Network Music Player (Logitech (Slim Devices), Linn, Sooloos, Sonos, T+A ...)

Dear Auronthas,

Really?? Wow!! Have never tried that before.

Will definitely give it a try

How is the CA DAC Magic doing?? Is it worthwhile having it??

Cheers

Yes, it definitely work as if your PC is your music server, squeezebox is a signal receiver from your router (transmitter) and audio output to your amplifier.

With regards to CA DacMagic, it really depend on your audio setup and music taste, i like warm, lively music rather detail, studio-like music, it suits me well. It may suit me well but not others, try to have some auditions to choose your preference.

Cheers

cheelun wrote:Thanks, mugenfoo.

May I enquire how much did you get the QED cable for?

The reason I am asking is that I had planned to use my Macbook as source and use the cable to connect to a DAC. However, I could not find such cables easily and thus bought the SB3 instead and have been using the RCA from my SB3.

However, am now itching to get a DAC to go with my SB3 and if I can source this minijack optical cable, it will provide me with an alternative to my SB3 in case streamyx go kaput!!

Thank you for your suggestions....

Will definitely drop by Low Yat and CMY when I visit KL

Cheers

About RM200 ... if i remember correctly.

Yes its a pain to look for Toslink-minijack optical cables. But easier to get those dingy adapters instead. Here in KL aplenty ("ICIDU" brand).

Thanks mugenfoo and auronthas,

Am actually looking for an upsampling dac (with or without usb). Thus, a minijack cable would be very useful.

CA DAC was on my radar even before it reaches our shore but sadly, i could not audition it as they dun have one here in KK.

Well, I guess I just have to pop by KL to get my fix.

Cheers

Heh, I will be interested in your final choice of DAC. I'm considering either the musical fidelity V-DAC or the DACMagic... or some other well spoken of Taiwanese options around the same price range.

But there should probably be a separate thread for that type of discussion....

Interesting....
VDAC vs. DACMagic : anyone got listening experiences to share between these two ? A/B Tests done ?

I think there's a thread in SB forum about this or is it in xtremeplace.... maybe auronthas can help.

I have considered DAC's like the CA DAC Magic, MF V-DAC, MF X-DACv3, Xindak DAC 5, Stello DA100 sig and PS Audio DL3.

However, I have yet to be able to audition any of those ....sob sob

The link to CA DacMagic as following:-

http://www.hifi4sale.net/equipment-discussions-f6/cambridge-audio-dacmagic-t1738.htm

I have not done comparison with other external DACs, perhaps if time is permitted, we can do a comparison between external DACs during the forthcoming hifi gathering as following post.

http://www.hifi4sale.net/hi-fi-4-sale-announcements-feedback-f12/hi-fi-4-sale-2nd-gathering-hi-way-laser-ss2-pj-on-sat-10-oct-2009-please-vote-t3045.htm

Ah well, progress update on my digital upgrade

Mac Mini: Received, and am now halfway through ripping my collection. I have decided to use ALAC as my file format. Relatively painless process through iTunes, the only downside is having to manually locate the album art...

DAC: On the strength of several online recommendations, I have gone slightly beyond planned budget and purchased a used MHDT labs Paradisea 3 online via Audiogon. My first tubed component (normally I use Solid State), but I'm looking to inject a bit more richness and warmth into my system. It's just shipped out, should receive next week. This is the first hi-fi component I've ever bought (exclude cables, etc) that I haven't auditioned, so fingers crossed that I'll like it.

Cables: Purchased Kimber USB cable and Kimber Timbre interconnects for DAC to Amp. The interconnects using on CDP at the moment, have improved transparency and soundstaging remarkably from my previous ones.

Hopefully within the next 2 weeks I can assemble everything and throw the switch!

cheelun wrote:

I have considered DAC's like the CA DAC Magic, MF V-DAC, MF X-DACv3, Xindak DAC 5, Stello DA100 sig and PS Audio DL3.

However, I have yet to be able to audition any of those ....sob sob

Wah, wide budget range there

I was also considering the Stello, but just way too much $ especially after the PC purchase...

BTW, I have posted in the Dacmagic thread about an interesting link comparing the V-DAC to Dacmagic. Apparently the V-DAC needs an upgraded PSU to really perform. Check it out.

Hzarz,

Great to hear that, keep us update on your progress and review.

With regards to album art, if i am not wrong, the latest iTunes 9.0.1 do provide automatic album art searching, the previous iTunes 8.2.x do not provide this features, so some of my empty album arts had been filled, however, they are not correctly tagged, especially for music albums such as xxx Greatest Hits, Collections, etc.

Enjoy the music

auronthas wrote:

With regards to album art, if i am not wrong, the latest iTunes 9.0.1 do provide automatic album art searching, the previous iTunes 8.2.x do not provide this features, so some of my empty album arts had been filled, however, they are not correctly tagged, especially for music albums such as xxx Greatest Hits, Collections, etc.

Apparently the automatic updating feature in iTunes 9 is to assign similar art to songs that have similar album names. I noticed this on two compilation albums that had the name "Love Songs", and itunes automatically inserted the album art from the other album. Which kind of sucked, because it was wrong...

Anyway, small gripe only.

Hmmm, just bought an Apple TV. i think this may be one of the ways to stream music through out the house where there is TV. Basically it is a piece of hardware that that an internal 160gb hdd that can hold media & also has the ability to sync to external pc through the network whether tethered or wireless to stream video or music.

It has analog out, optical digital out, HDMI out, component video out, RJ45 plug, wireless capability. It also has a USB connection but the person at the shop told me that there is so far no function for it. However, I spy some software online that can activate it to allow a connection to external storage device.

Gonna connect it tonight & try it out.

Regards,
Joe Ling

Yup, that's a very nice piece of hardware if you want the video / audio option, and are already using iTunes as your media library software. The only gripe I had about it was that 160GB was a bit small, especially if you are intending to store HD movie content on the Apple TV. But it should work very well as a music server front end connected to your PC via wireless / ethernet.

Ya, got it working after little bit of fumble. Loading songs through the wireless network is a bit of a pain. Took nearly 2 days to load about 2000 songs in apple lossless. Also nice to load some family photos on the big screen for the family to enjoy.

I'm not much into video so have not really look into its video capability.

Right now, it's connected via toslink to a Monarchy DIP classic to an old DAC bought from octave 10 years ago. Sounds ok - good enough for the living room.

Associated equipment :

1) Apple TV
2) Monarchy DIP
3) DAC from Octave
4) Classe somethingy150 integrated amp circa 1997
5) WAR audio 2 way with Raven R1 ribbon tweets & Focal Audio W sandwich mids in MTM

Regards,
Joe Ling

Joe, glad to hear from you on your digital streaming audio via Network Media Player (Apple TV) into your home audio system and share with us on your experience with NMP. Enjoy the music.

Thanks for the words of encouragement auronthas.

Zee Avi - she's from Miri !

Regards,
Joe Ling

Hi Joeling,

just thought you should know. There's a featured system using AppleTV, DAC and Zu Druid on Audiogon, under the virtual system heading. The owner modified the AppleTV for more storage space.

Maybe it is something that you can look into.

If successful in M'sia, I may also get an AppleTV and sell my SB3.

Cheers

as with most things in the Mac universe, Apple hasn't quite realised the wisdom in embracing open platforms & Free/GNU community contributions....

http://www.appletvhacks.net/

Thanks for that. I bought a software that allows external storage. Still a pain to attach something simple like external storage though. I guess Apple really banks heavily on digital copyrights & stuff.

cheelun wrote:Hi Joeling,

just thought you should know. There's a featured system using AppleTV, DAC and Zu Druid on Audiogon, under the virtual system heading. The owner modified the AppleTV for more storage space.

Maybe it is something that you can look into.

If successful in M'sia, I may also get an AppleTV and sell my SB3.

Cheers

Regards,
Joe Ling