Computer Audio - The Basics
It's becoming really common to use your PC, a PC based consumer product or a standalone solution for storing and playing you music. The possibilities in te meantime are endless and it's getting difficult to choose. With this article, I will try to shed some light on this situation.
File Formats and Playback Applications
Read all about WAV, mp3, FLAC and the various applications to make them with or play them back with. Winamp 2, Winamp 5, iTunes, Foobar, Media Jukebox, Media Monkey... Every application sounds different!
External USB-Firewire Audio Interfaces compared
Edirol, Apogee, TC Electronic and Echo. Also background information on usb/firewire.
Digital Cables - AES/EBU versus SP/DIF
Do digital cables really make a diference? And is AES EBU better by definition?
Recording lp's - Analog versus Digital
Analog recordings were made on 2 different Nakamichi cassettedecks, and digital 24/96 recordings on PC both via EMU 1212M soundcard and on Mac via Apogee Duet firewire interface, played back via DCS and Audiomeca dacs in the reference setup.
CD player versus Computer
Some say that Hard Disks are inherently better than optical transports at reading data perfectly. But are PC's as a whole really better than the best CD players available? We put it to the test.
Upsampling - what does it do
This is explained by means of two articles. The first link points to a review of the DCS Delius and Purcell dac and upsampler and describes exactly what upsampling does, bot in a technical manner as well as describing the audible differences. The second link points to an extensive review of the Behringer Ultramatch, basically an affordable upsampler.
Extensive Reviews:
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SSD versus regular spinning hard drives
This may be hard to believe but hard drives also have an influence on the sound and it is not subtle.
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SACD
Is there still life left in the DSD format? The SACD disk may not have been a commercial succes, but if we're really lucky, the format may live on as a high res music download option. (review also published under Audiophile Insights)
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Kernel streaming
Now that server-based music replay is gaining in popularity, the phrase Kernel Streaming is seen more and more often. But what is is exactly, and do you need it?
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Optimising iTunes for Windows
As it turns out, this popular music playback applications sounds splendid on a Mac but not so hot running under Windows. Here are some tips to make the most of it.
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Lossless Audio
Lossless formats such as FLAC are technically lossless indeed. But do they sound the same as uncompressed formats such as WAV or AIFF?
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Mac versus PC, all current popular playback applications, including various add-ons and various (USB) interfaces compared
I've compared all this in what may well be my most elaborate review ever. A Macbook Pro is compared to a full size Windows computer, using many different playback applications, interfaces (USB, Toslink and coaxial digital), cables and add-ons like Virtual Cable, Amarra and Pure Music.
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USB audio transfer - Synchronous versus Asynchronous
Much has been said about Asynchronous USB data transfer. But what does this constitute? And is it really better?
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File Formats Revisited
Followup to the article above. Mac compared to PC using all popular applications, two iTunes sound enhancements and a range of DA-converters and USB interfaces. In this article you can find the results of all my efforts to find the best PC audio playback solution.
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What's what in computer audio terminology?
For music lovers starting their journey in Computer Audio here's a glossary of computer associated components with descriptions of what they do.
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Physical Musicfiles Source
By this I mean the physical medium on which your music files are stored. This can be a NAS, a USB-connected hard drive or your internal hard drive. My point: they all sound different.
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Best PC audio solutions
Some examples of computer based setups that work well, in various price ranges
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Best Streaming Audio Solutions
Some examples of Streaming Audio setups that work well, in various price ranges
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Best Integrated Solutions
Some examples of All-In-One audioserver solutions that work well, in various price ranges
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Basic Info
Knowledge / Tips
Hardware Comparisons / Controverse
The Best Solutions for all budgets
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Optimising Winamp 5
With default settings Winamp 5 can sound a little constrained and dynamically compressed. Find out how to optimise it!
How the search for audio nirvana led to the creation of this site
Info, Tips, Tricks and Insights
How to optimise your system
Please help me sustain this site and keep it free from advertising
Streaming, USB, Firewire,
Computer Audio
Current and Classic CD players, Cables, Accessories and more
Jeff Rowland Info Database, Cool equipment, Classic CDP's
WAV and tagging
Wav files may appear to have tags when they are accessed through applications such as iTunes and Media Monkey, but in fact the WAV format doesn't allow for any decent tagging functionality. At least not in that it benefits the regular user in the way that it works so well for FLAC and mp3.
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