Gapless playback

Posted by: Foxman50 on 18 June 2012

Im sure this is has an obvious answer but can someone explain the term "gapless playback" with respect to network streaming. It seems to be mentioned as an issue for certain streamers, and im wondering what it means.

Posted on: 18 June 2012 by james n

It's just the ability to play tracks that are meant to flow together - ie a classical album, live album etc without one track stopping, quick pause, next track playing.

Posted on: 18 June 2012 by Foxman50

Thanks James. Thought it would be something more significant than that judging by the issues some make of it. Oh well each to their own. Thanks again

Posted on: 19 June 2012 by Peter_RN

Originally Posted by Foxman50:

Thanks James. Thought it would be something more significant than that judging by the issues some make of it. Oh well each to their own. Thanks again

If you listen to an Opera, Cosi Fan Tutte is playing here at the moment, and the tracks are changing in what sounds like the middle of a passage that you might think should be a single track. The music flows totally seamlessly, a gap of any length would very strange indeed.

Peter

Posted on: 19 June 2012 by James L

Any album with segue's need gapless playback.

I used to think gapless, yeah whatever.... But stops/starts on certain albums started to bug me.

So yeah, gapless should be an essential feature.

Posted on: 19 June 2012 by Foxman50

Maybe i will be eating humble pie. Only had my ND5 a few days and still ripping CD's to NAS. Looking at it i may be here some time, 30 years i calculate at this rate. I doesn't sound that important but maybe because ive not heard the issue yet. Will rip something and see. Love the ND5 its a fantastic unit

Posted on: 19 June 2012 by Redmires

Try the b-side of Abbey Road. It should be against the law to allow it to be played with gaps.

Posted on: 19 June 2012 by Chief Chirpa

I can't believe this is still an issue for anyone. iTunes must've had gapless playback for at least five or six years now.

Posted on: 19 June 2012 by Bertie Norman

Originally Posted by Chief Chirpa:

I can't believe this is still an issue for anyone. iTunes must've had gapless playback for at least five or six years now.

There was a review of a streamer in a recent issue of the Gramophone - can't remember the manufacturer but this didn't offer gapless playback so if anyone has bought this kit gapless playback will be an issue . It should be standard for all streamers and all formats.

Posted on: 19 June 2012 by James L

I have Amarra HiFi. Excellent codec with how it integrates with itunes except for no gapless.

So I use Fidelia Advanced day to day which isn't as seamless with itunes as Amarra but it has gapless.

Posted on: 20 June 2012 by antmast

THERE IS GAPLESS PLAYBACK ON THE NAIM UNITS OR APPS. At the top near the playbutton you will see a button that looks like an elongated X. If you enable/disable it, unfortunately I can't remember which, you will play gapless. I can play all my operas and ballets perfectly.