Honeck's Beethoven 5 & 7...

[mikealdren]

I wasn't intending to advertise the Hugo specifically (although it is very good), just making the point that there are alternatives to the traditional CD player. and I'm not sure PG uses SACD, my guess is that his Quad player is CD only. PG has some very fine speakers and would doubtless notice the difference between different DACs.

The big downside for me with moving away from physical CDs is that the booklets are all filed away with the CDs in the attic, if only there was a way of downloading them to my CD database! Still my wife is delighted to have the extra space in the house.

[richardfinegold]

I wasn't intending to advertise the Hugo specifically (although it is very good), just making the point that there are alternatives to the traditional CD player. and I'm not sure PG uses SACD, my guess is that his Quad player is CD only. PG has some very fine speakers and would doubtless notice the difference between different DACs.

The big downside for me with moving away from physical CDs is that the booklets are all filed away with the CDs in the attic, if only there was a way of downloading them to my CD database! Still my wife is delighted to have the extra space in the house.

Yes, it's the whole downsizing issue that had me explore computer audio, and there will come a time when that and streaming will be the way that I access all my music. I've done the Mac and Dac route and been unlucky enough to have Apple upload my whole iTunes collection to the cloud--and out of my hard drives--for a few months--detailed elsewhere. I use Bluesound now but my issue with it and with iTunes is the cataloging and the difficulties of finding recordings. I've spent the time to make playlists in the BluOS app, only to see them disappear with firmware updates, then reappear with the next one. Perhaps Roon would solve that but I keep reading that there is some sonic degradation issues with that program so I've stayed away.
CD replay is clearly endangered. All the 30 and under that I know don't own a CDP and for that matter, don't own any audio equipment except for the occasional $29.00 bluetooth speaker

[mikealdren]

I use Musichi, it's very good. Like most things, you need to get used to how it works but it provides a good editing facility and with tags for a variety of things starting with taking data from the internet. I use Composer, Work, Movement and I also list all the soloists. I set categories for the tracks as well so that I can easily find what I want from composer, title, performer etc. etc.

[richardfinegold]

I use Musichi, it's very good. Like most things, you need to get used to how it works but it provides a good editing facility and with tags for a variety of things starting with taking data from the internet. I use Composer, Work, Movement and I also list all the soloists. I set categories for the tracks as well so that I can easily find what I want from composer, title, performer etc. etc.

I had looked at that a few years ago, but at the time it was only available for Windows. I see that they offer a Mac version but it requires Bootcamp or one of the other converting programs. I had a really unhappy experience with those programs
about 6 years ago when I tried to use them for my Practice, and I feel my blood pressure increasing at the thought of revisiting them, although I realize that in digital terms that time frame is an eternity. I could just buy a Windows PC for my upcoming 60th birthday but I prefer to use a dedicated Music Server and not a computer that’s been shoehorned into being an audio component.

[mikealdren]

I had looked at that a few years ago, but at the time it was only available for Windows. I see that they offer a Mac version but it requires Bootcamp or one of the other converting programs. I had a really unhappy experience with those programs
about 6 years ago when I tried to use them for my Practice, and I feel my blood pressure increasing at the thought of revisiting them, although I realize that in digital terms that time frame is an eternity. I could just buy a Windows PC for my upcoming 60th birthday but I prefer to use a dedicated Music Server and not a computer that’s been shoehorned into being an audio component.

Risking hijacking the thread............ I built a PC specifically to host my CDs and used carefully chosen components (quiet power supply, efficient CPU, special sound card, disabled lots of unused windows options etc.) not convinced it all made much difference although the smarter case fits in well with the HiFi. I use the TV screen as a monitor and wireless mouse and keyboard. Very pleased with the results.

[pastoralguy]

Many thanks for the interesting contributions folks.

I'm still awaiting the Honeck but I did come across a cd of Penderecki's 'Credo' on the Polski Radio label conducted by the composer. It's an SACD and plays perfectly on the Quad Elite machine as does the new Chandos 'Falstaff' conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. I've no idea why these two CDs should be a problem.

[richardfinegold]

Risking hijacking the thread............ I built a PC specifically to host my CDs and used carefully chosen components (quiet power supply, efficient CPU, special sound card, disabled lots of unused windows options etc.) not convinced it all made much difference although the smarter case fits in well with the HiFi. I use the TV screen as a monitor and wireless mouse and keyboard. Very pleased with the results.

Clearly your IT skills are adequate to the task. Since about 90% of my employment frustrations are IT related, I prefer to deal with it as little in the home sphere as possible.....

[Alison]

The Honeck is taking an age to arrive Pasters.

[Petrushka]

The Honeck is taking an age to arrive Pasters.

They've probably noticed he's ordered it half a dozen times already and returned them all so has been blacklisted

[pastoralguy]

Well, the cd arrived in the post today and, alas, my Quad machine still isn't happy with it. I've rigged up my SONY SACD machine and that's playing it fine.

I MAY be upgrading my CD player later this year so this cd will be the first I use.

[Alison]

Well, the cd arrived in the post today and, alas, my Quad machine still isn't happy with it. I've rigged up my SONY SACD machine and that's playing it fine.

I MAY be upgrading my CD player later this year so this cd will be the first I use.

After all that! Poor Pasters.