JoshT

rickca and jabbr, Thanks!

Sorry for the newbie questions on network streaming, but here goes . . . I only just discovered that our condominium is wired for ethernet. There are three jacks (living room, bedroom and study) and they are wired, but they end at a junction box in a closet and are not connected. I'm embarrassed to say I'd thought the jacks were just dummies all along because the wires were pushed down into a cavity in the closet and were just "discovered" by a Comcast tech who was here for something else. Until now, I've been using a dedicated MacMini hooked directly to a DAC in the living room. For streaming to the bedroom system, I have been using wifi to an Apple Express. The only streaming services we use are Spotify at 320mbps and Pandora One at 192mbps and most of the files on our DAC are ripped CDs. But now I'd like to set things up with a dedicated server/network player connected to a wired network that can stream high resolution files to the living room and bedroom. My question is, I see on my Comcast account our internet services is described as "Blast!® Internet" (with download speeds up to 250 Mbps). The tech from Comcast said we could update to a plan with up to 455 Mbps using our current modem, and to 1Gig with a new modem. But also, our condo was built back in 2000-2001 and the tech from Comcast said the ethernet cables were likely CAT5. No way do I want to rewire the whole thing. Would that combination support a system that could stream Tidal or Qubuz via ethernet to two rooms with good sound and no dropouts? The cable length shouldn't be super long (our place is about 1425 square feet, so I doubt any one of the cables is close to 100 feet). And, if faster is better, how fast an internet service would CAT5 reliably handle?

Hello Everyone. Been awhile since I’ve visited CA! I am considering either an N100H, N100C or A10 and have a few questions: 1. Can these products stream to multiple endpoints for a multi room system? I’ve been assuming the answer is yes, but realized I’m not sure I’ve seen that question addressed For example, could I use the Aurender in my main system when I’m in that room, and then stream to a network ready DAC in another room when I’m in the other room (or an Ethernet player that outputs to a DAC by USB or S/PDIF)? 2. Has anyone compared the SQ of the N100H, N100C (by S/PDIF) and A10. I kind of like the all in one solution of the A10 since I need a new DAC anyway. Thanks in advance.

Hi Chris - it happens whether plugged in or running on the battery. Just double checked.

I'll check those links out. There is an awful lot to learn in this hobby! The two CDs at issue are: 1. Artur Rubinstein, Nocturne (BMG); and 2. Gordon Fergus-Thompson, Scriabin Complete Piano Works, vol. 5, The Preludes (ASV Digital). At least the Rubinstein CD is only 12 tracks, so I'll just input the correct tracks manually, but the Fergus-Thompson CD has 48 tracks (!!), so I think I'm just not going to bother.

I have been ripping my CDs to iTunes for about a month now, and today for the first time I noticed that the track descriptions were wrong on TWO CDs I inserted. The name of the CD, artist, composer and even artwork was all correct, but the tracks were totally random. One one, the first 15 were correct, but the remaining 27 were wrong. On the other they were all wrong. Strange that this would happen twice in one day. I assume it's an iTunes importing issue, or could it be incorrect metadata on the discs themselves?

Not sure how to do a screen shot! Here is some information. Is this what you're looking for? USB Bus: Host Controller Location: Built-in USB Host Controller Driver: AppleUSBOHCI PCI Device ID: 0x0aa5 PCI Revision ID: 0x00b1 PCI Vendor ID: 0x10de Bus Number: 0x04 Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad: Product ID: 0x0223 Vendor ID: 0x05ac (Apple Inc.) Version: 0.73 Speed: Up to 12 Mb/sec Manufacturer: Apple Inc. Location ID: 0x04600000 Current Available (mA): 500 Current Required (mA): 40 IR Receiver: Product ID: 0x8242 Vendor ID: 0x05ac (Apple Inc.) Version: 0.16 Speed: Up to 1.5 Mb/sec Manufacturer: Apple Computer, Inc. Location ID: 0x04500000 Current Available (mA): 500 Current Required (mA): 100 USB Bus: Host Controller Location: Built-in USB Host Controller Driver: AppleUSBOHCI PCI Device ID: 0x0aa7 PCI Revision ID: 0x00b1 PCI Vendor ID: 0x10de Bus Number: 0x06 BRCM2046 Hub: Product ID: 0x4500 Vendor ID: 0x0a5c (Broadcom Corp.) Version: 1.00 Speed: Up to 12 Mb/sec Manufacturer: Apple Inc. Location ID: 0x06100000 Current Available (mA): 500 Current Required (mA): 0 Bluetooth USB Host Controller: Product ID: 0x8216 Vendor ID: 0x05ac (Apple Inc.) Version: 1.80 Serial Number: 90840DF3EFAD Speed: Up to 12 Mb/sec Manufacturer: Apple Inc. Location ID: 0x06110000 Current Available (mA): 500 Current Required (mA): 0 USB High-Speed Bus: Host Controller Location: Built-in USB Host Controller Driver: AppleUSBEHCI PCI Device ID: 0x0aa6 PCI Revision ID: 0x00b1 PCI Vendor ID: 0x10de Bus Number: 0x24 Built-in iSight: Product ID: 0x8505 Vendor ID: 0x05ac (Apple Inc.) Version: 3.19 Serial Number: 8HA1504NE2DM3L00 Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec Manufacturer: Apple Inc. Location ID: 0x24400000 Current Available (mA): 500 Current Required (mA): 500

This is last year's MacBook Air and it apparently has only one USB 2.0 port. There is another port that looks like a peripheral USB port (the "B" side?), but I think it's the DVI display port (whatever that is) based on looking at the specs page. I think the only way to use ethernet is to use a USB to ethernet adapter in the same port. I mostly stream to an Airport Express from my iMac anyway, and plan on getting a MacMini if I decide to go USB, so this isn't a big deal, but it's puzzling me. There are no drop outs from the USB, just about 5 to 10 seconds of bad static before everything clears up, and only after touching the touch pad.

When I use the USB out from the MacBook Air, I get terrible static for about 10 seconds each time I touch the touch pad. The static then suddenly disappears and all sounds fine. Sometimes the problem does not repeat itself after an hour or so of play time, but usually it happens each time I touch the touch pad. This does not happen when I stream to the AEx that is separately connected to my DAC by mini-Toslink to Toslink. The DAC is a Music Hall DAC25.3 and I am using a generic USB cable. Any thoughts on the source of the problem? I posted the same question over on the PC Audio forum at AA a week ago but received no responses.

Hi Jose, If I am reading the specs list correctly on the link to your receiver, it should handle incoming 24/192 signals that are output from your MacMini using a mini-Toslink to Toslink cable from the mini-jack. I believe the Music Hall DAC25.3 would also do that. The 24/96 limitation on the Music Hall is for the USB connection only. Enjoy. Josh

Hi Jose, I think the suggestion of getting an external DAC eventually is probably a good one, but I would at least initially just get a mini-Toslink to Toslink cable and plug the Mac Mini directly into your Yamaha. I bet it will sound quite good and, after awhile, you can always easily upgrade to an external DAC. I have music streaming from iTunes on my iMac to two different systems: 1. To my HT system, I have an AppleTV connected to my Rotel RSP1060 processor using Toslink. Because my Rotel is about 8 years old, it does not have HDMI inputs, but I have the HDMI cable going to the TV for video only (I don't use the TV speakers anyway). It sounds very nice. I hesitate to get an external DAC at this point for that system because it all works together quite well. 2. To my stereo only system, I have an AirPort express connected to a Music Hall DAC25.3 by mini-Toslink to Toslink and the DAC25.3 connected by analog interconnects to my integrated amp (a Conrad Johnson CA200). Of course the stereo only system sounds nicer, and I can recommend the Music Hall as a fantastic DAC for $595, but my CJ is an expensive amp with a passive preamp section and highly neutral and resolving. In fact, I'm probably short changing it with the Music Hall, but this is my foray into the hobby and I am really enjoying it. For the HT system, the internal DAC in the Rotel is just fine, and I would suspect the DAC in your Yamaha will sound fine for that level of receiver too. It's at least worth giving it some time and getting used to how things work before spending more money on another piece of equipment and more cables. At least in my opinion. Regards, Josh P.S. This is my first ever post on CA. You should feel honored! :-)