PC World has a very nice article on their site that details how to get a perfect CD rip on Windows using the free program EAC.
I good primer, even for Mac folks, or users of other software programs.
As reported in today’s NY Times, a major record label - Atlantic Records - now makes more money from digital downloads than CD or record sales.
Big milestone. The labels had better get used to it. This is the future, and it’s happening now.
The article goes on to document how the labels plan to make up for the lost margins on (cheap) download sales. Excuse me, how about the artists? Well, the internet has begun to set them free.
This’ll be fascinating to watch over the next few years. It’s a bigger fundamental shift than the last one - LP to CD.
Bob Walters
The most common question that I get asked - other than “Am I confirmed for the event?” - is: “How should I implement a good music server?”
Well, here’s a way to implement a great-sounding music server for about $1K. The key strategy in play here is to house a stellar Lynx sound card in a (very) cheap Dell box.
However, while this system has the capability of delivering great sound, I do not recommend it for most audiophiles.
Specifically, the system has the following weaknesses:
What are these better solutions?
When I get some free time, I’ll outline my current recommendations for all to see (and hear)!
Bob
We just completed another great BAAS event. When we succeed, we combine listening pleasure and camaraderie with a “wisdom of the crowds” learning experience. We seem to have hit the right note(s) yesterday in Jason’s superb listening environment.
First, here are the DAC’s that we had on hand:
We used a variety of music to audition each DAC, including:
So - after a man-week or more of preparation (much of it by the esteemed digital consultant, Tim Marutani), five hours of listening, and much discussion - what did we learn?
I’ll save my specific conclusions for a later post, but here are some general comments:
So that’s the story of this successful BAAS event. Special thanks to Jason Victor Serinus and Tim Marutani for their many contributions.
OK, attendees, the world wants to know what you heard. Post your comments now!
All listed are on vinyl (LP), my only format. However, some of them have been released on CD, which I have not listened to. Many of these will be available only in used record stores or used online sources. My listening bias is for live performances as they often are more inspiring than studio recordings, even though the studio recordings often have better sonics. I think this is true especially on jazz and rock recordings.
JAZZ
Ltd. Ed. German pressing, Enja ENJ-80781
Dave Brubeck Quartet: The Great Concerts…Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Carnegie Hall Columbia 44215
Miles Davis: Nefertiti Columbia 9594 and Sketches of Spain Columbia 8271
Chico Freeman: The Outside Within India Navigation 1042
Erroll Garner: Concert by the Sea Columbia CL883 (wonderful live recording, get the original Mono “6 eye”, the later digitally re-mastered pressing is a sonic tragedy)
Hawkins! Alive! At the Village Gate: Verve V6-8509 – Classic Records
Dick Hyman: From the Age of Swing Reference RR-59
Ramsey Lewis Trio: At the Bohemian Caverns in Washington DC Cadet 741 and Hang on Ramsey! Cadet 761 (These are early 1960’s live recordings of Ramsey Lewis at his creative best IMHO. Especially memorable is the cut “Billy Boy” on side 2 of Cadet 761…9+ minutes of marvelous improvisation)
Herbie Mann: Impressions of the Middle East Atlantic 1475 and Memphis Underground Atlantic 1522 (these are some of Mann’s best work, I think. I own a lot of his albums)
Incognito. Acid jazz at its best. I own 3 albums, all excellent and I suspect all of Incognito (a British group) releases are comparable.
Oliver Nelson: The Blues and the Abstract Truth Impulse IMP-154 (find the analogue re-mastered release 180 gram)
George Otsuko: “You are my Sunshine” Three Blind Mice TBM-35 (all the Three Blind Mice jazz recordings that I have heard are wonderful Japanese 180 gram pressings) I also have Isao Suzuki: Black Orpheus TBM-63 and Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio: Midnight Sugar TBM-23. I think these were also released in CD.
Great news for audiophiles who, like myself, love all-things-Mac — we now have our own ripper with most of the capabilities of “EAC” or “dbPowerAmp.”
And it’s free and open-source!
The product is called XLD (X Lossless Decoder) and boasts the most impressive feature list of anything Mac. You can download it here. If you use it, I heartily suggest that you donate here. You can get free forum support on Hydrogen Audio here.
NEW: This tutorial on ripping is must-read!
XLD’s feature list is so strong that it may put my favorite cover art program (Cover Scout, which has just gone V3) out of business.
I truly wish that I had known about XLD before my recent multi-month rip-fest (1125 CD’s). It’s clearly the best there is on Mac…
Some folks over at the SlimDevices Forum (here) are currently debating the impact of this 2000 psycho-acoustic scholarly research from Japan.
The results of the study support some remarkable and far-reaching conclusions:
These tests were conducted in a controlled setting using double-blind protocols, direct measurement of brain activity, and a statistically relevant sample size. Pretty solid.
These conclusions could have far-ranging implications to audiophiles:
Wow. Weighty stuff to consider this weekend.”Hypersonic” indeed.
In a future piece, I’ll discuss some of the factors that both the paper and the often-didactic forum discussion miss….
Click here for exclusive recordings from our Blue Coast Records event.
The tracks are available as both playable MP3 and downloadable 16/44.1 WAV. So most everyone should be able to play them with good fidelity.
You’ll find not just the mixed versions, but also the “raw mic” tracks from the various microphones that Cookie used.
Listening to these tracks will give you a real perspective on “reproducing the original sonic event.”
As far as I know, this type of opportunity is very rare. So take advantage of it - especially if you weren’t at the event!
Thanks again, Cookie and Jason McGuire!
The Audiophile Club of Athens remains very active.
Its latest endeavor (documented here) tackles an issue that seems to plague many audiophiles - “is CD/digital (finally) better than analog/vinyl”?
Their answer is an emphatic “NO!”
While I disagree with some of their methodology, it makes for interesting reading. And I certainly applaud their effort.
I’ll leave you to form your own conclusions….
Let me begin with a quotable quote:
Yep - believe it or not - a lot of hype and misinformation flowed in Denver this weekend. But so did a lot of knowledge and great access to very interesting sound systems.
For my list of “best sounds at the show,” read on…