Grayson64

Well, when I started this thread, it was not meant to generate such a lengthy discussion on copyright law and ethical handling of music content. It was really about the concept of collecting and letting go. But since it has gone that direction, might as well put in my two cents. My view is very simple. I paid for the CD's; every one of them. The artist has been paid. What I do with them after that is up to me. Nothing ethical about that. If I was intentionally buying, then returning immediately after recording it for my collection, maybe I would have some ethical problem. But that is not the case here. I paid, made a copy for my JRiver installation and then put the CD on a shelf for the next multiple number of years. Now it is a matter of how large a physical collection I want and/or need. I suppose Sony can come after me if they are so inclined. I care little about them. As to the artist, I will sleep like a babe in the proverbial woods. They got their fair share out of me. In any case, I have decided to keep most of the CD's, but get rid of the ones I don't like as much. The digital copies will stay in my library, but the discs are headed to the local public library so anyone else can listen if they like.

Of course, destroying is not the alternative. Giving away, selling, donating, etc.. I do not believe ethics is involved. I have owned these many years. Unlikely I will "make" money on the purchase. Considering the local library as an option.

Would like to post a somewhat philosophical question. I have a relatively large CD collection (about 1200 CD's), but ALL are recorded in Apple lossless format with sufficient backup (to ensure I will not lose the files later). My question: should I now get rid of the source CD's? This is an issue because I am downsizing into a smaller home now that my kids are all moved away, and room for the CD's is becoming a challenge. On the keep side, I have spent several decades accumulating the collection. I am reluctant to let them go in case I might need them again. On the get rid of side, for the vast majority of the collection, I seldom use the actual CD. Just listen to the digital copy. For all practical purposes, I live in a "playlist world" where I seldom listen to all the contents of a single CD. I am beginning to feel keeping them may just be an unreasonable fear of change. Any thoughts from the forum? Thanks, Grayson

BTW, here is the entry from JRiver's wiki site that discusses the DSD conversion process. "By default, DSD will be converted to PCM for playback.The DSD to PCM conversion process converts from 1-bit DSD to 64-bit PCM at 1/8th of the sample rate. The total amount of data from this conversion grows by 8x, so the process is effectively lossless / perfect. Once you have PCM, it will be 64bit @ 352.8 kHz for DSD, and 64bit @ 705.6 kHz for DSD 2x. It is rare for hardware to support these high sample rates, so downsampling is required. The option 'Greater than 192kHz' in DSP Studio > Output Format is what is used. There is no way to configure DSD 1x and DSD 2x independently. DSD contains high frequency noise that could damage ears or equipment. Therefore, a low pass filter is used to remove this ultrasonic noise at playback time. The default low pass is at 24kHz using a 48dB/octave slope. The low pass is configurable in Options > Audio > Advanced > Configure input plug-in > JRiver DSD Plugin. There's a little more detail on our default low pass here."

A bit of an update. I upgraded my JRiver to MC19 (as suggested by wisnon above). Then downloaded the free DSD content from Blue Coast. (http://bluecoastrecords.com/free-downloads). MC19 played it immediately through my Classe. It was an acoustic piece with just female vocal and cello. Frankly, it sounded pretty good. Very clear. Good "timbre". It turns out that some of the superhirez.com albums are available in both 24-bit (96 or higher) FLAC and DSD. Where available, I will do FLAC, but MC19 at least makes it possible to use the DSD content where it is not available anywhere else. I have always been a big fan of Nat King Cole. Many of his albums are apparently only available on DSD! I will avoid DSD where another format is available, but my system now at least works for the music I need and still seems to sound better than standard CD recordings (most of my CD's are recorded in Apple lossless). Thanks for your help.

Thanks for the advice. I will do the free download and see how it goes. Will post my results on this thread. Might even splurge and do the try on a Nat king Cole album. It does not appear available in any other format, not sure why.

I am new to computer audio, but am starting to build my collection of hi-res music files. I have been using mainly AIF as my principal content format, mainly from HDTracks.com. Recently I have run into Acoustic Sounds' new superhirez.com that offers a lot of files in a different format, DSD. They have a lot of the jazz titles I have been looking for, but there appears to be a catch. My software, JRiver Media Center 18, says they support DSD files. But, my Preamp/DAC (Classe CP-800) does not support that format. Furthermore, Classe has actually announced they will not support DSD on the soon-to-be-released Rev 2 of the CP-800 either. The question I have is whether I can use this format on my system. Does the software drive the file? Or does this simply feed the DAC which then converts the file to usable audio content for the preamp to use? Sorry if this is a basic question, but I am a bit confused on this subject. Hoping someone could help me. Thanks, Grayson --------------------------- Software: JRiver Media Center 18 (Win 7) Turntable: Rega RP3 Preamp/DAC: Classe CP-800 Amp: Carver M200 Speakers: Vandersteen IIc

Have spent a fun day listening to music and comparing various configurations. I have been comparing Apple TV and a Parasound ZDAC (graciously lent to me by Rick @ Audio/Video Design in Overland Park). There is no question that the Parasound ZDAC sounds better than the Apple TV, but I am not sure it is ENOUGH better. The stereo is more spatial and natural sounding, not as boxy, but the quality difference is relatively minor. I have tried a large number of jazz songs (plus my beloved Alison Krauss). But it IS better. The difference was dramatic on a Frank Sinatra album, "Sinatra Reprise: The Very Good Years". Warren Bernhardt's "Kind of Blue" was also much better. This raises the question of whether I should upscale the DAC. Maybe I just need something better than the ZDAC! Maybe go with the Meridien Explorer. Are there any in the ~$1000 price point that might work better? Will listen more... just wanted to give my first reactions.

This is pretty much the approach I have decided upon, but a slightly different tack. I have a pretty good laptop that is not being used. Thinking about getting a good quality USB DAC (like Parasound) and use the laptop as my source using JRiver or iTunes as the media server. Thoughts?

"What CD player are you using?" I so seldom actually listen to CD's anymore, I had to think about this one. When I do play a CD, it is through a Sony PS3 with an HDMI connection. I have a Pioneer Elite CD player, but I just don't use it much. I have converted my entire CD collection (and all my albums) to Apple Lossless and 99 times out of 100 play it through the Apple TV. "Is the CD player going analog into the Integra or is it acting as a CD transport, sending digital audio using a S/PDIF or Toslink into the Integra?" PS3 used HDMI. The Pioneer has an optical coax into the Integra. Here is my basic problem. I do not know what S/PDIF or Toslink means. Would like to learn more. "Which sound do you prefer?" I describe my preference to be "open" and "true". Open sounding, not boxy - why I like the Vandersteen's so much. True because I want the sound to accurately reflect the underlying material, but not color it very much. I like the sound of the Integra overall, but do not know what part the DAC plays in that liking. "Do you need gapless playback? Do you listen to classical music much?" Gapless would be nice, but I have very eclectic taste in music. Listen to a lot of classical, but also do lots of classic rock (love Pink Floyd), country, bluegrass, new age, etc. "If not, I believe your Integra has network features that allows it to be a DLNA renderer..." Did not know it would do this. My motto: when all else fails, read the manual! Though I would guess the interface is pretty clunky by Apple standards. "How is your Apple TV hooked up to the Integra? Via HDMI? Or via Toslink? HDMI "And is your Apple TV wireless right now or is it connected via Ethernet cable?" In this room, Ethernet. Have another Apple TV in our bedroom upstairs where I use wireless. Tried wireless in the main room as well, but could not tell much difference in sound quality. "Do you have a separate power conditioner for your Apple TV?" No. Do not even know what that is. "Before going for a complicated setup..." I guess I never thought of it as aiming for a particular sound. Want it to be "true" and functional. Apple recently went to iTunes 11 and I have had nothing but trouble with it ever since - drop outs, sudden stops, won't read playlists, etc. Amazing. Have not been able to figure out the problem. So, starting to look elsewhere. In the end, I am definitely a "mid-fi" person -> want good sound but on a budget. Hope all this helps. Thanks, George

Have a large music database (500GB, mostly all Apple Lossless) and want to improve the quality of the sound coming through my main music system. The current setup does not give me even CD quality. What I have now: NAS: Synology DS411 Preamp: Integra DTC-9.8 Amps: Carver M200 (not sure about the model number) Speakers: Vandersteen IIc Software: Mainly iTunes user on Windows 7 platform Streamer: Apple TV My challenge is that, to do the improving, I do not seem to understand a lot of the underlying concepts. My knowledge of "audiophile" stuff is pretty good, but when we move to the computer side (DAC, streaming, clocking and the like), I fall off very quickly. Can anyone recommend some reference material that would allow me to play "catchup" on issues facing computer audiophiles? Trying to make some informed decisions about the best way to move forward.