Improving the MP3 sound
Posted by: mozzer502 on 03 September 2009
Hey Folks
I need some advice. There's some really basic basic questions in here, and some stuff I'm trying to do that I'm sure lots of you will object to. However, I have a very real need, and, even though I've spent days reading all sorts of forums, including this one, I've no idea how to accomplish my desires.
I'm currently refurbishing my basement so I have a great opportunity to bury cables, move power outlets, reposition furniture etc.
What I want to do, is get the best sound possible from my hi-fi, but I'm going to strangle it at its core. I'm going to pump MP3 in to it.
I currently have the NAIM NAC92 & NAP90 pre and power amp combination taking CD source from the NAIM NACD3-5, and pumping it out through two Royd Doublet beasts. The sound is large, brassy, and I love it. Really really love it.
Of course, the system is getting a little old, but I don't want to upgrade it for a simple need to have something new and shinny. I will upgrade it, if and only if, I really need to. I know it was designed way before the digital age I'm asking it to play in, so maybe that will be the reason to upgrade.
When not listening to CDs, I use MP3s that I stream in to the system via a Roku Soundbridge M2000. It picks up compressed MP3s from my Mac and pumps them in to the pre-amp. The sound is not so bad as to be unbearable, but you certainly are aware that you're missing a lot of range.
My plan to improve the sound quality is two fold. Firstly for the music that I own the originals of, I intend to re-rip in FLAC or WAV, that at least should mean I get some of the range back. For the rest of the stuff, stuff that has mysteriously arrived on my computer
, I need to fake the "big sound".
I was thinking I could switch the Roku for a Logitech Squeezebox Transporter to get the very best extraction technology, and then pump that in to a value amp to fake the warmth. Will this be worth the investment? Can I somehow wire the value amp in to my NAIM existing AMP combo so that I have one pre-amp for the CDs and another for the digital files?
If you can help me solve that riddle then the next one is easy. (Recommendations on value amps greatly appreciated.)
Once I've got nice sounding music playing again, I intend to add video. Right now the plan is to keep the Doublets and NAIM gear for music only, and to double up on amps and speakers for the TV system. Of course, this is a lot of boxes for little gain but I'm not sure I can push a decent vid signal through my NAIM. For one thing, it only has left and right outputs and I'm going to want a 5 or 7 speakers TV system. Any thoughts?
Also, for those that like spoon feeding the basics, I can't decide if I should be aiming for 5 or 7 speakers. Thoughts?
Many thanks in advance.
Andy
(This cry for help is also cross-posted to the Home Theatre and Hi-Fi Corner forums)
I need some advice. There's some really basic basic questions in here, and some stuff I'm trying to do that I'm sure lots of you will object to. However, I have a very real need, and, even though I've spent days reading all sorts of forums, including this one, I've no idea how to accomplish my desires.
I'm currently refurbishing my basement so I have a great opportunity to bury cables, move power outlets, reposition furniture etc.
What I want to do, is get the best sound possible from my hi-fi, but I'm going to strangle it at its core. I'm going to pump MP3 in to it.
I currently have the NAIM NAC92 & NAP90 pre and power amp combination taking CD source from the NAIM NACD3-5, and pumping it out through two Royd Doublet beasts. The sound is large, brassy, and I love it. Really really love it.
Of course, the system is getting a little old, but I don't want to upgrade it for a simple need to have something new and shinny. I will upgrade it, if and only if, I really need to. I know it was designed way before the digital age I'm asking it to play in, so maybe that will be the reason to upgrade.
When not listening to CDs, I use MP3s that I stream in to the system via a Roku Soundbridge M2000. It picks up compressed MP3s from my Mac and pumps them in to the pre-amp. The sound is not so bad as to be unbearable, but you certainly are aware that you're missing a lot of range.
My plan to improve the sound quality is two fold. Firstly for the music that I own the originals of, I intend to re-rip in FLAC or WAV, that at least should mean I get some of the range back. For the rest of the stuff, stuff that has mysteriously arrived on my computer
, I need to fake the "big sound".I was thinking I could switch the Roku for a Logitech Squeezebox Transporter to get the very best extraction technology, and then pump that in to a value amp to fake the warmth. Will this be worth the investment? Can I somehow wire the value amp in to my NAIM existing AMP combo so that I have one pre-amp for the CDs and another for the digital files?
If you can help me solve that riddle then the next one is easy. (Recommendations on value amps greatly appreciated.)
Once I've got nice sounding music playing again, I intend to add video. Right now the plan is to keep the Doublets and NAIM gear for music only, and to double up on amps and speakers for the TV system. Of course, this is a lot of boxes for little gain but I'm not sure I can push a decent vid signal through my NAIM. For one thing, it only has left and right outputs and I'm going to want a 5 or 7 speakers TV system. Any thoughts?
Also, for those that like spoon feeding the basics, I can't decide if I should be aiming for 5 or 7 speakers. Thoughts?
Many thanks in advance.
Andy
(This cry for help is also cross-posted to the Home Theatre and Hi-Fi Corner forums)