The Trends Audio UD-10.1 USB audio converter is a really good product that allows audiophiles to get into the music server game for next to nothing. This USB audio converter can take a USB input signal from a PC or Mac and output bit perfect coax, optical, or AES digital audio. Whether you have an existing external DAC or an AV receiver with an open digital input, the Trends Audio UD-10.1 can bridge the gap between your computer and the rest of your system. At less than $170 you can't go wrong with one of these converters.
Just when you thought physical media was dead, here comes the Ultimate Disc from First Impression Music. Winston Ma has taken the compact disc further than I could ever imagine (and them some). Here is a quick explanation from FIM, "UD means the “Ultimate Disc”, which is a combination of a 24 K gold CD with Resonance Control Coating (RCC), directly burnt from the master disc/hard drive one at a time, then, washed by de-ionized water and finally dynamically balanced and tested with an average block error rate lower than 5 (Industry standard is 220)." Read more for the incredible details surrounding these discs.
The Computer Audiophile Suggested Hardware list is a real-time list of hardware, and a little software, that Computer Audiophile recommends. There is no need to wait every six months for an update or even wait for a monthly refresh of recommendations. When a product deserves to make this list it's added immediately. Most products on the list have been reviewed or used here at Computer Audiophile. In some circumstances products will be added based on recommendations from very respected neutral sources. Computer Audiophile does not "rubber stamp" its approval on components from advertisers or any other product representative. Our list is wide open to reader comments. This openness shows our integrity and should instill a high level of reader confidence in the selections. Consider the Computer Audiophile Suggested Hardware (CASH) list as the most up to date source for excellent high-end audio music server hardware, and a little software. Without further ado here is the CASH list.
If you're looking for some basic information on a Squeezebox Duet or Apple TV, and some very basic diagrams check out the newest issue of the Abso!ute Sound magazine. It covers some convenience products for music servers.
Hey everyone I have good news and bad news. First the bad news. The power transformer behind Computer Audiophile just exploded! Seriously, it shot flames for yards! Now the good news. Nobody got hurt, no property was damaged and we're getting a new upgraded power transformer. A true Audiophile would start writing the new v. old transformer review right now. I think I'll pass.
Good thing I got my new iPhone 3G yesterday. I'm posting from little keyboard right now. I'll be back as soon as we have power :-)
"...These differences in density differentials may reflect similar changes in stiffness distributions, which could directly impact vibrational efficacy or indirectly modify sound radiation via altered damping characteristics. Either of these mechanisms may help explain the acoustical differences between the..." You may be surprised to hear what this discussion is all about. If you're a high-end audio skeptic this may make you think differently.
As one of the founding fathers I would like to announce the Audiophile Wiki has been launched! Those of you familiar with other Internet Wiki sites will no doubt be a fan of this one. Audiophiles unfamiliar with the whole Wiki concept can think of this as an encyclopedia of all things related to audio. The one huge benefit of a Wiki is its open access for everyone to create and edit entries. Read more for further details.
I've long thought the "Bentley" of music server remote controls is a separate laptop to use from your listening chair. Most people will rule out this option simply because of the cost. Surely a new laptop is a little spendy to use solely as a remote, but you can pick up a used MacBook fairly cheap on eBay these days. Or, you can buy a Mac Mini to use as your music server and transition your MacBook from music server to remote control for even less money. Having a MacBook as a remote control makes the Mac Mini a very user friendly choice for a music server. Windows users are also in luck as I've included a very simple PC based solution this time. With laptop remotes you have the option of checking a little email and surfing the Internet while listening. Maybe you'll even download a new high resolution album from HDtracks and copy it over to your music server without leaving your listening position. This beats getting up to flip the vinyl to side B any day.
The quest for the ultimate audiophile system is now complete. At least the part where I find the best system I have ever heard. Certainly not the part where I pay for it and take delivery! I listened to this spectacular system on a tour of Audio Research Corporation. The funny thing is, we spent more time talking about the non-ARC pieces of the system than we did the ARC components that were made right outside the listening room. The reasons for this are simple. A system with all Audio Research components speaks for itself. No wonder ARC doesn't advertise much, if ever. In addition, ARC components are so transparent the only possible adjustments you'd want to make are cables, speakers, and power conditioning. Join me for a look inside this legendary American high end audio equipment manufacturer.
Bits, bytes, blocks, Linear Pulse Code Modulation, Fraunhöfer, etc ... I don't know about you but I'd rather listen to music than talk about these topics in "engineering" detail. Five days ago I posted a link in the "Uncompressed v. Lossless Compression" thread here on CA to John Atkinson's article titled "MP3 vs AAC vs FLAC vs CD." The article is pretty interesting especially for those of us computer audiophile's. What I find very uninteresting are the Internet conversations about the article that go into too much detail over the bits and bytes of each codec. I have purposely avoided going into that kind of detail in my posts here on computer Audiophile. I think it is very boring and dry and only leads to confusion and unwarranted confrontation.
