[shriramosu]

Upgrades for office rig.

Hi everyone. This is my current office rig, IBM T42 computer, think it will get upgraded to a dual core machine in the second half of this year, and use Windows Media Player 11 and sound out of the headphone output into Grado SR 60’s. I have a few of my home disks on this machine, right now ripped using WMA lossless and so don’t have much room on my disk.

What I would liketo know are for the below requirements what are my next steps to upgrade with the more cost efficient one first.

1.Should I use different media player (Foobar, JRiver, itunes etc). Understand I have to re-rip my CD’s or do WMA > WAV to either FLAC or Apple Lossless. I don’t care that much about album art but do want titles and sometimes lyrics if available. What is a good choice for format/player. I wasn’t sure if WAV allowed getting titles etc.
2.I will be using all the files ripped on my home PC also, at this time that is going to a PC not a MAC and ideally would like to keep the same format. Assume I need to get a portable hard drive for my office computer as file space right now is 30GB and will likely only be 50 or 60 GB later this year.
3.IS a USB/DAC combo or standalone USB and DAC sonically better, or better value compared to a soundcard. I know I will have more options in the DAC route than soundcard route. Reason I was thinking USB and/or DAC was for the home PC rig most folks recommend non soundcard solutions. Also for the office how many options are there for the USB/DAC combo and is that a cheaper more effective route than separate USB and DAC (assume yes). Any suggestions on what price points and what I get for price points are. Also are the combo USB/DAC ones easy to take with one on trips as ride the train everyday and would like an enhanced audio experience on that too, and think most phones do better with amp’s.
4.I would like to listen at work for 2-3 hours at a stretch so sound quality as well as ease of listening/non fatiguing is important. Also need something that I can listen at lower volumes as don’t want to damage hearing.
5.Are the Grado SR 60’s good or are there much better options, as I will be spending more time listening and likely put some more $$ into my system I am ok with upgrading the headphones too. (My home system uses Acoustat 2+2 speakers as love the transparency, coherency of the stats). Any good choices to try.
6.Budgetwise since its my secondary rig or even 3rd (after home and maybe a travel setup) so definitely under $1000 for both phones upgrade and or USB/DAC or soundcard.

Thanks a lot for your advice.

 

[Joshatdot]

I do not know of any lossless format that supports album art and/or lyrics. I would suggest LAME -V0.

I don't know how portable a EMU 0404 USB would be, but that might be a good USB/DAC/Amp solution.

For a stand alone music only card, I would pick a Chaintech AV-710...best $27 I've spent.

As for cans...what music do you listen to? and what is most important? (open, closed, Circumaural, Supra-aural, IEM, Buds?

 

[Amarok]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shriramosu /img/forum/go_quote.gif Upgrades for office rig. What I would like to know are for the below requirements what are my next steps to upgrade with the more cost efficient one first.

Disclaimer:
I'm a Linux weenie, so I don't know how much of this will translate to what I'm assuming is Windwoes since you don't mention an OS.

Also, everything is IMHO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shriramosu /img/forum/go_quote.gif 1. Should I use different media player (Foobar, JRiver, itunes etc). Understand I have to re-rip my CD’s or do WMA > WAV to either FLAC or Apple Lossless.

I would definitely go for FLAC. In the Linux world, at least, it is very well supported. And you don't have to worry about a company deciding to abandon the format for some reason (i.e. $$$).

Quote:

Originally Posted by shriramosu /img/forum/go_quote.gif I don’t care that much about album art but do want titles and sometimes lyrics if available. What is a good choice for format/player. I wasn’t sure if WAV allowed getting titles etc.

FLAC does allow for title and other tags. If you have Internet access, some players allow the art/lyrics to be downloaded dynamically. Dunno if this will suffice for you, though. It would save a little disk space, though.


Quote:

Originally Posted by shriramosu /img/forum/go_quote.gif 2. I will be using all the files ripped on my home PC also, at this time that is going to a PC not a MAC and ideally would like to keep the same format. Assume I need to get a portable hard drive for my office computer as file space right now is 30GB and will likely only be 50 or 60 GB later this year.

I got a 120G hd and an external USB enclosure. What I do is look at $/GB and pick the lowest ("The steady state of disk drives is full." -- Ken Thompson). Since you mention MAC, there is also FLAC support there. As well as, I believe, Apple Lossless IMHO, cross platform support will always be better with an open source format, FWIW to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shriramosu /img/forum/go_quote.gif 3. IS a USB/DAC combo or standalone USB and DAC sonically better, or better value compared to a soundcard. I know I will have more options in the DAC route than soundcard route. Reason I was thinking USB and/or DAC was for the home PC rig most folks recommend non soundcard solutions. Also for the office how many options are there for the USB/DAC combo and is that a cheaper more effective route than separate USB and DAC (assume yes). Any suggestions on what price points and what I get for price points are. Also are the combo USB/DAC ones easy to take with one on trips as ride the train everyday and would like an enhanced audio experience on that too, and think most phones do better with amp’s.

Sonically better? ABSOLUTELY.

Value? Up to you.
I've been begging companies to build a combo usb DAC/amp/hd for a while. On a train, though, the ambient noise may make a HQ solution worthless. Any simple portable may do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shriramosu /img/forum/go_quote.gif 4. I would like to listen at work for 2-3 hours at a stretch so sound quality as well as ease of listening/non fatiguing is important. Also need something that I can listen at lower volumes as don’t want to damage hearing.

non-fatiguing ==> TUBES!

But higher quality systems usually have more dynamic range and that doesn't go well with low volume listening. I've been looking for a dynamic range compressor for my rig at home for sleepy-time purposes. It will undoubtedly lower the SQ, but it'll be up to you if it's worth it. Again, I'm not sure if there is any support for this on Windwoes. Linux has a number of plugins but I haven't had time to check 'em out yet. For me, for falling asleep, I think the lower SQ may be OK.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shriramosu /img/forum/go_quote.gif 5. Are the Grado SR 60’s good or are there much better options, as I will be spending more time listening and likely put some more $$ into my system I am ok with upgrading the headphones too. (My home system uses Acoustat 2+2 speakers as love the transparency, coherency of the stats). Any good choices to try.

I've had SR 60s and 80s. After buying some Sennheiser 580s

I realized how fatiguing they were, and how little bass they had. The 580s've gone from ~$500 to $134 since the 600s came out. I love buying one generation back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shriramosu /img/forum/go_quote.gif 6. Budgetwise since its my secondary rig or even 3rd (after home and maybe a travel setup) so definitely under $1000 for both phones upgrade and or USB/DAC or soundcard.

As for my work rig (rounding, all values in 2005 US dollars :

~ 150 HD580
~ 500 XCANv3 Hybrid SS/Tube amp
~ 508 Channel Islands Audio VDA.1 DAC + VAC.1 High current ps combo
~ 40 Behringer UCA 202 USB to S/PDIF optical (TOSLINK)
?? TOSLINK cable
< 200 HD + USB case, depending on capacity.

(The total is left as an exercise
It is over your budget, though.

The CIAudio VDA.1 has been upgraded to the VDA.2, which is $599, so that will blow the budget even more with the VAC.1, which is definitely recommended, as is a HC ps for pretty much anything that offers one. Also, for me, the XCANv3 is a tad too analytical for me. I prefer a more natural (i.e. tube like) sound. You may want to consider one of the ASL (Antique Sound Labs?) amps... I am... they have some less expensive models. Also, the VDA.1 can overdrive the XCANv3 input... must be that accursed SS input section. Which is NOT mentioned (fraudelntly?) on their website. It does sound very good, though. But if I had known it was a hybrid I wouldn't have considered it. I'm sure others can help w/lower priced components, too.

One word of caution! Don't get anything too good.
I bought a Singlepower MPX3, intending to use it at work (9-12 hrs/day vs 1-2 at home), but after hearing it, I knew there was no way I could concentrate on anything else but the mvsik.

-=A=-

 

[psyllium]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shriramosu /img/forum/go_quote.gif Understand I have to re-rip my CD’s or do WMA > WAV to either FLAC or Apple Lossless. I don’t care that much about album art but do want titles and sometimes lyrics if available. What is a good choice for format/player. I wasn’t sure if WAV allowed getting titles etc.

You should *definitely* re-rip. Converting WMA -> WAV/FLAC/lossless will not give you any increase in quality! The original was lost in the WMA and you can't get it back without re-ripping. Otherwise you could try and find a way to play the files in foobar if it is possible.

As far as suggestions for gear goes, I find my Total Bithead to be pretty good for a work rig. It's small and easy to use... But I can understand that if you have more of a budget to spend you might want to splash out a bit more. I'm currently playing FLAC files off a 300gb USB hard disk (powered) through foobar into the Total Bithead and then a pair of AKG K81DJ headphones. I think the headphones are the weakest link in the setup at the moment, but I'm pretty happy with it for now.

All in USD:
300gb hard disk = ~$120 (if you find a good deal)
Total Bithead = $150 + postage (headphone.com)
K81DJ = ~$60 (from ebay?)

 

[Paulo Deen]

Hello.

quote
"ripped using WMA lossless"
I dont think you have to re-rip your music. Its already lossless. If you want to have an other format you can convert the wma's.

"1. Should I use different media player (Foobar, JRiver, itunes etc). Understand I have to re-rip my CD’s or do WMA > WAV to either FLAC or Apple Lossless. I don’t care that much about album art but do want titles and sometimes lyrics if available. What is a good choice for format/player. I wasn’t sure if WAV allowed getting titles etc."

Some players send the sound to windows kmixer. This kmixer will criple your sound. Foobar supports asio and kernel streaming. This will bypass kmixer, and be directly led to your soundcard/dac.

"5. Are the Grado SR 60’s good or are there much better options, as I will be spending more time listening and likely put some more $$ into my system I am ok with upgrading the headphones too. (My home system uses Acoustat 2+2 speakers as love the transparency, coherency of the stats). Any good choices to try."

I believe the headphones matter a great deal. The grado sr 60 is a good quality headphone. But it's also grado's entry level of headphone. If you would go to a higher level of quality headphone then you will notice the difference in being a better sound.

I can't recommend one specific headphone because it depends on your taste and what kind of music you listen to.

After reading the forums I came to believe senns are good for classical, grado's for rock, pop, especially guitar. There is also beyerdynamic and AKG but I cant say what their sound signature is.

I bought the grado 325i last week and it was a major upgrado from the philips wireless headphones I was using. I can say that the sound of the 325i is very detailed. And since I have these headphones I started listening classic. So in my opinion they are allright for classical too. Im wondering how the senns or beyers sound though. Maybe sometime later I can hear those too.

The best thing would be going to a audio store. Take some cd's with you, which you know best. And listen to some other headphones. If you think it is better than sr 60 than go for it. Otherwise stay with your sr 60's. You can get some impressions of headphone signatures by reading some reviews on the forum.

4. I would like to listen at work for 2-3 hours at a stretch so sound quality as well as ease of listening/non fatiguing is important. Also need something that I can listen at lower volumes as don’t want to damage hearing.

Grado listening is often described as front row experience. This might possibly be fatuiging. Beyer, AKG and senns seem more laid back.

3. IS a USB/DAC combo or standalone USB and DAC sonically better, or better value compared to a soundcard. I know I will have more options in the DAC route than soundcard route. Reason I was thinking USB and/or DAC was for the home PC rig most folks recommend non soundcard solutions. Also for the office how many options are there for the USB/DAC combo and is that a cheaper more effective route than separate USB and DAC (assume yes). Any suggestions on what price points and what I get for price points are. Also are the combo USB/DAC ones easy to take with one on trips as ride the train everyday and would like an enhanced audio experience on that too, and think most phones do better with amp’s.

Someone else needs to fill in this question, but you have to pay attention to the output of the device. Cd's are 16bit/44khz samplerate. Some soundcards are only able to output 16bit/48khz samplerate. The original 44khz signal gets to be upsamled to 48khz. There is a certain loss of quality in this process. So make sure your device can output 16bit/44khz for cd/lossless playback.

Good luck

 

[HFat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shriramosu /img/forum/go_quote.gif Also need something that I can listen at lower volumes as don’t want to damage hearing.

Consider closed headphones then, especially if you share that office with other people.

The headphone is the most critical piece of the puzzle... so much so that most of what's been discussed in this thread is a distraction IMO.
With your budget, you can get great headphones. It might even make sense to get two pairs actually (one open and one closed for example).

 

[mrarroyo]

OP, for $1,000 I would suggest: http://www.headphone.com/products/pa...amic-dt880.php

Call the guys at HeadRoom and ask if they would be wiling to swap the DT880 for the DT990 so you can use in an office environment and not bother a neighbor. They are very nice at HeadRoom and just might be willing to accommodate you. Best of luck.

 

[shriramosu]

I am definitely going to buy a pair of IEM's since my train commute needs something that blocks ambient noise. Only question is do I buy another set for office use.

Shriram