OK, lets look at the slim devices as regards music on a hard drive. First we need to have a computer, a network (preferably wired into the listening room), NAS (unless we want the computer running while we listen), and our SB3 or transporter.
Additionally we need EAC or equivalent, and to understand that the ripping software is important. Then we need slimserver - which means we can't have any old NAS. After all that, we need to rip all our CDs and catalogue them. Oh, and and if we do away with our CD player, we have to rip and catalogue before we can even play our latest eagerly awaited purchase. In other words this is not an easy solution. In fact it makes my passion for getting the right VTA when playing vinyl seem less than geeky. On top of that the SB3 is a lot more lifestyle than hifi in its visual design - something I suspect is deliberate. Even the Transporter is a bit 'bling'. Now, how does a reviewer approach this, for the wider audience of a hifi magazine. While such an approach is conceptually interesting, as described earlier in this thread, it is definitely somewhat hard-core in application. Obviously the one-box approach, such as the new Arcam FMJ MS250 or the up and coming Audiolab PC based system are easier to set up, as they are in effect plug-and-play, just like a CD player. Also they are much easier to review, as the number of variables has been minimised. In fact, if you read though both Paul's articale, and Alan Sircom's one later in the magazine, you will see a definite positive feeling about the potential of such systems. BTW @ Patrick: I really think you should have got Paul to use EAC for ripping his CDs, in my opinion the iTunes ripper, even with erro correction, sounds very poor by comparison. -- bigfool1956 David Ayers Music is what counts, hifi just helps us enjoy it more ------------------------------------------------------------------------ bigfool1956's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=13782 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=39438 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
