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Post by peterthebutcher on Jun 17, 2022 8:34:51 GMT
Hi all, I live in a "sleepy" village just outside Sleaford (UK) My current system comprises of just an Intel NUC PC, so I am just a digital person now, as my disability makes getting up and down to change CD's etc, a right pain in the arse.
The Intel feeds a PS Audio dac/pre> PS M700 power amps> Amphion Argon 3LS speakers using decent quality cables (AQ, TQ, AF Audio, Missing Link). I also enjoy movies and 5.1 SACD's, so I have a Sony BP PX800 and the Anthem MRX520 amp, again with decent interconnects
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optical
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Post by optical on Jun 17, 2022 8:41:10 GMT
Hi Peter, (I assume as it's in your handle!)
welcome, sounds like your system suits you just fine then. We (well most) believe in decent interconnects here too . . . . sometimes more than decent!
Glad to have you aboard.
Chris.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Jun 17, 2022 9:08:58 GMT
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Post by peterthebutcher on Jun 17, 2022 9:26:35 GMT
thanks guys
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Post by antonio on Jun 17, 2022 10:38:46 GMT
Welcome Peter I'm from Lincolnshire also, Grimsby, but don't hold that against me. Nice system you have there, maybe replacing the pc with a dedicated streamer (no need to spend too much) may be the way forward.
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Post by peterthebutcher on Jun 17, 2022 13:44:24 GMT
I do not do steaming as such, only from the PC. I may in future upgrade the PC, it had a new 2tb SSD a few weeks ago, runs Audirvana on Win10
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optical
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Post by optical on Jun 17, 2022 14:20:07 GMT
I do not do steaming as such, only from the PC. I may in future upgrade the PC, it had a new 2tb SSD a few weeks ago, runs Audirvana on Win10 I don't 'stream' from any sites or the internet as such but I do run a streamer with an internal SSD, so effectively a dedicated 'server'. It's streets ahead of any PC because it's the tool for the job. If you ever wanted to (although it sounds like you're sorted for now) it would be very easy (and significantly better in my opinion) to just swap that SSD into a streamer that facilitates it. Best way to listen in my experience as you have that complete control via a remote/phone without the drawbacks that a PC running in the system can bring. |
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Post by peterthebutcher on Jun 18, 2022 10:10:06 GMT
did not know/realise you could do that. My NAS is a 18 month old Synology, I have listened to a few rips from that, but cannot make any discernible difference. But to be honest, my ears are not as sharpe as they once were, so rips via the PC sounds OK, unless I look at Melco units  |
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Post by jandl100 on Jun 18, 2022 11:26:51 GMT
Welcome, Peter. Regarding PC vs streamer, I think it very much depends on the individual PC how good it is. I used to stream direct from my PC and it was excellent imo. The PC then died and I just use my phone now. It still sounds great! Like you, I blame my ageing ears for being maybe less fussy than I used to be. |
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Post by antonio on Jun 18, 2022 13:01:35 GMT
As I've mentioned before, my ears are not that good, they are after all 66yrs old, the rest of me is only 33  but my Auralic Aries definitely improved upon a fanless mini pc only used for playback of my music on an external HD. jandl100 When you stream from your phone, do you connect it to your dac using an appropriate usb cable? |
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Post by jandl100 on Jun 18, 2022 14:25:33 GMT
jandl100 When you stream from your phone, do you connect it to your dac using an appropriate usb cable? You would be horrified if you knew my system configuration. Pop in sometime for a listen. |
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optical
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Post by optical on Jun 18, 2022 14:59:07 GMT
I've actually recently tried streaming directly from my phone to a DAC using Bluetooth just so I can flick through songs from YouTube and other sources at ease.
Bluetooth has moved on significantly in the past few years with Bluetooth 5.0 and another abbreviation that escapes me, I was really surprised how good it sounded.
Ultimately though when I switch back to playing off my SSD, I do notice there is still a jump in SQ, the Bluetooth does seem to have a slightly 'rounded' effect which can be quite pleasing actually.
Regarding PC streaming I just couldn't go back, the electronically induced noise (as well as the mechanical from fans if you have them etc) just holds the system back in my opinion, unless perhaps you have it very well isolated and configured so as not to "tax" the CPU as such (as a hard working cpu is noisy as PC's are usually running unnecessary background processes even when only playing music).
Also my system runs a lot of power to different components (active subs, electrostatic speakers etc), it's very susceptible to mains noise and interference so I may notice these kind of things more than most.
If your configuration works for you and you're happy that's all that matters really.
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Post by antonio on Jun 18, 2022 15:04:45 GMT
jandl100 When you stream from your phone, do you connect it to your dac using an appropriate usb cable? You would be horrified if you knew my system configuration.  Pop in sometime for a listen. I would never be horrified with your system configuration Jerry, shame you are not a little nearer, oh and by the way you don't know what you could be inviting in to your home |
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Post by antonio on Jun 18, 2022 15:15:01 GMT
I've actually recently tried streaming directly from my phone to a DAC using Bluetooth just so I can flick through songs from YouTube and other sources at ease. Bluetooth has moved on significantly in the past few years with Bluetooth 5.0 and another abbreviation that escapes me, I was really surprised how good it sounded. Ultimately though when I switch back to playing off my SSD, I do notice there is still a jump in SQ, the Bluetooth does seem to have a slightly 'rounded' effect which can be quite pleasing actually. Regarding PC streaming I just couldn't go back, the electronically induced noise (as well as the mechanical from fans if you have them etc) just holds the system back in my opinion, unless perhaps you have it very well isolated and configured so as not to "tax" the CPU as such (as a hard working cpu is noisy as PC's are usually running unnecessary background processes even when only playing music). Also my system runs a lot of power to different components (active subs, electrostatic speakers etc), it's very susceptible to mains noise and interference so I may notice these kind of things more than most. If your configuration works for you and you're happy that's all that matters really. Question time If you are using bluetooth to your dac, are you using both the dac in the phone as well as the dac itself? If I stream from my phone to a small Anker speaker I assume the dac inside the phone is being used, and if this is the case when using bluetooth the phones dac must be in use at all times!! |
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optical
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Post by optical on Jun 18, 2022 15:22:50 GMT
I've actually recently tried streaming directly from my phone to a DAC using Bluetooth just so I can flick through songs from YouTube and other sources at ease. Bluetooth has moved on significantly in the past few years with Bluetooth 5.0 and another abbreviation that escapes me, I was really surprised how good it sounded. Ultimately though when I switch back to playing off my SSD, I do notice there is still a jump in SQ, the Bluetooth does seem to have a slightly 'rounded' effect which can be quite pleasing actually. Regarding PC streaming I just couldn't go back, the electronically induced noise (as well as the mechanical from fans if you have them etc) just holds the system back in my opinion, unless perhaps you have it very well isolated and configured so as not to "tax" the CPU as such (as a hard working cpu is noisy as PC's are usually running unnecessary background processes even when only playing music). Also my system runs a lot of power to different components (active subs, electrostatic speakers etc), it's very susceptible to mains noise and interference so I may notice these kind of things more than most. If your configuration works for you and you're happy that's all that matters really. Question time If you are using bluetooth to your dac, are you using both the dac in the phone as well as the dac itself? If I stream from my phone to a small Anker speaker I assume the dac inside the phone is being used, and if this is the case when using bluetooth the phones dac must be in use at all times!! Nope, Bluetooth signal is a digital one and decoded at the DAC end. Otherwise you'd effectively just be broadcasting to a speaker like an FM radio. Well that's my setup, not sure about your speaker there although I would assume it would have a little DAC in it doing the conversion after you've sent it the digital signal via Bluetooth. |
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Post by hifinutt on Jun 18, 2022 19:06:39 GMT
very good to see you peter , hope you like my organ video in speakers thread !!
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but my Auralic Aries definitely improved upon a fanless mini pc only used for playback of my music on an external HD.
Pop in sometime for a listen. 