On 24 Aug 2016, at 1:32 AM, John Gurd <j.g...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
Hi Andy
You're right. It still annoys me that I can't connect all the
equipment I want without a lot of rigmarole. Sonos will let me play
music from the built-in iPhone app but not other apps such as
NatureSpace which has really nice nature/relaxation tracks. A lot of
Apple and Microsoft products don't integrate well - deliberately so
in order to force you to stay with one company. And what a carry-on
it can be getting music onto an iPhone from a PC these days! As for
HDMI, it's great when it works, but it has a little thing built in
called High-bandwidth Digital Copyright Protection (HDCP) which you
will find will stop you doing some of the things you mentioned: like
you can listen, but you certainly can't record and definitely not
copy. And because of that, it refuses to play certain media such as
Blu-ray if it detects you are using equipment not certified for
HDCP. So frankly, life could be a lot simpler if it wasn't for the
jealousy and rivalry of some big corporations.
John
-----Original Message-----
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Andy
Sent: 21 August 2016 21:15
To: PC Audio Discussion List
Subject: Re: Desktop computer speakers
Hi again John.
God, it's getting even more complicated eh?
I'd just love, like yourself, to keep it simple, but it simply isn't
going to happen is it?
Good quality audio from computers, TV's and interfacing that with AV
units or amps has historically resulted in multiple complexities and
it's only people like us who may know a little about these things
that gain the benefits.
One day you will with no understanding whatsoever about technology
, be able to play audio from any device through your home system,
without even thinking about it.
I really couldn't tell you what was the best method of drawing all
these threads together and with every year, it's getting even more
complicated.
Wouldn't it be nice to buy a good computer with high quality sound
and you could simply download audio from Itunes or otherwise, listen
to it and edit it and post it again without any effort whatsoever!
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Gurd" <j.g...@ntlworld.com>
To: "'PC Audio Discussion List'" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2016 4:08 PM
Subject: RE: Desktop computer speakers
Hi Andy,
That's a thought which I'll have to ponder some more. I know desktop
speakers for PC are nearly always rubbish but the ones Dane linked
to are an
exception. But a separate amp or receiver for my PC is a possibility.
My PC is in a den too as my wife banned PCs from the living room so
instead
I've got a high end set up in the Livingroom similar to yours minus
the PC.
Believe it or not in my PC room/den I used to have 2 PCs with 2
sound cards
each going through a sound mixer and then output through an
amplifier and
stereo speakers. That was in the days when I used to broadcast on
internet
radio. The 2nd PC was a backup for when things went wrong with my main
machine which sometimes happened. Anyway, I've simplified things
since then
getting rid of redundant equipment. I now have one of the few
self-amplified
5.1 systems that can plug into a sound card without an amplifier. I
also use
a splitter to a little transmitter that lets me use the old-style
wireless
headphones and portable speakers so I can have audio from my PC in
other
rooms. The Logitec Z5500 5.1 speakers sound reasonable for their
price and
age but as they're quite elderly I want something better.
I was hoping to keep it simple but if I wanted to keep a 5.1 set up
in my PC
den you are probably right and I would have to think about an amp or
receiver. It would also allow me to get the best out of my small
collection
of PC-based HD recordings. To be honest though although it's nice
having the
ability of outputting music in a 5.1 virtual mix like Dolby PL2 I
spend less
time than I used to doing that and I usually go to the living room for
movies in surround sound, so maybe a good stereo speaker set up
would do.
I've used the external Sound Blaster USB X-Fi in the past. I've
always liked
the Creative Sound Blaster range and their latest top card is an
internal
one called the ZX. I use it and it's great! The reason I gave up the
external card was it could only handle 5.1 if it was compressed to a
lower
bitrate. I think when USB3 becomes standard with HDMI out this will no
longer be an issue for external cards. Optical toslink connections
inherently can't handle 5.1 channels without reducing the sound
quality.
They are fine for stereo though.
Anyway, I'll definitely consider the configuration you suggest. I'm
even
thinking of testing a Sonos Connect (which lives in the Livingroom
system)
as an experiment and connecting it to my PC. It has a line in as
well as out
and therefore could carry audio from my PC simultaneously to my room
speakers and to the Sonos speakers in my bedroom. If it was
successful I
could add Sonos speakers elsewhere in the house. It has the added
bonus of
letting me use Apple Music and Amazon Prime music and controlling it
from an
iPhone app. I haven't thought this through properly so I'm going to
experiment to see if there are any snags.
Cheers
John
-----Original Message-----
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Andy
Sent: 20 August 2016 13:39
To: PC Audio Discussion List
Subject: Re: Desktop computer speakers
Hi John.
Sorry for butting into your conversation, but I simply must tell you
about
my own experiences regarding high quality audio from my computers,
before
you spend more money on desk-top speakers for your computer, that
will most
probably end up disapointing you.
Firstly, I buy most of my equipment from Richard Sound, in Jamaca
Street,
Glasgow.
I've got a very good friend called Rob Horn who used to work for
them but is
now self employed and he sets all of this stuff up for me, when I
need him.
In my livingroom I have a Windows 7 computer, Soundblaster XFy sound
card
going into an Oncio AV Unit and there is also a 42 inch Philips
plasma and
Pioneer DVD recorder/player. The 5.1 speaker system is provided by
a Quad
Light system and although this set up is rather expensive, it's
magnificent,
particularly because it's bloody loud and I have no local neibours to
disturb by the noise.
But generally, I don't use this system when on my own with no
friends or
house guests at home, so I have a second set-up.
in my little Den, I have a Windows 7 computer, Soundblaster XFy
sound card,
going into another Oncio AV unit, but this time the left and right
channels
are going into a splitter and send out 2 channel sterio to my study
and the
dining room. I have a spare socket for outdoor speakers but as it's
always
raining up here, what is the point, of outdoor speakers.
I've just purchased an Imac 27 inch and my friend Rob is coming over by
ferry next week to plug that into my Oncio unit also.
What I'm really saying I suppose John is before you buy stand alone
desk-top
speakers, consider going down the American way of including an AV
unit and
USB Sound Card.
The Yanks have been doing this for years while we continue to spend
good
money on rubbish.
Both of my systems John give me much joy and of course I use things
like
Goldwave and Tune-in radio so I can record everything going through the
card.
If I wanted to, on my JAWS computers, I could pump all of my audio
music
through the AV unit and send JAWS to little shitty speakers, more or
less,
such as the ones you are considering.
This means that all of my recordings are free of sounds coming from
JAWS.
I do a lot of recording on my computers and listen to 5 Live and 6
Music as
well as Radio Scotland and these days John, the Broadcast quality is
very
good, so why would I want to listen to all of my hard work, through
stand
alone cheep speakers.
Start thinking about an AV unit, an external sound card, nice speakers,
either sterio or 5.1 and a couple of cables.
John, you deserve it, so be nice to yourself and buy some toys.
Very best wishes and kind regards
Andy Logue.
From Scotland with love.
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Gurd" <j.g...@ntlworld.com>
To: "'PC Audio Discussion List'" <pc-audio@pc-audio.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2016 9:38 AM
Subject: RE: Desktop computer speakers
The information on these speakers is really interesting. I've never
heard of
the egg series. It got me wondering about the 5.1 Egg set range for
my PC
but then I realised that particular range need an amplifier. At some
point
I'll have to replace my elderly Logitec Z5500 5.1 speakers and there is
nothing comparable on the market at the moment. A good stereo PC set
may be
the way to go.
John
-----Original Message-----
From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane
Trethowan
Sent: 17 August 2016 19:20
To: PC Audio Discussion List
Subject: Desktop computer speakers
Hi!
It seems the mainstream speaker manufacturers are entering the computer
desktop speaker market in droves and its probably about time too
given the
low quality of computer speakers these days.
We've discussed the B&W M1 speakers in the past and now there's another
model from Kef that shows us a thing or two when it comes to
listening to
music and good audio quality from your speakers, the Kef Eggs It
shouldn't
be too difficult for anyone to guess the shape of these speakers
<smile>.
Like the B&W M1's the Eggs can plug directly into a computer via its
USB
port but the system also boasts an Optical In digital connection for
other
devices such as a TV, Digital radio etc and a sub-wooffer out should
you
need one.
I've not had a chance to listen to these speakers here but the
review linked
to below seems to suggest that a sub-woofer may not be required in most
situations and - having heard a lot of Kef speakers myself - that's
how I
also imagine things http://www.whathifi.com/kef/egg/review
