[TjPhysicist]

  no problem...we're all here to help one another.
see 7digital.com....there are other online sites selling FLAC files
https://ca.7digital.com/
i got  my remastered Rush albums here in 24/192
 
see also hd tracks etc.
 
there are some who say 24/192 isn't worth it..that you can't tell the difference unless you have $$$ premium equipment.
and maybe that is true...it also depends on how well mastered is the cd/album.
see steve hoffman where alot of people discuss which master matters etc.
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/
and Rush's albums (along with Beatles remasters) were done by Sean Magee at Abbey Road studios.
...both groups' remasters had great reviews.
 
my additional rational for 24/192 vs lower resolution: we're moving towards better audio all the time
so maybe these files will be more widely accepted and supported as we move forward...
plus the diff in price from 24/96 to 24/192 is negligible
 
and don't forget loudness wars link:
http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=&album=

awesome, thanks. Yea I've heard of HDTracks, actually. I don't quite understand the "loudness wars" link btw. As for 44.1 vs 192, I'm with you: maybe it doesn't matter now but I'm not going to say no to "more information" in my music at any rate. For better or worse I can def. hear the difference in this 192 "Hotel california" album. 
 
Also, better equipment and files always exposes bad masters, IMO that's the way it's always gonna be. There are some songs I  can't stand to hear unless it's with my phone and my cheaper headphones.

 

[canali]

  awesome, thanks. Yea I've heard of HDTracks, actually. I don't quite understand the "loudness wars" link btw. As for 44.1 vs 192, I'm with you: maybe it doesn't matter now but I'm not going to say no to "more information" in my music at any rate. For better or worse I can def. hear the difference in this 192 "Hotel california" album. 
 
Also, better equipment and files always exposes bad masters, IMO that's the way it's always gonna be. There are some songs I  can't stand to hear unless it's with my phone and my cheaper headphones.

https://www.google.ca/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=understanding%20loudness%20wars
 
understanding loudness wars
 
touches upon that dynamic range link i provided, too
my mistake...that link i provided earlier is loudness wars related, but has the dynamic range of albums/cds/flac files out there
supposedlythe more green in the dynamic range then the better sounding.
 
see all this lovely green...much of it the 2015 remasters done by sean magee of abbey road, i believe.
 

 

[TjPhysicist]

  no problem...we're all here to help one another.
see 7digital.com....there are other online sites selling FLAC files
https://ca.7digital.com/
i got  my remastered Rush albums here in 24/192
 
see also hd tracks etc.
 
there are some who say 24/192 isn't worth it..that you can't tell the difference unless you have $$$ premium equipment.
and maybe that is true...it also depends on how well mastered is the cd/album.
see steve hoffman where alot of people discuss which master matters etc.
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/
and Rush's albums (along with Beatles remasters) were done by Sean Magee at Abbey Road studios.
...both groups' remasters had great reviews.
 
my additional rational for 24/192 vs lower resolution: we're moving towards better audio all the time
so maybe these files will be more widely accepted and supported as we move forward...
plus the diff in price from 24/96 to 24/192 is negligible
 
and don't forget loudness wars link:
http://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=&album=

I have a tidal.com 3 month trial. But somehow managed to spend about $40 already in that place. My ears thank you (my wallet hates both of us now btw)!

 

[DarktoreS]

 
My custom solution for real good power setting hihihi... 

 

[iFi audio]

Audiophile Club of Athens – the President uses the iFi iDAC2 in his ultra-fi system!
 
Late last year, when we were at the Athens Audio Show, we met Mr Kyriakos Kougioumtzoglou – President of the ACA since 2016. Mr Kougioumtzoglou, who also happens to be an EE, knows his onions. He has an ultra-fidelity system which is something to behold; including the Micro Seki RX-1500 and Tascam BR-20 Reel-to-Reel. Not to mention Wilson Audio Alexandria X2 speakers and Siltech cables (if you have to ask…), among other things this gent has.
 
We were quite taken aback when Mr Kougioumtzoglou told us he bought an iDAC2 for digital duties fed by the Metronome C2A. It has stayed there ever since. Yes, you got this right. He obtained the unit first, gave it a good spin in his expensive setup and then reported that he liked it. And that’s the reason why this is huge for us as we never knew the President of the ACA had iFi in his system. 

We are lost for more superlatives but thank you Mr Kougioumtzoglou for letting us know of your little iFi in your big system!
 
Here is the system:
 

 
http://www.aca.gr/index/members/greece?row=18
 
Thank you ACA!

 

[shuto77]

I have my iFi iDSD Micro arriving tomorrow. Very excited to check it out. 

 

[TjPhysicist]

I need some help. What is the cheapest DAP I can get that will work with the DAC/AMP in idsd micro? (Yes I know "phone", but I tend to get cheap 16GB/32GB phones so I'm looking for something to fill the gap there).
 
First off, if there are any at all <$200 (because that would be the cost for me to upgrade from my current phone to a 128GB version).

 

[synapse09]

  I need some help. What is the cheapest DAP I can get that will work with the DAC/AMP in idsd micro? (Yes I know "phone", but I tend to get cheap 16GB/32GB phones so I'm looking for something to fill the gap there).
 
First off, if there are any at all <$200 (because that would be the cost for me to upgrade from my current phone to a 128GB version).

Fiio X1 ii come's to mind(no personal experience with it)

 

[TjPhysicist]

X1-ii has digital out?? (to use idsd as a DAC)

 

[synapse09]

  X1-ii has digital out?? (to use idsd as a DAC)

ah n/m after looking at it again doesn't seem to be able to output audio through its micro usb

 

[TjPhysicist]

  ah n/m after looking at it again doesn't seem to be able to output audio through its micro usb

Actually, it looks like it has coaxial out (which i always assumed was analogue cuz it looks like those regular TV cables outputs), but apparently not! I'd still prefer something with optical tbh.

 

[technobear]

 
ah n/m after looking at it again doesn't seem to be able to output audio through its micro usb

Actually, it looks like it has coaxial out (which i always assumed was analogue cuz it looks like those regular TV cables outputs), but apparently not! I'd still prefer something with optical tbh.

Shanling M1

http://www.head-fi.org/t/816385/shanling-m1-an-ipod-nano-competitor-dap-usb-dac-usb-transport-bluetooth-4-0-aptx-dsd

 

[canali]

2 things:
 
1/ it might be a good year for better quality music for us all:

All Three Major Labels, Pandora and RIAA Announce

Support for Hi-Res Audio Streaming

 
http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7647454/major-labels-pandora-riaa-announce-support-hi-res-streaming-mqa
 
2/ MQA
 
for iFi...are there any plans for firmware updates to allow the micro idsd to play MQA, given Tidal is now offering MQA?
(and supposedly others will this yr, too as per the billboard article above)
 it seems that Audioquest and their new dragonflys will be offering MQA thru a firmware upgrade.
please..pretty please
 
''AudioQuest, are also announcing MQA implementation in their USB DAC products, DragonFly Red  
and Black. MQA will be available to AudioQuest customers later this month via a free software update. 
Steve Silberman, VP of Development, commented:
“AudioQuest aims to deliver amazing sound quality and MQA implementation in our products demonstrates this commitment.
We’re very excited to offer AudioQuest customers the best possible audio experience.” MQA demonstrations will be in
the AudioQuest Venetian suites 30-105 and 30-106, and at the Hi-Res Audio Pavilion.''
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2017/01/ces-2017-as-it-happens/

 

[rickyleelee]

Lotoo paw5000 is good for the price especially. or iBasso X3?

 

[TjPhysicist]

Lotoo paw5000 is good for the price especially. or iBasso X3?

I'm thinking about DX50 or DX80. 
 
I was originally thinking of getting one with tidal support, so I don't need to depend on my computer or phone for music at all (even now with usb c, connecting a USB dac to phone seems to be a bit hit/miss, some DACs better than others, but still).  But DAMN anything that gets close to wifi/apps costs basically as much as a phone, and doesn't have good connections for transport (coaxial/optical) or does and costs >$600. OFC my perfect DAP would be: under $300, optical/coax out, 6.3mm HO and tidal/spotify/google music support. (I can go cheap on the DAC/Amp inside the DAP tbh, since i'll be using it with my own DAC).