jb5200

First off awesome article Chris! I couldn't agree with you more! I attend AXPONA b/c it's the one chance I get the opportunity to hear exciting new (high end) gear that I can only dream of affording. I fall into the category that can't afford the $10,000 speakers but it gives me a perspective into some gear that I might be able to afford in a few years when I buy it used. I attended AXPONA the first 2 years it started and took the next couple off due to the fact nothing changed. This year I was excited because I got to hear every high end speaker that I ever wanted so that should hold me for the next few years. Getting back to your article Chris, I think the age gap you mentioned in the article is HUGE! In the rooms I enjoyed the most were the rooms that had someone around my age or younger playing the music and was playing music that I actually listen to that made me want to stay. I can't tell you how many rooms I walked into and didn't even make it to the chair, I turned right around and walked out b/c for me it doesn't pay - I would never play solo piano, horn, vocals, etc. I can't wrap my head around the fact that someone would demo music that only covers 1/4 of the frequency spectrum, how is that showing you what the speakers can do? If that's the case just get a Diamond coated, Beryllium infused, Unobtanium Dome Tweeter and throw it in a 72 coat Piano Black Lacquered box and you should be good to go! I know people have the money to spend on this high end hobby otherwise it wouldn't exist. But for my hard earned money I want to spend money on a system to see what it can do with the music I actually listen to. I see the value on playing some high res demo files to accentuate certain parts of a system, but all I ask is to vary the music played to actually show what a system can do with all types (varieties) of music. Ok, I done now!

Thanks Paul, Ok after playing around abit I got it to play the wav file correctly but I cannot get my iphone with Jremote to work. I connected with the access key JRMC gave me and the player comes up but the wrong song shows on my phone and when I hit FF on the phone it goes to the next song on my phone but not on the Marantz. Weird!

Ok, so I have the JRMC 20 installed on my home server and have it streaming to my 8801 however, it converts it to mp3 even though in JRMC I tell it to not convert in the Media Network section on the left and then client for Audio Convert. I have all wav files how do I play those as bit perfect?

Also, what does W10 Optimized mean? How do I optimize it? I know Windows is prolly the absolute worst OS to use but I only have experience with windows. If Linux is easy to install and use (does JRMC work with Linux?) I could give it a try. The only reason I am so stuck on JRMC is b/c I have probably 8,000 songs all organized into playlists and that would suck having to go through those again organize.

You're correct Cebolla, when I put in a different (supposedly better DAC) into the mix the sound was not as good. Less accurate and clear and from what I gather it is b/c of the extra A/D and then D/A conversion that takes place b/c of the XT32. How do I use JRMC as the UPnP/DLNA mode? This seams like something I can try immediately to test for an improvement - I think long term I will still build something like what ElviaCaprice suggested, but I would like to try a few tweaks if possible while I piece it together.

This is Awesome!!! You rock! This is what I'm gonna do!

Crap, no they aren't! I knew that seemed too good to be true! Maybe I will look into the CAPS since it sounds like that is really the only way I will get any improvement in SQ! If I continue to use the laptop to the Marantz would a really good HDMI cable like Wireworld Starlight 7 get any anything?

So if I understand you correctly, I just load JRMC onto my W7 server and then connect the Marantz via ethernet, correct? Then how do I do the launch it when it is on the server b/c once it's launched I then can just control it from my phone/ipad through the app. How do I get JRMC and the Marantz to work this way cause I am liking this (no extra cost)? What I mean is once it is installed on the W7 server then what settings do I need to set in JRMC and then where do I go in the Marantz to get this all to work - would this give me a little better SQ? Like I said, I need to keep the marantz b/c of the processing for movies/room correction. I have tried external DAC's (PS Audio Digital Link III and Wyred 4 Sound DAC2) not top tier but well respected and it actually sounded worse - not as clean and accurate, I think b/c of the extra A/D then D/A conversion that takes place b/c of the room correction. I am going to go load JRMC right now on my server and then what is my next step? Thanks everyone and I appreciate the patience as I work through this!

ElviaCaprice, That would really be the ticket! And I apologize in advance for my newbie questions but like I said I am just getting into this sorta thing. I forgot to mention that my server is in a different room and the laptop is in my audio cabinet that doesn't have a lot of room for a full sized HTPC so that's why I use the laptop as the player. I could fit a small case with a monitor and that's prolly about it! Could I trouble you in suggesting/showing me a list of possible components - case, power supply, the embedded motherboard (not sure what that is), soundcard, SS hard drive, video card, etc. that I would need to build this (I'm a plug and play type of person) and I think this where I will start. Again, I really appreciate everyone's suggestions and help as to this begins my journey into a wonderful hobby!

Thanks ElviaCaprice, So you think the CAPS is the way to go to get the best possible sound. I would like to keep the Marantz like I said b/c I use the Audyssey XT32 room correction with my two subs b/c my room is terrible. Which CAPS would be the one and then which connection would I use to the Marantz? I don't mind spending a little more if it means I would get a significant increase in SQ and if I could find one used would be the best. I'm very new to computer audio but I have a little experience with computer internals - changing out drives, video cards, etc. but nothing major. With a little help I could probably figure it out. The reason for the start of this interest was I heard my speakers a few different times at different venues and I cannot get mine to sound anywhere near those - I know the rooms are different with different electronics but I feel I have decent equipment and I should be able to get them sound sound similar. So that's what leads me to believe it's the source being different b/c all of those other ones were using expensive streamers.

Hey Guys, I have been following this thread b/c I have the same interests as everyone else and am looking for recommendations. My setup right now is the following: -Nice powerful Lenovo Y510P gaming (which I do none) laptop - i7, w8.1, 8gb ram, 1tb hdd -Marantz AV8801 Pre/Pro for the Audyssey XT32 room correction with dual subs -ATI 6002 amp -Scansonic MB2.5 speakers (surprisingly very good sound for what I paid - good value) I store all of my music/movie files on a 15TB server with W7 and just use the laptop with JRiver MC20 as the player with the app to control it. I have the laptop connected to the Marantz via HDMI (I know not the best option) for convenience b/c of the movie playback with the HD audio codecs. I now have a separate player for the movies so I don't necessarily need to use HDMI for the audio, so I would like to focus on audio. I read a lot of the reviews of the streamers like Aurender, Auarlic, Linn, etc. on how they improve the sound and know that I should take those with a grain of salt, they have their merits for those that choose to go that route. I want something that will increase my audio SQ while using the same setup - Files from server, JRMC20, Marantz but would replace the laptop with streamer, C.A.P.S., USB-SPDIF converter or something of that sort but would like to try to keep cost down as much as possible to under $1000 if possible (cost of the laptop). I would be interested in purchasing something used as well but not really sure what to get - again want to keep the same main setup - Files from server, JRMC, and Marantz. Thanks

Yeah, it's a DLNA server and that's sorta what I thought but just wanted to make sure. Other than the beloved squeezebox touch (since the price tripled since inception) are there any other easy little audio servers that I can connect to get exceptional sound quality without selling any of my kids. I will be connecting it to an Integra DHC 80.3. I know most of you are thinking just connect that to your server, but the only problem with that is I can't create and manage playlists. All I can do is search and play songs - pretty limited AFAIK!

I've asked this before can't seem to get an answer so here it goes again. Is there any way to put MC17 on a network server so that I can just always just go to my iphone/ipad jremote and play it??? I (well actually a buddy) built a full blown Supermicro 22TB network server and want to take the other computer out of the loop so that I don't have to turn the computer on, log in, open JRiver, etc. I want to take that part out and just go to the jremote whenever I want and hit play. OR Do I need a squeezebox or something like that? I really want the Simaudio MIND but can't afford it right now so just want to be able to run MC17 for the time being without the whole starting up the computer junk. Thanks

Question 2 refers to the audio side somewhat! I want to be able to manage and play all of my music files through JRiver but not sure how I do it if I convert to the server!

Hey everyone, I guess I will post this here since I posted it on the JRiver Forum with no response: Hey there I have two questions: 1st - How do I get an ISO to play with double clicking on it in a folder. I have it set to load an external drive (cloner drive) but the only way I can get any movie to play is to right click on the file - go to mount to cloner drive, then once it mounts I have to right click again and go to Open With - Media Center 17? Sorta annoying, I should be able to just double click to get it to play. 2nd - Now's the fun one - I am in the process of converting from an HTPC and external storage box to a full blown Supermicro 22TB RAID networked server and taking the HTPC out of the picture. Is there a way to still use MC17 as my player if I am not using a computer anymore? I already have the JRemote app but that only works if you have the program open and running, now that I won't have a computer anymore to go and open the program, is this possible??? Thanks