BigHat

Downloaded Pure Music and an couple of other software options. Actually ended up shifting my speakers back to flat from minus 10db. Apparently some AC/DC tracks (iTunes library alphabetically) were super hot recordings and that what I was playing with initially as they were right there after loading iTunes. Still in the lower part of the volume control so these better "players" should prove useful. I have a brand new DAC and brand new Dynaudio speakers. If past is prologue, the Dyns take a few hundreds hours to loosen up. No idea about the DAC, but others report improvements after a few hundred hours too. Time to let this system settle in and then tweak as required. Appreciate the scoop on the attenuators and all the earlier advice. Actually, the concept of a cable attenuator is precisely what I think the ideal solution to initial problem would be. They start at -11db though and that's pretty close to the -10db switch position on the speakers so based on the latest experiment don't seem to be required. Anyway, I'm active on a number of sites covering a variety of topics. Just want to note that we have a great group of bright and caring folks here eager to help each other. Great place to be.

Thanks for weighing in. Have to admit I'm primarily focusing on just getting it useable. It already beats the $160 HK Sound Sticks fed by the sound card in the MacPro I was using. LOL Thinking the software may help, but the problem I worry about is that even with the monitors set to -10db I'm still in the lower half of my iTunes volume control. Just need to sort that out. No question the Amarra or Pure Music is a better volume control. That said though, if I have too much gain, any volume control with limited flexibility doesn't accomplish much in terms of attenuation. Agree a dithering control beats iTunes for quality though. I have about $3.2K in this office computer rig (audio piece) and have that "$10K+ preamp" elsewhere in my house -- I ain't buying another one so I can listen to music while surfing the web. :-) Edit: Barrows commented while I was typing and he hits the nail on the head. A $10K pre-amp with a $350 DAC and fairly modest speakers would seem to be VERY unbalanced in addition to being just plain unaffordable for this role. Going to try a Pure Music (Vinyl) trial as soon as I get home and see what happens. Really appreciate the great info you're all sharing.

Thank you all for the input. I did a cursory scan and didn't notice the excellent threads (shared above) so appreciate that too. I will look into Pure Music. Use Amarra on my main system with an Ayre DAC, but don't want to spend that type of cash for this system. Using 1 meter interconnects from the HRT to the 250 Sub and 1 meters from that to the 110As. System seems to work great, aside from the subject volume control issue. Again, thank you all for taking the tie to share your expertise. I'll report back on the outcome. Matt

I hope this post is okay for the "General Comments" section. Want to reach the max number of you tech wizards. Last night I set up my second computer audio rig. It's just for listening to music while at the computer. I"m using a HRT Music Streamer II and Dynaudio active speakers, the Sub 250 and the Focus 110As. Of course I'm outputting from my Mac via USB and the HRT has no volume control. Fortunately, the Focus 110As have a -10db cut option, but I still feel a bit uncomfortable about the lack of volume control. Thinking that the Mac can't attenuate the USB output and that it just acts like a std level input. True? So if I can't control the volume via the computer in any way other than the iTunes volume control, is there a fairly sonically clean way to control the volume after it leaves the HRT and before the active monitors that anyone is aware of? Not totally wedded to the HRT either if there's reasonable USB DAC options that might have a volume control. Thanks, Matt

Lars, Again thanks for trying to help. I know Jon is awesome so no worries there. Anyway, PROBLEM SOLVED !! I unplugged the Ayre again and when I restarted it everything works as it's supposed to. I guess a USB handshake issue of some kind. And now back to the music. Thanks again, the Disc permissions advice was helpful in any event as there were things in need of repair after looking through the log.

Thanks Lars, but again no luck. Jon, I'll shoot you a note. Matt

Thanks, but not that simple.

I'm sorry to bother you guys but maybe I'm missing something simple and you can get me back up and running. Updated to 2.0 this am. Did delete previous preferences as suggested. Am not getting any audio output. Using the Arye USB DAC and it shows changes when I go from 44k or 96k music etc, so I think it's getting a signal. Only issue I can think of is my MIDI setting. Don't recall what they were before,but when I select the AYRE my only clock option is a gray "Default." I noted in the manual that an Aggregated Device may be required. I have tried a number of combos but can't seem to get any of them to yield any audio. Any thing obvious that I might be missing? Again, sorry for the dumb question but I've given the FAQ site and manual a good look and Sonic is closed. Thanks, Matt

Look to your left. Click on "Music" and look at the choices.

Hi, Based on your comment about not being a computer guru I'd suggest you look into the Drobos. They're a recommended component on the "CASH" list. I'm not a computer newbie, but opted for a 4TB Drobo for my music storage. A very dependable and simple solution.

Thanks to both of you. Yes, I should have reviewed the Wadia a bit closer to see the way it outputs and that it precludes the use of the Ayre. Krell is somewhat cryptic in what it does with the iPod. I know it certainly bypasses the weaknesses of the headphone amp etc but little else about it.

First, Happy New Year !! Great group of folks here and I enjoy your input. Recently I upgraded my office system and it currently contains: NAD Master Series M3 amp, Dynaudio C-1s, Oppo 83 SE model (just for Red Book, and SACD in 2 ch) and a Krell Kid that uses a large iPod of AIFF files. Overall, I'm very happy with it. The iPod allows some long playlists without frequent interaction and I can listen to very clean sounding SACDs when the circumstances permit. I think the addition of the disc player has spoiled me somewhat though. I realize, the Krell uses the iPod DAC and can't help but think that even with AIFF files, that's a very weak link. True? Wondering if the Wadia iPod dock and an external DAC would be a big improvement. I'm pretty tapped out for cash right now after entering into CA at home and upgrading this office system in the last couple of months, but could swing the Wadia and around a $500 or so DAC. Worth it or should I wait until I can get a better DAC? I can certainly experiment with the Ayre QB-9 I have in my home system too. One last question for those of you with the Wadia, is it have a fairly usable interface? I did do a search and see that at least one person uses it with a Benchmark DAC1 and likes it. Appreciate your thoughts. Matt

A couple of threads I'm following regularly and haven't had any problems getting on the site.

Any new "intel" or rumors on the Ayre DAC upgrade for higher resolution music?

A computer that is used to play, or convey to an external digital-to-analog converter (DAC), the music saved on a hard drive either installed or connected to that computer.