coming out of coma

[sterling shoote]

Just figuratively, but it seems I'm just now learning the convenience of itunes; and, I am not sure if it's the right software to get the best sound from the computer to the home audio system. Thing is, right now my experiments suggest I cannot hear any difference between an MP3 file played through the mini headphone jack out to the tape inputs of my home theater preamp/processor and the same materials in original SACD format played to the same processor. Maybe I stay happy and buy more media rather than invest in any new equipment if better sound coming from what's out there today in the way of DAC''s, etc is just marketing propaganda. What say folks here? BTW, only thing so far that I can hear which is disturbing is the noise of the AC line which comes into the computer. So, for noise reduction I just run the computer on battery power.

 

[Seth=L]

I'll be honest; I lost complete interest after you said figuratively. Next time put your spoiler at the end, which will force curious minds to read what you've posted. I only doubled back to tell you this then I figured I might as well read your post and respond to it since posting this alone would probably have been rude and of course your question would not be answered.

I get noise from my computer as well, I imagine a USB based DAC or soundcard for your PC would solve the noise issue.

Most people can't tell an immediate difference between 320kbps MP3s and CDs and probably SACDs, so this comes as no surprise. When doing background/non-critical listening it's not likely anyone would notice a difference unless the MP3 rip was taken from a bad source to begin with, or was compressed with an old/bad algorithm.

 

[GranteedEV]

... I thought this would be some profound thread about waking up from a coma and coming to an epiphany causing you to sell your old BMW for a pair of Revel Ultima2 Salon or something.

Use an optical cable for the noise issue, otherwise if you're not hearing a difference between SACD and hi bitrate MP3 could mean two things:

1) You're just not obsessing over small details like some people do
2) Your speakers aren't good enough.

 

[sterling shoote]

... I thought this would be some profound thread about waking up from a coma and coming to an epiphany causing you to sell your old BMW for a pair of Revel Ultima2 Salon or something.

Use an optical cable for the noise issue, otherwise if you're not hearing a difference between SACD and hi bitrate MP3 could mean two things:

1) You're just not obsessing over small details like some people do
2) Your speakers aren't good enough.

I have a pair of JBL L100t3's helped along with a JBL B380 sub-woofer. Seems to me, my speakers, while perhaps only appreciated by me, would reveal most everything that could be construed to be "different". I may not know what to look for however regarding the small details you mention, or maybe my ears are not as good as they once were.

 

[gonk]

Just figuratively, but it seems I'm just now learning the convenience of itunes; and, I am not sure if it's the right software to get the best sound from the computer to the home audio system. Thing is, right now my experiments suggest I cannot hear any difference between an MP3 file played through the mini headphone jack out to the tape inputs of my home theater preamp/processor and the same materials in original SACD format played to the same processor. Maybe I stay happy and buy more media rather than invest in any new equipment if better sound coming from what's out there today in the way of DAC''s, etc is just marketing propaganda. What say folks here? BTW, only thing so far that I can hear which is disturbing is the noise of the AC line which comes into the computer. So, for noise reduction I just run the computer on battery power.

I would be very surprised to find that an MP3 file played through a typical computer sound card would sound the same as an SACD being played in an even half-way decent SACD player. However, the individual components involved and their connections are important: what preamp/processor, what SACD player, how the SACD player is connected, and even what material you are comparing (MP3's made from CD layer of a hybrid SACD vs. SACD layer of same disc? MP3 bought from an online store vs. SACD?).

 

[sterling shoote]

I would be very surprised to find that an MP3 file played through a typical computer sound card would sound the same as an SACD being played in an even half-way decent SACD player. However, the individual components involved and their connections are important: what preamp/processor, what SACD player, how the SACD player is connected, and even what material you are comparing (MP3's made from CD layer of a hybrid SACD vs. SACD layer of same disc? MP3 bought from an online store vs. SACD?).

O.K., associated equipment consists of a Sony VDP-S9000ES SACD player and a Sony TA-E9000ES preamp/processor. I've tried all kinds of experiments with all sorts of media/material to get a feel for different; yet, so far, I just can't discern "different", that's to say, files played from itunes at any bit rate, mostly WAV and 320's, connected with an analog minijack from my computer's sound card to the tape input of my preamp, sound as good to me as do materials played from my SACD player.

 

[m_vanmeter]

have you tried making your "qualitative" tests with a really good set of headphones ? They tend to reveal compression effects and clipped highs better than speakers.

 

[Seth=L]

I'm assuming you listen to SACDs in stereo only since the preamplifier doesn't have multichannel analog inputs.

The JBL L100t is legendary. I've not heard the t3, but I'm sure it's every bit as good and possibly better. I owned a pair of JBL L20t bookshelf monitors and I loved those. The finish quality was the best I've ever had in a speaker, and the 80's typically wasn't too kind in this regard.

 

[sterling shoote]

I'm assuming you listen to SACDs in stereo only since the preamplifier doesn't have multichannel analog inputs.

The JBL L100t is legendary. I've not heard the t3, but I'm sure it's every bit as good and possibly better. I owned a pair of JBL L20t bookshelf monitors and I loved those. The finish quality was the best I've ever had in a speaker, and the 80's typically wasn't too kind in this regard.

Yes, I'm listening in stereo, no digital processing for any sort of surround sound. Also, in addition to comparison of itunes playback to SACD, I hooked up my 32 year old turntable, a Sony PS 4750 fitted with a Shure V15VMR, and experimented with itunes downloads/ripped CD's and the same material on LP, including, for grins and giggles, Lady Gaga's Fame album. Other than just a few pops revealing I was indeed listening to vinyl, I could not distinguish between vinyl playback and itunes playback of downloads or ripped CD's.

 

[Seth=L]

Yes, I'm listening in stereo, no digital processing for any sort of surround sound. Also, in addition to comparison of itunes playback to SACD, I hooked up my 32 year old turntable, a Sony PS 4750 fitted with a Shure V15VMR, and experimented with itunes downloads/ripped CD's and the same material on LP, including, for grins and giggles, Lady Gaga's Fame album. Other than just a few pops revealing I was indeed listening to vinyl, I could not distinguish between vinyl playback and itunes playback of downloads or ripped CD's.

Old Sony vinyl spinner, nice. I had a PS-X6. I enjoyed that table thourougly. The PS-X6 came out after the PS 4750 went away.