NWR: Stereo Disorder Question

originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by JasonA:
fed source signal by nothing more than an Apple Express. It is truly a great time to listen to music
Click to expand...

Yes, but I believe that AirPlay can stream lossless files only up to 16-bit / 44.1 kHz. Since I burned a fair number of SACDs to a hard drive, having replaced a lot of CDs with them, they do not play over Airplay (neither does any DSD 64 or DSD 128 music I bought as digital content). Need my Roon setup or Audirvana for that.
Click to expand...

I am currently exclusively using streaming services (Tidal and Pandora). Access to music files stored on an offsite NAS are being accessed through a very clunky Synology app. I may swap the Airport Express out for the Wiim mini and this may work for you as well as it will play hires files as well as has 192/24 pass through to an outboard DAC

For ease of use by anyone, other than access through bluetooth, Airplay is something that works without soliciting attention from the in house geek.
 
originally posted by JasonA:
Must say that I am enjoying my Emotiva BaseX A2 centered system greatly. Size does matter. It is currently driving a pair of power hungry Kef W-150’s fed source signal by nothing more than an Apple Express. No pre amp so the IPhone through Airplay is the source of choice these days. All streaming services are available through the phone so why not? The amp turns on and off sensing the signal from the airport express. No separate remote or getting up from the couch? As long as you are part of the Apple ecosystem anyone can play DJ. It is truly a great time to listen to music
Click to expand...

I've been deflected from my trajectory towards a BasXA2 by the unexpected availability of a discounted Akitika G102 Z4: a step down in power but exceptional quality, by reputation, and should still be ample to drive my 6-ohm Elac UB52s. The Schitt multibit DAC is out of stock through June, but I'll make do until then with the inferior DAC on the Songbird streamer. No preamp for me, either.

With Airplay, does the signal come to the amp channeled through your phone, or direct from your wifi? Don't you still need a DAC to convert the digital signal? What's the Kefs' impedance?
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
I've been deflected from my trajectory towards a BasXA2 by the unexpected availability of a discounted Akitika G102 Z4: a step down in power but exceptional quality, by reputation, and should still be ample to drive my 6-ohm Elac UB52s. The Schitt multibit DAC is out of stock through June, but I'll make do until then with the inferior DAC on the Songbird streamer. No preamp for me, either.

With Airplay, does the signal come to the amp channeled through your phone, or direct from your wifi? Don't you still need a DAC to convert the digital signal? What's the Kefs' impedance?
Click to expand...

The Airport Express has it's own built-in DAC. It is pretty much limited to 16/44, standard CD quality - as my source is generally Tidal at CD quality, this is no issue for me. For your material you might want to go with an AppleTV optical output into an outboard DAC. The Airport Express feeds directly into the RCA inputs of the Amp. The playback interface exists in the phone or computer and level control is made there. The Kefs are rated at 8 ohm and 86 db in sensitivity (I have my doubts) If I allowed myself the time to build the Atitika from kit, I might have gone that way myself. The auto signal sensing function of the Emotiva was a big selling point for me.
Click to expand...
 
Okay, I didn't know what Airport Express was; just looked it up.

I think I'm good with the Songbird taking signal from my network and inputting it to the amp via the RCA ports, as you describe, using its own built-in DAC, and 'steered' from my phone. As noted, I plan to upgrade with a better, external DAC this summer.

Dan occasionally sells modestly discounted, assembled Akitika G102 Z4 amps, which he's 'gently' used in his shop for testing. I was fortunate to get ahold of one.

Auto-signal sensing isn't an issue for me, but I wouldn't have thought of 8-ohm speakers as power-hungry. The 4-ohm ELAC UB51 has been the reference speaker for that category in the discussions I've been party to. Will be educational to get my rig running and see how it sounds.

Thoughts on cables? I need 15' for my *********** set-up, which was not designed with audio in mind.

Digressing, I've been moving away from Apple products, in general, which have gotten to be too precious for me. Except for the phone, where I have a penchant for the compact mini.
 
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
Okay, I didn't know what Airport Express was; just looked it up.

Thoughts on cables? I need 15' for my *********** set-up, which was not designed with audio in mind.
Click to expand...

Sorry, no thoughts on cables. That's one rabbit hole I am avoiding - for now....
 
originally posted by Keith Levenberg:
So, what tunes are you all listening to? Post some good deep tracks.
Click to expand...

Aforementioned (in another thread) Mamas and Papas. Spem in Alium, by the Tallis Scholars choir. Amadou & Miriam, Beaux Dimanches. No Problem, Chet Baker and Duke Jordan. This Girl's in Love, Dionne Warwick. Clone, Leo Kotke and Mike Gorman. Javanese flute and gamelan; Concerto di Aranjuez; Lisitsa's rendition of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No.1; Hush, the Marias; Midsummer Night's Dream, Mendelsohn; Portishead ...

Streaming music gives you a virtual treasure chest of musical gold coins to scoop and let run through your fingers ... it gets hard to set boundaries.

If you're not already familiar with Spem, though, definitely give it a whirl - Tallis's Elizabethan era score for forty voices - 8 choirs of five parts each. Play with volume turned up high. Repeat.

You can also find a couple of YouTube videos that combine coded visuals of which voices in which choirs are singing at each point in the score, which is cool. IMHO.
 
originally posted by JasonA:
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
Okay, I didn't know what Airport Express was; just looked it up.

Thoughts on cables? I need 15' for my *********** set-up, which was not designed with audio in mind.
Click to expand...

Sorry, no thoughts on cables. That's one rabbit hole I am avoiding - for now....
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'll just grab generics from Crutchfield next time I'm in Charlottesville. Thanks for your ideas.
 
My general advice for cables is to order them long enough.

Listening to Brahms Quartets by the Dudok Quartet on Qobuz now (they seem to be generally available on streaming services). Gut strings and really superb and well blended ensemble sound. Some old C-J transistor amp and a pair of Vienna Beethoven first generation speakers (approx 20 years old).
 
Thanks, Odd. I think 15' is right.

I'll seek out the Dudok Quartet later this afternoon. Granted, Brahms is a composer I have never really learned to love. No doubt a reflection on my capacities, not his. I'm listening on a single blue tooth speaker now, FWIW, until I get things set up. The music is still good.
 
originally posted by scottreiner:
originally posted by Ian Fitzsimmons:
where I have a penchant for the compact mini.
Click to expand...

word is they will not have an iPhone 14 Mini. I may neeed a new phone company!
Click to expand...

Crap! Welp, since I moved directly from a 5S to the 12 mini that I’m typing on right now, maybe I can just ride this one out until I’m beyond needing a phone.

Mark “retro-tech” Lipton
 
I thought the mini was one of their best sellers in the 12 and 13. Surprising. What are they going to do, keep flogging microscopic upgrades to the SE2?
 
So, based on Ian's recommendation, I listened to Spem in Alium, which is truly beautiful. But the name sounds like a line from Laurel and Hardy: Well, Spem, another fine mess you've gotten us into, trapped in a box of Alium foil!
 
This, I'm advised, is a translation of the lyrics; Spem in Alium meaning 'hope in any other.' I thought there was a biblical source but can't find one.

I have never put my hope in any other
but in You, O God of Israel
who can show both anger and graciousness,
and who absolves all the sin
of suffering man
Lord God,
Creator of Heaven and Earth
be mindful of our lowliness

I've heard speculation that there is some political overtone in the lyrics, directed by Tallis sub rosa against Elizabeth and her promotion of Anglican Protestantism at the expense of Catholicism, but ... speculation.

I'm glad you listened to it, Pavel, and that it was worth your while.
 
Any of the older music Harmonia Mundi put out on vinyl back in the day is sublime...Deller Consort, etc.
 
So Wikipedia says the lyrics are from a Latin prayer taken from the apocryphal Book of Judith. You can click on the link to that book. The adaption seems a pretty free one.
 
originally posted by Jonathan Loesberg:
So Wikipedia says the lyrics are from a Latin prayer taken from the apocryphal Book of Judith. You can click on the link to that book. The adaption seems a pretty free one.
Click to expand...
The important thing is that he wrote for more voices than the Italian. Keep your eye on the things that matter, Jonathan!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top