Computer Audiophile

I'll look forward to the read

James

quote:

Originally posted by George Johnson:
Tog,

To be credible you need to get the punctuation correct, and the computer thing is already there even for non-geeks like me! Mine was set up for me! Though I have enough savee to keep it going and fix minor issues. ...


ATB from George

Ouch ... Sense of humour?

The irony for me is that I've been messing with computer audio for over five years and seen it change from being looked down on by the hifi mafia as the pursuit of cloth eared lunatics to being accepted as being an at least half credible future for the industry.

What really scares the traditionalists is that CA alters the whole dynamic of an industry where product life cycles used to be measured in decades.

The blunt truth is that Naim have embraced streaming and servers for their long term survival.

I have an expensive wind up chronograph watch - but I don't tell everyone it keeps better time than a good quartz movement because it doesn't.

Tog



I

Dear Tog,

I have got a couple of lovely old watches. An 1880s Benson weighing in at about three ounces of guilt-brass and silver, and a 1905 Eterna with a military nickel case! The Benson will tick a healthy 30 hours before running down, while the military Eterna will run for 40 hours, which is exeptional. They both keep reasonable time [usually within a minute in a week, though the cold weather will cause them to race forward sometimes, even by as much as a minute a day], and they do require a certain amount of attention to regulation with the changing seasons! But they are great because they both have two inch diameter white enamel dials - are clear from several feet! A valuable point if digital displays or small wrist watch faces are a challenge for the eyesight!

I can see a wrist-watch dial easily, if I change glasses!

As for computer audio, surely many of the new devices like the HDX and so on are basically computers dedicated to a very limited number of functions, and optimised for these?

The days of spinning discs like CDs as a primary source are surely numbered?

For replay I use a bog standard PC with Windows XP and iTunes [files held as ALAC] coupled to a simply and inexpensive USB DAC. I love the simplicity, quality, easy interface, and bomb-proof results. Much less fragile than direct CD replay, and access is very much faster and easier than finding a missing CD!

ATB from George

PS: For your visual pleasure, though the photo is not great. The Benson is on the left and is keywind and set, with a double Albert chain while the Eterna is crownwind and set with a single Albert in nickel to match the case. Strangely the Eterna is probably worth more!

Fantastic watches.

Lovely objects in their own right just as a Gyrodeck or LP12 are aesthetically beautiful but we wouldn't argue that they are the most accurate way of telling the time or playing music.

I agree with you the LP and CD are legacy forms of packaging music - although I suspect the LP will last longer than those nasty silver disks in their "jewel"
plastic cases.

Computer audio is developing fast, eroding margins wilst undermining the certainties and preconceptions of the audio world.

Oh and you are quite right - the UnitiServe is just a computer built with high quality bits.

Tog

Two great movements:

Firstly the 1905 Swiss Eterna:



And then the 1880s Benson large patern Ludgate, made in England of course!



And like the LP12, neither are nearly so fine in precision as the modern electronic methods, but unlike the LP method they retain functionality for me, because they are so easy to use with no more fuss than winding them and checking daily against the time signal at six pm! I only adjust once the watch is more than a minute fast. In reality the swoop as they gain most of a minute in the first twelve hours after winding and then loosing it again in the second twelve hours is not nearly so ruinous as the pitch instability and distortions inevitable with LPs! The Eterna swoops less as a result of it having such a massive spring. And the Benson is set about as fast as it can be on the regulator to keep good time, but both tick vigorously. I suspect the Benson is due for a complete service, as it should be running nearer the centre on the regulator. It is made with even more finesse than the Eterna with its jewels [not many visible because there are three plates to the movement, and not just two, which hides most of what is going on] are set in removable "chatons."

The Eterna is very tough [made for the British War Department, but this one was never issued], and I use it daily. The Benson has a rather soft silver case which would not stand much pressure, so it my "Sunday best" watch ...

ATB from George

Hi George -

Beautiful time pieces. Amazing to think of the craftsmanship it took to make them.

About the only thing of value I inherited from my Father was a gold Omega Seamaster from the late 40's. A beautiful object. And it keeps perfect time......in the drawer where it is always kept.

I cannot think of anyone I know who still wears a watch (though I do understand how it helps given your poor vision). I think if you ask 99 out of 100 people what time it is, they would get out their cell phone.

Hook

quote:

Posted Sat 08 January 2011 21:49 Hide Post
Hi George -

Beautiful time pieces. Amazing to think of the craftsmanship it took to make them.

About the only thing of value I inherited from my Father was a gold Omega Seamaster from the late 40's. A beautiful object. And it keeps perfect time......in the drawer where it is always kept.

I cannot think of anyone I know who still wears a watch (though I do understand how it helps given your poor vision). I think if you ask 99 out of 100 people what time it is, they would get out their cell phone.

Hook

Wow. Different crowd than me. I think almsot everyone I know wears one. We do have those new fangled things also but nobody I know flips it out when asked the time. Fast crowd you're in...*s*.
By the way that sounds like a beautiful keepsake and I'll bet seeing it brings back memories.
Dave

quote:

A Question is it me or does the whole download culture leave you cold as it does me. I have tried all the various bit rates and still find the production of music to be cold no where near the reproduction of Vinyl or CD. I consider that I have a good set up but still prefer the sound from CD players and Turntables. I recently put a selection of CD's on my imac and feel that it was a total waste of time. Maybe i'm missing something

Well at least you don't have to keep thinking about this crazy part of hifi then. If you dig your disks and records then heck...play on. I happen to dig this new hard drive based digital age we are being thrust into (not at first I wasn't though) and see and hear it as new life for music in general. To me, anything that can re-kindle someones interest in music and have them exploring anew is good by me. Strike a match, light the fire.

The best thing is that there is so much choice. What's wrong with that? Just use what you prefer. I've gone over to streaming and serving. This has not entailed abandoning anything and has given me more musical enjoyment per day than I've ever had. As has been said already, there's no substitute or enhancement for properly recorded and produced source material. Where we go from there is up to each of us. In conversation with Helen last night we agreed in principle that if/when we get the house extended and this gives us a new listening room, we will haul our 600 LPs out of the loft and buy a turntable. Not to replace anything, but because we just can. The lead time is years. But we still have the choice. Isn't that wonderful?

Absolutely right.

We are moving forward, trying new things and asking new questions. That doesn't mean ignoring all the things that worked well beforehand.

Tog