Best solution for Audio-only, iTunes / m4a - compatible Hi-Fi system
I've decided to enter the digital age, and have ripped my 700 CD's to m4a (using iTunes). I now want to listen to this music through my mid-to-high-end component HiFi system. The audio m4a files are on my home network's NAS (Windows Storage Serve), and I have two PC's which run iTunes (I actually like the iTunes interface). The PCs are nowhere near the HiFi. I have the ability to run a wireless (g) network, but prefer to run wires for reliability and security.
I'm confused with the plethora of choices out there - non of which seem 'complete', and would welcome any advice as to the best set up for an audio-only system. Things I'm considering include:
1) Buying an AppleTV, and a TV to go with it, and putting up with a lousy, menu-driven interface to naviagte my 12,000 songs. Seems overkill for audio only.
2) Using an old laptop running iTunes, with a DAC such as the Xitel HiFi Link, or something slightly higher-end such as http://www.stereo-link.com/index.html. Problem with this is that I really didn't want a mouse-driven system, would love a touchscreen - and another thing - how much should I pay for the DAC - they range from $50 to $500 ??
3) Buying a TouchScreen monitor, and running a Jukebox application (either in conjunction with the laptop or with a new 'media' machine - see below). This would be high on 'Cool' but I would miss the iTunes browse features ( I presume iTunes won't work with a touch screen?).
4) Buy (or have built?) a new 'media' computer (are these available off the shelf???) - needs to be able to run iTunes/other jukebox software, have a good DAC soundcard, internet connection, but not much else I guess....
5) Buying something like a SONOS system http://www.sonos.com (a bit expensive, and I think I'll loose my favorite iTunes feature of browsing by genre and Artist(?) ). Also, would be overkill as I only really have one HiFi i want to stream to (at the moment!), and prefer wired to wireless.
Another major consideration for the software is that I've spent hours getting album artwork into iTunes. I don't want to have to redo this work if I use a non-iTunes interface, and the few I've tried don't seem to be able to read the iTunes Album library.
Any suggestions welcome....!
I'm confused with the plethora of choices out there - non of which seem 'complete', and would welcome any advice as to the best set up for an audio-only system. Things I'm considering include:
1) Buying an AppleTV, and a TV to go with it, and putting up with a lousy, menu-driven interface to naviagte my 12,000 songs. Seems overkill for audio only.
2) Using an old laptop running iTunes, with a DAC such as the Xitel HiFi Link, or something slightly higher-end such as http://www.stereo-link.com/index.html. Problem with this is that I really didn't want a mouse-driven system, would love a touchscreen - and another thing - how much should I pay for the DAC - they range from $50 to $500 ??
3) Buying a TouchScreen monitor, and running a Jukebox application (either in conjunction with the laptop or with a new 'media' machine - see below). This would be high on 'Cool' but I would miss the iTunes browse features ( I presume iTunes won't work with a touch screen?).
4) Buy (or have built?) a new 'media' computer (are these available off the shelf???) - needs to be able to run iTunes/other jukebox software, have a good DAC soundcard, internet connection, but not much else I guess....
5) Buying something like a SONOS system http://www.sonos.com (a bit expensive, and I think I'll loose my favorite iTunes feature of browsing by genre and Artist(?) ). Also, would be overkill as I only really have one HiFi i want to stream to (at the moment!), and prefer wired to wireless.
Another major consideration for the software is that I've spent hours getting album artwork into iTunes. I don't want to have to redo this work if I use a non-iTunes interface, and the few I've tried don't seem to be able to read the iTunes Album library.
Any suggestions welcome....!
ASKER
Hi fullandby - thnx for your reply.
1) I assume you are a gamer or garage musician, hence your MIDI requirements?? Or is there something I'm missing here???
2) What software are you using to mute out the sound when the telephone rings??
3) Are you just using remoting software (RDC etc.) to control the HiFi PC from your office, or have you got something else going on?
4) Here is a nice (slightly technical) article reinforcing what I think we already know http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue22/nugent.htm - FYI, the NAS is in the basement - wired through CAT5 so distance isn't an issue. My preferred solution at the moment is a Latop for the living room, with external USB sound card going into my Cyrus Integrated amp (measured in inches, not feet (!)
5) Pretty sure that SONOS iTunes support is limited to playing m4a files, and importing playlists. Also checked out AppleTV over the weekend - apple seem to have missed the point, as if I wanted to use iPod type navigation for song selection, I would continue using my current setup - an 80Gig iPod connected directly to the hiFi. So now, I am firmly on the idea of using a computer - your added examples have helped tipped the balance - THNX !!!
6) So...I agree on the 'weakest link' theory. So now all attention must be towards getting a suitable, cost-effective USB DAC....Continuing research has also dug up Creative Labs Audigy line of products. Seem more orientated towards DVD/surround-sound and gaming, but presumably would also work for HiFi? Regardless, I'm beginning to think that about $200 is a reasonable price point for what we are looking for....let me know if you have any other thoughts.
1) I assume you are a gamer or garage musician, hence your MIDI requirements?? Or is there something I'm missing here???
2) What software are you using to mute out the sound when the telephone rings??
3) Are you just using remoting software (RDC etc.) to control the HiFi PC from your office, or have you got something else going on?
4) Here is a nice (slightly technical) article reinforcing what I think we already know http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue22/nugent.htm - FYI, the NAS is in the basement - wired through CAT5 so distance isn't an issue. My preferred solution at the moment is a Latop for the living room, with external USB sound card going into my Cyrus Integrated amp (measured in inches, not feet (!)
5) Pretty sure that SONOS iTunes support is limited to playing m4a files, and importing playlists. Also checked out AppleTV over the weekend - apple seem to have missed the point, as if I wanted to use iPod type navigation for song selection, I would continue using my current setup - an 80Gig iPod connected directly to the hiFi. So now, I am firmly on the idea of using a computer - your added examples have helped tipped the balance - THNX !!!
6) So...I agree on the 'weakest link' theory. So now all attention must be towards getting a suitable, cost-effective USB DAC....Continuing research has also dug up Creative Labs Audigy line of products. Seem more orientated towards DVD/surround-sound and gaming, but presumably would also work for HiFi? Regardless, I'm beginning to think that about $200 is a reasonable price point for what we are looking for....let me know if you have any other thoughts.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Do you own a I-Pod, If so you can just plug it in and play Video\Audio through your system.
The docking station along with the remote works fine. I also got the AV connection kit, Airport Express base station with air tunes for the other room for it.
The docking station along with the remote works fine. I also got the AV connection kit, Airport Express base station with air tunes for the other room for it.
ASKER
Hi Comply - yes, first thing I tried was a docking station (the one from kensington) for my 80Gig iPod. However, navigating 15,000 songs through the menu is completely beyond me!! Also, the fidelity isn't so good that it can compare with CD quality...so I'm pretty much abandoning the $50 that cost me as a lost cause!
Anyway, to update y'all - I splashed out on the "stereo-link 1200" DAC which arrived today ($189 + $10 shipping). When I first plugged it in, I noticed that although very 'clean', the music wasn't nearly so 'bright' as compared to my CD player. This was especially noticeable on the classical music. I phoned stereo-link to complain (they give you 2 weeks to return it if you don't like it), and they pointed out that the 128kps I had ripped my whole collection at (all 15,000 songs!!!), just wasn't good enough to compare vs. a CD. Playing the CD from my laptop through the DAC confirmed the problem - so I re-ripped one CD at Apples' Loss-Less format - turned a 4 Meg file into a 20 Meg file, but sounded GREAT - also tried ripping MP3 at 320kps (the highest iTunes will go). This also was almost undistinquishable from the CD. So bottom line is I'll need to back over my Opera and Classical collection re-ripping it. I don't think Britney Spears is going to improve at ANY resolution, so will probably leave my pop stuff at 128k!!!
FLAC sounds interesting, verus Apple's proprietary LossLess format. So I suppose my next project will be to buy a bigger NAS (I covet an 2T-Byte Infrant ReadyNAS) and archive my CDs properly in FLAC or something. I notice that iTunes has a neat feature to resample to 128k when syncing with the iPod, so that seems a reasonable course of action -
Hmmm - I wish I had paid more attention to the sampling issue at the BEGINNING of this project, instead of worrying first about the hardware....oh well !!!! Bottom line, is I think I'll close out this question, and then go pester someone else about using FLAC in iTunes..... :)
Anyway, to update y'all - I splashed out on the "stereo-link 1200" DAC which arrived today ($189 + $10 shipping). When I first plugged it in, I noticed that although very 'clean', the music wasn't nearly so 'bright' as compared to my CD player. This was especially noticeable on the classical music. I phoned stereo-link to complain (they give you 2 weeks to return it if you don't like it), and they pointed out that the 128kps I had ripped my whole collection at (all 15,000 songs!!!), just wasn't good enough to compare vs. a CD. Playing the CD from my laptop through the DAC confirmed the problem - so I re-ripped one CD at Apples' Loss-Less format - turned a 4 Meg file into a 20 Meg file, but sounded GREAT - also tried ripping MP3 at 320kps (the highest iTunes will go). This also was almost undistinquishable from the CD. So bottom line is I'll need to back over my Opera and Classical collection re-ripping it. I don't think Britney Spears is going to improve at ANY resolution, so will probably leave my pop stuff at 128k!!!
FLAC sounds interesting, verus Apple's proprietary LossLess format. So I suppose my next project will be to buy a bigger NAS (I covet an 2T-Byte Infrant ReadyNAS) and archive my CDs properly in FLAC or something. I notice that iTunes has a neat feature to resample to 128k when syncing with the iPod, so that seems a reasonable course of action -
Hmmm - I wish I had paid more attention to the sampling issue at the BEGINNING of this project, instead of worrying first about the hardware....oh well !!!! Bottom line, is I think I'll close out this question, and then go pester someone else about using FLAC in iTunes..... :)
ASKER
(From my original question, I went with setup (2) - the laptop next to the HiFi)
Just so you know "Apples lossless" or I-Tunes for that matter is made by Musicmatch
The nice thing about having everything on a computer is the networking and control you can get. I can sit in my office and have the stereo cranked, the phone can ring and the stereo either mutes or pauses because the computer attached to the stereo monitors the phone, I can then use the office computer to restart the tunes when my call is done. I can change the tune as well. Once i get a wireless access point for the laptop the whole house is my oyster. (I have a small house though so it will be more like a cherry clam.)
The Sonos system is a nice setup and the wireless control makes for a convenient control system. It appears that it does have iTunes support. You might want to join the forums at Sonos and post your questions concerning iTunes there. There might even be some sort of plug-in developed by a third party that is available for this feature.
You certainly do not want to run a line level output any great distance so unless you can move the NAS closer you will want to keep things digital. The link you posted looks interesting. If you can I would go towards a higher end product as the weak link shows through on a good system. I am running my input into an Adcom preamp and an Adcom power amp which drives a pair of Klipsh towers in the living room and some Bose 301 speakers in the kitchen. I do hear a difference in fidelity. I am looking to improve my fidelity by going to an external sound conversion and I think you are on the right track. Start checking out audiophile websites for reviews on these types of components. I do not know if this was much help to you.