[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: anybody want to share outstanding FLACs?
Ironically yes! :-) JJZolx Wrote: > Speaking of Usenet... that's the answer to your first question. -- crooner crooner's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3379 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=23019 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: anybody want to share outstanding FLACs?
crooner Wrote: > O was starting to believe the flamers on Usenet had moved here! Speaking of Usenet... that's the answer to your first question. -- JJZolx Jim JJZolx's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=23019 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: anybody want to share outstanding FLACs?
Flamewar? I think we've had enough of that on these forums. I was starting to believe the flamers on Usenet had moved here! tom permutt Wrote: > Unless that is, in fact, the point: we could have a flamewar about > whether it's your analog gear or your recording gear or the gear on the > sides of your head that are so hopelessly short of audiophile standards. > What will you have learned, though? -- crooner crooner's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3379 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=23019 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: anybody want to share outstanding FLACs?
Naw, I don't think I will. The idea was to download small samples from known audiophiles. The USENET is way too risky, but thanks for suggesting it. Regards, crooner tyler_durden Wrote: > This is already done daily. Go to alt.binaries.sounds.lossless on > usenet. You'll find tons of .flac and .ape lossless files, sometimes > they are even tagged correctly... > > You will have to make your own decision about the morality of the > issue. > > TD -- crooner crooner's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3379 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=23019 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Part 2 of Enjoy the Music SqueezeBox review
opaqueice Wrote: > Fair enough... although now I can't help wondering if the volume > difference could account for this, as small differences in volume can > make a big difference in perceived quality. > No doubt. However - if the different power cords are producing different volume gains, that does suggest that the cords do indeed have an effect. opaqueice Wrote: > > Well I won't say we know everything about it, far from it, but > we're not talking about anything anywhere near as exotic as a high T_c > superconductor. The sort of stuff relevant here has been pretty well > understood for a long time. Still, human perception is sensitive to > some very subtle cues, so it's hard to rule anything out for sure. And really I think this might have less to do with pure EE theory as it relates to a single wire and more to do with the *system* interactions as a whole (e.g. leaking EM noise into nearby circuitry). -- banzai banzai's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=5008 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22000 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Part 2 of Enjoy the Music SqueezeBox review
opaqueice wrote: > Fair enough... although now I can't help wondering if the volume > difference could account for this, as small differences in volume can > make a big difference in perceived quality. It is more than that. Louder is always (nearly always?) interpreted by the brain as better. If you don't volume match, there is no point in doing the test. And if one approach has boost (gain) in some parts of the frequency domain, those parts will usually sound 'better'. >> One theory I heard had to do with the current induced by the large >>woofers not settling instantaneously. A woofer has too much momentum to >>just stop on a dime. So the undesired, unintended movement induces a >>current that gets fed back into the signal path. Isn't this normally called "back EMF" as the generated voltage from the speaker coils feeding back into the amp's output impedance. -- Pat http://www.pfarrell.com/music/slimserver/slimsoftware.html ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Part 2 of Enjoy the Music SqueezeBox review
banzai Wrote: > No, the audible differences have more to do with detail and spatial > precision. It might also cause a slight volume gain (emphasis on > "slight"), but I'm not sure on that one (it's hard to distinguish > slight changes in volume from perceived increased detail). I have an > SPL meter but I haven't tried to measure a difference (I'd guess it > might be 0.5dB, if anything). > > I'm a picky audiophile and do lots of testing on my gear, but at a > certain point if your ears say "better", it's time to move on! Fair enough... although now I can't help wondering if the volume difference could account for this, as small differences in volume can make a big difference in perceived quality. > > Thanks, I'll check it out. I've kind of accepted a bit of willing > ignorance though when it comes to EE. When it comes to physics I always > rocked the Mechanics but struggled with E&M. I'm a professional > programmer but in general I only care about where the bits go, not how > they got there! > Well, I'm actually (about to become) a professor of physics, and I'm probably teaching E&M next semester, so I'd better know it! > > It's too cumbersome to do A/B tests with swapping out ALL power cords > at once (i.e. compare w/all six upgraded cords and then w/out). > Remember, each power cord upgrade added an incremental improvement to > my system (SACD player, DAC/analog passthrough, amp - along w/line > conditioners). But it's possible that the total difference would be > about as drastic as the 703 vs 702 audition. > Very interesting... you're starting to convince me I should try this! > One theory I heard had to do with the current induced by the large > woofers not settling instantaneously. A woofer has too much momentum to > just stop on a dime. So the undesired, unintended movement induces a > current that gets fed back into the signal path. > > The thought was that biwiring keeps that inducted current out of the > signal path of the high freq signal path. Of course you're right that > they're still electrically connected at the amp. I can't explain why > that would help to reduce the effects of this inducted current. > Hmm... me either. If anything, depending on how the cables are arranged it seems bi-wiring could actually increase the inductance... > It's possible that biwiring doesn't do anything, but it's the metal > bridge plates that confound the sound (when single-wired you need the > bridge plates to electrically link the two sets of binding posts). OK, could be - if they're not making a good connection. Pretty sloppy on the part of the speaker manufacturer if so, though. > > Also we don't actually know all there is to know about E&M. I remember > reading about a pitted superconductor material that defied all E&M > expectations. No one could account for its near-superconductive > properties at room temperatures. And I think there was some mystery as > to why some thin ribbon wires (flat, wide wires) outperform other > superconductors. There's also no explanation behind the perceived > performance differences in cryogenically treated cables (people claim > there's an audible diff, I have no experience either way). > Well I won't say we know everything about it, far from it, but we're not talking about anything anywhere near as exotic as a high T_c superconductor. The sort of stuff relevant here has been pretty well understood for a long time. Still, human perception is sensitive to some very subtle cues, so it's hard to rule anything out for sure. -- opaqueice opaqueice's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4234 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22000 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Part 2 of Enjoy the Music SqueezeBox review
tomsi42 Wrote: > Not necessarily. A speaker designed for bi-wiring have 2 separate > filters. So the signal is split at the amp end, but not added again at > the speaker end. The alowws you to choose different cables for the > upper and lower frequencies. Well, standard E&M will tell you there's no difference, so long as we assume the cables are ideal conductors. Since the wires are connected at the amp end, it's the same as if they were connected at the speaker (if you have some experience drawing circuit diagrams, think of how you would draw this one and you'll see right away). So the only difference can come from the fact that the cables are not perfect conductors. tomsi42 Wrote: > You can also use two power amplifiers per channel. That's another matter entirely... -- opaqueice opaqueice's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4234 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22000 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: anybody want to share outstanding FLACs?
This is already done daily. Go to alt.binaries.sounds.lossless on usenet. You'll find tons of .flac and .ape lossless files, sometimes they are even tagged correctly... You will have to make your own decision about the morality of the issue. TD -- tyler_durden tyler_durden's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2701 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=23019 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Softsqueeze and bit-correct output on Windows
Steinar, Bit-correctness depends on the sound card hardware. You need to buy a card with a 44.1 crystal on it to maintain 44.1 output. Most cheap cards and onboard sound only have a 48 crystal so they must resample (even if you run kernel streaming or asio). The cheapest bit-perfect (for 44.1) soundcard that I've read about is the chaintek av710. Here's an example setup guide for it. http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75655&highlight=av710+setup -- dwc dwc's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1892 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22636 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: A photo of your Squeezebox setup (please)
A poll associated with this post was created, to vote and see the results, please visit http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=19817 Question: Should there be a new forum for photos? - yes - no - maybe slimjimbo Wrote: > If you ignore everything below the top shelf, I am currently listening > to a very simple set-up. Squeezebox into power amp into single driver > speakers. You might pick fault with a lack of both top end and bottom > end but I'm enjoying my music more than for a long time thanks to the > squeezebox. > > I really must fill in that hole and hide the wires! Are you going to elaborate on what you have got there? Inquiring minds want to know... -- ezkcdude SB3->Derek Shek TDA1543/CS8412 NOS DAC->MIT Terminator 2 interconnects->Endler Audio 24-step Attenuators (RCA-direct)->Parasound Halo A23 125W/ch amplifier->Speltz anti-cables->DIY 2-ways + Dayton Titanic 10" subwoofer He's not hi-fi, he's my stereo. ezkcdude's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2545 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=19817 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Part 2 of Enjoy the Music SqueezeBox review
opaqueice Wrote: > > Anything else (besides shielding) seems a bit hard to buy... for > example, using 12 gauge wire is fine, but what's the gauge of the > wiring in your walls? I'd guess 14, but may be wrong. In any case, > using thicker wire and conductive grease can reduce the resistance of > the connection and therefore lower the voltage, but by a really tiny > amount - for example, go here and compare gauges: > And we should remember that our components are protected with power fuses that are of relatively smaller gauge than the power supply cables. Beats me how a 1m thicker gauge power supply cable will make any difference, i.e., if voltage drop is an isssue. For starters, BS 3-pin plug is equipped with a 13A fuse. -- danial40 danial40's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4680 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22000 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: A photo of your Squeezebox setup (please)
A poll associated with this post was created, to vote and see the results, please visit http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=19817 Question: Should there be a new forum for photos? - yes - no - maybe If you ignore everything below the top shelf, I am currently listening to a very simple set-up. Squeezebox into power amp into single driver speakers. You might pick fault with a lack of both top end and bottom end but I'm enjoying my music more than for a long time thanks to the squeezebox. I really must fill in that hole and hide the wires! +---+ |Filename: IMGP0556.jpg | |Download: http://forums.slimdevices.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1203| +---+ -- slimjimbo slimjimbo's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3993 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=19817 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Environmentally Friendly 5V PSU?
jonheal Wrote: > I think Yukon Gold potatoes taste, I mean SOUND the best. So, that's why my stereo always sounds best around Thanksgiving ;) -- ezkcdude SB3->Derek Shek TDA1543/CS8412 NOS DAC->MIT Terminator 2 interconnects->Endler Audio 24-step Attenuators (RCA-direct)->Parasound Halo A23 125W/ch amplifier->Speltz anti-cables->DIY 2-ways + Dayton Titanic 10" subwoofer He's not hi-fi, he's my stereo. ezkcdude's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2545 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=23056 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: anybody want to share outstanding FLACs?
crooner Wrote: > Ok fellas I only wanted to share "samples" of my FLAC collection to > discriminating ears here in the audiophile forum. I wanted some > feedback about how my analog rig sounds since I have found the FLAC > encoded files to sound quite similar to the LPs from which they are > derived.I don't see the point. Naturally, audiophiles are going to tell you your files sound terrible on their systems. There will be three explanations for this, which cannot be distinguished: 1. Your analog gear doesn't sound as good to them as to you. 2. Your digital recordings of the analog signal don't sound as much like the original would to them as they do to you: a. because your system is incapable of revealing the vast differences between the sacred vinyl and your cheap digital imitation of it b. because it's as plain as day even on your system, but you can't hear it. Unless that is, in fact, the point: we could have a flamewar about whether it's your analog gear or your recording gear or the gear on the sides of your head that are so hopelessly short of audiophile standards. What will you have learned, though? -- tom permutt tom permutt's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1893 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=23019 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: mp3 sound better than flac?
hello all, I just received my ELpac WM075-1950-760. Well... I could not beleive the difference. I strongly recommend changing the stock PSU. Everything open up... impressive. -- goldy goldy's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4977 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22936 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Part 2 of Enjoy the Music SqueezeBox review
opaqueice Wrote: > > About bi-wiring, if both cables are connected to the same post on the > amp, then bi-wiring just doubles the number of wires going from amp to > speaker (so in other words it's just like using thicker speaker cable > wired the usual way). Not necessarily. A speaker designed for bi-wiring have 2 separate filters. So the signal is split at the amp end, but not added again at the speaker end. The alowws you to choose different cables for the upper and lower frequencies. You can also use two power amplifiers per channel. I have used both bi-wiring and "single-wiring" and there has been a noticable difference. I am now back to using single-wiring, as I found that I could get better cables for the same amount of money. Tom -- tomsi42 SqueezeBox2, Rotel RC-1070/RB-1070, dynaBel Exact. tomsi42's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2477 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22000 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: anybody want to share outstanding FLACs?
MrStan Wrote: > Ok, let's try a suggestion that might just be legal. The primary problem here is not simply legality or morality; those can be entirely short-circuted by simple risk/reward management. The risk to a company such as SlimDevices in providing, encouraging, soliciting, or allowing trade of *anything* that might be targetted for legal action is just too high, and the reward very small and intangable. SD seems very unlikely to sell appreciably more players because the forum can assist in trading or sharing music files, certainly not enough to offset possible litigation or fines. (consider forum user DissatisifedCustomer, who retaliates via informing RIAA, etc. about such forums.) If a person wants to enjoy the rewards, said person must be prepared to bear the entire risk and its burden of consequences. It feels a might selfish to ask "hey, do this thing that you might find risky and have to pay the consequences so that I may get some reward". ;-) -- MrC MrC's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=468 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=23019 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Part 2 of Enjoy the Music SqueezeBox review
opaqueice Wrote: > > However, if this is the case I think the predominant effect would be 60 > Hz noise, which sounds like a low hum if it's getting to the speakers. > Did you hear anything like that, which went away when you swapped in > the shielded cable? > No, the audible differences have more to do with detail and spatial precision. It might also cause a slight volume gain (emphasis on "slight"), but I'm not sure on that one (it's hard to distinguish slight changes in volume from perceived increased detail). I have an SPL meter but I haven't tried to measure a difference (I'd guess it might be 0.5dB, if anything). I'm a picky audiophile and do lots of testing on my gear, but at a certain point if your ears say "better", it's time to move on! opaqueice Wrote: > > Anything else (besides shielding) seems a bit hard to buy... for > example, using 12 gauge wire is fine, but what's the gauge of the > wiring in your walls? I'd guess 14, but may be wrong. > I couldn't say for sure, but I would guess you're probably right. But the walls may be using solid core wire instead of stranded. I can't remember what that the effective difference is, but I remember something about smaller solid core wire outperforming thicker stranded wire **for certain characteristics** (though certainly not all, and underperforms in other areas). opaqueice Wrote: > > In any case, using thicker wire and conductive grease can reduce the > resistance of the connection and therefore lower the voltage, but by a > really tiny amount - for example, go here and compare gauges: > > http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm > Thanks, I'll check it out. I've kind of accepted a bit of willing ignorance though when it comes to EE. When it comes to physics I always rocked the Mechanics but struggled with E&M. I'm a professional programmer but in general I only care about where the bits go, not how they got there! opaqueice Wrote: > > About your friend - the thing is, if I put myself in his place, and > you'd just swapped in some fancy cable and asked me if I heard a > difference, I'd be hard pressed to say no, I don't hear anything... so > it's tricky. > You're right of course, but I trust that he would have told me the truth. He'd already indicated that he wasn't a believer before the test so I doubt he'd feel much peer pressure to cave in once the audition started. And my sister/his girlfriend flat out refused to even listen. She went off and laid down on the couch off to the side while "the boys" wasted time on this ridiculous test. So the air was thick with skepticism and a desire to NOT hear a difference. opaqueice Wrote: > > On the other hand some differences are really apparent, like between > two sets of speakers. Would you say the difference is at that level? > Yes. My sister's boyfriend is not an audiophile so it wasn't a subtle, hard to define difference he was hearing. It's not quite the difference between the B&W 703 and its little brother the 702. Maybe halfway between. When I auditioned those two speakers the difference was a sense of liveliness, detail, precision. The 703s were just exciting to hear while the 702 sounded excellent but unengaging. It's too cumbersome to do A/B tests with swapping out ALL power cords at once (i.e. compare w/all six upgraded cords and then w/out). Remember, each power cord upgrade added an incremental improvement to my system (SACD player, DAC/analog passthrough, amp - along w/line conditioners). But it's possible that the total difference would be about as drastic as the 703 vs 702 audition. opaqueice Wrote: > > About bi-wiring, if both cables are connected to the same post on the > amp, then bi-wiring just doubles the number of wires going from amp to > speaker (so in other words it's just like using thicker speaker cable > wired the usual way). It shouldn't matter that the wires are connected > to different posts on the speakers, since they are in electrical contact > at the amp end. > One theory I heard had to do with the current induced by the large woofers not settling instantaneously. A woofer has too much momentum to just stop on a dime. So the undesired, unintended movement induces a current that gets fed back into the signal path. The thought was that biwiring keeps that inducted current out of the signal path of the high freq signal path. Of course you're right that they're still electrically connected at the amp. I can't explain why that would help to reduce the effects of this inducted current. It's possible that biwiring doesn't do anything, but it's the metal bridge plates that confound the sound (when single-wired you need the bridge plates to electrically link the two sets of binding posts). I also wonder how much the amp "pushes" its signal out vs how much the drivers "pull" the signal in. In other words, is it the exact same signal being sent across each set of wires or do the LF/HF filters (I think my speakers are a 2.5-way design) influe
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Why not more Squeeezbox reviews in hi-fi magazines?
P Floding Wrote: > Hi John! > Try playing WAV on the SB (use a WAV source file, or let the server > convert FLAC to WAV). I found that it made a tremendous difference, > against all odds, compared to playing FLAC! Your milage may vary > depending on software versions, etc. But you will have the equipment to > hear any differences if there are any, I'm sure. > Regards Have you tried any of the latest 6.2.2 beta versions? I have been using it since late march and FLAC playback sounds OK now. Tom -- tomsi42 SqueezeBox2, Rotel RC-1070/RB-1070, dynaBel Exact. tomsi42's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2477 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=19598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Part 2 of Enjoy the Music SqueezeBox review
Hi Banzai, thanks very much for the detailed response! It's quite interesting you hear such a big difference. To me, of your speculations about what might cause this effect, the most plausible is that EM radiation from the power cable could interfere with your audio equipment or interconnects. However, if this is the case I think the predominant effect would be 60 Hz noise, which sounds like a low hum if it's getting to the speakers. Did you hear anything like that, which went away when you swapped in the shielded cable? Anything else (besides shielding) seems a bit hard to buy... for example, using 12 gauge wire is fine, but what's the gauge of the wiring in your walls? I'd guess 14, but may be wrong. In any case, using thicker wire and conductive grease can reduce the resistance of the connection and therefore lower the voltage, but by a really tiny amount - for example, go here and compare gauges: http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm About your friend - the thing is, if I put myself in his place, and you'd just swapped in some fancy cable and asked me if I heard a difference, I'd be hard pressed to say no, I don't hear anything... so it's tricky. On the other hand some differences are really apparent, like between two sets of speakers. Would you say the difference is at that level? About bi-wiring, if both cables are connected to the same post on the amp, then bi-wiring just doubles the number of wires going from amp to speaker (so in other words it's just like using thicker speaker cable wired the usual way). It shouldn't matter that the wires are connected to different posts on the speakers, since they are in electrical contact at the amp end. I suppose one thing that could happen is that, since there might be some physical separation between the cables, there could be some extra capacitance or inductance induced which wouldn't be there in a single wire pair. Usually, that would be considered a bad thing (since it will change the frequency response), but I guess it might sound better in some circumstances. In any case if that's the explanation you could probably test it by re-arranging the cables to see if that has any effect on the sound. For example, if they're long enough, try coiling them up - that should maximize the inductance. I'd tried bi-wiring once before and didn't hear any change, but I'll try it again later this week when I have a chance. -- opaqueice opaqueice's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4234 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22000 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Why not more Squeeezbox reviews in hi-fi magazines?
dnighorn Wrote: > Quote: > > JA, it was nice knowing you. I'm sure you will be reticent to come > back. Every time you do, people attack you, or at the least, question > things you have written or haven't written, reviewed or didn't review, > heard or didn't hear, tested or didn't test. Goes with the territory. I do try to have a professional thick skin :-) > FWIW, the quality of the writing is enough to keep me reading SP even > if I lost all interest in hi-fi and music. The writers there can > really turn a phrase and it appears that they really work on their > pieces to make them entertaining and informative - regardless of > whether you agree with the outcome. Thanks. My next comments on the Squeezebox appear in our mid-April eNewsletter, to be blasted out tomorrow (Tuesday.) It's mainly tying up some loose ends left over from last month's report. Look forward to the response. John Atkinson Editor, Stereophile -- John Atkinson John Atkinson's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4364 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=19598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Environmentally Friendly 5V PSU?
ChrisOwens Wrote: > I just had to do the math on this one. > > He had 500 lbs of potatoes, and out of that he was getting 5v at 4ma. > > The SB3 power supply puts out 5v at 2a (2000ma). > > 2000ma / 4ma = 500 > > So to power an SB3 on potatoes, you'd have to wire together > > 500lbs * 500 = 250,000 lbs (113,400 kilos) of potatoes > > Add to that the warning at the bottom of his page: "Don't eat potatoes > after using them for a battery." > > On the other hand, if it cuts down on jitter and increases the clarity > and openness of the sound... :) I think Yukon Gold potatoes taste, I mean SOUND the best. And low-fat sour cream definitely clouds the sound stage. Use the real stuff if you care anything about openess, transparency and clarity. It was "like a veil being lifted" when I moved to real sour cream in my system. Butter's not too bad either. Cheddar and bacon bits on the other hand... Well, you might as well be listening to a tin can on the end of a string. -- jonheal Jon Heal says: Have a nice day! http://www.theheals.org/ jonheal's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2133 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=23056 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Environmentally Friendly 5V PSU?
Clearly the effect on jitter will depend on the type of potato...I suggest a blind testing ...ooops I mean tasting :o) -- Phil Leigh Phil Leigh's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=85 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=23056 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Environmentally Friendly 5V PSU?
I just had to do the math on this one. He had 500 lbs of potatoes, and out of that he was getting 5v at 4ma. The SB3 power supply puts out 5v at 2a (2000ma). 2000ma / 4ma = 500 So to power an SB3 on potatoes, you'd have to wire together 500lbs * 500 = 250,000 lbs (113,400 kilos) of potatoes Add to that the warning at the bottom of his page: "Don't eat potatoes after using them for a battery." On the other hand, if it cuts down on jitter and increases the clarity and openness of the sound... :) -- ChrisOwens -- Christopher Owens QA Manager [EMAIL PROTECTED] (510) 743-1152 x717 ChrisOwens's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4240 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=23056 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Environmentally Friendly 5V PSU?
Here is a slightly different idea on how to produce 5V for your squeezebox. No quite enough amps, but just a few hundred more pounds and he would be there! http://latteier.com/potato/ Insert your own joke now.. -- Jetlag Jetlag's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1012 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=23056 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Part 2 of Enjoy the Music SqueezeBox review
CarlOtto, You have a very nice system. I am intrigued to know why you think that balanced inbound digital i/o will improve the sound from your dCS setup. Also, have you actually compared the Lynx digital i/o against thee SB? Regards Phil -- Phil Leigh Phil Leigh's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=85 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22000 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Part 2 of Enjoy the Music SqueezeBox review
Hi, I've upgraded everything over the last 6 months and the sonic improvements were not where I thought they would be. My old system was: Linn Karik CDP (transport) + Numerik DAC Linn preamp + Quad 909 power amp Quad ESL 63 speakers I started by replacing the speakers with a pair of Quad 989. That made a medium improvement, as expected due to the larger sound radiating area. It used up 110% of the available WAF as well. I do have a subwoofer as well, just in case and I kept that. I then first put in a dCS Delius DAC instead of the Numerik. That made a LARGE improvement. I was stunned, didn't think I would get that size improvement here, I had expected something subtle. Suddenly there was more bass, violins started to sound good, instruments were exactly where they should be in the orchestra (and not slowly "floating" from sideways), cymbals and other transients were amazing etc. Next thing was a dCS Purcell upsampler. That also made a large improvment, about half of the BIG improvement of the Delius. The difference here was that suddenly I got extremely precise imaging. In a quartet of singers I could actually "see" exactly where they stood on the stage even if close together. I was happy with this for a while but had this suspiscion that the power amp wasn't really up to the rest of the gadgets. So when an opportunity came up on Ebay, I got a Linn Klimax Chakra Twin. Now that made another LARGE improvement - extremely noticeable in the bass which suddenly went much lower and became extremely precise. Very unexpected, again I had expected something subtle. On top of all the above, I've started to use a Squeezebox 3 as the main digital source. I also have a dCS Verdi (well - couldn't resist the SACD stuff) transport and although the sound is better even on CD's from this source, the difference to a SB3 is rather small. If it wasn't for the SACD playback, I would sell the Verdi. Next project is to improve on the 2 main weaknesses with Sqeezebox - 1) It can't be slaved to a master clock and 2) It has no balanced output. In order to achieve this, I am working on a media server PC with a Lynx 2 soundcard which has these two lacking features. I am planning to use the Sqeezebox as an interface only - not actually sending any sound through it but rather through the Lynx card via balanced digital interconnect to the DAC. It will still appear as if SB3 is doing it, normal remote control etc. Cables then - well I have all the "good" stuff everywhere. But according to my ears, no cable change made anything very noticeable to the sound quality. Maybe small differences (haven't been bothered with blind testing) but I'm not sure I would notice if someone switched back to the old cables. The only difference that really was there - was when I switched in the Klimax via balanced outputs. I suspect balanced outputs make a rather noticeable difference but haven't made any comparisons where I only switched from unbalanced to balanced. -- CarlOtto CarlOtto's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3581 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22000 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Softsqueeze and bit-correct output on Windows
MrStan Wrote: > In order to stand a chance of "bit correctness" I suspect your soundcard > would require a digital mixer. The problem is that for a digital mixer > to work all inputs have to be resampled to the same rate and clock to > synchronise. This could well kill any chance of "bit correctness" > although it would sound fine. I believe that what is needed is for the mixer NOT to resample, i.e. keep CD audio data at 44.1kHz. -- sbjaerum sbjaerum's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=237 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22636 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Softsqueeze and bit-correct output on Windows
In order to stand a chance of "bit correctness" I suspect your soundcard would require a digital mixer. The problem is that for a digital mixer to work all inputs have to be resampled to the same rate and clock to synchronise. This could well kill any chance of "bit correctness" although it would sound fine. -- MrStan MrStan's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1771 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22636 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: anybody want to share outstanding FLACs?
Ok, let's try a suggestion that might just be legal. In the US it is possible to purchase the rights to broadcast CD tracks on the Internet for a minimal licence fee providing you stick to certain rules. One of these is that you are only allowed to broadcast 1 track per album within 24 hours. There are other rules. Normally this is used to stream MP3 but does anyone know whether a Flac stream would be allowed? -- MrStan MrStan's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1771 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=23019 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: anybody want to share outstanding FLACs?
Very true Fifer, but that doesn't seem to stop the RIAA from giving people grief. There has been law suits sent to people hosting files that had similar names to popular songs. The MP3s weren't even listened to, a bot just trauled open FTP/web sites patern matching the names. -- funkstar funkstar's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2335 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=23019 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Softsqueeze and bit-correct output on Windows
banzai Wrote: > In theory you're right, though in practice who knows? You're still > counting on your soundcard driver/manufacturer to pass the signal > through cleanly. > > I've got my living room PC running an ASIO driver through my MAudio > 24/96 card. It sounds exceptional, but I haven't tried to compare a > FLAC/WAV file via the PC vs my CD transport. > > One thing that gave me pause was that I think my sound card's mixer > (I'm not talking about Windows volume control) allows me to attenuate > the outgoing signal. I wasn't happy to see that. The fact that the > mixer is willing to change the signal isn't a good sign. Perhaps at > zero attenuation it is a bit-perfect transfer. But again, who knows? One way to find out if the digital out is bit-perfect is to play a wav encoded surround file, and connect the digital output of the sound card to the digital input on a surround receiver. The surround sound will not play back correctly if the bit stream is not perfect. Wav encoded surround files can be downloaded from http://www.sr.se/multikanal/english/e_index.stm I don't have proper hardware at the moment to do the test myself, but I am interested in this because I plan to upgrade my soundcard... (When doing such a test, ensure that the volume on your receiver is turned down because if the output is not bit-perfect the resulting output from your receiver might be extremely loud noise.) -- sbjaerum sbjaerum's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=237 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22636 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: anybody want to share outstanding FLACs?
funkstar Wrote: > Of course using MP3s is not a crime, but sharing them with others is. Not in all cases. -- Fifer Fifer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=639 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=23019 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Softsqueeze and bit-correct output on Windows
In theory you're right, though in practice who knows? You're still counting on your soundcard driver/manufacturer to pass the signal through cleanly. I've got my living room PC running an ASIO driver through my MAudio 24/96 card. It sounds exceptional, but I haven't tried to compare a FLAC/WAV file via the PC vs my CD transport. One thing that gave me pause was that I think my sound card's mixer (I'm not talking about Windows volume control) allows me to attenuate the outgoing signal. I wasn't happy to see that. The fact that the mixer is willing to change the signal isn't a good sign. Perhaps at zero attenuation it is a bit-perfect transfer. But again, who knows? -- banzai banzai's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=5008 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22636 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Part 2 of Enjoy the Music SqueezeBox review
opaqueice Wrote: > > I don't have any particular opinion regarding whether power cords could > make an audible difference, apart from some mild skepticism arising from > what I know about electronics > I'm with you on the skepticism. One of my previous roommates had a PS Audio Power Plant which converts AC into DC then rebuilds a clean AC signal - I thought he was completely crazy at the time (especially since it cost about $800). But back then I wasn't much into audio stuff and I regret not doing careful A/B listening with that Power Plant. opaqueice Wrote: > > (incidentally, I have the same skepticism about bi-wiring > speakers--assuming they're connected to the same thing on the amp end, > that is--and I did try it and didn't notice a difference). > It also depends on the speaker. I've heard that audiophiles just expect two sets of binding posts nowadays so speaker manufacturers supply them, but that doesn't mean the speakers are actually designed to take advantage of biwiring. I'm biwiring at the speaker and connecting them back to the same post on the amp (my AMP5 isn't designed for biwiring at the amp). Even still I definitely heard a difference. Even the more modest B&W 602 s3 surrounds got a lot better when biwired. opaqueice Wrote: > > So I'm asking just out of a desire to learn - what is the idea behind > replacing the power cord? What would the ideal power cord be like? > When you build one yourself, what are your goals? > I don't claim to understand much of it (any of it?). There are some simple things to consider though. The heaviest-duty component power cord I've seen consisted of three 14 AWG wires (the lower the AWG number, the fatter the cable). Usually cords will write something like "3x14AWG" along the length. Most cords I've seen are 3x16AWG. 16 gauge is a little puny. You'd feel a little crummy wiring your speakers with 16 AWG speaker wire. The homemade cables I made were 12AWG. I can't explain the benefits of fatter cables, but there's plenty written about that as it regards to speaker cable. There's also plain construction quality. Are the wire leads soldered to the connector plug with a cheap, poorly conducting solder? Or are they screwed down? What are the connection plates made out of? Are the wires cleaned before they're connected? I still don't know why that might make an audible difference, but if the AC has to traverse cruddy hot or cold welds, who knows? In the cables I made I added Walker SST to the wire connections. It's a silver paste contact enhancer. No matter how hard you screw down the wire leads, there will still be gaps in the physical connection. The idea of the paste is to fill in those gaps with a conductive material to aid the quality of the connection. Does it help? I dunno - I wasn't willing to spend the time to build a cord w/out the paste to find out. >From there things get a little fuzzier. The Chris VenHaus "recipe" I followed for my cables has an interesting approach to the ground wire - it's wrapped around the main 2-lead wire in the opposite direction (i.e. if you look down on the 2-lead wire and they're wrapped together in a clockwise fashion, wrap a third wire - the ground wire - counter-clockwise). Why? I dunno. He claims that yielded the best results in his testing. The 2-lead wire is shielded. That braided shield is then twisted into the ground wire for the wall plug end. The IEC component end doesn't interact with the braided shield (supposedly that draws the EM interference picked up by the shield out to ground in the wall instead of into the component). Then the analog cables (Flavor 2) add something even weirder - the main 2-lead wires are fed through a rubber air hose. The ground wire is then wrapped around that bulky hose in the same counter-rotation fashion. It occurs to me I should re-emphasize that I'm not a Chris VenHaus salesman or anything. I'm just a big fan of his cable design and supplies. Anyway, I can't explain the hows or whys of any of that. The shielded cables are supposed to keep noise out of the line and at the same prevent noise from leaking OUT of the cable. Maybe it's just the shielding and all the rest is gobbledygook (however the analog Flavor 2s are not shielded at all). All I can say is that it does work. I actually just had my sister and her boyfriend over tonight. He thought the power cord thing was totally crazy too. I sat him down and played that Telarc Sampler 1 SACD (track 2). Told him to close his eyes and "see" the instruments in space. Then I swapped in a normal power cord just for the SACD player (no, we weren't doing true blind testing). The other components still had their upgraded cords. Would changing one cord - while leaving other upgraded cords in place - make an audible difference? After a few seconds he says, "No freakin' way. I can't believe it." He could hear a difference. And here's another piece of anectodal evidence (sorry these posts keep getting so long!) Whe
