Why switch to Computer Audio?

As I think about getting something like a Squeezebox Touch, I'm curious about whether it is worth the time to put my CDs on my hard drive - or what other benefits people have felt they have gotten by moving away from a CD player? Perhaps a better way to word the question is, 'why did you switch, and what did it do for your listening enjoyment?'

I have a dedicated listening room, so I generally have to be in the room to enjoy music (as opposed to having it on as background as I do other things).

Would hi-rez downloads be a reason to make the switch?

I have a number of LPs, and still listen them, though maybe only 20% of the time. Do LP purists record LPs for casual listening, or do they do so because they feel it faithfully captures the 'sound' of the LP?

I've read Kalman Robinson's reveiw of the Sqeezebox and it sounded like his enjoyment was about accessing other formats, rather then discontinuing use of his CDs. If I had to buy the Ayre player he mentions to get good sound, it would seem to defeat the purpose...

Nick

December 25, 2010 - 1:56pm

Listener

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reasons to switch to computer audio

1. Your player s/w can remember what you own better than you can. You'll discover stuff you had forgotten you owned.

2. Finding a particular performance is much quicker and easier using computer audio. You may listen to music more often because it is so effortless with computer audio.

3. Browsing your collection is an adventure with computer audio. You can have a thought that takes you to one selection and then follow that with a different thought in a couple of seconds.

4. You have far more flexibility to pick and choose what you play. Pick a song from one album, then queue up a song from a different album and go on queuing up whatever you think of. Play a performance of a work and then play the last movement of that work again in a different performance.

5. You can build permanent playlists that capture a favorite sequence of selections.

6. You can listen to internet radio stations and paid subscription services. There is a world of content on the net.

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Sound quality might be better or worse for computer audio depending on what you use now and what computer audio components you choose.

You can experiment for little money and find out whether computer audio is worthwhile for you.

Bill

December 25, 2010 - 8:03pm

BillB

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reasons to switch

I find that I dig my music more often since I stream it (on "shuffle" or by artist or whatever) - so I'm hearing music more in environments where before I would wait til I got to my "dedicated listening room". I still go there but now I can dig music, e.g., while I have supper, without running to bring a particular CD up to the kitchen area.

December 25, 2010 - 9:07pm

Bogartg1

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dcs Guide to Computer Audio

Thank you for your comments. I found a pdf called 'dcs Guide to Computer Audio' that helped a lot and confirmed what you had to say also. It demystified much of what I have been wondering about, though, like most things in audio, it is hard to sort through what is necessary and what is not.

One think I'm struggling with is the idea of an ethernet cable vs. using wireless. I've got a wireless router upstairs, and can't imagine how I'd get an ethernet cable into my listening room.

I'm not thrilled with the idea of how to choose a DAC. The obvious choice seems to be the Benchmark, but the Metric Halo sounds interesting, if not complicated, if one wants to copy LPs. I've got a macbook pro that lives in the listening room, but there seems to be a large consensus the server should be stand-alone.

Does anyone have opinions about the mini-mac (mach II modded or not)?

December 26, 2010 - 2:12am

tomjtx

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Joined: Nov 12 2006 - 2:53pm

I bought my 1st squeezebox

I bought my 1st squeezebox about 3 years ago. It significantly changed the way I listen to music.

Within a month I bought a Transporter and within another month my CDP went into the closet.

When I buy a CD now it gets ripped into the computer 1st thing. I can't imagine ever playing a CD again.

If you get a Touch just stream wi-fi from your computer. You wont need an ethernet cable. The data is streamed in packets and there is no difference between wi-fi or ethernet.

I would suggest starting with the Touch w/o another DAC. The DAC in the Touch is quite good. Get used to streaming, start ripping your collection and wait a few months to decide if you want another DAC to connect to the Touch.

December 26, 2010 - 8:17am

(Reply to #5) #6

RGibran

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One Day...

you will stop with the reasons to NOT switch and you will finally decide to stick your toe in the water.

From then on the joy of this hobby will return to your life as it was in the early years and your screwed for life.

Take Kal's advice. Buy a Touch NOW!

Enjoy!

December 26, 2010 - 10:58am

Bogartg1

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Joined: Dec 24 2010 - 10:46am

The Touch

I feel pretty screwed as it is with the amount of time I spend with music! Assuming I get started with the touch and I am going to stay with my Mac laptop and Time Capsule, do I still need something like Amarra or Pure Music to help with organizing and playback, or does the Squeezebox supposed keep one from needing the additional software?

Thanks

December 26, 2010 - 12:23pm

(Reply to #7) #8

RGibran

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Joined: Oct 11 2005 - 5:50pm

Correct

No additional software needed other than the free Squeezeserver for the Touch which you can go ahead and download just to get a feel for the GUI. Nothing special but plenty adequate for controlling from the computer but you will most likely break that habit and use the Touch screen or remote.

I like the third party app 'iPeng' for control on iPhone,iTouch and iPad.

You can have server in another room and control it from your laptop if you desire. Lot's of flexibility for whatever you prefer. I have never had a dedicated server...no worries.

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