LOL! Mate, that statement is assumptive and in a way belittling! Wave format used in that specific album download sounds wonderful on my system to my own ears. Who said anything about standards, surround, immersive, or multi-room systems?
If I can afford the hardware and media to be played using that hardware, and they sound good to my ears, then I am a happy chap even in mono!
We are a community who try to support each other make the best of our existing systems, and probably make better future choices!
In the times that storage capacity and bandwidth had to come for a premium there was indeed a good reason for different file formats that each perform just a little better on one or the other criteria.
But anno 2021 that is less of an issue and it is about time to agree on:
a single compressed format for streaming via mobile data, which still comes at a premium
a single bit perfect format for all âvintageâ Redbook CDâs
a single high res format for new recordings, re-masters and audiophile listening at home
I stream 80MB/s with this service. In a few years these types of streams will be normal.
I think we begin to stream DSD for those who can afford it with the expectation that it will be the standard in 5 years. No different than just a few years ago when 192/24 was rare in streaming.
The whole discussion was about the need for standards.
There are lots of standards because different branches of the music world have different needs.
If you think about the number of people who use a 2-channel stereo system and lossless stored or streamed media, you might be talking in the low millions. 10m globally? Hundreds of millions of people (400m subscribers) listen to mp3 over Spotify. Billions listen to radio using AAC. Far and away the most common hardware used for listening to music are headphones, mostly with mp3, AAC or bluetooth. Lossless audio seems to me to be an incredibly small sector of the music listening world, probably well below 1%.
The irony is that a lot of music is produced using 24/96 PCM master files and HD streaming now allows us to listen to those master files without any conversion or compression. The need for standards, and lots exist, is for the best quality from compressed and converted files.
All my CD collection is ripped as bitperfect copy WAV files simply because I have the storage space in my server. In my old server I was short of space so used FLAC. The FLAC files may be 50% smaller. Iâve never had a problem with either.
Hi @Jamesh and @Paul. With all the discussion of different formats, are you able to say what formats the Bridge III / Octave streamer will be able to send to the preamp? Will it max out at 24/192kHz and single rate DSD like the Bridge II?
I understand you might be looking not to support MQA in the Directstream MkII. But (and sorry for not knowing better), would there be any role in the streamer to unfold MQA before it gets to the MkII, or is MQA just out of the question?
I donât mind MQA, so would like to retain it, but if itâs not on the menu then itâs not on the menu!
No plans to support MQA at all. Paul doesnât like it so the DAC nor the streamer will do any of the unfolding. As for the formats it will be supporting, I havenât heard any firm details on this yet.
Many thanks @jamesh. Thatâs good to know, but a shame MQA wonât make into the mix from my perspective! Very much looking forward to hearing more - if you can - as things move closer to release.
Hi @jamesh and @Paul. It was great to hear youâll be calling the new streamer the AirLens. Any chance you might be able to treat the HiFi family with an early Christmas present with a picture of the half size chassis youâre proposing to use?
Would be super to have a visual of how it might sit against the other Perfectwave products as we head into the New Year
For me it would be more interesting what are the measures you address compared to others, what reality check you make (against which competition you compare). If you plan a streamer just as a lower range front end compared to a server or as a real alternative (with e.g. output stage and power supplies on the same level) to a server for those with NAS drives or using online streaming.
If we know about the half size chassis and looks, thatâs rather the least important imo.
And for me, I just want to know what the app looks like! I know you have been very interested in metadata for a long time. But just please tell me I will have the option of black instead of white!
I would love to but weâre still arguing over the details including the shape. We are trying very hard to meet a price point that people will like without sacrificing any performance. That means we may have to find it in the chassis. Always hard.
If I had a free wish it would be to get a unit that is on par with the well known top alternatives, which are more expensive due to casework or flexibility the new Octave lens doesnât need and doesnât aim for.
If the challenge is to price it too close to the old Bridge, it might not be good enough to justify the effort of a separate unit. An the folks with NAS drives or pure online streaming wouldnât want to buy the big Octave server to get the expected sound quality and pay for the server functions and HW without need.
Maybe, if savings are needed, itâs an option to just make a compromise at the casework and power supply. Power supply just because there are always external options of one needs to further improve. Otherwise the power supply certainly is most important.
So a streamer which is on the same SQ level as the server regarding the functions they share would be nice.
I can understand the desire for a âprettyâ chassis, but Iâm assuming this device will not have any user functions on the chassis other than power and (maybe) output type selection (SPDIF, I2S, etc.). As such, a sturdy, but plain box would be Ok and it could be placed out of sight. My rack is full so it would be placed remotely, canât speak for anyone else in that regard though.
No huge news that I can share. I have heard that there is a pretty push from the directors to have it released about the same time as the new DAC, so thatâs really good news.
I would happily accept a more plain case if that helps keep the cost down, especially if the trade-off would be performance. Function over form, always.
