Perhaps we should set up a PSA listening/review team and broadcast our findings?
that would be fun
@dcastle
We need a couple of distributors to get us started.
We could be like the Robert Parker of Music SQ.
MMMM I can just taste that little vintage from Brazil.
Oh, and then ā¦ we could move on to Bikini judging?
Iāve also put on hold my HD Tracks purchasesā¦ My most recent quandary with them was yesterday when I was thinking of buying Yes, Close To The Edgeā¦
CTTE was recently remixed by Steve Wilson ( He also did the Tull remixes and King Crimson) his remixes are considered by many to be the best of the bestā¦ Well if you go the HD Tracks site the only thing they say about their version is that itās a āflat analog transferā, also HDTās version is offered in 24/96 and 24/192 the Hi-Res version on the Wilson disc is at 24/96 no 24/192 so I doubt itās the Steve Wilson versionā¦
So instead I just bought the deluxe set off amazon, which includes all the versions, flat transfer of the original, new version and 5.1 Hires and 2 channel Hires, for about the same price as HDTās version ( whatever it is) Fwiw I did email HDTās about their version and havenāt heard backā¦
Frankly Iād rather have a great recording than just buying something it cause itās touted as HiResā¦
+10
Iāve been very frustrated with HDTracks and their HiRes offerings for much the same reason.
same here - I donāt have a lot of confidence in them.
It seems like they have almost zero idea as to the provenance of the recordings they sellā¦ Thatās the problem for meā¦And I think a lot of the stuff they get from the record companies is just up sampled red bookā¦
Speaking of HDtracks - check the spectrum 
It looks like most hirez files are actually upsampled redbooks.
We posted simultaneously
If I cannot get Elyric or JRiver Media Center for Mac to work with my new MacBook Pro, then what can I use the Bridge with?
I can only get a few Radio Stations to play, neither seem to want to play my downloads from Linn and HDTracks,
I can make Elyric work with my Wifeās MacBook Pro (but, technically, I am not allowed to touch her computer).
Help
Again and againā¦ http://minimserver.com/ ā¦
Again and Again?
What do I use the Bridge with?
OK, so I havenāt posted here in ages. Iāve been reading all this great stuff from Gordon, Wglenn and Woot about the Directstream DAC and secretly hoping against hope that itās not all that these guys(and Paul) say it is. Why? Because I donāt āneedā to have to go out and replace my beloved Auralic Vega with a Directstream DAC and I also donāt āneedā to empty my bank account of 5-6k on a new audio purchase. So I tell myself that Iām content with what I have and then I listen to what Gus Skinas had to say and read what the Directstream āunholy trioā(Gordon, et al) had to say and then I tell myself that if these guys have an oar in the water then thereās no way I can pass up a piece of kit like this. Will I drink the Kool Aid and pull out my credit card? Well, the juryās out on that one but my wallet is running scared.
Regarding CTTE, there are both DVD(24/96) and blu ray(24/192) versions of the Steve Wilson mix. I know because I own both. If you have the proper software and hardware to rip blu rays then I would suggest going for the blu ray version. Mind you, Iām not suggesting that anyone do anything other than rip it for their own NAS drive and wherever it is that they store their music.
Regarding the Bridge II, I have less than fond recollections of my time with the original Bridge re: waiting for gapless to happen. For me, that was a deal breaker and it was one of the things that led me to selling my PWD MKII to Gordonās brother. Now, I donāt hear of any timeframe being posted for release of the Bridge II and, to be honest, it feels a little bit like deja vu all over again(I know, itās not exactly the same but itās a little close for comfort). Now, while I wish Paul and Company all the best on the Bridge II, I always see the essentially 1k Auralic Aries on the horizon for a May 2014 release as a slightly more expensive than Bridge II option, also with some upgradeability to its feature set some months down the line. Hmmm. Another "letās wait and see."
Finally, looking at hi res with the Directstream I wonder if hi res is even necessary with the DS. After all, they apparently wowed 'em in Arizona with redbook only. At the same time, I recall my wife reliably commenting positively(even going out of her way to do so) whenever I played 24/96 or 24/192 files on the original PWD. Gordon says that redbook sounds great and hi res sounds even a little better on the DS so maybe there is room for hi res after all. Of course, itās not like Iām going to dump the hi res files I already own, plus ponomusic.com will be selling even more hi res files for our consideration if the provenance is right and thereās no upsampling fakery going on. At this point itās another "wait and see."
Lastly, poor Gordon. I know heās a good guy because I once had an extensive conversation with him plus I had very positive dealings with him when I sold my PWD MKII to his brother. So now Iām waiting to see the youtube video when Paul ropes him into demonstrating how to install the DS upgrade into the PWD!
Esau
esimms86 said: So now I'm waiting to see the youtube video when Paul ropes him into demonstrating how to install the DS upgrade into the PWD!
That would cost a lot, so don't worry.
Good to hear from you.
The DS should stay on your radar. Really.
@esimms86 Interestingā¦ I didnāt realize CTTE was 24/192 on the Blu Ray versionā¦ I bought the DVD version since I donāt have a Blu Ray driveā¦ but it may be time to get one for my iMacā¦ I do have the latest version of DVD Audio Extractor which is supposed to do Blu Ray so maybe Iāll pick one upā¦In any case thereās no question in my mind the quality of the mix/master is far more important to SQ that the bit/sample rateā¦ Iām curious how you like your VEGA?? Iāve got a preorder in for the ARIESā¦ I think that it may be the one! FYI AURALIC just posted screen shots on FB of the finished Lightening appā¦ it looks really nice!
erikm, the Auralic Vega is an outstanding DAC and I have no quibbles except that now the DS has come along and potentially upset the apple cart. The Vega throws a huge soundstage and, as much as it sounds great with hi res PCM and DSD, it absolutely does wonders with redbook files.
Iām also saving my money for an ARIES. I saw that screenshot of the Lightning app and loved it at first but that I saw that the new St. Vincent album was misidentified as Erika Spring. Some further software tweaks to be done, perhaps?
Esau
erikm, the Auralic Vega is an outstanding DAC and I have no quibbles except that now the DS has come along and potentially upset the apple cart. The Vega throws a huge soundstage and, as much as it sounds great with hi res PCM and DSD, it absolutely does wonders with redbook files.
I'm also saving my money for an ARIES. I saw that screenshot of the Lightning app and loved it at first but that I saw that the new St. Vincent album was misidentified as Erika Spring. Some further software tweaks to be done, perhaps?
Esau
The tagging is normally done outside the control point.
DAC/Music server manufacturers normally use 3rd party code/application for the tagging.
The GUI looks pretty sleek. Almost on par with the Lumin app.
Could the visualization be reversed (dark appearance)?
http://youtu.be/LYieN6Vmz-M
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@Ted: how does the clock built in the DirecStream compare to the Femto clock:
http://www.idt.com/products/clocks-timing/clock-generators-and-synthesizers/femtoclock-low-phase-noise-frequency-clock-synthesizers
Tho I haven't heard the IDT clock synthesizers, I have A/B'ed the SiLabs versions of them with a (very) expensive analog VCXO. I wouldn't be embarrassed to use the SiLabs jitter attenuating clock synthesizers in a product, they are pretty darn good. The analog VCXO has clearly superior phase noise plots and, to my ears at least, an undeniable edge in sound quality.
frode, this screenshot is taken from:
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2014/01/auralic-announce-lightning-aries-usb-audio-streamer/
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