Your current computer audio setup? (feel free to post pics)

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by wilky61

Hmm, compression level of 3... what is an example of the bitrate of one/several of your .FLAC albums that you have ripped from CD source? I checked my most recent batch (four albums), and the tracks are generally between about 775 and 900 kbs (level 8 compression)

Between 700-900 roughly.

[wilky61]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

Between 700-900 roughly.

Tomayto/tomahto, I guess.


I did notice that one track on one of my albums dropped all the way to 444 kb/s, though; this caught my attention. Do you think that's just a case of one specific track and the way it was recorded? Four of the other five tracks on that EP are between 740-840 kbs, and the fifth track (which is 25min long) is about 640 kb/s.

Also, I have another related question (never experimented to test this). If you rip an album to WAV/then encode to FLAC twice, will you get the exact same bitrate FLACs both times?

[Johnny Vinyl]

I answered in RED

Originally Posted by wilky61

Tomayto/tomahto, I guess.

Funny!

I did notice that one track on one of my albums dropped all the way to 444 kb/s, though; this caught my attention. Do you think that's just a case of one specific track and the way it was recorded? Four of the other five tracks on that EP are between 740-840 kbs, and the fifth track (which is 25min long) is about 640 kb/s.

I've not had that happen myself, so I can't say. My guess is as good as yours.

Also, I have another related question (never experimented to test this). If you rip an album to WAV/then encode to FLAC twice, will you get the exact same bitrate FLACs both times?

You would think that it would be identical if none of the parameters were changed, but it may be an exercise worth experimenting with. Interesting idea actually!

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by wilky61

I did notice that one track on one of my albums dropped all the way to 444 kb/s, though; this caught my attention. Do you think that's just a case of one specific track and the way it was recorded? Four of the other five tracks on that EP are between 740-840 kbs, and the fifth track (which is 25min long) is about 640 kb/s.

Which album is this? I might have it and check to see if I got a similar result

Also, I have another related question (never experimented to test this). If you rip an album to WAV/then encode to FLAC twice, will you get the exact same bitrate FLACs both times?

Will try this just for the heck of it.

Edit: Just ripped a song to wav and using Audacity encoded to flac twice, in 2 different sessions and got the exact same bitrate. Now what I wonder is if I use another program to encode with the same settings how close would it be?

Edit 2: Just encoded to flac using MediaMonkey with the same settings and got a very similar result. The first one was 972 kbps, with MM 969.

[jlafrenz]

Originally Posted by wilky61

Soooo.... are pentatonic and I the only ones on the board with FLAC collections and computer audio setups? :/

All my setups are PC based (except bedroom) and use FLAC. I recently picked up a tablet and use the Foobar2000 app to control each of them. Pictures can be seen in my gallery.

[SlaughterX]

AMD Radeon 6850 connected to a Denon 3312 AVR via HDMI, Boston Acoustic VS 260 x2 (fronts), VS 325c (center), VS 210 (subwoofer), and a pair of HS 100 (rear).

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by SlaughterX

AMD Radeon 6850 connected to a Denon 3312 AVR via HDMI, Boston Acoustic VS 260 x2 (fronts), VS 325c (center), VS 210 (subwoofer), and a pair of HS 100 (rear).

Wow. Is that in your ht room or pc room?

[SlaughterX]

Bedroom.

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by SlaughterX

Bedroom.

Nice

[Canada]

My setups nice, my laptop is on my home theater center speaker. The audio is coming out of my headphone jack then splits to left and right RCA cable to my Pioneer receiver, speakers B&W 683.

[Canada]

Originally Posted by SlaughterX

AMD Radeon 6850 connected to a Denon 3312 AVR via HDMI, Boston Acoustic VS 260 x2 (fronts), VS 325c (center), VS 210 (subwoofer), and a pair of HS 100 (rear).

Boston acoustics nice my parents have a pair of 25 year old A 100's they sound great

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by Canada

My setups nice, my laptop is on my home theater center speaker. The audio is coming out of my headphone jack then splits to left and right RCA cable to my Pioneer receiver, speakers B&W 683.

How do you like the audio quality coming from your laptop? Which kind of audio card in your laptop?

B&W! Nice man

[Canada]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

How do you like the audio quality coming from your laptop? Which kind of audio card in your laptop?

B&W! Nice man

First off thank you. I have no idea what kind of audio card is in my 15" Macbook Pro, it's a couple of years old, audio out available through HDMI.

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by Canada

No idea what kind of audio card, I have a 15" Macbook Pro couple years old, audio out available through HDMI.

Did you ever try using hdmi and letting your Pio do the dac. Might be an improvement (have no idea, just something to try)

[Canada]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

Did you ever try using hdmi and letting your Pio do the dac. Might be an improvement (have no idea, just something to try)

I have done that, I need to get another HDMI cable I bought one that was too long and kept on tripping over it one day it gave up the ghost because of that. When I was using the HDMI cable I didn't notice the audio was any better than it is now, thanks for the tip though

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by Canada

I have done that, I need to get another HDMI cable I bought one that was too long and kept on tripping over it one day it gave up the ghost because of that. When I was using the HDMI cable I didn't notice the audio was any better than it is now, thanks for the tip though

I'm surprised. Which format do you have your music files in? I know Macs are good but your Pio should give you better results. Which model Pio do you have?

Mind you I also prefer the sound from my audio card than my Denon doing the dac but my audio card while not the best there is is still a pro audio card. I would think your Pio better than onboard. Maybe I'm wrong

[pentatonic]

Finally got to taking some pics of my little rig



My cans sound great on my vintage H/K 330B

[Nick The Slick]

Just thought I'd add my piece to this thread and help it grow a bit.

I use my desktop I built as my media center. Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit with XBMC as my media center (found here) so i can use it with my Harmony remote (with the HP infrared adapter thing, search OVU422000 to find that). All music I actually listen to anymore is in FLAC. Radeon HD 6870 video card outputs via HDMI at 24/196 to my Yamaha RX-V667. From Yamaha to Crown XLS 1500 power amp and Dayton Audio SA240 sub amp. Mains are Polk Audio Monitor 70's and sub is a DIY I put together with Dayton Audio parts. I have surround but keep it in 2 channel for music and it's amazing. Hardly even watch movies anymore, just sit and jam

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

Finally got to taking some pics of my little rig



My cans sound great on my vintage H/K 330B

Looks good Pat!

How do you have everything hooked up? I ask because you have the H/K, a PC soundcard and active monitors.

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by Johnny Vinyl

Looks good Pat!

How do you have everything hooked up? I ask because you have the H/K, a PC soundcard and active monitors.

Thanks buddy. I can't believe the sound my vintage AKGs are giving me. The whole sound opened up. Bass is now deep and precise. Soundstage is so open for a semi open can. Listening to Marvin now and am just smiling. When I use my Fisher Audio's for rock, it really rocks. I don't know if a dedicated amp would improve that but I'm not even gonna find out, it's perfect as it is.

I have my analog from my E-Mu going to the receiver and from my receiver through tape-out to my Behringers. But that will change most probably soon. Since my receiver is set up I might go from 7.1 to 5.1 in my HT (my living room is shaped in a way my rears and surrounds are very close and can't help that) and use my Missions 702s for my PC setup until I can buy proper speakers for it.

later John