Moving away from iTunes on a Mac

[Dave2002]

I do wonder whether the licensing arrangements for JRiver and Audirvana are unhelpful. At least with iTunes one can use the program on any Apple compatible device. Maybe most people only have one computer, but some of us have several. I don't want to have to make a decision about which ones to use with individual programs, though sometimes I don't mind having a multiple computer licence - providing it's not linearly proportional to the number of computers I might use. Are those programs in any way compatible with iTunes, or is a complete rethink of how to store and play music needed? Might one end up with a complicated system in which music is duplicated - some for playing in iTunes and some in other systems?

I don't think it can simply be a question of a common "bank" of music, which can be accessed and controlled by different players, as the meta data could be significantly different between the players.

[richardfinegold]

How many computers does one JRivers liscense cover?

[Cockney Sparrow]

"You may use a single license for all you computers, within reason"

https://www.jriver.com/purchase.html

[Dave2002]

"You may use a single license for all you computers, within reason"

https://www.jriver.com/purchase.html

And for Audirvana Plus
"As per the EULA, it is permitted to proceed to “the installation on a second computer owned by you for your exclusive use with the express condition that this second copy is not used simultaneously with the main one”.

https://audirvana.com/?page_id=1277

[Beef Oven!]

Dave2002/Jayne

That’s interesting, what else is in a DAC? What constitutes ‘the whole shebang’? What is this ‘configuration' business?

[Dave2002]

Dave2002/Jayne

That’s interesting, what else is in a DAC? What constitutes ‘the whole shebang’? What is this ‘configuration' business?

There are digital chips, plus power circuits to provide a stable reference and appropriate power, and analogue circuitry, plus wiring. There may also be switches, if the DAC also provides some limited form of pre-amp functionality. Some even have a volume control and maybe even a headphone output. Purists probably want to have just a single in and a single out, but that's less flexible, and any switching or reconfiguration would have to be done externally. Also, remember that there can be several forms of digital input now - optical, co-ax and even USB and Ethernet, so there may need to be other circuitry within the box for the digital interfaces, and maybe even circuitry to read from a USB memory stick.

You can try to make your own from some of the chips, but without a suitable box, plus appropriate circuitry, the result will most probably be a mess. Also, the total cost, even if you know what you're doing is likely to be at least 4-5 times the cost of the basic DAC chips. Some of the very expensive ready made ones may be over priced, though some people will be prepared to pay the price, while some of the very cheap ones may be poorly put together. Chances are that middle of the road ones will give acceptable balance between quality and cost, but if you are really fussy and have "golden" ears you may want to pay more.

[Beef Oven!]

There are digital chips, plus power circuits to provide a stable reference and appropriate power, and analogue circuitry, plus wiring. There may also be switches, if the DAC also provides some limited form of pre-amp functionality. Some even have a volume control and maybe even a headphone output. Purists probably want to have just a single in and a single out, but that's less flexible, and any switching or reconfiguration would have to be done externally. Also, remember that there can be several forms of digital input now - optical, co-ax and even USB and Ethernet, so there may need to be others circuitry within the box for the digital interfaces, and maybe even circuitry to read from a USB memory stick.

You can try to make your own from some of the chips, but without a suitable box, plus appropriate circuitry, the result will most probably be a mess. Also, the total cost, even if you know what you're doing is likely to be at least 4-5 times the cost of the basic DAC chips. Some of the very expensive ready made ones may be over priced, though some people will be prepared to pay the price, while some of the very cheap ones may be poorly put together. Chances are that middle of the road ones will give acceptable balance between quality and cost, but if you are really fussy and have "golden" ears you may want to pay more.

Thank you very much for a clear explanation. I guessed there’d be wiring, but I didn’t know about the digital chips. I hadn’t thought about line in/out and amplification etc facilities, either.

I make my own humus, but I’ll not go to all that trouble with a DAC.

[richardfinegold]

[QUOTE=Beef Oven!;579693]Thank you very much for a clear explanation. I guessed there’d be wiring, but I didn’t know about the digital chips. I hadn’t thought about line in/out and amplification etc facilities, either.

I make my own humus, but I’ll not go to all that trouble with a DAC.[/QUOTE

I have two components wth the same ESS Sabre chip.. One is the Oppo 105 Blue Ray/ Univeral Player, the other is the Mytec Manhatten DAC/Headphone Amp/Preamp. They sound very different despite using the same chip in the output stage.
My wife makes great hummus. Ian going to give it a try .
Dave, that was a very good explanation