Kriton

Wow -who wouold have thought it could be so complicated - I like it! Thanks a lod, I had read about clock matching problems, deficiencies of USB, firewire, and things like that long time, ago, but as I never thought I would have a dedicated music server, it never sank in - SO what is the easiest to configure, ASIO and or WASAPI compliant/capable .flac player out there? How about a .flac to .aac converter program that doesnt take a thousand hours to convert a series of .flac file? I have FooBar, but it is just ugly and rather difficult to just get the music to PLAY (song lists etc.) - I ahve been using VLC but it doesnt support either WASAPI or ASIO apparently? Thanks for the input (or output as the pun may be)...

Unfortunately, this is not necessarily true. It is possible with ASIO or WASAPI, but it does not happen automatically -- you have to set everything up correctly. Ok, do any of you know some resource that explains how to do this? Set it up right, that is? Thanks for the replies, this is awesome...I am getting excited about the DAC!

Excellent! Thank you gents!

OK, laststupid question - under what circumstances or implementation would a computer have an optical port or coax connector that wasn't an option on a sound card? And if this is the case, and wanted, say to direct the signal from my computer to the DAC via coax, then I would have the signal sent through the sound card (which assumably ports the signal to all ports on the sound card) and then I just hook up a 75 ohm cable to the coax and it is routed to the DAC - doesnt the sound card them wash the signal through whatever DAC the soundcard possesses and the outboard DAC does the same? I like the look of that tube DAC, but I have tubes in every aspect of the path right now, CD player is tube, BBX is tube, amps are tube - and my speakers have a tendency to roll off in the high notes anyways, so I am thinking more tubes in the path is not necessarily what I need! I have a friend who mentioned getting me a Shiit DAC for B-day, I am just trying to see if I can use it! Thanks for your time...

Interesting...ok, then how would say the spdif or optical work? Is that one of the options? Thanks for the reply...

Hello gents, been lurking for a long time, but I come out of the shadows to ask a DAC question... I have been running a music server (XP Dell server) with a decent Asus soundcard via RCA minijack into my JM BBX, into tube amps...So the question is, how exactly would one implement a USB DAC with a computer? The one I am looking at says that it would come with "drivers" for Windows, so what does Windows see? If I am using a player, say VLC to play .flac files, what would it play *through*? If over USB, it obviously wouldn't be coming out the sound card? What am I missing? Bruce

Thanks-email sent. B

Hey all, I have a pair of EL 34 based monoblocks and I have some questions about biasing, could someone who knows tu e biasing answer some questions offline? Please?? B

David and Richard - Thanks! Have had some hard time with sleep, but all in all, doing well - and the kid is voracious; she has already gained her post-birth weight back plus- that's my girl! Picture of Elise and Miranda -

With the BFeeding thing, there is not a whole lot I can do but attend right now - fortunately, my teaching job begins next week - so I have a little time to be here with wife and daughters...but for my mother and sister coming to help, we would be screwed! Thanks for the well wishes, I have already many many photographs and will post some when I get a chance to get to the right computer! I am finding that I am having a bit of a time bonding with this one, the build up to the first daughter was traumatic and soul crushing (but for those of you who have met her, she turned out to be perfect as well) - I am finding that while I find the new one to be beautiful, I find mysellf more concerned with how it is afffecting the first daughter...mixed emotions and all that. Wasn't prepared for this strange dilemma. Thinking about how my father (who died last November) would love to have seen this one - he was an infinitely better grandfather than father, after all...my childrens next oldest first cousin is 26(!!) and they all knew their grandparents - mine will not have that privilege, unfortunately. Lots of conflciting images with this new addition. Neighbor down the road just had their baby this last Friday (there were four women pregnant in the little community I live in), everything was apparently going well - but I heard that their child was transferred to the local 'big hospital' because the baby was having seizures! So in that regard I am so thankful that Miranda was and appears to continue to be, perfect. My heart sank for the neighbors, and I got that old copper taste in my mouth and tightness in my gut when I heard that news...reminders of when my first was born. I am still dealing with that, this many years later. Hug your loved ones, it matters. B

Thanks folks - just got home from the hospital and we are exhausted, kid won't let go of the, uh, cow - and so there has been little sleep. Tensions are high, but now that I have a shower (first in days), I feel better prepared to handle the 3:15 am feeding debacle when it happens - my 4 year old is so excited and keeps trying to jump in her koms lap (CSection) - so tears have already been flowing. I do love them all, however - my little harem -perhaps they will be better humans than I have managed to be and will erase decades of bad karma that I have amassed...who knows. I just sit and marvel. And yes, she is loud as they come - Bruce

I just had to share - my lovely wife gave birth to my second daughter, Miranda Grace at 3:52 a.m. Saturday morning - she was 38 weeks, 8lbs 3ozs, and is perfect. This was a planned C-section, for NEXT FRIDAY - daughter decided to come a little early, catching us (me) a little off guard, and she has crushed my attempt at denial and fervent hope that this was just a giant gas attack. Alas. I am dead tired, and wondering how the hell I am going to pay for all this; my four year old daughter is excited and doing very well...her dad, not so much. Thought I would let ya'll feel my pain. Bruce - proud dad regardless

Hey I was in the same predicament for my HT setup - I bought one of these PS-33 racks, simple, wood laminate tops and metal tubing - very sturdy. I have my center channel on top, the Sunfire pre and amp on the second shelf, with the Blueray player in the center and power conditioner on the bottom shelf, on rollers, works like a charm. THey have cool velcroed back wood panels to hide the wiring that you can take off - nicely engineered and the options are decent. Make sure you measure and be sure that your components will fit, but it certainly can handle the weight. I was able to get it for about half what they are asking retail, as they go on special every now and then - they have a bunch of cool other racks on there that won't break the bank either, shipping was by flatpack and delivery by a local shipping co., just FYI. http://www.studiotech.com/products/plasma_tv_stands/performance_series_ps-33/index.html Bruce

I don't know if I can say that my music server is putting out sound *as good* as my cd's, but to my ears it sounds pretty damn good - I am using the highly touted Asus 192/24 sound card (which was cheap by the way) and funneling the whole thing into my Juicy Music Pre and Dood monoblock amps, so I am using old and new in tandem - which I find rather cool. I have looked at the XBMC front end, and I have seen JRiver - but not evaluated it - I will have to do that now that I have found what my problem was... Thanks for the feedback gentlemen! B

Is that disassociation exactly what happens on every American Idol preliminary show? We often sit there (when we watch it, which is not often) and say, "Surely they know how bad they are!" - but maybe they really don't...and now there is a name for it... B

I have only read the first page or two of this thread, but in a way I agree with both winchester and sergeant - on one hand, this guy *is* a pos dog mangler, on the other hand, he has done his time and paid what society deems is his punishment, however wrong it may seem - I think the problem is the breach of trust. We on the whole expect our role models, our heroes, those folks who by the grace of the fans, the constituency, the largess of public taste or opinion, to at least *try* to be good people. We feel personally slighted by their transgressions, and in the society that we are in with instant media reporting, we somehow expect celebrities - at least those that come from nothing and have been made by telling the public what superstars they are, we expect these folks to be better than the rest of us, and when they aren't, we are pissed. I think that in so far as a celebrity somehow gets a lighter sentence for horrible crimes, *because* they are a celebrity, is wrong - and merely reinforces the notion that prestige (if not just money) can buy your way out of anything - perpetuating the whole "cult of personality" that is the core problem with these folks and our perception of them. Ya'll remember Clinton? Whatever you think of his politics, what he did or didn't do in office - lying in depositions, the public apology - you know what pissed me off? The fact that he was having sex in MY office, the historic oval office, the tax payer's office - MY house. He couldn't keep it zipped long enough to go to seedy motel, he had to get his rocks off in MY office - the one that my ancestors, my grandfather and my father and I paid for, with blood and sweat and taxes...the whole argument that these folks have "personal time" and are allowed to do what they want during their "personal time" while still courting the public fame and fortune that comes with our ticket purchases and fandom, to me, is nonsensical. A celebrity, one who puts themselves into the public spotlight for fame, power or fortune, forfeits the right to behave any way they want when the mood arises - if Clinton couldn't control himself for 4 years, knowing the scrutiny he was under - then that says far more about him than any crime he may or may not have committed. This goes for the one year Miss America is expected to stay clean, or the career of a football player (which is limited), televangelist, or any politician's tenure, - you put yourself out there, you sacrifice the right to grope under the airport stalls, to wack off under the bench in open court, to be a spritual leader of the nation while having it off with the prostitute of your choice, or to set-up a dog fighting blood bath with your homeys - when these folks break the trust, we should take back the celebrity - simple. Just the fact that we are talking about this creep gives him power by discussion - and we further perpetuate his celebrity - ignore him, maybe he will just go away. But don't praise him either; he had it all - and chose to throw it in our (the fans) face. Not applaudable, nothing to feel sorry for, nor worth the effort. YMMV. B

XBOX Media Center looks really slick - that is rather what I have been looking for - not sure if this old box will be able to handle the graphics and things that program appears to put out, but I will try it on another build soon - Thanks Hurd! B

Hey Seti - I haven't tried Sockso, but it looks cool - acctually - I have discovered my problem - after wiping the C: drive and reinstalling Windows XP, I started trying to play my music files again just with Windows Media Player, and was having the same stuttering! This after I removed all cards and went just with the motherboard audio, etc. - So as a last ditch effort, I moved a few MP3's to another hard drive, just to see if it was the drive. Sure enough, stuttering stopped! I moved all of the music files off the former disk, to another disc, and miraculously, they are playing clear as a bell. I loaded VLC player (as it has .flac support) and sure enough, they are playing well and sound great. But I have learned a lot - and I like a VLC - it is simple, but does the job. I also have been using EAC to rip CD's to .flac and it has been working well too. So I guess I am going to have a few music servers laying around - I have been ripping like a mad man, my rather large CD collection - just to see what it would take to get it done. If anyone wants to know how I went about it - PM me... Bruce

I just installed WinAmp Pro on my machine ( I had installed the "lite" free version earlier) - and I like the look, the functionality and everything - but be damned if it doesn't stutter when I play music - nothing else is on, no music being downloaded, and the harddrive the music is on is separate from the C drive which is very clean (as this is all the machine does)- very disappointing... B

Well thanks man, I usually talk too much - an occupational hazard - so feel free to just tell me to shut up; shoot I talked poor Richard's ear off all the way don and back, even the 120 miles out of the way we went when my GPS shot us up the Dragon, only for it to be closed due to the rockslide! I always enjoy the company and conversation of intelligent folks, don't have that opportunity near enough. Everytime I have been to Richard's and heard those Jubilees - I have to control my urge to jump at any Klipschorns I see - knowng that I will never be satisfied with anything less than the Jubes...I have the space measured and set aside, and will have the same set up as Richard's one of these days...but a new kid on the way, career and lifestyle changes have set the time frame back a bit - but never fear. I have been hoping I can weedle Richard's jubes from him, still working on it - > I am satified with what I have here so far, but...there is always room for improvement - now I know - LOTS of room... Bruce

Winamp was one I tried, and it worked fine, until I tried to load it on my XP pro machine (service pack 3) and it just wouldn't work - every time I tried to start the program, it just wouldn't open - I also don't thin it had .flac support, but as I never got that far I am not sure about that - I have tried the Classic Media Player (which plays .flac nicely) but which is really tiny and doesn't have a robust play list or organization back program - and I have tried Total Media Player, another small prog that plays everything, but has similar problems as Classic above and really is more of a stand alone video player that heppens to have the codecs to play .flac and pretty much everything else - just not a robust prog for juke boxing... I have been playing some ripped CD's in .flac and high qual MP3, and I am starting to really hear the difference between the two - and I think .flac is the way to go...I have an extensive CD collection and while the computer files will *never* replace the sound of a well engineered CD, I would still like to get them all ripped and done for ease and back up - Keep the ideas coming, surely some of you have HTPC's with audio progs that you use to place. flac, right? Bruce

Hey - If it is held next year - I am coming, and I will be bringing some equipment with me - I want to seehow these 120 watt monoblocks I have stack up to those 250's and the VRD's...I am just curious. AND, I have been looking forthat damned whisky since I have ben there...I am on a quest apparently. I ahve been dissatisfied with my system for the last 3 weeks, and have had to find other things to do with my time - lest I dump it all and try to imitate Bob's system - thanks a lot gentlemen. I know Terry asked me a question about the hum that I was hearing and told ya'll about, but I coudln;t find his post specifically so I will answer here - YES, I did get a cheater plug and try the system into two prong, by passing the ground - and sure enough I think it *was* quieter - the hum is still there, but no whre near as prominent. That really pisses me off, there must be a ground fault somewhere - I have been having a weird anamoly with my electric in this house - every now and then there will be a -blink- in the electricity, meaning that one circuit, one half of the house - the lights will go off, my clock on my night stand will reset and blink, etc. Funny thing is that my wife's clock on the other side of the bed, does not blink - AND it is not during a storm, and on the last 4 occasions, it was a sunny mid day, no other things (like TV's or stereos or air conditioners, etc. ) are on - and there is no apparent reason for the glitch. I can't explain it - but I need to find the source, and fast. Any suggestions? Hope you guys in Hope are having a good time - I am missing being there in a big way. Bruce

Ok - I have a couple of servers laying around that I have decided to tinker around with - I have set up a music only box, and put in a draft N wireless card and Asus soundcard (which sounds surprisingly good by the way) - I want to eventually get a touch screen (if anyone has one cheap, please IM me!) - and I am looking for a program that can play *everything* - I have MP3's, and .flac files, and I don't to have to dick around with work arounds and codec packs to get both to play...I have tried like three players, and all of them have strenghts and major weaknesses - the last that I tried was the ITunes player (recommended by a fellow klipscher) and while I like the format, I have to sign up for an "account" in order to get info on the tracks, or to download album art - and the player does not natively play .flac files!! I am just not that hard up to sign anything over to Apple (or Microsoft for that matter). I just want a player that will be a good juke box, play any format I have without having to jack around, have a good organizational matrix (without forcing me to copy entire albums into its "libraries" ala ITunes (I have the music on a separate disk thank you and I don;t want them *moved* from that disk) and I would really like a program that doesn't cause the music that is currently being played back to skip and jitterwhen I am looking for more songs to play! Am I just screwed here? Any suggestions? Thanks ya'll - B

Richard - I have had my hand on the phone all day ready to call to you all day so I coudl come down and get my audition - but it was raining here off and on all day - so I didn't think that you would be getting out all day - please let me know when you might be getting them out again and I am there... I need to get you that new number where you can get me...does your phone accept text messages? They look awesome! Bruce

Hey, he is the urologist, not me... [A] BB