NOT HAPPY with my mid-range hifi system

Additionally, I'm going to USB my PC to my DAC - which I didnt' really want to do - but then at least I can merrily listen to tons of new music - while at the same time purchasing CDs by my favourite artists.

Do you think this makes sense?

 

PS: epos M22, Creek Evo 2 Amp, M-DAC, Denon Transport

 

 

 

 

Have you got a PC?

 

Before you give up on digital streaming, you might want to try the 30 day free trial of J River MC17 since you have all your discs ripped. It's tweakable but not the messing around in windows, it's just setting the programme up itself which is easy to do (It's extremely customisable). You'll be suprised by the results, I'm sure.

 

EDIT - cross post!

I can se you have a PC. That makes sense, but you need a good media player on your PC to see what is possible.

Thanks for the media player suggestion - I will certainly give it a try

It's around $40 for a new license, which enable you to upgrade to new versions (MC18 has just been beta released) for around half the cost. For audio use, MC17 seems to have all you'd need, in fact version 15 was sonically as good, the upgrades have been to the video integration and the appearance / ease of use.

One neat facility in v17 (for when the licensing isue is overcome) there is directblink to HD tracks, so when you puchase and download from them they are integrated into the JRMC library directly without having to use the HDT downloader, save to a folder, and then file import.

The attraction of the Touch is undoubtedly the neatness, integration,versatility and low price for what it is. Can't you look at it like that and forget about trying to evaluate hifi minutia ie. just enjoy what it does well? - Simultaneously, I would suggest coming of the forums.

 

regards

Good advice in general.

 

+1

A very good conclusion !!!

original cds playing on a good quality CDP will always sounds better than any other option !

 

Sorry, this is slightly misleading. It's your opinion only, have you actually heard a well set up PC + DAC? A Good quality streamer?

Yes of course it is my opinion only but based on my exepriance .Have you actually heard a high end CDP ?

Its all opinion, of course, but I have heard high end streamers and CD players, and I feel streaming lossless or even HiRes files can match and even beat the equivalent CD players, in the right system.

I certainly havent heard a CD player under stupid money that can match my linn majik DS as a source.

 

well, depends on what your definition of high end, but you claim "any decent CDP is always better"

I compared CDPs up to £2k and my laptop was not inferior (which was £1k), and to my ears was better than the Cyrus CD6SE /  Kandy K2 player by some margin. I spent a bit of time on a couple of occasions going through all of the Cyrus options and it was only until we had the 8SE with a PSX did I think it was at the same level. 

 

Hi Steve 

 

I am hearing loosles music files as well due to budget limtations but I am buying cds from time to  time; clasic and jazz music

always souns better to me in cds ( exept maybe the high resolutions files)  in other types of music the difference is almost not obvious , connecting a DAC improved the sound dramatically from my computer  but I still prefer my CDP .  

Sorry to correct you again, but that just isn't the case, and it isn't even just opinion. For a start, streaming and downloads offer the potential of much better resolution than CDs, both through increased bit depth (24bit+) and a higher bitrate (96kHz+). There is much debate over whether humans can actually hear the benefit of these increased resolutions, but the fact remains that CDs don't offer that flexibility.

 

The streaming software that you use on your PC can make a huge difference. iTunes and Windows Media Player are never going to compete with a half decent CDP when installed on a PC, though iTunes on a MAC can be as good as anything off a computer.

 

Hi,

I know exactly where you are coming from. I have done the same thing and has taken me best part of a year to get to a good (really good) well balanced system using the SBT.

The TT mod changes the sound and can emphasise areas of spectrum but conclusion by many were that the Logitech defaults were best. I agree. However, I think there is mileage from some of the tweaks in that turning off parts of touch that are not being used to reduce noise.

I think sorting the SBT PSU really cleaned up background noise so that more detail was apparent. Also, putting a switch Netgear I have between router and touch. Finally hard connecting. All this helped. Alot of pain it has been!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some of biggest  improvements recently are Stands, using carbon fibre spacers on stands and positioning stands.

So I think you can achieve really good results with SBT but may take a little time and experimenting. For me the convenience (including duet controller) is essential due to family life.

Please feel free to ask anything!

Ambrose