BAASnotes.com – Bay Area Audiophile Society

Music Industry: Trading Analog Dollars for Digital Cents

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

Inexpensive Music Server – A Flawed Dell-based Solution

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:

• It’s too geeky – both to build and to maintain;
• It’s noisy;
• It’s incomplete; and
  • (As described, it lacks keyboard, mouse, monitor, decent CPU, and ample storage, which would collectively add  $500 or more to the price)
• There are better ways to go (IMO), which would sacrifice little sonically.

What are these better solutions?

When I get some free time, I’ll outline my current recommendations for all to see (and hear)!

Bob