stefpark

Dear forum members: Since my last post, I purchased the new Mac Mini which is now connected via HDMI to my TV and the audio out to my Bryston BDA1. A lot of new toys thanks to this forum. I have noticed that during playback, adjusting the volume on Itunes changed the volume of playback. May I assume this means I am not getting bit perfect audio (on airport express I am not sure, but I seem to recall changing the volume not having any effect...). Could someone remind me/advise me what I need to do on the Mac OS and Itunes to ensure bit perfect audio? Many thanks,

Hahaha... I do like that one.

Thanks Eloise. Actually, I found another solution to my problem. I happen to have a Time Capusule - I have placed it between the room and the living room, set it to create a new wireless network and had the Airport Express and my computer tie in to the same network. Voila.

Thanks Eloise. Actually, I found another solution to my problem. I happen to have a Time Capusule - I have placed it between the room and the living room, set it to create a new wireless network and had the Airport Express and my computer tie in to the same network. Voila.

HI everyone: Well, after my last post, I have been busy trying to set up my first Computer Music system, largely from information gathered from this site (my thanks to everyone). I have an IMac and an AV set up in one room and separately, a HIfi set up in our main living space. I recently purchased a Bryston BDA-1 and set it up in my hifi space. While I wanted to initially stream music from my IMac through airport express, the distance was too far to get a reliable wireless connection. But I live in a building with LAN plugs in several rooms, so I tried setting an A.Express in the same room as the IMac to "set up a new wireless network" while connecting the LAN wire. Then I moved it to the living room and - I am still not 100% sure why - I got a reliable connection to stream music from my IMac. Thrilled, I pulled out my Ipod Touch to use as a remote - unfortunately, while it would synch fine with the Imac in the same room or there abouts, the distance was again too much to do it from the living space. As for the wireless network now setup in my living space, it did not connect back to the IMac... I suspect it is because the music is somehow being wired through the LAN, but the wireless connection in the living room is not connected to the IMac (ditto when I try connecting the IMac on the wireless network of the living room). 1. If anybody has any ideas about how I might go about controlling the IMac in the room, I would be extremely grateful. I do expect to get a Mac Mini or MacBook or some other solution, but maybe not for a bit. 2. Otherwise, I am thus far pleased with the sonic performance of the set up, especially the BDA-1. One question - if I should engage in Redbook CD playback (since no digital out for SACD) from my Marantz SA-11, should I connect it through the BDA-1 instead of using the internal DAC? It seems to me the external standalone DAC should provide some advantages? Thank you Chris and everyone for taking my newbie questions in the past - thanks to all of you, I have already come a long way.

That is great. I would be curious to hear more of your experience - I am about to pull the trigger on a new DAC and the BDA1 is a top choice (the Berkeley is another...). Let us know how it works out!

Thank you Chris - not only for this information but for mentoring me though this new area with your informative site. It is funny how in dealing with audio I seem to be becoming more and more concerned about getting every last bit of sound out of the medium, even when I am probably not sophisticated enough to hear a difference... But for me, the process of setting all this up, as frustrating as it can be, seems to be part of the fun. Thanks again!

Hi Everyone I had a question to which I have been unable to obtain a reliable answer. I have read that while Itune provides bit perfect playback on the Mac, it may not be so on the PC platform. Is this still true and if so, it is a hardware compatibility issue or in the version of the software? Also, is it an issue of playback or does it create issues in ripping as well? This concerns me because I generally run Windows 7 on my PC using bootcamp (for compatibility issues with local sites etc.) and have been burning my CDs on Itunes PC version. Would I have to re-rip my Apple lossless files from the original CDs (I really hope not) to get bit perfect copies or can I simply use the ones I already ripped and play them from the Itunes Mac version? Thanks for any info you might have!

Thank you for the reply. The AxP is my only wireless connection for now. I didnt realize the extreme had more range - will look into it! (but does it have also a digital out I wonder).

Hi everyone. I am a complete novice when it comes to computer audio who has, for the past month or so, caught the bug and have been learning about this new area. While I have learned a significant amount from this site and others, I have questions that I still am unclear about and wanted to seek some help. I am not sure I know enough to even ask intelligent questions, so please bear with me. Backgroud - I have 2 audio set ups - I have an AV room with an old Onkyo 989 receiver running a surround set up with Triangle Celius Speakers and I have a IMAC in the same room. Having been exposed to information learned from this site, I experimented by adding a MF Vdac and Airport Express to this area and am streaming Apple Lossless files from my IMAC (ashamed to say that a couple of months ago, I did not know what Apple Lossless was... I thought all computer music was variations of MP3). Separately, I have a HIfi set up in our main living space - 300B Tube pwr, Tube pre, Marantz SACD SA11, VPI Scout and AvantGarde speakers. All set up a few years back... This is where I would like to add a computer source and DAC. For the DAC, again based on info from this site, I will probably go with a Bryston BDA1 or Berkelery Alpha. With regards to the source, I have a number of questions. 1. Apple Express/Apple TV. The distance from my AV room to my living area is such that Apple Express offers a weak connection, I assume Apple TV will only offer a similar range? I understand that even though Itunes now processes 24bit info, Apple Express can only output digitally Redbook info - is this still correct? Is the Apple TV similarly limited and is it so even if it is not streaming but playing music from its drive? (Apple TV with extended range and 24/96 output capability would seem to have been perfect for me...) 2. Mac Mini It seems this is an often considered option - which I also like for its size and convenience. Digitial Output - What is the maximum digitial output from the Mac mini - Redbook? 24-96? 24/176.4? Assuming it can output 24/96, is this seen as a limiting factor going into the future or is it already so much more into than Redbook that it should be enough for the next few years? If a file is 24/176.4 (or some other high res) bit the mac mini is more limited in output, will it downsample the file automatically an output an appropriate digital signal? Control - I would like to use the Mac mini without a screen or keyboard, after initially setting it up. I own an Ipod touch) - I know of Apple remote. But does it only control Itunes or can it be used for control some of the computer - mainly I am concerned about how to turn the machine off after listening, for example. I also know there is a screen sharing function that might work, perhaps with my IMAC. But is this a wireless network type function? Since the range from the living area to my IMAC is such that Airport Express has problems, I am not sure this would work. Any solutions to avoid use of a screen? It seems pwr on and off and getting Itunes to open would be the main issues everytime I want to listen to music? 3. MacBook - Other Options? I am not keen on having a note book hooked up everytime to my audio for listening - seems as if it may be a bit of a mistmatch (cosmetics...), but also because I already own a PC based notebook and would not otherwise be thinking of upgrading it right now. But I would like to hear any thoughts on this option from others who have used/considered it. I do see the convenience of having a screen and keypad right there... Are there other appropriate options that I am completely missing? I assume the digital output of the Macbook via Toslink would be the same as that of the Mac Mini and the IMac? Also, I have seen the Wadia Idock - I do not like the fact that I may have to control it though the Ipod connected to the dock - but I understand it is a nice piece of equipment with Coaxial Digital Out. What is by the way the max digital output from the Ipod Touch (24/96?) Are there other benefits to the dock setup that I might be missing? Sorry for the long winded questions. I would very much appreciate any info or suggestions you might offer, before taking the plunge deep into this new area.