Downloading "Hi Def" Music

Posted by: Russ on 18 September 2012

I am now attempting to educate myself on the basics--(the how-to)-- of downloading what I will call "Hi Def" music (by which I mean CD quality on up).  But first a question about ripping CD s:

 

I know that when I rip a CD onto a computer file, using a PC, I need to do so with adequate software--such as dbpoweramp.  Q: Am I correct that Windows Media Player is not adequate to rip CD s into CD quality or higher?  I realize that if I use either a VTB Appliance or a Unitiserve, I don't need to worry about this and the rip is relatively seamless.

 

Now to downloads.  I have done my research so far only on the Naimlabel website under FAQ.  "How do I download files?"  The explanation is straightforward and almost clear to me--but my confidence level in my understanding is not high.

 

First, I understand from this web page that I do not need a "Download Manager" such as Orbit Downloader, but that if I am going to download multiple files or an entire album, this would be very helpful.  So what I THINK I am hearing is that I could select a Naim label album, select a track from that, and download it straight to my PC and pop it into a file, say on a USB stick, then schlepp it over to my Superuniti and play it from the USB port--and I will automatically get the highest bit rate, sampling speed, etc. that I paid for.  Am I missing anything? 

 

Again, it is my understanding that a download manager would help me downloading  tracks, albums, and artwork together.  I think I've got that. 

 

I assume if I tried to play these files using either ITunes or Windows Media Player, I would not get the full SQ I paid for.  Am I right so far?

 

Next the website tells me:

 

 "You can often use other networked media players to connect to this music library and playback the files though your hi-fi system thus exploiting the full audio resolution of the files you have purchased from the Naim Hi Definition Download Store."

 

I THINK this is telling me that once I have the music downloaded to a file that is seen by something like either the US or the VTB Appliance via UPnP, then that device can serve it to the Superuniti in high def format.  True?

 

I hold in my hand the last question: Assuming a Unitiserve or a Vortexbox Appliance has files of different codcs loaded all over it (I realize the US has different areas for rips vs downloads), when it serves them to the streamer section of the Superuniti or any other streamer, does the equipment recognize the file type and codec automatically?  I.e., is that transparent to the listener?

 

Thanks, as always for the lesson I am about to receive  ,

 

Russ

Posted on: 19 September 2012 by Claus-Thoegersen

HI,

On the Naim site you buy an album, but you decide the quality of that album, everything from mp3 quality

up to 24 bit is available, cd and 24 bit are available as either flac or wav files. Wave can as I remember it be played by both Media player and Itunes. Flac cannot, but you can find a small extra program that will allow Windows Media player to play flac files.

When a upnp server is setup and the device can see the music it takes care of the rest, but different servers can stream different formats, but I am sure all used upnp servers talked about on this forum can stream both mp3 wave and flac files.

On the Naim site and  on b&w sosiaty of sound, they use  a special download applications, but they can only be run on Windows machines. On sosiaty of sound they make downloading of albums much easier for people without the downloader since you download the entire album in a zip file.

 Hdtracks uses a Java downloader that can run both on  Windows and Macs.

Claus

 

Posted on: 19 September 2012 by Forester
Originally Posted by Russ:

I am now attempting to educate myself on the basics--(the how-to)-- of downloading what I will call "Hi Def" music (by which I mean CD quality on up).  But first a question about ripping CD s:

 

I know that when I rip a CD onto a computer file, using a PC, I need to do so with adequate software--such as dbpoweramp.  Q: Am I correct that Windows Media Player is not adequate to rip CD s into CD quality or higher?  I realize that if I use either a VTB Appliance or a Unitiserve, I don't need to worry about this and the rip is relatively seamless.

 

Now to downloads.  I have done my research so far only on the Naimlabel website under FAQ.  "How do I download files?"  The explanation is straightforward and almost clear to me--but my confidence level in my understanding is not high.

 

First, I understand from this web page that I do not need a "Download Manager" such as Orbit Downloader, but that if I am going to download multiple files or an entire album, this would be very helpful.  So what I THINK I am hearing is that I could select a Naim label album, select a track from that, and download it straight to my PC and pop it into a file, say on a USB stick, then schlepp it over to my Superuniti and play it from the USB port--and I will automatically get the highest bit rate, sampling speed, etc. that I paid for.  Am I missing anything? 

 

Again, it is my understanding that a download manager would help me downloading  tracks, albums, and artwork together.  I think I've got that. 

 

I assume if I tried to play these files using either ITunes or Windows Media Player, I would not get the full SQ I paid for.  Am I right so far?

 

Next the website tells me:

 

 "You can often use other networked media players to connect to this music library and playback the files though your hi-fi system thus exploiting the full audio resolution of the files you have purchased from the Naim Hi Definition Download Store."

 

I THINK this is telling me that once I have the music downloaded to a file that is seen by something like either the US or the VTB Appliance via UPnP, then that device can serve it to the Superuniti in high def format.  True?

 

I hold in my hand the last question: Assuming a Unitiserve or a Vortexbox Appliance has files of different codcs loaded all over it (I realize the US has different areas for rips vs downloads), when it serves them to the streamer section of the Superuniti or any other streamer, does the equipment recognize the file type and codec automatically?  I.e., is that transparent to the listener?

 

Thanks, as always for the lesson I am about to receive  ,

 

Russ

Russ, Luckily my dealer helped me with ripping and storing before the SU arrived.  However this is what I learnt although I should point out that my expereince is limited to what I do - I have not seen other systems in action. I rip using dbpoweamp into AssetNas.  So far I a have only used FLAC and this does not mix with windows media player (wmp) and therefore I never go near the latter (one exception below).

 

I have only downloaded one hires file to date (from Linn) and I just follwed their recommendations and it was very straightforward: I would expect Naim to be the same.  I have to admit that I have not used the USB option to date but what you are saying sounds logical.

 

Dbpoweramp allows you to manage the information at the ripping stage.  You can also use edit id tag once ripped for further refinement.  Occasionally I press the play button by mistake and am told by the machine that wmp is not compatible (my only engagement with wmp!).

 

I have not used i-tunes since the SU arrived but I believe you would have to convert the ripped file (or convert on ripping? - advice needed from others here).  Windows will not play FLAC so not an issue.

 

When downloading from an external source it has to be moved to the final location - AssestNas for me.  I also take two backups at this stage.

 

As said above I only use FLAC and the SU just accesses all the flies i.e. irrespective of resolution, in the same way.  The resolution will be displayed and indeed the bit rate can be used as a search function.  I have not done the WAV comparison yet but when I do I am assumng that it will get stored as usual and automatically accessed.  Perhaps others can tell me if this simplistic belief is correct?