2. pc-audio
  3. 1164481615

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
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
2,290 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?
herman
2,290 posts
 
I think we're talking about 2 differnt kinds of noise. I'm talking about the noise from the fan in the laptop, not electrical noise.

WHHHHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR that you don't want interfering with the music. Many laptops do have rather noisy fans. The Apples I'm talking about do not have fans at all. You certainly don't need an Apple to play iTunes so if that is all you are after then maybe you can find a Windows laptop that doesn't have a fan.
blindjim OP
3,092 posts
 
herman
Fan noise. Geesh. How dumb of me to overlook that.. never even crossed my mind. Thanks. I'll bear that in mind while shopping around for one.
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