Audio Device Settings

If you are using itunes as your media player then use itunes. If you are just looking to rip for other applications then use XLD.

Setting audio output in this case has no bearing on what you are doing. XLD can be set to import anything to any bit rate but upsampling will occur in that case. If you feel there is a difference then fair enough. But typically what will happen for streaming is all you have really achieved is upping the pressure on the various appliences in use.

So in conclusion:

1. for ripping, check the settings in the application you are using.

2. Audio output settings have no bearing on ripping.

If you are on a Mac, you should have to try the app called BitPerfect. It runs under iTunes, using iTunes as a kind of media manager, but runs its own audio engine and it can change the sampling rate automatically as the tracks require. Quite clever app. You can download the beta version from the developer's Google documents site. It runs well with iTunes 10.4, Hiface, HiFace EVO and Lion (OS X 10.7).

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B7_M4k2-u6z_M2NkYjIxZjUtZTA1ZS00NGYwLWFkOTgtMzA5ZjcyN2FiZGE2&hl=en_GB&authkey=CNin6YMK

> I have tried Audirvana, Amarra and Pure Music.  Truthfully I did not appreciate any sonic benefits with any of them.  That must be me, because many others claim to hear all sorts of benefits.

Not just you Richard - me too. I cannot hear any benefits from using these packages. Moreover, if you send a bitstream from PM to a Yamaha HD/CD Recorder and burn to CD and check the files they are the same as when you do it with iTunes. The only player I can hear an improvement with is Naim's (not tried Bitperfect though). The Naim player is, of course, integrated in to the Naim DAC (USB stick) or UQ (streaming) so I'm not really comparing like with like.

The Sonus renderer sounds like Apple's once you eliminate the jitter factor. My view is getting rid of jitter with a V-Link (Apple) or W4S (Sonus) makes more difference than the player.   

Currently playing from an Apple computer through a V-Link in to UQ driving some Eclipse computer speakers and thinking Joan Armatrading is sounding quite superb. So I'm using USB, but there is no getting away from it being as obsolete as firewire: if I bought a new Apple Airbook it would even have a USB interface. 

A PS Audio or Meridian transport feeding a Naim DAC still seems as good as any streaming solution I've heard.

I'm concluding there is no best way to play digital music; you can achieve very good results in all manner of ways. 

All the best, Guy

PS I created a CD-R gave it a bit of scratch and found that XLD and iTunes did not produce the same results, but I really couldn't tell the difference by listening to the rips.  

Sorry meant to say - So I'm using USB, but there is no getting away from it being as obsolete as firewire: if I bought a new Apple Airbook it would NOT even have a USB interface. 

Hi Simon

I agree with you.  Apple ensure their products pass muster with 90% of their users.  We represent a tiny fraction of the total, not worth worrying about. Of course the same can be said for Microsoft.  

But what is the alternative?  Please do not suggest networking via a NAS.  I have been down that route.  At least Bitperfect does indeed avoid Apple's compromises and offers us a way to achieve superior sound, without any need to network.  

Richard

Hi Richard 

What about a CD transport? The PS Audio Perfect Wave is quite splendid unless of course you want to listen to Internet radio: it's useless at that, but great otherwise. It buffers the CD in memory and plays from there and has magic software that ensures the CD read is perfect. It sounds great though with a Naim DAC. 

OK so you not wanting to do that, So next suggestion is the Meridian Soloos with its super user interface. Delightful machine that provides a whole new listening experience.

Me, I'm happy with a W4S modified Sonus ZP90 to feed my Naim DAC. Works with both Apple and VB servers and most other things .... much easier to set up than any other network music player I've tried

And, of course, there is always the HDX though at its price point I'd be more than tempted by Bob Stuart's effort. 

All the best Guy 

@Guy:

A CD transport?  Interesting.  Would you believe I consider CD's as obsolescent?  I am finding it increasingly difficult to find what I want.  More and more I am being offered lo res downloads.

Anyway, like vinyl, CDs mean twisting my head sideways to search through racks to find what I want.  Whereas with my iPad Remote, I am sitting comfortably and I just flick through the hundreds and hundreds of albums.  I can immediately choose something I have not played for years.  Don't like it?  No problem, just instantly change to something else. 

Regarding other computer based systems that you mentioned, Meridian, etc.  Why?  Why would I change from something that works?  I am a firm believer in enjoying my music.  SQ is just one aspect.  I demand an easy to use interface.  True, there are many choices available.  I am not making claims that my choice is the best, just that it is my choice.  You and others may choose differently.

@Simon:

From the Well-Tempered Computer:

From mid-2010 on USB audio class 2 drivers are available in OSX 10.6.4 and Linux.
Both support sample rates up to 384 kHz.
It is unclear if Microsoft is going to support USB Audio 2.
You need a third party USB class 2 driver on Windows.

Full article here:  http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/KB/USB.html

DirectX is no benefit here. DirectX is a set of API's mainly for video and gaming. In fact many Windows users are using iTunes in preference to MediaPlayer.

The good thing is that we now have an excellent means of obtaining not just a bit-perfect stream, but the means of ensuring this is handled in the most appropriate way to ensure best SQ.  As the article I cited previously stated, it is not enough to have a bit-perfect data stream.  It is its implementation that matters.

Isn't the future exciting?

Richard

So DirectX has useful commercial applications.  Excellent.  But I and most audio enthusiasts are only interested in our hobby.  Whatever cleverness is available within the DirectX API's, Apple offers a superior user interface.  Forget all the rubbish that Apple include for their 90 percentile customer base, it can all be bypassed with Bitperfect.  What we are left with is a superbly easy user interface, one that offers (with Bitperfect or similar) superb SQ.  

To me, my first priority is enjoyment.   This is more than just SQ.  I want ease of use, simplicity of setup and stability of programs.  I get this with my MB and iPad.  Obviously others (maybe you) would disagree about these things.  Fine.  The beauty of freedom of choice.

No offence, Simon

Richard

Hi Richard

Yes the iPAD is a wonderful thing. 

No reason for you to change. I use Apple/Linux systems: won't have Microsoft products in the house if I can help it (yes I know it sneaks in on the UQ and Sonus). I have to use Windows 7 for work and the interface is quite dreadful compared with an iPAD or OSX IMHO of course. I'm not sure what OS Meridian uses; however its user interface is the best I've ever seen for a music server - much better than either Sonos or iTunes, which are both very good especially Sonus. 

The Meridian is an addictive toy in many ways, albeit a very expensive toy. I don't have one, but have played with one. If you play a Richard Thompson track from Industry and like the bass you can click to see who is playing the bass, it is Danny Thompson and another click lists other albums you have with him playing bass on them - you get all kinds of info including reviews though I can't agree Alice's School's Out album was better than his Killer album. I'm far from convinced it produces the best SQ, but that user interface is .... wonderful.  

There are lots of ways to enjoy music and as long as we enjoy what we hear then that is what counts. I had a look at Bit Perfect, but couldn't seem to download it without logging on to Google Docs, so I gave up on it. Not sure if would run on my old PowerPC Mac in any case. It sounded like it would attempt to optimise my Mac for music replay and so was going to try it. 

All the best, Guy 

@Guy:

I shall look out for Meridian at the Whittlebury Show (assuming they are there).  It certainly sounds very interesting.

@Simon:

Understood.

It looks like we are going to have a period non-compatibility soon.  Apple seem not interested USB 3.0 and Dell and others it seems, are not interested in Thunderbolt.  Ridiculous.  Why, I wonder?  Politics, I expect.  

Re. I2S.  I was told by somebody it will only work best with very short leads, meaning a few CM.  If true, not much practical use.  Whatever the choice, there is always going to be compromise, unfortunately.  I am lucky, I am very happy with what I have.  Not interested in upgrading for the foreseeable future. But I do still love visiting the Shows. 

Would love to meet anybody from the Forum at Whittlebury.  

Richard

The UQ, etc have no access to Apple, of course, because Apple will not licence their OS to anyone. Some say selfish, others sensible.  Depends on your point of view, I suppose.  But Naim could have used Linux.  I wonder why not?  They must have a reason.

But the UQ, together with the UnityServe nearly did my head in.  I suppose I could/should have persevered, but it was the awful culture shock at the loss of the lovely user friendliness of iTunes.  

 Bit Perfect's available for download from the "App. Store" at £2.99p Mr Fawkes.

After reading this thread last night I downloaded it and, by golly, it's rather good! I've been using Pure Music for a while because it worked with iTunes but Bit Perfect is rather nicer and does sound better; heaven knows why but I don't care really. A true bargain!