Private "computer listeners" room
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Other music related lounges
Forum Name: Tech Talk
Forum Description: Discuss musical instruments, equipment, hi-fi, speakers, vinyl, gadgets,etc.
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20231
Printed Date: November 24 2024 at 16:47
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Private "computer listeners" room
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Subject: Private "computer listeners" room
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 06:04
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Similar to the private audiophile room, I created this thread for discussion about hardware and related info on how to enjoy listening to music using a computer. Audiophiles are free to post here, as long as they don't question or ridicule listening on a computer in general. I'm busy at work right now, but I'll post my current and planned setup tonight! ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to: 
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Replies:
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 06:08
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Great thread Mike! ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Lindsay Lohan
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 06:08
Listening on music on your Pc is fine but far from ideal  ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Fjuffe/?chartstyle=sideRed - [IMG - http://imagegen.last.fm/sideRed/recenttracks/Fjuffe.gif - |
Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 06:09
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Did you ever get that Soundblaster F-Xi?
I'm still too content with my DSP24 |
Posted By: Lindsay Lohan
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 06:11
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No but im bound too soon...onboard soundcards is teh crap Ah sorry thought you meant me...im also ordering a X-fi sooner or later ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Fjuffe/?chartstyle=sideRed - [IMG - http://imagegen.last.fm/sideRed/recenttracks/Fjuffe.gif - |
cobb wrote:
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 06:11
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No, not yet ... I'm still happy with my Audigy 2. I think I'll try to get a X-Fi this year though, when I upgrade my computer. It could take some time though, because I am waiting for new graphics cards with HDMI/HDCP interfaces. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 06:12
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It is ideal if its convenient. For me it is convenient and i listen to most of my music at the PC. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 08:51
Can't get near the sound system in my house- its connected to the TV and I gave up fighting the wife and kids for music time years ago. [edit] We're just ahead of our time anyway- even the audiophiles will be using a Media Centre to control their sound in the future. 
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Posted By: Empathy
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 09:46
I'm on a Mac, and I use a http://www.motu.com/products/motuaudio/828/ - MotU 828
for computer audio. I've got the Mk I, which is audio only (no MIDI).
It's got fairly high quality A/D and D/A. I'm in an apartment building,
so I'll have to be content with decent headphones for the time being.
When I move, however, I plan on pickin up a pair of http://www.dynaudioacoustics.com/Default.asp?Id=3680 - these , and crankin' em! 
------------- Pure Brilliance: 
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Posted By: Empathy
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 09:47
Oof. Let's hope you're wrong there. , indeed!------------- Pure Brilliance:
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Posted By: Bob Greece
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 09:56
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I would love to have the best possible equipment - who wouldn't. The thing is that we are restricted by money. Another thing is that big hi-fi systems restrict you to one room and I can't just sit in one room for hours on end. Portability is essential. If I can listen to music that's the important thing. Equipment always takes second place. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/BobGreece/?chartstyle=basicrt10"> 
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Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 10:42
Exactly. I just decided to buy the following hardware to replace my current setup (Creative Audigy 2 ZS + Harman-Kardon hifi amp + Elac speakers):
I'll let you know how it sounds! ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: March 14 2006 at 16:27
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A few hours ago I bought the X-Fi and installed it ... the Logitech speakers have been ordered and should arrive before the weekend. So far I'm amazed with the X-Fi - their "Crystallizer" really enhances the signal. It sounds very musical ... I don't have a musical player here so I cannot compare it directly, but I think it comes very close - and several reviewers share that point of view. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: mystic fred
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 02:40
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It's very easy to plug in to your hi-fi system from the computer soundcard, with sometimes amazing results! some tracks i have downloaded or directly streamed from the internet (especially PRUD!) sound almost as good as an original cd. -------------  Prog Archives Tour Van 
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Posted By: mystic fred
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 02:44
I doubt it! audiophiles are a conservative lot, latest thing they are raving about is tubes (valves) in their amps. they've only just accepted cd players (as long as they're fitted with tubes/valves!). ------------- Prog Archives Tour Van
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Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 03:15
Ok, then the manufacturers simply attach some tubes on the top of the computer and sell it for $5000 instead of $500. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: cobb
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 04:47
| I daresay I'm not the only one who spends a lot of time on computer and a fair percentage of that time is at home. The only way I can keep sane is to have continuous music streaming out of my klipsch 2.1 speakers connected to an ST audio card. Thankfully I don't have to sacrifice that much quality because the hardware is available- at a far more realistic price. Maybe its the price that gets audiophiles off, not the quality.... |
Posted By: Lindsay Lohan
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 04:53
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Hm who came up with that silly idea of connecting tubes to amp modeling processors Now THATS what i call unnecessary ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Fjuffe/?chartstyle=sideRed - [IMG - http://imagegen.last.fm/sideRed/recenttracks/Fjuffe.gif - |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 05:24
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Do you even know how it works (Valvetronix)? ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: Lindsay Lohan
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 05:30
Well explain to me why that will sound so much better with tubes when normal amps with tubes will not sound better. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Fjuffe/?chartstyle=sideRed - [IMG - http://imagegen.last.fm/sideRed/recenttracks/Fjuffe.gif - |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 05:43
Normal amps with tubes DO sound better. That's why most artists still don't use Line6 amps, at leastto my knowledge. The Vox Tonelab uses digital amp modelling for the preamps. The tube is - together with some ingenious circuitry - used to simulate the interplay between a tube (power) amp and the speaker cabinets. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: Lindsay Lohan
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 05:45
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Aha but why is the digital amp modeling incabable of reproducing the positive effects of the analog side of the deal? And i recall you pointed out a hybrid soundcard with a tube would sound crap while a purely digital one would sound better ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Fjuffe/?chartstyle=sideRed - [IMG - http://imagegen.last.fm/sideRed/recenttracks/Fjuffe.gif - |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 05:59
Because the distortion created by the tube is quite complex. Digital amps fail to simulate that ... they're getting better and better though.
That's not quite what I said. I said that it would not make sense to include a tube inside a computer chassis because of the electronic interferences from the other circuits. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: Lindsay Lohan
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 06:00
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Aha so you admit that a fully digital media would not be able to reproduce the sound as good as a analog one? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Fjuffe/?chartstyle=sideRed - [IMG - http://imagegen.last.fm/sideRed/recenttracks/Fjuffe.gif - |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 06:23
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No. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: Lindsay Lohan
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 06:28
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Haha but you say that you must have a hybrid media because the digital one can never reproduce the sound that is taken from a analog (tube) one. Esentially the tube distortion is alot more round,smooth and lush than that you would get from a digital media and therefore it is better. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Fjuffe/?chartstyle=sideRed - [IMG - http://imagegen.last.fm/sideRed/recenttracks/Fjuffe.gif - |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 07:04
Yes. But I'm referring to applications where the tubes are used to create distortion. In the hifi world the tube amps are used in a voltage/current range which avoids the distortion - you don't want your hifi amp to distort the signal. And that is the problem with tubes - they always distort, you'll never be able to completely remove the distortion. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: Lindsay Lohan
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 07:35
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All Class D amps will always begin to distort at nearly the same rates as Tube Amps BUT however the distortion from the Tube Amp sounds more rounded instead of the sharpness of an Class D amp. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Fjuffe/?chartstyle=sideRed - [IMG - http://imagegen.last.fm/sideRed/recenttracks/Fjuffe.gif - |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 07:49
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Of course all amps have distortion - tube, transistor, etc.. But I think we should discuss this in another thread ... the topic was supposed to be listening on a computer. I think we can conclude that soundcards with tubes are not recommendable ... ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: Lindsay Lohan
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 07:51
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And how could you be 100% sure before you have tested it? They would be fools to combine it if the resulting sound would be awfull ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Fjuffe/?chartstyle=sideRed - [IMG - http://imagegen.last.fm/sideRed/recenttracks/Fjuffe.gif - |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 08:14
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combine what? and who are they? ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: Lindsay Lohan
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 08:26
Combining digital soundcards with tube technology ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Fjuffe/?chartstyle=sideRed - [IMG - http://imagegen.last.fm/sideRed/recenttracks/Fjuffe.gif - |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 08:32
I've never heard of any such card ... if they were that great, I guess that I would at least have heard about it. Can you provide an example? ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: Lindsay Lohan
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 08:34
Well they are not very cheap and not for the mainstream really...if i only could remember the producers name ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Fjuffe/?chartstyle=sideRed - [IMG - http://imagegen.last.fm/sideRed/recenttracks/Fjuffe.gif - |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 08:48
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I can't find any information on the matter - I still don't think that such a thing ever existed - at least not as an internal soundcard. Of course there are various external soundcards connected via USB, and some of those indeed use tubes. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: Lindsay Lohan
Date Posted: March 15 2006 at 08:50
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http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/aopentube/ - http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/aopentube/ It was not the soundcard i was looking for but atleast it did go by well in the tests unfourtnately the b*****ds had combined it with a really cheap low quality chip ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Fjuffe/?chartstyle=sideRed - [IMG - http://imagegen.last.fm/sideRed/recenttracks/Fjuffe.gif - |