The Dark Side; Digital audio equipment recommendations and setup.

AnthonyI said:
I wish my system was closer to my PC just to be able to use a USB cable. Now I'm looking into another DAC for my system, the Modi is my desktop DAC, but as it stands, my only option is picking up an original Chromcast, which are getting really expensive. All things I had, but no, we have to keep shuffling the deck, lol.
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So I did this for one main reason, I have a lot of not so legal SACD ISO files. Like a ton. I also have needle drops and other physical files on an external drive. Now in fairness, I own a lot of the music in either SACD or other formats like DVD-Audio.

I needed something that could move those files and convert them to a format I could play on my old Adcom stereo. I used to do this with an old Pono player that had FLAC and DSD files on it. Now, it's not true DSD because there's no digital signal going into the Adcom. I could've paid more for the wireless DAC but I just didn't see when I would stream to the Onkyo in my other room, if it would stretch that far, and if it even would give me the DSD format I was searching for. If I hooked the DAC straight into my Onkyo with an optical or coaxial cable, I would get pure DSD like when I play an SACD off the Oppo Blu-ray player I have. I'm only getting PCM output with this.

So my path is SACD ISO, FLAC, DSD files>Pine Player or Qobuz>USB A cable to Topping D-10s>RCA cables from Topping D-10s>Adcom GTP-400. My Adcom and Topping are about 3-4 feet from the computer but I needed enough cable to make it not look awful.

What really sent me down this path was the MOFI controversy and the mention of DSD files. I remembered I had some of their SACDs as ISO files so why not just play those versus continuing to pay a premium for them? I then looked at Qobuz and it seems to have a lot of the high quality audio I was looking for. Ultimately, I have way too much vinyl and more than I would ever reasonably play. I have to start reigning that in and this can be the way to do it.
 
mdmost said:
So I did this for one main reason, I have a lot of not so legal SACD ISO files. Like a ton. I also have needle drops and other physical files on an external drive. Now in fairness, I own a lot of the music in either SACD or other formats like DVD-Audio.

I needed something that could move those files and convert them to a format I could play on my old Adcom stereo. I used to do this with an old Pono player that had FLAC and DSD files on it. Now, it's not true DSD because there's no digital signal going into the Adcom. I could've paid more for the wireless DAC but I just didn't see when I would stream to the Onkyo in my other room, if it would stretch that far, and if it even would give me the DSD format I was searching for. If I hooked the DAC straight into my Onkyo with an optical or coaxial cable, I would get pure DSD like when I play an SACD off the Oppo Blu-ray player I have. I'm only getting PCM output with this.

So my path is SACD ISO, FLAC, DSD files>Pine Player or Qobuz>USB A cable to Topping D-10s>RCA cables from Topping D-10s>Adcom GTP-400. My Adcom and Topping are about 3-4 feet from the computer but I needed enough cable to make it not look awful.

What really sent me down this path was the MOFI controversy and the mention of DSD files. I remembered I had some of their SACDs as ISO files so why not just play those versus continuing to pay a premium for them? I then looked at Qobuz and it seems to have a lot of the high quality audio I was looking for. Ultimately, I have way too much vinyl and more than I would ever reasonably play. I have to start reigning that in and this can be the way to do it.
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Sonore has a nice piece of software that will break the SACD iso down into individual DSD files which are easier to manage and more widely playable.

 
Joe Mac said:
Sonore has a nice piece of software that will break the SACD iso down into individual DSD files which are easier to manage and more widely playable.

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Thanks for the recommendation. The Pine Player takes the SACD ISO and converts it as well. It's a great technical piece of software but the interface leaves a lot to be desired. It basically keeps the last music you played and doesn't really structure anything in an iTunes, Spotify, or Qobuz fashion. I can't complain too much as it's free. I had Audrivana on my old Mac that died and it was fantastic. I just wish it didn't cost as much.


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jamieanderson1968 said:
Damn, how big are those files compared to a regular redbook flac?
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They can run anywhere from 1.5-5GB. Downward Spiral from NIN is 3.84GB. Most of mine are around 2.5 GB. 2 channel SACDs are less as multichannel SACDs have two layers so almost double the size. So the AP and MOFI ones usually are smaller.
 
jamieanderson1968 said:
Damn, how big are those files compared to a regular redbook flac?
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They can be upto 8GB because they’re effectively on the same type of disc as a DVD. Most are around 4GB if they have a CD layer and a DSD layer with both stereo and 5.1. If you use something like the sonore thing I was on about and extract only the 2 channel DSD tracks it’s often between 1 & 2 GB an album.
 
I should add that Pine Player only extracts the 2 channel DSD audio.

@Joe Mac is on to something as you can always just extract the stereo files and then remove the ISO if you need more space. So if I don't want the full 2.69 GB ISO of Roxy Music's Avalon, which has both stereo and MC layers, I could just extract the smaller stereo DSD files and remove the ISO. Space limitations is why I have the external drive. Never had enough space on any of my Macs for these large files.
 
mdmost said:
I should add that Pine Player only extracts the 2 channel DSD audio.

@Joe Mac is on to something as you can always just extract the stereo files and then remove the ISO if you need more space.
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Yeah that’s what I did with all my SACD rips. I never played the multi channel layer from SACDs themselves so I definitely didn’t need that bit wasting space on a hard drive!
 
So not sure where to post this, but I’m sure someone has some insight. I just installed a strip of GE Cync LED lights behind my stereo setup. However, any time the lights are on and my phone stage is turned on I get horrible electrical interference. Like someone blowing a dog whistle straight into your ear. Is there any way to fix that? I’ve tried plugging into a different outlet to no avail. I can’t move my setup and the lights are already mounted and staying :D
 
mitchwagz said:
So not sure where to post this, but I’m sure someone has some insight. I just installed a strip of GE Cync LED lights behind my stereo setup. However, any time the lights are on and my phone stage is turned on I get horrible electrical interference. Like someone blowing a dog whistle straight into your ear. Is there any way to fix that? I’ve tried plugging into a different outlet to no avail. I can’t move my setup and the lights are already mounted and staying :D
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Do you have a ground wire attached to anything?

Just switching the outlet isn’t likely to do anything if it’s in the same circuit.
 
MikeH said:
Do you have a ground wire attached to anything?

Just switching the outlet isn’t likely to do anything if it’s in the same circuit.
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Lights are noisy electronics, it wouldn’t surprise me if they’re creating a field that’s interfering with the phono stage just by being close by. Particularly if the phono is entry level ish and less likely to be shielded.

Not really a digital music issue at all though, being that it’s a phono stage lol. Probably more likely to get views and comments in this thread.

Technical Difficulties Thread

Thought it might be good to have a catch-all thread for issues people may be having with Turntables/Amps/Cartridges/Speakers, etc...I've seen a few questions in the upgrade thread instead since they didn't really fit anywhere. I guess I'll start it off with some audio issues of my own. I've had...
www.needlesandgrooves.com www.needlesandgrooves.com
 
I doubt that there is much to do other than to turn off the LED lights when playing vinyl. Moving the phono would still likely pickup noise through the cabling.
 
I think in the battle between Tidal or Qobuz, I'm going to go with Qobuz. It feels like a better interface and I enjoy that they're very clear on what sources you're getting such as 24-bit/96 kHz or CD quality. With Tidal, Master seems like a catch all and it weirdly overrides my DAC so I can't tell the full nature of what I'm getting. I wish Tidal was more transparent on that. Maybe they are and I'm just not finding it but it's interesting that my DAC just defaults to the highest setting with Tidal whereas it's source specific with Qobuz meaning I'll see that it's 96 kHz or 44.1.

Edit: I think I figured out the DAC issue with Tidal. I have to give it control over my DAC. So I can now see the source frequency but Qobuz does a better job of upfront information.
 
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mdmost said:
I think in the battle between Tidal or Qobuz, I'm going to go with Qobuz. It feels like a better interface and I enjoy that they're very clear on what sources you're getting such as 24-bit/96 kHz or CD quality. With Tidal, Master seems like a catch all and it weirdly overrides my DAC so I can't tell the full nature of what I'm getting. I wish Tidal was more transparent on that. Maybe they are and I'm just not finding it but it's interesting that my DAC just defaults to the highest setting with Tidal whereas it's source specific with Qobuz meaning I'll see that it's 96 kHz or 44.1.
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Had I the option in Canada I would choose Qobuz as well.
 
I've tried both and Qobuz just has a better selection of hirez.
Now they are partnering with THX on some releases.
I'm a AVR nerd too.


Rumor is MQA was developed in Sebastopol. 😉😆
 
mdmost said:
I think in the battle between Tidal or Qobuz, I'm going to go with Qobuz. It feels like a better interface and I enjoy that they're very clear on what sources you're getting such as 24-bit/96 kHz or CD quality. With Tidal, Master seems like a catch all and it weirdly overrides my DAC so I can't tell the full nature of what I'm getting. I wish Tidal was more transparent on that. Maybe they are and I'm just not finding it but it's interesting that my DAC just defaults to the highest setting with Tidal whereas it's source specific with Qobuz meaning I'll see that it's 96 kHz or 44.1.

Edit: I think I figured out the DAC issue with Tidal. I have to get it control over my DAC. So I can now see the source frequency but Qobuz does a better of upfront information.
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I’m a Qobuz fan as well. Been on it for a few years now and I really like it. Great selection of music. I think tidal has gotten better but I really hated their mobile interface the first time I used it.
 
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