The title may not be 100% clear, but I mean things like CD (inc. SACD), records, computer, cassettes, portable media (iPod etc).
I just got a record deck today, and I must say that, even with a low-fi preamp, the sound compared to the CDs is far more......... Natural.
I got curious - what's --your-- preferance for audio sources, and why?
Chris.
I just got a record deck today, and I must say that, even with a low-fi preamp, the sound compared to the CDs is far more......... Natural.
I got curious - what's --your-- preferance for audio sources, and why?
Chris.
My PC. CDs on the hard disk, played back through a 24 bit/192 kHz sound card. Admittedly, I don't own an SACD, so I haven't been able to see if that upgrade is worthwhile.
Preferred is vinyl, assuming the LPs have been taken care of 🙂
Next would be hard-drive based lossless files, either downloaded from reliable sources or ripped from CDs.
Next would be hard-drive based lossless files, either downloaded from reliable sources or ripped from CDs.
I like to feed my MuFi DAC wirelessly from an Apple Airport Express / iTunes, so when the mood strikes for this song or the other, I can start it up immediately.
-j
-j
My Studer A-80 1/2" 2 track at 30 IPS with Ampex 456 tape.
How is it, that a mixdown to an old analog tape deck through a bunch
of extra transistor signal paths can sound more "real" than the same
digital tracks mixed "directly" in the computer?
Damn, no /IMG tags on the island? (boss! the plane! the plane!)
Here
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
How is it, that a mixdown to an old analog tape deck through a bunch
of extra transistor signal paths can sound more "real" than the same
digital tracks mixed "directly" in the computer?
Damn, no /IMG tags on the island? (boss! the plane! the plane!)
Here
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DCC (Digital Compact Cassette). Dead format, can't get tapes.
And attempts to fake by drilling a hole have rarely played back
without severe dropouts...
But I got a Voice of Music reel to reel now, with the magic eye.
I hope that classic analog format will never die.
And attempts to fake by drilling a hole have rarely played back
without severe dropouts...
But I got a Voice of Music reel to reel now, with the magic eye.
I hope that classic analog format will never die.
SY said:
Bonce over to the Internet Archive, as a start search live recordings for Charlie Hunter. Quite a few live 24/96 FLACs in the selection, it's advisable to confirm the recording's pedigree with a software spectrum analyzer. Some 24/96 files appear to have been up-sampled. And AISO helps.
For a real system buster, search 'shuttle launch'.
The Met Opera via Schoeps mics through one of our XL8's. Dude.
Oh, and recorded at 96k on the KT DN9696. Dude.
Oh, and recorded at 96k on the KT DN9696. Dude.
kenpeter said:
I have some Tascam cassette decks in my attic, and many of professional cassettes, from 5 to 90 minutes, master-leaderless, fast starting. They are virgin clean.
Good as those might be for the intended purpose: Try making
a DIY DCC of one! Physical formats are similar enough, except
the dust door. Drill the detection hole, but its a whole different
bias level or something else incompatible??? Just don't work....
I mean, you can record in digital, yes... But the dropouts are
too many, and the recording "fades" into total drop-out-ville
after only a few plays. Worse than useless.
I've tried em all, oxide, chrome, metal (what means metal???)
And unrolled digital tapes of other unknown types and tried
to wind them into the DCC cassette format. No better luck.
But all my original Phillips DCC tapes with old recordings of my
band, still play perfect. I always hope to find a lifetime supply
crate of surplus DCC at some junk sale.
a DIY DCC of one! Physical formats are similar enough, except
the dust door. Drill the detection hole, but its a whole different
bias level or something else incompatible??? Just don't work....
I mean, you can record in digital, yes... But the dropouts are
too many, and the recording "fades" into total drop-out-ville
after only a few plays. Worse than useless.
I've tried em all, oxide, chrome, metal (what means metal???)
And unrolled digital tapes of other unknown types and tried
to wind them into the DCC cassette format. No better luck.
But all my original Phillips DCC tapes with old recordings of my
band, still play perfect. I always hope to find a lifetime supply
crate of surplus DCC at some junk sale.
chris661 said:
My favorite music source is vinyl records because to me they just sound better. Not all vinyl though, but the good stuff. Direct to disc, half speed masters, RCA Living Stereo, Mercury Living Presence, EMI and many others. But not CBS, direct metal masters, certain Angels etc. I have a couple thousand LPs, some of them quite rare.
I also have and play many CDs because they are more convenient and much better sounding today then the earlier ones with "digitalitus" problems.
Reel to reel tape is also a favorite but not used much anymore. Tape machines include Nagra IV-S, Tascam 42B, Ampex ATR-800 and two homemade Ampex 351-2s that I built years ago because back then they were still fairly new and unaffordable. And I had a lot of fun making them.
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rdf said:
Thanks for the tout!
The Eye Lady is dreading what the shuttle launch will sound like; she's already panicked over the 20 cubic feet of subwoofer...
Vinyl, but it is inconvenient.
Oh, yeah, edit -- I still have some of the Mercurys bought when I was in college.
Still, one of my faves is Anna Moffo sop arias which is the first stereo recording I had ever heard.
Oh, yeah, edit -- I still have some of the Mercurys bought when I was in college.
Still, one of my faves is Anna Moffo sop arias which is the first stereo recording I had ever heard.
I like a computer source based on Via's 1616, Tremor or Envoy.
M-Audio Audiophile 192 and M-Audio Revolution 5.1 are some of the more regular examples. However, there are units priced down at $12 that lack only for decent interlink caps or a preamp. I've tried most other computer audio solutions, but only Via provides "more hit than miss" for "like it was live" playback.
Second favorite is a vacuum tube powered Rogers/Akai open reel--some sort of oddly addictive charm.
Third favorite is an opening day Technics circa 1975 tuner--scary transparancy.
Fourth favorite is a Crosley Solo's headphone jack (2/3rds of samples have quite decent sound out of the headphone jack and static-free at long range FM stereo).
The important fact is that, while there are many more available, it is this list that gets the most use in my house.
M-Audio Audiophile 192 and M-Audio Revolution 5.1 are some of the more regular examples. However, there are units priced down at $12 that lack only for decent interlink caps or a preamp. I've tried most other computer audio solutions, but only Via provides "more hit than miss" for "like it was live" playback.
Second favorite is a vacuum tube powered Rogers/Akai open reel--some sort of oddly addictive charm.
Third favorite is an opening day Technics circa 1975 tuner--scary transparancy.
Fourth favorite is a Crosley Solo's headphone jack (2/3rds of samples have quite decent sound out of the headphone jack and static-free at long range FM stereo).
The important fact is that, while there are many more available, it is this list that gets the most use in my house.
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My favorite may be my Marantz 2130 tuner - tuned to my local public radio station 91.9 (where it usually stays)
A close second is my Phillips SACD player - going through a slighty modified Audio Alchemy DAC.
I really want to get in to some vinyl but I have not had the time or resources to do so.
A close second is my Phillips SACD player - going through a slighty modified Audio Alchemy DAC.
I really want to get in to some vinyl but I have not had the time or resources to do so.
Hi!
Well, to me it depends if it's about convenience or qound preference. for sound preference, I prefer Vinyl🙂 (again, if not scratched or noisy), then Reel-to-reel, then, -hold on to your hats- *Cassette*😀, then possibly Elcasset, and dare I say 8-...
no couldn't say it. but it's the same track width as cassette so there you go. Mind you not so convenient.
Then all the digital formats.
I simply prefer my audio signal to be pure, not chopped up. I mean it's not like I hear the chopping up, but the idea is frightening. It reminds me of the transporters in Star Trek...🙁
For convenience I like: CD, Cassette, mp3 (on computer, I don't own an mp3 player but I do have a walkman), vinyl, reel-to-reel, then everything else.
I have not tried the other formats but will definitely have to listen to SACD and Elcaset. Not side-by-side, though.
Well, to me it depends if it's about convenience or qound preference. for sound preference, I prefer Vinyl🙂 (again, if not scratched or noisy), then Reel-to-reel, then, -hold on to your hats- *Cassette*😀, then possibly Elcasset, and dare I say 8-...
no couldn't say it. but it's the same track width as cassette so there you go. Mind you not so convenient.
Then all the digital formats.
I simply prefer my audio signal to be pure, not chopped up. I mean it's not like I hear the chopping up, but the idea is frightening. It reminds me of the transporters in Star Trek...🙁
For convenience I like: CD, Cassette, mp3 (on computer, I don't own an mp3 player but I do have a walkman), vinyl, reel-to-reel, then everything else.
I have not tried the other formats but will definitely have to listen to SACD and Elcaset. Not side-by-side, though.
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