Here you go.
In low light:
With all lights in the room turned off:
Sorry for the bad pics. My camera is no great shakes
Making baby steps into Hi-fi
- Thread starter hydra
- Start date
Here you go.
In low light:
With all lights in the room turned off:
Sorry for the bad pics. My camera is no great shakes
abhi_jollyguy
Active Member
Awesome Hydra, Now what next?
ajay124
Well-Known Member
While listening to music from the sweet spot, I am constantly confronted by the view of the speakers and the audio rack. For me it is absolutely essential that the 'view' should be neat and attractive. A badly set up audio rack with components which did not match each other visually, would mar my listening pleasure. Which is why I take great pains to ensure that the speakers and components look 'wholesome'. The speaker cable should be attractive enough to be proudly displaced, rather than a snaking piece of ugliness which you want to hide under a carpet.
Earlier my Arcam CDP and the Bryston pre/power all had tiny green lights which went very nicely with the largely green colours of my music room. But Arcam's finish was a staid 'British' grey, where as the Brystons have a chunky, extruded aluminium finish. The Esoteric is chunky. Because of it's VOSP transport it is almost as big the 4B SST. The simple aluminium finish is superb. I find the looks of the SA 10 better than the looks of the more expensive XO series.
The Esoteric has a blue display and lights. It does not gel with the green lights of the Bryston. Not too much of a problem as I prefer to turn of the display. I used to do it with the Arcam cdp and SB Touch, and I do it with my current source. I find the sound to be better with the display turned of.
Earlier my Arcam CDP and the Bryston pre/power all had tiny green lights which went very nicely with the largely green colours of my music room. But Arcam's finish was a staid 'British' grey, where as the Brystons have a chunky, extruded aluminium finish. The Esoteric is chunky. Because of it's VOSP transport it is almost as big the 4B SST. The simple aluminium finish is superb. I find the looks of the SA 10 better than the looks of the more expensive XO series.
The Esoteric has a blue display and lights. It does not gel with the green lights of the Bryston. Not too much of a problem as I prefer to turn of the display. I used to do it with the Arcam cdp and SB Touch, and I do it with my current source. I find the sound to be better with the display turned of.
Thanks for the pics Hydra. I'm going to be taping up the red Rega logo light when I get the DAC. My AA amp has absolutely tiny green lights and the Rega reds will not go too well, especially since the Duet keeps changing colors based on wifi status. The room will start looking like a dance bar otherwise. (Hmm, is that a bad thing? :lol
EDIT: Red speakers, orange speaker cables, silver amp with green lights, black duet with multi-colored lights (mostly stays white). Soon to come: silver dac with red lights and maybe a purple turntable with a yellow tonearm. I think it already looks like a dance bar. Might as well buy some neon lights.
EDIT: Red speakers, orange speaker cables, silver amp with green lights, black duet with multi-colored lights (mostly stays white). Soon to come: silver dac with red lights and maybe a purple turntable with a yellow tonearm. I think it already looks like a dance bar. Might as well buy some neon lights.
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Thanks, abhi! Nothing more for quite a while now. I had a bit more saved up, but I blew it all on a HP AMD E350 ultraportable yesterday. I got a festival deal that was just too sweet to pass up.
@ajay, you have a perfectly matched setup! Those three brushed aluminium boxes in a tight rack look just great. The looks are important to me too. But I'll have to limit it to just colour matching for now, I guess.
@bluu, at this rate, your daughter might mistake your listening room for a play room when she starts moving around!
The lights don't bother me that much now -- I've got used to them. I don't listen to music in a fully dark room nowadays, so they will not distract that much.
@ajay, you have a perfectly matched setup! Those three brushed aluminium boxes in a tight rack look just great. The looks are important to me too. But I'll have to limit it to just colour matching for now, I guess.
@bluu, at this rate, your daughter might mistake your listening room for a play room when she starts moving around!
The lights don't bother me that much now -- I've got used to them. I don't listen to music in a fully dark room nowadays, so they will not distract that much.
Hey hydra, where did you purchase your Rega DAC online? Can you point me to the website.
BTW your setup is awesome. The only purchase I didnt understand was the HTPC. But anyhow your efforts at planning/implementing/documenting(this thread) are all worthwhile.
BTW your setup is awesome. The only purchase I didnt understand was the HTPC. But anyhow your efforts at planning/implementing/documenting(this thread) are all worthwhile.
Thanks for the PM.
I understand the WDTV was a poor source but at the price of that HTPC you could have got yourself a decent cdp with a little more cash added. And if you were not interested in the cdp you could have just used a decent quality portable player with the DAC. I guess ipods can make a workable source, right? The signal processing on a dedicated sound card might be better than an ipod but digital music being encoded and played on humming and rattling computers are already blemished enough. Are there any benefits of playing them on a HTPC.
I am not trying to challenge your HTPC. What is important is you are enjoying your music. I am just curious abt how helpful a HTPC is.
I understand the WDTV was a poor source but at the price of that HTPC you could have got yourself a decent cdp with a little more cash added. And if you were not interested in the cdp you could have just used a decent quality portable player with the DAC. I guess ipods can make a workable source, right? The signal processing on a dedicated sound card might be better than an ipod but digital music being encoded and played on humming and rattling computers are already blemished enough. Are there any benefits of playing them on a HTPC.
I am not trying to challenge your HTPC. What is important is you are enjoying your music. I am just curious abt how helpful a HTPC is.
@manditri, I do understand the spirit of your question
A properly setup computer can definitely hold its own against a similarly priced CDP, and maybe against a CDP that costs much more. I'm not saying my Music PC is 100% perfectly setup, but I have taken a bit of effort to get it as close to perfect as possible within my means -- hardware-wise, software-wise and configuration-wise.
A portable player like an iPod is limited in many ways for my usage pattern:
- DAC limitations: The built-in DAC will not be able to hold a candle against a proper outboard DAC. In the case of players like an iPod, is is possible to get the data out in digital format using some specialist docks, but this adds substantially to the cost of the source, keeping all the other limitations of that player the same.
- Format limitations: Ability of the player to play only limited formats.
- Usability/Interface limitations: As compared to the interface which you can manage with a computer, portable media players are very limited in terms of access to music and flexibility of "moving around" in the music content. A 32" screen (I use my TV as monitor), a hand-held trackball, and almost unlimited configurability of the Foobar interface can't be beat.
The last 2 reasons above, and speed of access to music & easy upgradability are the main reasons I preferred a PC over a CD Player.
As far as the mechanical noise of the computer is concerned, it is easily beat by choosing the right components. I chose a cabinet and PSU that are very quiet right out of the box. The CPU fan can be easily tamed in the BIOS. And for further control of fan noise, I have a Lian Li fan controller installed. I'm not exaggerating here: To make out that my PC is running from beyond 1 feet away from the PC, you have to look at the power LED. You only begin to hear the faintest of fan noise until you're about 6-8 inches away from the PC The loudest noise in the PC now comes from the HDD. When I have the funds, and when a 1TB+ 2.5" drive is available for a reasonable price, I'll switch to one of those to store data, and get a 40/60GB SSD as a boot drive.
This thread here will be of interest to you: http://www.hifivision.com/cd-players/13739-pc-playback-alternative-cd-players.html
I do understand now that a Squeezebox Touch could have taken care of all my needs. That was an alternative I had considered. But at that point I didn't know for certain whether it could handle a 1 TB external HDD without causing problems. If I were building my setup now, I might have gone for one of those. But then, I don't really regret having gone the PC way -- a bigger screen, a mini KB+trackball remote and the Foobar interface does have its advantages
A properly setup computer can definitely hold its own against a similarly priced CDP, and maybe against a CDP that costs much more. I'm not saying my Music PC is 100% perfectly setup, but I have taken a bit of effort to get it as close to perfect as possible within my means -- hardware-wise, software-wise and configuration-wise.
A portable player like an iPod is limited in many ways for my usage pattern:
- DAC limitations: The built-in DAC will not be able to hold a candle against a proper outboard DAC. In the case of players like an iPod, is is possible to get the data out in digital format using some specialist docks, but this adds substantially to the cost of the source, keeping all the other limitations of that player the same.
- Format limitations: Ability of the player to play only limited formats.
- Usability/Interface limitations: As compared to the interface which you can manage with a computer, portable media players are very limited in terms of access to music and flexibility of "moving around" in the music content. A 32" screen (I use my TV as monitor), a hand-held trackball, and almost unlimited configurability of the Foobar interface can't be beat.
The last 2 reasons above, and speed of access to music & easy upgradability are the main reasons I preferred a PC over a CD Player.
As far as the mechanical noise of the computer is concerned, it is easily beat by choosing the right components. I chose a cabinet and PSU that are very quiet right out of the box. The CPU fan can be easily tamed in the BIOS. And for further control of fan noise, I have a Lian Li fan controller installed. I'm not exaggerating here: To make out that my PC is running from beyond 1 feet away from the PC, you have to look at the power LED. You only begin to hear the faintest of fan noise until you're about 6-8 inches away from the PC
The loudest noise in the PC now comes from the HDD. When I have the funds, and when a 1TB+ 2.5" drive is available for a reasonable price, I'll switch to one of those to store data, and get a 40/60GB SSD as a boot drive.This thread here will be of interest to you: http://www.hifivision.com/cd-players/13739-pc-playback-alternative-cd-players.html
I do understand now that a Squeezebox Touch could have taken care of all my needs. That was an alternative I had considered. But at that point I didn't know for certain whether it could handle a 1 TB external HDD without causing problems. If I were building my setup now, I might have gone for one of those. But then, I don't really regret having gone the PC way -- a bigger screen, a mini KB+trackball remote and the Foobar interface does have its advantages
vasishta.sushant
Active Member
Seeing at your expense sheet, I guess I saved quite a dough by going through the SB Touch and DacMagic.
I still think you have lot of redundancy in your setup. Instead of ssd, invest in a good media center remote to control your music from a distance.
I understand that there is no point of satiation but I guess it makes more sense to do bigger jumps. Since you already have money, plan your next step a little bigger. With as little components as possible. What say ???
I still think you have lot of redundancy in your setup. Instead of ssd, invest in a good media center remote to control your music from a distance.
I understand that there is no point of satiation but I guess it makes more sense to do bigger jumps. Since you already have money, plan your next step a little bigger. With as little components as possible. What say ???
For sure!
Yes, the SSD thing is mostly the unreasonable (and unnecessary) dream of my gadget-craving heart. This will get last preference as far as funds allocation is concerned.
The Lenovo N5901 is doing great duty as a very handy remote controller. I don't really feel it to be lacking in any way (except for perhaps the lack of backlighting).
The next steps will be definitely big steps. (The money feels better spent when there is substantial improvement). As I mentioned in an earlier post, I plan to get much better speakers and a matching amp over the next 2 years. But I don't think I'll be changing the source (PC + Rega DAC) in future.
I got my Music-PC back up and running this tuesday. I'm now using an ASUS E35M1-M motherboard (AMD Fusion E350, just like before). The MSI board could not be replaced.
Getting a cabinet that could take a uATX sized board (The Asus board is a uATX board), and not just a micro-ITX board has turned out to be a pretty smart move, in hindsight.
The board runs fanless, so the PC is even quieter now
The Rega DAC sounds exceptional with Coaxial input: The music sounds far better than the Optical input it was getting from the WDTV, or the USB input I gave it from my HP Ultraportable while waiting for the motherboard replacement.
The DAC has run in nicely now -- I've put about 120 hours on it so far. This may sound a bit cliched, but it sounds even better now than it did right out of the box, especially in the higher frequencies: They are much smoother now, with zero graininess.
I have been playing with the Rega DAC's filters and now I can (kind of) make out what the filters do. Filter 4 (Linear Phase Apodising Filter) sounds best to me. This filter throws the deepest soundstage with maximum separation between instruments, and has a nicely balanced & smooth high-end. The bass sounds the best with this filter engaged -- filter 1, which I used the most initially, is a little too "bassy".
I'll write about the differences in the filters soon.
Getting a cabinet that could take a uATX sized board (The Asus board is a uATX board), and not just a micro-ITX board has turned out to be a pretty smart move, in hindsight.
The board runs fanless, so the PC is even quieter now
The Rega DAC sounds exceptional with Coaxial input: The music sounds far better than the Optical input it was getting from the WDTV, or the USB input I gave it from my HP Ultraportable while waiting for the motherboard replacement.
The DAC has run in nicely now -- I've put about 120 hours on it so far. This may sound a bit cliched, but it sounds even better now than it did right out of the box, especially in the higher frequencies: They are much smoother now, with zero graininess.
I have been playing with the Rega DAC's filters and now I can (kind of) make out what the filters do. Filter 4 (Linear Phase Apodising Filter) sounds best to me. This filter throws the deepest soundstage with maximum separation between instruments, and has a nicely balanced & smooth high-end. The bass sounds the best with this filter engaged -- filter 1, which I used the most initially, is a little too "bassy".
I'll write about the differences in the filters soon.
vasishta.sushant
Active Member
Great to hear that. I am myself confused about the filters on DacMagic.
spirovious
Well-Known Member
Thanks hydra,cheers.
reignofchaos
Well-Known Member
I got my Music-PC back up and running this tuesday. I'm now using an ASUS E35M1-M motherboard (AMD Fusion E350, just like before). The MSI board could not be replaced.
Getting a cabinet that could take a uATX sized board (The Asus board is a uATX board), and not just a micro-ITX board has turned out to be a pretty smart move, in hindsight.
The board runs fanless, so the PC is even quieter now
The Rega DAC sounds exceptional with Coaxial input: The music sounds far better than the Optical input it was getting from the WDTV, or the USB input I gave it from my HP Ultraportable while waiting for the motherboard replacement.
The DAC has run in nicely now -- I've put about 120 hours on it so far. This may sound a bit cliched, but it sounds even better now than it did right out of the box, especially in the higher frequencies: They are much smoother now, with zero graininess.
I have been playing with the Rega DAC's filters and now I can (kind of) make out what the filters do. Filter 4 (Linear Phase Apodising Filter) sounds best to me. This filter throws the deepest soundstage with maximum separation between instruments, and has a nicely balanced & smooth high-end. The bass sounds the best with this filter engaged -- filter 1, which I used the most initially, is a little too "bassy".
I'll write about the differences in the filters soon.
This is interesting! Means this is another dac where usb is just tacked on as a feature and is not meant to be used. I've been noticing the same in almost all DACs that I've had the opportunity to play around with - a good low jitter coaxial out almost always sounds better than the native usb.
vasishta.sushant
Active Member
^^^
+1.
There is a huge difference between the USB thing on my DacMagic and the coaxial. But the equation was little more balanced on Arcam rDAC.
+1.
There is a huge difference between the USB thing on my DacMagic and the coaxial. But the equation was little more balanced on Arcam rDAC.
^^ Santy, I had used the optical and the coaxial inputs of the Caiman quite a bit. I've used the USB input only for a very short time, so I can't say how good or bad it is.
I found the Coaxial input to be superior to the Optical input in the case of the Caiman also. This could be because I'd used the optical input to play music only from the WDTV and it could be that the limitation is on the side of the WDTV.
If you were commenting on #134 above, I was actually comparing the inputs of the Rega DAC (which I use now), and not the Caiman.
I found the Coaxial input to be superior to the Optical input in the case of the Caiman also. This could be because I'd used the optical input to play music only from the WDTV and it could be that the limitation is on the side of the WDTV.
If you were commenting on #134 above, I was actually comparing the inputs of the Rega DAC (which I use now), and not the Caiman.
If you were commenting on #134 above, I was actually comparing the inputs of the Rega DAC (which I use now), and not the Caiman.
No, I was referring to this post and wanted to clarify that usb on the caiman is as good as other digital inputs.
But testing very limited to 1/2 hr or soBut I stopped using it soon as I could not find a free usb driver/ software for this purpose. The one I installed is giving beep sound every 30 sec
Just a small update. Not really Hi-fi related, but well...
I bought myself a Samsung 40D550 and a Recliner.
Both items ate substantially into my speaker & amp upgrade fund, but I guess I had to make a bit of concession for my love for the movies too.
This is probably what it's like to have two girlfriends, both of whom you love very much, and when you have to allocate limited funds/time, you're torn in two totally different directions. One always wins at the cost of the other! I think a reasonable compromise has been reached here.
I also got rid of the Refrigerator and a couple of other bits of furniture from the room. The removal of the refrigerator has improved things a lot (the whine used to get on my nerves quite a bit while listening to music/watching a movie). The recliner has substantially improved the listening experience!
I bought myself a Samsung 40D550 and a Recliner.
Both items ate substantially into my speaker & amp upgrade fund, but I guess I had to make a bit of concession for my love for the movies too.
This is probably what it's like to have two girlfriends, both of whom you love very much, and when you have to allocate limited funds/time, you're torn in two totally different directions. One always wins at the cost of the other! I think a reasonable compromise has been reached here.
I also got rid of the Refrigerator and a couple of other bits of furniture from the room. The removal of the refrigerator has improved things a lot (the whine used to get on my nerves quite a bit while listening to music/watching a movie). The recliner has substantially improved the listening experience!
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