Keeping my options open as I take my first steps in DA

Listen the CD standard over AE is just fine.
And, since dogma rules, I can confirm that the AE sounds better than mac/optical.

Don't worry about it, the AE is is a wonderful piece of kit, and you won't be disappointed.

quote:

Originally posted by likesmusic:

Not if you intend ripping to Apple Lossless. Apple lossless is just that, lossless. So once you've selected Apple Lossless to rip to, there is nothing else to set.

Thanks.

So, since CDs are limited to 44/16 is it accurate to say there are no audible gains to be had using 44/24? Hopefully I'm interpreting this correctly.

I don't mind purchasing the Mac Mini but I already have the a AE and if there are no audible gains to be had using the Mac Mini I'll hold off.

There are audible/stability gains to be had with a mini full stop.

But an express is good fun.

But a mini is far far better.

But an express is cheaper

But a mini can be set to do all sorts of things for you.

But an express uses less electric

etc etc

Novelty - your biggest investment is going to be the time it takes to re-rip 1000 cds. Why not start by ripping a few into Apple lossless. See if your Airport Express gives you reliable and pleasurable performance into your Supernait DAC. Get the Remote App for your Touch and see how you like that - it turns the Touch into a snazzy remote control for iTunes. So far you will have spent no money, and learned some. If your ambitions are for a NAIM DAC note that nobody has yes established whether an Express (or for that matter a Macbook or Mini) has sufficiently low jitter to keep Sync with the DAC, so I would be inclined to wait until that issue is resolved before going much further and buying more hardware.

I have already done some testing at lossless with AE. the only issues i have is my CDSII still sounds far superior.

If I can get audible gains with a Mac Mini, I'll get it.

Btw, the midi out settings on the macbook are at 96/24. Hopefully this is ideal.

quote:

Originally posted by novelty:
I have already done some testing at lossless with AE. the only issues i have is my CDSII still sounds far superior.

I figure that is what you will find about the AE. It is fun but it is just toy. Btw, you can experiment with 96/24 but you will find that 44.1/24 sounds superior. Trust me.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter Dinh:

quote:

Originally posted by novelty:
I have already done some testing at lossless with AE. the only issues i have is my CDSII still sounds far superior.

I figure that is what you will find about the AE. It is fun but it is just toy. Btw, you can experiment with 96/24 but you will find that 44.1/24 sounds superior. Trust me.

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter Dinh:
Btw, you can experiment with 96/24 but you will find that 44.1/24 sounds superior. Trust me.

That is pure folly. Trust you? Never.

quote:

Originally posted by pcstockton:

quote:

Originally posted by Peter Dinh:
Btw, you can experiment with 96/24 but you will find that 44.1/24 sounds superior. Trust me.

That is pure folly. Trust you? Never.

Yeah right! Never trust some Peter Dinh! But this is funny, I actually find nearly (if not) all of your posts are silly, no offense intended, LOL.

none taken,
I am glad i can brighten your days.

Your truly,
Patrick

quote:

Originally posted by Peter Dinh:

quote:

Originally posted by novelty:
I have already done some testing at lossless with AE. the only issues i have is my CDSII still sounds far superior.

I figure that is what you will find about the AE. It is fun but it is just toy. Btw, you can experiment with 96/24 but you will find that 44.1/24 sounds superior. Trust me.

I take it that's trust as in the same way we trust our politicians?

Can't really understand why you're fudging this issue, there's no point moving from the existing format until hires expands beyond the handful of titles available. You're just being mischievous.

garyi, I did compare the same track going through the AE to my DAC then through the mac directly, and actually found the AE slightly more to my liking - a touch warmer, that's all - but there wasn't a lot of difference and on some listenings couldn't detect any. However, stuck with the mac direct more because I'm not happy with too many wireless devices around the place.

Oh, and, Peter Dinh, the AE is anything but a toy. Its been instrumental in starting the the wifi/dac revolution, but then you know that as I suspect you're being deliberately contentious.

Incidentally you can change as many settings as you want in midi setup but it only effects things connected directly to the mac, the express outputs what it outputs and thats that.

Any changes you'd recommend in particular? I've not changed anything, by the way.

Novelty ,
As you say , you have already done some testing with ripping to Lossless . The first step is to find ripping software you are comfortable with and after each session of disks make sure you back up your progress to another hard drive .I use a Buffalo NAS drive as my main storage but also have a Lacie drive as back up just in case .

quote:

Originally posted by novelty:
I have already done some testing at lossless with AE. the only issues i have is my CDSII still sounds far superior.

If I can get audible gains with a Mac Mini, I'll get it.

Btw, the midi out settings on the macbook are at 96/24. Hopefully this is ideal.

I would say the main limitation of the AE plus SuperNait is going to be the DAC section of the SuperNait vs the analogue output of your CDS3. You may possibly get better results with MacMini and FireWire interface to SPDIF (e.g. TC Konnekt 8) otherwise you'll need to be looking at better DAC. It's a question of balancing budget; sound quality and convinienc.

Eloise

P.S. When using the MacMini a the output device (either via inbuilt TOSLink or FireWire interface) best to set the Audio Midi settings to the same rate as the files you are playing BEFORE starting iTunes - though the SRC on a Mac an be acceptible for casual listening. Another improvement may be using Amarra as your playback software (though this is an expensive option).

'Mini' Amarra is £250, but I think it only samples up to 24/96?

quote:

Originally posted by DHT:
'Mini' Amarra is £250, but I think it only samples up to 24/96?

You are correct DHT Amarra Mini is limited to 24/96. Full Amarra supports 24/192

Eloise

quote:

Originally posted by garyi:
Incidentally you can change as many settings as you want in midi setup but it only effects things connected directly to the mac, the express outputs what it outputs and thats that.

That makes sense.

I'm still trying to get my head around all the source paths and waypoints.

quote:

Originally posted by AS332:
Novelty ,
As you say , you have already done some testing with ripping to Lossless . The first step is to find ripping software you are comfortable with and after each session of disks make sure you back up your progress to another hard drive .I use a Buffalo NAS drive as my main storage but also have a Lacie drive as back up just in case .

I was planning on using iTunes through the macbook pro to re-rip my library and it will reside on the Lacie drive.

quote:

Originally posted by Eloise:
I would say the main limitation of the AE plus SuperNait is going to be the DAC section of the SuperNait vs the analogue output of your CDS3. You may possibly get better results with MacMini and FireWire interface to SPDIF (e.g. TC Konnekt 8) otherwise you'll need to be looking at better DAC. It's a question of balancing budget; sound quality and convinienc.

Eloise

P.S. When using the MacMini a the output device (either via inbuilt TOSLink or FireWire interface) best to set the Audio Midi settings to the same rate as the files you are playing BEFORE starting iTunes - though the SRC on a Mac an be acceptible for casual listening. Another improvement may be using Amarra as your playback software (though this is an expensive option).

I suppose this is the heart of the matter. Currently I see streaming as an entertainment alternative when I don't feel like fussing with the single play top loader of the CDSII. But having only dabbled so far I'm already seeing the opportunities.

The thought of having CDSII-like sonics with the ease of access of i-Tunes is simply staggering to me.

Novelty, I am not sure whether this has been covered in the thread already, but the 'Amarra' software automatically senses and changes the sample rate , so you don't have to stop itunes go into audio midi etc,
I use a mac and dac and ipod touch and I am extremely happy with the sound.

wow, $1000 US for Amarra?

does this make sense when I'm limited the abilities of the SN DAC?

Amarra is hilariously expensive and sold to chumps willing to pay 1000 bucks for an eq.

Gary

quote:

Amarra is hilariously expensive and sold to chumps willing to pay 1000 bucks for an eq.

Good to see that you have such an open mind on this.

Jim

Hmm well the 'mini' version is £250, and this chump likes it very much, presumably Gary hasn't.