2. pc-audio
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Best path for PC audio into the big rig..

Hi all,

I need help. I've got the urge to incorporate a bunch of ripped audio tracks on my PC into the main stereo system.

All the gear, PC and home audio are in the same room, the 'office'. the listening area is in an adjacent room... with just speakers.

I want to sit in the living room and via a wireless notebook, access those numerous tracks. I've two desktops. One wireless, one wired. both networked... and a fair to middlin' system.

Waht do I need, and how should I proceed. I use itunes on both desktops... and naturally, I can't use a Mac... not that I don't want to. Just can't due to accessibility reasons... nor any other device with a small screen for interface. It'll have to be a notebook for my purposes.

I'd also prefer not to have to use Microsofts "remote access" feature to get at the files, as that would mean another PC needs be online.

Audio quality is also pretty high on the list... my system is resolving, open, a notch past the warm side of neutral with very good extension at both ends, and spooky good in the midrange, especially with Vocals. If some sacrifice needs be made for the sake of conveinence, i'd rather it not be the musicality or hrmonics... and I've not terribly deep pockets.

Can do? ...or can't do...???

Thanks much.
blindjim
herman
2,284 posts
 
You don't have to have an NAS drive, even USB 1.1 is fast enough to do the job, but a big NAS drive with RAID 5 is a simple way to have some backup. Otherwise redundant external USB drives will be fine. Just make sure you get ones that are well ventilated with fans like the Western Digital ones. Easier still is mount some drives in your desktop cases and just use those.

With iTunes you can turn on the share feature and have the hard drives connected to desktops and the wireless notebook can share those files directly via iTunes.

Unless Belkin finally releases their wireless USB interface, if you use a USB dac it will have to be wired to the laptop, not the drives. Wireless print servers won't work. You also have limits on USB cable length unless you use a USB optical repeater.

I don't know about the realibility of the AE units, but bear in mind they've sold millions of them so you have to figure some crapped out. Even if they did only last 2 years they only cost about $100 in the first place. They also have a built in DAC (not a great one) so that would get you started until you find the DAC you want, but it will have to have a toslink input or you will need a optical to spdif converter.

Apple claims they are accessible Won't that work for you? The reason I ask is that many Apple notebooks are very quiet whereas many PC notebooks have fans that are loud enough to be distracting.

You can also use their Front row software which will make it very easy to navigate through iTunes.
kennyt's avatar
kennyt
1,226 posts
 
Ive had two AE since they first hit the market and both work fine, I have had to reset one twice, unsure why but it's easy enough not to worry about it, and as Herman says, they're $100.
blindjim OP
3,092 posts
 
Herman Man. thanks a bunch.

If you live on an island, your world is quite small. 100% of the trained professionals who provide the training of Higher functionality accessibility software have yet to mention the features of the Mac that you just provided me. I do however think the privately developed softwares such as JAWS (screen reader only.. no mouse or monitor required) & Xoom Text 9.0 (screen reader adn magnifyer.. and my personal choice, though I have and use both), will provide much greater a level of functionality... I assume the accessibility features described in your link are similar in nature to those in Windows. I'll look into the Mac gear now... pardon the pun.

I'd love to have a Mac. their monitors that i've seen are super. their costs are not however. My ego says I need a Mac... my wallet says otherwise... till now.

In any event... using a notebook/lap top (whomever the maker is), needs be "entirely" a wireless act. Purely. the other junk I can string together... not much of an issue there.

...and the thought of going with an AP does make sense and would allow more time to decide on the right DAC.

given the info I've been humg up on lately... the BC DAC3 and now the Altmann seems the front runners... I'd not wish to go beyond their price tags for that matter either... and would also like to be able to slip my sony CDP into the DAC too... later on.

thanks much.

one thing puzzels me however... the notion of a 'quiet machine'. If all is outboard.. and in this instance, it is, then what would be the matter how noisy a notbook or lap top is? the internal workings of the wireless computer couldn't possibly be an issue.
herman
2,284 posts
 
what would be the matter how noisy a notebook or laptop is?

I guess misunderstood your intentions. I thought you wanted to sit at the listening position with a wireless laptop and choose songs. If that's the case then you want a totally quiet laptop. If that's not the case then please explain how the laptop fits in with what you want.
blindjim OP
3,092 posts
 
herman
yep... you got it. At the LP with a wireless NB/LT and picking songs... with all the junk in another room... 'cept the speakers of course.

hence... why should noise from a wirelss source be a problem?

Only things I see as possible noise introduction units are the NAS drive... and the AP/DAC ... that's not correct?
...my thinking is that the signal path originates with the NAS drive, then into the AP/DAC. No?
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