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les24preludes

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  1. Thanks - very useful. I'm going to say that Redbook is perfectly fine, and to ensure compatibility with iTunes and Apple devices Airplay is a simple solution. So could we now go further and list some streaming devices that could be used here? I believe that RPi devices can work, and possibly Squeezebox, Aurelic Aries etc. What's needed is an output to an external DAC - USB would be fine for example.
  2. My brother wants to use an iPad or MacBook as source in a kitchen system so he can move the hand-held controller around and have iTunes and Internet on it (YT etc). He already has an excellent audiophile amp and small speakers but so far not a DAC, though an ES9023 asynchronous one would be easy to source, for example. What's needed is a streamer to connect via wifi to the iPad/Macbook and then into the DAC. Can you recommend some suitable streamers and also the required software, which should be MacBook/iTunes compatible? London, UK.
  3. Thanks for the tip. I'll look into it when I'm more settled with this new version. A problem I'm getting is that when I use Youtube or online TV, I'm getting a lot of distortion/interference in the sound. This is sometimes present and sometimes not. And when I go back to playing tracks in A+ the distortion remains. I have to quit and reload A+ to get rid of it. I'm not getting a visual of the A+ CD player either, as I did with my previous Mac Mini 1.5.12 install. Ideas?
  4. I haven't read all the posts on this thread yet - I tried to look for user experiences of sound quality. I have 1.5.12 on a Mac Mini and just installed 2.6 on a Mac Pro. I've been comparing the two and I'm hearing distinct differences. I have a very revealing system, plus I'm a musician and I'm listening closely for timbre of instruments and low level detail in the mix. What I'm hearing is smoother vocals and string tone, with no loss of detail. In fact low level detail is slightly better - I'm hearing more in the mix. My installation of 1.5.12 had a more gritty treble, particularly on massed voices, and the voices are now more relaxed and euphonic. More like HQPlayer, which has nice smooth vocals. But the downside of HQP as I installed it (default settings and PCM only) was lack of focus and definition in low level detail and instrumental timbres. It was harder to differentiate clarinet from oboe from flute, all of which are clearly audible in A+. So bottom line is that I do think the SQ has improved overall. Maybe not more than 5% but it's quite audible to me. Perhaps it has something to do with settings and installation - I'm not a geek so haven't tweaked anything, just using default settings.
  5. I have some basic questions - can anyone humour me with an explanation please? I have 1.5.12 on a Mac Mini. I now use a Mac Pro, so wondering whether to migrate my version to the Mac Pro or do a fresh install of A+ 2.0. Could be handy to leave 1.5.12 for use in another room. So: - what do I pay if I buy 2.0 as an existing license holder, if I keep 1.5.12 on the Mac Mini? - is 2.0 an upgrade in actual sound quality or just in features? - I have all my music in iTunes. What's the best solution here - is the new database in improvement in sound quality or just a different filing system? I'm happy with my iTunes playlists - I'm a musician so have many. Thanks! Time to put some version of A+ on my Mac Pro!
  6. Have a Mac with a generic external DVD/CD player - Samsung. Is there any way of improving on this? e.g. a good transport like the Philips CD Pro with some kind of interface so the Mac can communicate with it? Or a really good external drive - if so what? Goal would be to import CD collection into iTunes with best possible quality.
  7. Ah - the CS4397. I have a DAC using this chip - haven't used it for a while. I was using a tube output stage and though it was excellent - 26 DHT - I do feel tube stages lose detail in low level applications compared with some solid state options. I also didn't optimise the PSU. Having heard what a difference battery power made to the ES9023 I'm inclined to see batteries as a preferred option. The current drain with the ES9023 is tiny so it's a great option. Drain would go up with other implementations. But the CS4397 is an old chip - Lampizator was using it in 2008. Hasn't it been superceded?
  8. Thanks for the input. My original question was about comparing the various finished PCBs available from Weilang etc. where the regulation is on the board and the external power supply is relatively simple. So comparisons are more direct. By the looks of it this forum isn't very DIY and the comparisons are with commercially retailed units using these chips. But that's still relevant, even though firms like Schiit for example have quite different output sections (e.g. discrete devices) than the usual chip sets in the ebay boards. I've heard the Schiit Gungnir using dual AK4399 and I found it to be pretty awesome in tone and detail. It's my brothers and one day I'll have to take over my ES9023 with lead acid battery supply (BIG difference) and listen to the differences. Do carry on with the comparisons - all information is useful when contemplating upgrades.
  9. Does anyone have recommendations for the current crop of 2014 DACs - favourites seem to be AK4399 (singe and dual) or ES9018. Thinking of upgrading my ES9023 (battery PSU) to something better and looking at the ebay kind of offerings. There's always a lot of action on these over on DIY AUdio, but I'd like to hear some recommendations from this forum.
  10. Thanks for that. You mean 3.6v with the HiFiMe ES9023 DAC? It's running off 12vDC lead acid batteries. Where is the 3.6v and why?
  11. I2SoverUSB with AK4396 - I2S over USB Audio You are using this JL Sounds USB to I2S interface with the XMOS chip?
  12. I currently have a HiFiMe 23+ ES9023 DAC with USB input fed by my Mac Mini with iTunes and Audirvana+. My library is in AIFF and I have a high quality self-built tube system. I can solder and assemble analogue stuff, make PSUs or battery supplies. I have little engineering knowledge when it comes to digital technology, however, and don't work with surface mount stuff. Could assemble a part-kit if the surface mount stuff was done, though ready assembled PCB would be simpler. I'd like to keep my Mac Mini as the source, but experiment with better interfaces and a better DAC. So thinking a I2S DAC and a good USB to I2S interface. Probably separate units though would consider an integrated solution. Needs to work with the Mac. So for the interface, do I use XMOS, or CM6631A or what? For the DAC do I use ES9023 or PCM5012A with I2S or something else? Your thoughts and experiences?
  13. How about this one? Seems to have happy users. I'm in the UK - it's £109 WD My Passport Studio 1TB Portable Hard Drive with Firewire and Metal Casing
  14. I keep all my music on an external hard drive, and play it with iTunes and Audirvana+. All my music is lossless AIFF and I'm a musician. I need a backup drive, so in the market for about 1Tb. What's the best kind of drive for playing back music? What parameters do I need? What models do you suggest? Economical does-the-job rather than uber-sophisticated.
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