+ tracks has made the CD a figment of my imagination.

Next step - BD stored and streamed over the network!

[blacsno]

Originally Posted by Vesuvius

Over here, I can state, with certainty, my redbook CD's are equal to their FLAC counterparts, but the convenience of how they are accessed, how they can be upconverted, and the versatility of adding the 24/96+ tracks has made the CD a figment of my imagination.

Next step - BD stored and streamed over the network!

+1
Hey! Want are you trying to do!! MAKE logical sense!!
Over here, I can state, with certainty, my LP's are equal to their FLAC counterparts! I use RME Hammerfall digital sound card in my PC, the 32 bit version. The convenience of how they are accessed, how they can be upconverted has made the turntable a figment of my imagination. Okay.. I borrowed some lines from your work!! One last point those using wireless connections from their server, one word "JITTER"! Help is on the way some routers will have a 5Ghz band added for streaming only.

Ken

[1KW]

These are all very good posts. I am convinced that a annual or monthly 24/196 music streaming service ie rhapsody or apple itunes will eventually become adjuncts to HD servers . Unfortunately at this stage we have to wait.

[-E-]

Those are going to take a LONG while, David.

The bandwidth required to stream even the FLAC counterpart of 24/96 exceeds most homes basic broadband service capabilities. (If WAV 24/96 or greater, watch out!)

Thankfully, Google has pushed the "every home should have at least 100mpbs connectivity" envelope, and some service providers are starting to act - albeit slowly.

[1KW]

Originally Posted by Vesuvius

Those are going to take a LONG while, David.

The bandwidth required to stream even the FLAC counterpart of 24/96 exceeds most homes basic broadband service capabilities. (If WAV 24/96 or greater, watch out!)

Thankfully, Google has pushed the "every home should have at least 100mpbs connectivity" envelope, and some service providers are starting to act - albeit slowly.

How can we get hi def movies on demand and not be able to get HD music ?

[Still-One]

The time it takes to download a 24/96 "Flac" disc to your laptop then drag and drop it on your server, is not quick proposition.

[blacsno]

Originally Posted by Still-One

The time it takes to download a 24/96 "Flac" disc to your laptop then drag and drop it on your server, is not quick proposition.

1000Mbit LAN seup...