YardCrap

Hello, I am not an expert and just a guy who enjoys the music. I have been at it a long time, and as an avid reader here and all I can find, have at least read it all. I believe you cannot buy an audio system. I think it is something you learn about and assemble. I see it as a work in progress. My junk is mostly assembled with used gear and not just because it is cheaper. That is a big part of it, but now I find I can own things that were out of my range years back. I have and appreciate vintage gear with a sprinkle of the new as needed. There is always better gear, and the search goes on. As much fun as gear is, I most like to play the tunes and cannot say I am an audiophile. My favorite system is on my deck, so go figure? This reads like those funny sex adds -- but just finally throwing it out and if I make a web audio friend - good deal! After years of reading, I have registered, be glad to make some audio friends. [email protected].

At the end of the day, we get some good junk and then look for tiny ways that might make a difference as it is a hobby.<br /> <br /> Adding that Benchmark DAC1 PRE is a giant step, not a tiny one.<br /> Now go in and set your new computer up - check out the older articles here and also the BenchMark Wiki.<br /> <br /> Congrats.<br /> <br /> <br />

<br /> <br /> New member - long time reader - <br /> Just put this up on the Yardcrap forum.<br /> =================<br /> <br /> A site I have enjoyed for years is http://www.computeraudiophile.com/ I have what I consider a computer built for music assembled from what I have learned there over the years. It sits on deck.<br /> <br /> The guy there just put up an excellent article on JRiver Media Center. I have played with it before, but last night downloaded the new version and spent an hour or so messing with it as I lay in bed.<br /> <br /> There are many media players out there. Some are free and some like Amarra go for hundreds. http://www.amarraaudio.com/ I am positive nothing is going to pry VLC (free) away as my video player, but keep an open mind as to the audio ones. You can download most for a free trial. JRiver goes for just under $50, but a free 30 day trial requires no emails, no signing in, just download and play with it. They can do that because they know they have a winner.<br /> <br /> To play digital tunes, you must have a "player". Your ipod, or $20 CD walkman has a player as does your Squeezebox, high end SACD, etc. Software can be as important as hardware, but most flinch at the thought of paying for it. It stands to reason that no matter how good a DAC or no matter the electronics in your high end CD player, software is going to have a huge impact on the music that comes out. (another reason to play records)<br /> <br /> Unlike most of the other hardware people play tunes with, computers can use more than just the built in player. You can have many media players and switch between them with a click of the mouse.<br /> <br /> So back to JRIVER. http://www.jriver.com/The deal for the "purest" is to get bit perfect transfer to the DAC, and 24 bit or more as opposed to less if possible. <br /> The article makes it simple for the novice, but actually, the interface is easy to work with and similar to the others. Still, he does just an excellent job and I used it as reference to set up my download.<br /> <br /> JRiver quickly found and loaded over 49000 of my favorite tunes, complete with many album covers. Play back was as good as I will ever need.<br /> There are several skins to choose from. I like the black ones as they don't light up the room at night and are easy to read.<br /> At the end of an hour or so testing it on lower quality mp3s to 24 bit downloads and some CDs - my verdict is - 4 stars.<br /> <br /> Will I be paying out the $50 to keep it after the 30 day trail. I doubt it, but who knows. I will keep working with when I am inside for a couple weeks. Here on the deck, been using the free version of WinAmp for years. Purest scoff at that. It is like admitting you like/have Bose speakers (I have 11 if you include the sub). The Bose are in my closet, but I would not hesitate to pass them on to a new guy as they do a better job than what most have.<br /> <br /> Here on the deck I am keeping WinAmp. Here is why:<br /> - I been using it for years, I am used to it and know every button and option.<br /> - It is kinda like Firefox, thousands of 2nd party additions if you want. I have a paid version of Isotope as a plug in. http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/media/ozone.html<br /> - While there are now thousands, I prefer the original "Classic" skin which is dark and just beautiful here on the deck at night and easy to read in the day time.<br /> - Lyrics pop up by the first note as the songs change. I can drink beer and sing along. Maybe JRiver has something like that, but I have not found it. If they added that, it might be a game changer for me.<br /> - Free as opposed to $50. Set up right, Winamp does 24 bit and with a plug in sounds as good as any of the other players -> to me on my equipment. I have decent equipment. It aint the money. If JRiver was free and WinAmp was $50, I would pay it. We seek different things and to many of us, computer music is chosen with convenience leading the way.<br /> <br /> I have a lot of tunes and I don't use playlists. I have my tunes in a few folders and can 'find' and load them with a click. I don't let WinAmp seek and find my tunes. I keep it clean. I just play what I feel like at the time --> right now on the deck, I have all my Percy Sledge on shuffle.<br /> <br /> Of course JRiver and other media players also do many things besides just play tunes, and that could be important to many. I use VLC as a video player, so I am just talking audio. JRiver makes it really easy to download from HDTracks, Amazon, etc, but I rarely pay for a music file. I also want the CD, SACD, or the LP if possible. <br /> <br /> At the end of the day, there are many good audio players out there. Microsoft and Apple have excellent ones built in, so to gain a customer, the cottage industry has to bring a lot to the table.<br /> <br /> Go here, download this and be amazed: http://www.jriver.com/audio.html