The Death of the CD?

[jayne lee wilson]

Yes, I've been doing this 2 years for streaming, and for downloads up to 24-bit, using a 2007 Macbook connected via glass optical interconnect to a Cambridge DacMagic. The results are very good indeed! Lossless (16-bit) downloads equalling CD on some highend CD players, 24-bit often better than that. It really is a simple set-up!

No, the airport express I mentioned has digital output, that bypasses any 'in computer' soundcards.

Specifically referring to your Macbook, the socket you plug your headphones into also provides a digital output. All you need is a suitable optical digital lead to connect your Macbook to a DAC or optical input in your amp.

[Stunsworth]

...downloads up to 24-bit, using a 2007 Macbook connected via glass optical interconnect to a Cambridge DacMagic...

One slight 'gotcha' with high resolution downloads played via iTunes is that you have to set the bitrate using the audio/midi app before launching iTunes. iTunes uses the bitrate that was in place when the program was launched - even if you later change it to the correct rate. The annoying thing is that the Mac doesn't remember the previous setting if it's restarted and reverts to 44.1/16.

Also if using the wifi method I described above the bit rate is limited to 48/16 as Airplay doesn't support higher resolution recordings. With high resolution downloads becoming more popular among audiophiles I'd expect that to change sooner rather than later. With a wired connection such as yours there's no problem playing them, and I agree they can sound superb.

[Dave2002]

Well, Ferret, when the peepers fail you may be grateful for the 'text sandwiched between pieces of plastic'. I know I am.

I do sympathise re the mobile phones; I'm often caught off-guard when I think someone's talking to me when in fact they're on a phone.

Then there are the people who talk in toilet cubicles ....

I first noticed this over a decade ago in Sweden, and was surprised when someone walked out, still talking on his mobile phone.

[Dave2002]

As all electronic devices eventually fail I have two silly questions - what is the expected life of a Kindle and what then happens to the 'books' you have bought and are stored on the gadget?

Amazon supports multiple Kindle devices on one account. You can actually have a Kindle account running in a Web browser, as well as on a device such as an iPad, iPod etc. If you read a few pages of a book on one, then switch to another gadget, the store asks whether you want to pick up reading where you left off on the device you're on, or on any of the others. You can also delete books, but then get them back later. The system does seem to know what you've had and there's no penalty (at present) for deleting then reloading.

Anyone who wants to try the service before buying a Kindle can do so with the software versions available through most browsers.

[robk]

The Realtek sound on my PC died a couple of years ago so I added an M-audio Audiophile 2496 sound card. I have it connected to my Arcam A18 amp with a well shielded analogue cable. I use Mediamonkey to play FLAC files mostly ripped from CD's but some downloads. I think the quality is pretty good but I realise there could be benefits if I could bypass the card.

I can imagine what Vinteuil would say though!!

[Stunsworth]

Anyone who wants to try the service before buying a Kindle can do so with the software versions available through most browsers.

Also should anyone want to try it there are tens of thousands of out of copyright books available for free - Victorian fiction for example.

I delete books as I read them, v easy to download them again should I want to (or the Kindle device needs replacing).

There's a list of the free Kindle programs for various devices here...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_ipad_mkt_lnd?docId=1000425503

[johnb]

It is worth putting in a word for the Squeezebox Touch which, like the Airport Express, bypasses the computer sound card.

The Touch can also be used to play the following through one's audio system:

24/96 files
iPlayer Live HD (or Standard) and LA at 320 kbps
Spotify, etc, etc
Cue files + PCM/FLAC/MP3/AAC/M4A

When playing music files, the software running on one's computer (or server) reads the music file (FLAC, AAC, MP4, MP3, etc, etc, etc) and passes the data (as data) to the Squeezebox device where it is decoded is is then available via digital (preferable) and analogue connections. (The Touch can natively decode mp3, FLAC, M4A AAC, etc. etc but where the music file is in a format not natively supported by the Touch device the computer software transcodes it (usually to FLAC) and passes the data to the Touch device.) The PC software can also be run on a decently powered NAS so there is no need to have the PC always running, though most NASs don't have sufficient processing power for transcoding. (I use a HP MicroServer which is often on special offer with ~£100 cash back.)

(Apologies for the OT post and for rambling on.)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

You know...

These CD players are really great. You buy a CD. You play it. And it works.

[Panjandrum]

You know...

These CD players are really great. You buy a CD. You play it. And it works.

CDs take up space. You can't find them. They're not portable. They get scratched. And then they don't work. You know.

[robk]

I take the point Alpesinfonie, but I have some older CD's that have died on me now. Also my CD player is picky and I have a number of new ones that it refuses to play properly. Ripping them to my computer has overcome the problem.

[mathias broucek]

You know...

These CD players are really great. You buy a CD. You play it. And it works.

I know some people are good at and/or enjoy fiddling around with hardware. And I have no problem with that, but personally I have more music than time to listen so I want to listen!

The genius of the iPod is that it's fairly easy to use, offers reasonable sound and provides something a CD lacks (the ability to transport and play hundreds of albums via a small box). But all this high-end stuff seems SUCH a fag compared to buying a CD player, connecting via phono sockets* and inserting a CD.

* Actually DIN in my case as a NAIM lover

[Beef Oven]

What's wrong with doing both? I have about 400 gigs on my low-end laptop, 120 gigs on my iPod and I am too embarrassed to say how many CDs - it's vulgar!

Nothing beats shoving a cd into the player and listening through the home hi-fi (a 13 year-old Naim set-up).

I am getting a bit worried about some of my older cds though. I took out a Robert Simpson string quartet cd that I bought over twenty years ago and it looked really ill. I ripped it to my laptop etc and it transferred ok.

I know some people are good at and/or enjoy fiddling around with hardware. And I have no problem with that, but personally I have more music than time to listen so I want to listen!

The genius of the iPod is that it's fairly easy to use, offers reasonable sound and provides something a CD lacks (the ability to transport and play hundreds of albums via a small box). But all this high-end stuff seems SUCH a fag compared to buying a CD player, connecting via phono sockets* and inserting a CD.

* Actually DIN in my case as a NAIM lover

[Stunsworth]

I took out a Robert Simpson string quartet cd that I bought over twenty years ago and it looked really ill. I ripped it to my laptop etc and it transferred ok.

Was that on Hyperion, and did the CD have a brownish colour? If so Hyperion will replace it free of charge. If you drop them an email, or call them, they'll ask you to send them the disc - without the case - and they'll send you a replacement by return of post.

I had a similar problem - also with a Simpson CD coincidentally.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

CDs take up space.

True; as do books. Both are mouth-watering ways of taking up space.

You can't find them.

Yes I can: the Alphabet's a wonderful thing.

They're not portable.

News to me: I've been moving them around with me most days for the last quarter century. Pockets and briefcases are also wonderful things.

They get scratched.

Not if you handle them carefully - or, with Fürtwängler's Wagner, all due reverence!

And then they don't work.

So don't scratch them.

[Beef Oven]

Was that on Hyperion, and did the CD have a brownish colour? If so Hyperion will replace it free of charge. If you drop them an email, or call them, they'll ask you to send them the disc - without the case - and they'll send you a replacement by return of post.

I had a similar problem - also with a Simpson CD coincidentally.

Wow Steve! Yes, it was!

String quartets 10 & 11 on Hyperion. It has gone brownish and has an effect similar to the rings in a tree trunk.

I'll get on to Hyperion - thanks very much for this information.