cepheid Wrote: > Hi all, > > So, I recently got an SB3 and have begun the arduous process of ripping > all my CDs. I'm using the Apple Lossless format at the moment because I > use iTunes for library management. I figured I'd test the audio > quality before I spent too much time ripping... > > I was listening to "Caring is Creepy" by The Shins and noticed that the > ALAC file seemed somewhat muddier than I'd remembered. So, I popped in > the CD and attempted to listen to them side-by-side (not an easy > feat)... unless I'm crazy, it seems to me that the CD audio has > brighter treble and deeper, fuller bass, while the ALAC file sounds > muddier. > > My setup is far from an audiophile one - I've got the SB3 hooked up via > analog connections to a Pioneer VSX-D814 amp, with Pioneer S-FCRW861-S > satellite speakers (7.1 setup). The CD was played through a Pioneer > DV-578A DVD player, connected via digital optical (TOSlink) to the amp. > (I know all you audiophiles are wincing at this setup, but it's pretty > much all I can afford right now.) > > While doing my listening tests, I had the SB3 volume set to 100%, and > both the SB3 and CD had the exact same audio settings on the receiver, > for as close a match as possible. SlimServer was v6.2.2, with FW 36, > doing on-the-fly transcoding from ALAC to FLAC (I made sure of that). > "Smart Gain" was enabled on the SB3. > > Since ALAC and FLAC are both lossless, I find it hard to believe that > the ripped music should sound any different than the CD. In fact, when > I play the file directly on the computer (through Monsoon flat-panel > speakers, 2.1 setup), it sounds just as good as the CD, with bright > treble and deep bass. It's only with the SB3 that the file sounds > muddier. The difference is rather subtle, it's not a glaring problem, > but I could hear (for example) that the cymbals were not as bright and > the bass was somewhat more muted. > > Do you think this is due to the Smart Gain on the SB3? I did not try > turning that off, so that could be one factor. However, while playing > the songs directly on the computer I left the iTunes "Sound Check" > enabled (equivalent to Smart Gain on the SB3), and it sounded just > fine. Unless the two algorithms are different, it doesn't seem like > that should be the issue, either. > > The only other thing I can think of is that the CD audio is connected > via a digital connection and gets processed via the receiver's DAC, > while the SB3 is connected via analog and therefore uses its own DAC. > But given my rather cheap receiver, the SB3's DAC should be far > superior, so why does it seem like I'm getting muddier sound? > > I'll try disabling Smart Gain, and I can try connecting the SB3 using > digital coax... but before I go futzing with the system, do any of you > experts have suggestions or insight as to what might be going on here? > > (On a related but off-topic note, anyone know whether it's possible to > modify the track and album gain tags on ALAC files? iTunes doesn't > seem to provide any method of doing it, and in fact I can't even find > the album gain information... track gain is visible but not changeable, > but album gain seems to be missing. I guess that's one good reason to > use FLAC, but for now I like the iTunes ease of use, hence why I prefer > ALAC.) > > Anyway, your suggestions and comments are highly appreciated.
Make sure you don't have bitrate limiting turned on in your slimserver (a per-player setting under "Audio"). Try converting ALAC to WAV instead of FLAC (if the converter supports it). I find that FLAC converted to WAV on the server side sounds better than FLAC streamed to the SB. Try using the digital input with the SB (manually switch the TosLINK between the sources). Unfortunately the digital inteface is not "perfect" as timing information is embedded in the data. Fortunately the SB has pretty darn good digital outputs. Make sure you don't have any long interconnects from remote equipment hooked up to your amp. Try the sound with less stuff hooked up. Try cleaning your contacts with a contact cleaner. Let us know how it goes! -- P Floding ------------------------------------------------------------------------ P Floding's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2932 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=22635 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
