f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

I have a very good hi-fi system and I like listening to music in high quality.... iPods and their ilk with compressed encoding played though Bose (or others) docks are not what I call high quality despite what other people tell me. They sound bloody awful to me to be honest.

So up until now I have still been using CD and vinyl on my hi-fi to listen to music how I like it.

However the time has come.... I want to make the jump to modern tech.

So after some research I am going to rip my CD collection in Apple lossless or FLAC and output it via USB to an asynchrnous USB DAC that will connect into my hi-fi system.

I am leaning towards using iTunes as it is simple and well organised, but what other options are out there. I want to be able to simply select artists, albums or tracks and play them with no hassle so no jerry rigged solutions please.

The asynchronous DAC is already accounted for so it's just the delivery mechanism I am after.

Any thoughts?

jura11

iTrader: (7)

iTunes will not play FLAC

My entire collection is in the FLAC and I'm using Foobar2000 and Songbird,both are free.There is few more which support FLAC like is Tomahawk or Fidelia(this using Izootope plugins and its only for MAC) or JRiver


Jura

dunx

iTrader: (3)

dunx uses VLC as it is basic and neat, not all show and gloss like itunes, which is fine for work and CD's for the car....

dunx

P.S. Linn Music have a site with lots of very HQ digital recordings, I'm currently listening to John Hopkins Opalescent in FLAC or another similar format, via a Cyrus AV Master DAC/pre and a number of Cyrus amps into my KEF XQ20's.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Yes I know which is why I said Apple lossless or FLAC. I can't but help like the organistional/presentation side of iTunes.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

What is VLC like for organising the music?

Ant

I've only ever used iTunes but it does the job for me , pulls all the track data and album art without asking.

Also if you have another idevice you can use it as a remote for iTunes

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

My thinking exactly.

CREWJ

I can't stand iTunes just doesn't do it for me.

I've used winamp for years, no idea what the competition is like these days.
(I use my iDevice to control Winamp too :P)

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Winamp???? No. For the love of God no!!!!

Maybe it's changed, but the last time I used it a few years ago it felt like using something assembled by a school project!

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

I use FLAC and deliver it to my DAC via Logitech squeezebox touch. The App makes using and listening an enjoyable experience.

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

Ant

Alexandra Burke !!

Not sure on the taste of your music stu

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

Ipeng is also an awesome App that I use.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ipen...396993109?mt=8

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

In my defense, I do have a pretty large music collection, but yes, I do like a couple of her tracks, and in fact, her mothers too lol

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

one thing I will add, if your looking for better than CD quality, make sure whatever streamer you choose can handle 24/96 (24bit 96khz) source tracks or you will just end up having to upgrade again when you hear them. Been there - done that!

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Thanks for the posts, interesting alternative. I would really rather use FLAC as it is a more universal format than Apple Lossless (that locking you in thuing again I guess).

Yes already read up on the 24bit capability, good advice.

This is the DAC I will be using:

Naim DAC-V1

CREWJ

I find iTunes and media player struggle with large playlists. Then again I have over 9000 songs.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

I'll take a look at it as it was a long time ago when I last used it.

Yeah my library will be about 1600 CDs worth which is approx. 17500 songs so I guess I need to be careful of that too.

Ant

I don't envy you doing all them

JackClark

I paid Apple for an extra year of iTunes Match and didn't care, they upped the quality of a lot of my Albums. Must remember to cancel this year.

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Have look on the Songbird and their addons,try download and get yours own on this

I'm personally happy with the Songbird and Foobar2000

Jura