High Quality Downloads

[Beef Oven]

Well most Electroacoustic folks who are Genelec boffins swear by these

http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products.php

though probably got more features than you need for simple playback

It was your reference to Genelecs that put me on to them in the first place. I will listen to a moderately priced entry-level G2 'bookshelf' pair at some point in the next 2/3 months and if they work well with chamber and are ok with orchestral/choral, I'll purchasea pair.

I only want a DAC because the guy in the shop said that it would be a big improvement on playing the music direct from my iPad.

I have no idea whether the iPad sound card is any good anyway!

Playback is all it will be used for. The link you provide doesn't work, gives an error notice.

[MrGongGong]

It was your reference to Genelecs that put me on to them in the first place. I will listen to a moderately priced entry-level G2 'bookshelf' pair at some point in the next 2/3 months and if they work well with chamber and are ok with orchestral/choral, I'll purchasea pair.

I only want a DAC because the guy in the shop said that it would be a big improvement on playing the music direct from my iPad.

I have no idea whether the iPad sound card is any good anyway!

Playback is all it will be used for. The link you provide doesn't work, gives an error notice.

Sorry about that
try this one

(it seems that RME's website doesn't like being posted but this is the company I would go for)

http://www.dv247.com/manufacturer/RME/1863

not sure if RME make an ipad interface ?
but I've yet to find any computer with a decent soundcard as standard

[Beef Oven]

Sorry about that
try this one

(it seems that RME's website doesn't like being posted but this is the company I would go for)

http://www.dv247.com/manufacturer/RME/1863

not sure if RME make an ipad interface ?
but I've yet to find any computer with a decent soundcard as standard

Many thanks MrGG

[jayne lee wilson]

If all you want is computer/ipad playback via a processor/DAC, wouldn't getting an RME interface mean buying an awful lot of abilities you wouldn't need? Mic Preamps, Multiple inputs/outputs, A/D converters for making multichannel recordings etc.? RME's technical excellence is undoubted, but perhaps not the best allocation of funds to requirements...?

I mean, y'know, just saying, like...

1) Decide on a budget.
2)Make sure given design(s) have correct inputs for iPad & outputs for amp/speakers.
3) Think about practicalities - where will it go, is size/shape an issue?
4) Start looking and listening... (preferably trying on Sale or Return.)

[Beef Oven]

If all you want is computer/ipad playback via a processor/DAC, wouldn't getting an RME interface mean buying an awful lot of abilities you wouldn't need? Multiple inputs/outputs, A/D converters for making multichannel recordings etc.? RME's technical excellence is undoubted, but perhaps not the best allocation of funds to requirements...?

I mean, y'know, just saying, like...

I know what you are getting at.

May I ask. If you had an iPad and a pair of Genelec active speakers, what would you do for straight forward playback of icloud stored music, without spending mega-bucks?

[MrGongGong]

If all you want is computer/ipad playback via a processor/DAC, wouldn't getting an RME interface mean buying an awful lot of abilities you wouldn't need? Mic Preamps, Multiple inputs/outputs, A/D converters for making multichannel recordings etc.? RME's technical excellence is undoubted, but perhaps not the best allocation of funds to requirements...?

Absolutely
But I do find it strange that some folks are prepared to pay really stupid money (http://www.hifigear.co.uk/nordost-fr...er-cables.html ) for esoteric oxygen-free-copper-woo nonsense "Hi-Fi" when the equipment often used to actually make the precious recording costs less that the speaker leads !

or even

http://www.hifigear.co.uk/clearaudio-statement-turntable.html

Which costs more than my house

[Beef Oven]

Absolutely
But I do find it strange that some folks are prepared to pay really stupid money (http://www.hifigear.co.uk/nordost-fr...er-cables.html ) for esoteric oxygen-free-copper-woo nonsense "Hi-Fi" when the equipment often used to actually make the precious recording costs less that the speaker leads !

or even

http://www.hifigear.co.uk/clearaudio-statement-turntable.html

Which costs more than my house

Not necessarily looking to pay that sort of money!

A common or garden DAC is all I want.

[MrGongGong]

Not necessarily looking to pay that sort of money!

A common or garden DAC is all I want.

I'm glad to hear it
because I have more electroacousticnoisedronemusiqueconcrete for you to spend the rest of your cash on

[Dave2002]

Anyone got a recommendation for a moderately priced, but high-quality DAC?

I'm planning to play music from my iPad through Genelec active speakers via a DAC.

I'm coming in late here. Isn't one problem with the iPads the lack of suitable interfaces and maybe even appropriate software? For iPods there are some docks, both analogue and digital. Some of the digital ones are reported to be good - or perhaps just "good enough". It is possible to get a cable which will link an iPad to some iPod docks, though in analogue form these can be subject to interference. I don't know whether they will work with digital transmission. Also, the iPad connectors have changed, so there's another issue, depending on which model you have.

I don't know whether it's possible to get a working USB output, with suitable software for an iPad. There are camera kits etc. which can be useful, but I don't know whether it's feasible to adapt these for audio. I suspect practically not, at least for most people.

One other route is to use wireless, for example using Airplay.

The situation gets easier if you intend to use a computer - not an iPad - somewhere in the system, which then would raise the question of why you'd want to use an iPad at all. They can be quite useful as controllers, though.

Moderate audio quality output is possible using an iPad - I've done that - but getting higher quality digital output may present significant challenges.

[Beef Oven]

I'm glad to hear it
because I have more electroacousticnoisedronemusiqueconcrete for you to spend the rest of your cash on

I feared as much!!!

Even as recently as 3 months ago, I would never had thought that I would be listening to, and enjoying, works by people like Scheaffer, Parmegiani, Radigue, et al.

keep the recommendations coming

[MrGongGong]

Focusrite are well regarded for preamps etc
but again probably more for those wanting to record / perform than simply listen ?

http://www.dawsons.co.uk/blog/audio-interfaces-for-ipad-4-of-the-best

[Beef Oven]

I'm coming in late here. Isn't one problem with the iPads the lack of suitable interfaces and maybe even appropriate software? For iPods there are some docks, both analogue and digital. Some of the digital ones are reported to be good - or perhaps just "good enough". It is possible to get a cable which will link an iPad to some iPod docks, though in analogue form these can be subject to interference. i don't know whether they will work with digital transmission. Also, the iPad connectors have changed, so there's another issue, depending on which model you have.

I don't know whether it's possible to get a working USB output, with suitable software for an iPad. There are camera kits etc. which can be useful, but I don't know whether it's feasible to adapt these for audio. I suspect practically not, at least for most people.

One other route is to use wireless, for example using Airplay.

The situation gets easier if you intend to use a computer - not an iPad - somewhere in the system, which then would raise the question of why you'd want to use an iPad at all. They can be quite useful as controllers, though.

Moderate audio quality output is possible using an iPad - I've done that - but getting higher quality digital output may present significant challenges.

I'm coming to that conclusion - iPad (no), MacBook (yes).

The reason why I'd like to use the iPad, is because it's very compact. Likewise I want active speakers not just for the advantages in sound quality, but also to avoid using a dedicated amp (fed up of my pre-amp, power-amp Naim set up - I know Cali adores his!).

Thanks for your thoughts, very helpful

[johnb]

I don't know whether it's possible to get a working USB output, with suitable software for an iPad. There are camera kits etc. which can be useful, but I don't know whether it's feasible to adapt these for audio. I suspect practically not, at least for most people.

I seem to remember that some of the 3rd Party Squeezebox developers have done just this, using the camera kit. But, of course, they were concentrating on developing an alternative to using the Squeezebox Touch.

[jayne lee wilson]

Not necessarily looking to pay that sort of money!

A common or garden DAC is all I want.

See my earlier posts from No.15 on, but having lived with (and hugely enjoyed) its closely-related predecessor (which I still have) for a few years, and judging by trusted reviewers, you can't do much better than the Cambridge DacMagic Plus (£350). It includes the preamp functions you'll need (many Dacs do these days). I upgraded mine with better power supplies etc., and always felt it was silly money for the quality. (Treble your money and you're into Benchmark or North Star territory, designs of the highest reputation - Benchmark have especially good headphone outputs).
As D2002 says though, the iPad has its limitations in this role. Where it comes into its own would be as a remote controller for a Mac Mini (or other NAS) - you'd store the downloads on the mini and it would share musicplayer software with the iPad. I intend to do this soon, when I've recovered from that aforementioned Dac purchase. If you use a Macbook, simply plug into the Dac via usb or optical. This arrangement kept me happy for a few years...

Do check the outputs offered - some models of Macbook Air don't include Optical out, always useful to have along with usb.

[Dave2002]

Do check the outputs offered - some models of Macbook Air don't include Optical out, always useful to have along with usb.

Do any of the Air models have Optical out and/or Optical in? It took me years to discover that this had become a feature for Macs, including most recent iMacs and MacBooks, but then I noticed that this isn't a feature of the Macbook Air.