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Computer Audio..Stream or download?

Fellow Audiophiles,

Until now, i never cared for music streaming or downloads, simply because of compression. I owned fairly large selection of CD's, SACD's, DTS and DVD audio discs. DTS and DVD audio are long gone and SACD's are now pretty much limited to classical titles. I have been watching the digital trend pretty closely..it seems that we have evolved from digital downloads to now streaming. For sake of convenience, i have installed Sonos in couple of rooms. In my HT setup, Sonos just couldn't live up to high standards set by Krell and Raysonic. The streaming from Spotify, Amazon and Rhapsody is just average (flat and dull most times).

I am looking for ideas and feedback based on your experiences with high-res downloads. I am only interested in listening to high-rez / DSD64 or DSD128 files.

Please respond with your recommendations on DSD software and DAC's/Players.

MY Equipments:
Classe SSP-800 / CA-2200 / CA-5200
Krell Cipher
Raysonic CD-128
B&W 803s/804s/HTM2s/SCMS
Audience Au24 SE - IC's, Speaker, Power and Digital Cables
Audience AR6-TSSD/AR2-TSSD
128x128lalitk
williewonka
3,075 posts
 
Lalitk - I stream and download and have the following setup

iMac,
- using iTunes for library management and playback controls
- using Audirvana for actual digital streaming of digital files
>>> Audirvana will either play DSD files or convert on the fly and since my DAC does not do DSD I simply allow it to convert
- Ethernet cables - not wireless

Remote control of iTunes via a Droid app - Retune
- nice display that replicates iTunes views of tracks - by artist, album etc...

USB into a v-link192 usb-spdif converter

SPDIF into a Schiit Bifrost DAC

Extremely high quality analogue and digital IC's from KLE Innovations

My own DIY power cables - extremely good

Special split USB cable with separate cables for USB power and data joined at the DAC

The quality is outstanding and every bit as good as my analogue rig

Even digital radio stations sound very good

Hope that helps :-)
lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,448 posts
 
Thank you for the detailed setup....and WOW!! You're really jumping through some hoops to get the digital music right.

I just bought Cambridge Azur 851N...it's pretty much plug n play and a very decent sound.
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
Tidal rocks. I feel for those who have not discovered it yet. I got my new absolute sound this month, sat in front of the rig with a glass of wine. Every recommendation of a song I read was on Tidal and I got to play it, uncompressed, while I was reading the article. TOO COOL.
There are three ways to use Tidal. You can use the web player and usb to your dac (I found this was the poorest way as it was dependent on throughput, pecularities of the OS, traffic, etc). The 2nd way I found is to download the todal player, which allows you to stream without using your broweser (chrome), which is more stable against dropouts. I have found the BEST way is through a 3rd party player with a 3rd party app, such as ickstream. I am suing a Logitech transporter (reclocked, upsampled) and its killer. The auralic is pretty sweet as well and I can't wait to here the uber high end intros (brumester, etc). Tidal, my friends, rules.
lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,448 posts
 
I agree, Tidal streaming is pretty awesome.
hgeifman
2,191 posts
 
I also like listening to Tidal Streaming music because it is easy to use and I love the variety. Of course, the best part is their excellent uncompressed sound quality. In addition, I can change my mind on an album and quickly find a different album to listen to. The flexibility and sound quality of Tidal is a big listening plus for me.

Tidal also offers various play lists you can select or you select your own album. Another advantage with Tidal is that you can select an album and then page down to see additional albums by that artist. Tidal Streaming is ONLY available on the Chrome browser so I installed it on my MAC Book Pro computer. I highly recommend Tidal Streaming.

My MAC Book Pro computer is connected (Wireworld Cable Technology's Platinum Starlight 7 USB cable) to my Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC. As suggested above, I also recommend you demo the Ayre QB-9 DSD DAC. It is excellent and highly recommended.
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