Hey everyone, just a quick note to let you all know reference Recordings has officially released three HRx recordings! These are 24 bit / 176.4 KHz albums that must be heard to be appreciated. Read more for additional details.
from referencerecordings.com
"HRx DVD-R data discs contain exact, digit-for-digit copies of the original Reference Recordings 176.4 kHz / 24-bit digital masters. This is the ultimate in fidelity for two-channel sound: TRUE high-resolution audio, ready to load from DVD-R data discs onto your computer music server!"
There is some good information on the RR site about the format, but I have a feeling Computer Audiophile is going to be very helpful for everyone looking to play this content back on their music server. The last sentence of the RR FAQs says, "We recommend consulting a computer music specialist to set up a system to play back HRx." Well, that's what CA is here for and we'll help insure everyone is getting the most out of these recordings as possible. There are some current products available to enable 24/176 playback and there is at least one product coming out soon that should be fabulous. Stick around I hope to have some review samples in my hands shortly.
Chris Connaker
Founder
Computer Audiophile
Comments
Posts: 32
Playback Requirements
Chris: any sense on what software player will be needed for these 176/24 files. The RR website doesn't get into much detail. I thought XP was limited to 96/24?
Regards,
Jim
Posts: 2809
Hey jxo - Great question.
Hey jxo - Great question. I've been talking with the people at RR about this same question. It is not so much a software "player" choice as it is hardware. XP and OS X are fully capable of playing up to 24/192. The RR guys like XP and the Lynx AES16 card which they played at CES this year. I prefer OS X by a long shot and to get 24/176 out of a Mac right now can be a little tricky. One easy way is to use iTunes and a FireFace 400 to convert the signal from fireWire to coax and into the DAC of your choice. the Mac optical port is supposed to support up to 24/192 but so far nobody I know of has been able to output this high of resolution from it.
So, l I guess what I am saying is that when the right hardware is connected XP and OS X will play the HRx files back perfect. RR suggests Media Monkey on XP. I suggest iTunes or Play on OS X.
Chris Connaker
Founder
Computer Audiophile
Posts: 32
Chris: great site and great
Chris: great site and great work; I have been fooling with these DIY music servers for quite a while and I really appreciate the information. I am stuck with XP at the moment. I like the layout of iTunes. Unfortunately, this does not make for compatibility with Music Giant Hi Rez downloads (am stuck with WMP to play those). In fact, I don't believe I have any hi rez files playing on iTunes. I have my Linn downloads playing on WMP as well. FWIW, I spent weeks trying to figure out why I couldn't get MG files to play; turns out it was the spdif output (the mobo output was not passing the high rez digital signal) and I needed a 24/96 soundcard. so it looks like yet another player, media monkey, and another sound card. ... the price of innovation.
is there a clear preference between XP and Vista for bit perfect playback? I am still fuzzy on the Kmixer nasties.
Keep up the good work.
Jim
Regards,
Jim
Posts: 2809
Hi Jim - Ah yes, the price
Hi Jim - Ah yes, the price of innovation!
There are so many opinions about XP v. Vista for audio playback that I won't even go down that path. Some "experts" say Vista is much better without the KMixer, but others say XP is the only way to go and Vista is a nonstarter.
This is among several reasons I use a Mac :-)
Thanks for the post. Keep us updated on your music server situation.
Chris Connaker
Founder
Computer Audiophile
Posts: 1
24/192
Hello
I am a new subscriber to your forum because I also asked myself this question: how to play back the reference recordings at 24/192.
While I was at th High End in Munich I stumbled upon the Weiss Minerva firewire D/A converter. They claim that it can convert audio data up to 24/192 either via firewire or via SP/DIF AES/EBU. Windows and Mac OS X compatible.
Has anyone of you tried this product?
Many greetings,
Alex
Posts: 2809
Hi Alex - It's interesting
Hi Alex - It's interesting that you ask. I actually have a Minerva on its way to me via UPS. It should be arriving tomorrow and I will start listening to it immediately.
This product could be fabulous!
Chris Connaker
Founder
Computer Audiophile
Posts: 32
Weiss Minerva DAC
Hi Chris, done any listening to the Minerva yet?
I'm interested in the Minerva, the specs look really great. I'd like to explore high-res music and want to buy a future-proof DAC, this might just be it.
I'm really interested in how it sounds compared to e.g. the WaveLength DACs. Since Weiss is based in Europe, it will be more feasible for me to audition it, and to get support should I ever need that.
In theory high-res on such a device should deliver more detail and extended highs (amongst others)... which is what I'm after.
VincentH, Pro Audio and Headphone enthousiast. Currently using Vista + Foobar + WASAPI bitperfect --> FireWire --> RME FireFace 400 DAC --> Vovox unshielded balanced XLR interconnects --> Focal Twin 6Be active monitors + Focal Sub6 active sub; Grado RA 1 + Grado RS 1; Etymotic ER-4P.
Posts: 2809
Hey Vincent - The Minerva
Hey Vincent - The Minerva arrived on time but I had some issues with powering it up so it had to go back to Weiss. We'll get it straightened out shortly and I'll let you know how it performs.
Chris Connaker
Founder
Computer Audiophile
Posts: 68
Pinging Chris, Elias, Gordon, and Steve
Some of you guys are starting to scare me. What do you mean "to get 24/176 out of a Mac right now can be a little tricky" or "that the Mac optical port is supposed to support up to 24/192 but so far nobody I know of has been able to output this high of resolution from it"? One of my music servers is a Macbook Pro connected to a Benchmark USB DAC1 via a Monster toslink cable. The Reference Recordings HRx Crown Imperial 24/176 WAV files play perfectly using either the Cog or Play software. Are you saying I am not outputting 24/176, that the Mac is downsampling and outputting some lower resolution and if so, how best can I verify what resolution is coming out of my Mac toslink jack?
Posts: 2809
Hi audiozorro - I hate to
Hi audiozorro - I hate to tell you, but I am 99.9999% positive your only outputting 24/96 through your Mac optical port. To check this go into Audio Midi Setup and check what resolution your built in Output is set at. Apple says it should go to 24/192, but as I said before I've never seen anyone do this. Nobody seems to have any answers when it comes to this optical port. Let me know what you find.
Chris Connaker
Founder
Computer Audiophile