More On Music Server Cables & Shielding

Continuing on from my last post, in August-September I had assembled a second Vortexbox Server, and I then went through and shielded all the cabling in the new server, and all the data cabling in my existing server (I haven't done the power cabling yet as I am contemplating a Linear Power Supply for my server - and if I do so will need to modify the power cables before shielding). I've posted a few images here to give anyone else wanting to have a crack an idea of how to do it just using some basic equipment...

Music Server Gapless Playback, Shielding & LPSU

Continuing A Dedicated Music Server Journey (Part 6)

My next items to address with the server are getting around to shielding the internal cables, and preparing for adding in a linear power supply to replace the existing one. However first, following on from my previous post, Vortexbox have now upgraded the install package to include an option to auto-install Squeezeplay (and disable Vortexplayer) via Yum – which is fantastic. Vortexplayer is reportedly gapless now also, however I believe that is determined more by the hardware implementation of the DAC manufacturer, and so may not be truly gapless 100% of the time. Regarding Vortexplayer being gapless, in the case of the Bel Canto series devices for example, they are very forgiving and have a longish delay when the signal drops before they react and need to relock the sample rate, etc.

Focal SM9's Get 10 out of 10

Continuing on from my The Focal SM9 Joy Continues... post:

"The SM9 and its innovative two-in-one approach tops Focal’s range of active studio monitors."

"The imaging is surgically precise, the effortless transparency is world-class and they’re a pleasure to work with."

"Full-frequency near-field monitors with a unique feature set and extraordinary sound quality."

Update: Unfortunately I have had to remove the link to the full review at Music Tech Magazine UK (quoted above) as it appears to have been taken over by scammers.

However you can read a subsequent full review at What Hi-Fi UK.

Logitech Clarify Future Of Squeezebox

Logitech leaves Squeezebox fans wondering what's next? The Squeezebox platform is officially discontinued, but Logitech hasn't told current owners what they should expect from now on" comments Matthew Moskovciak last week on CNET.

In the last week or two there's been speculation about what will happen to Logitech Squeezebox, LMS (Logitech Media Server), and the mysqueezebox.com website. Matthew has since posted an update to his article last Friday, clarifying Logitech's current position - although Logitech themselves don't seem to have publicised it that well.

The Great WAV vs. FLAC Debate (Part 1)

There has been on-going debate over recent years that even though FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) files use a lossless compression, on playback they still don’t sound as good as an unpackaged & uncompressed WAV (wave) file. The WAV file encased in the FLAC container, although compressed, is still bit perfect – and when unpacked by the music server/source it should be in every way identical to an original WAV file that has not been encased in a FLAC container. However many audiophiles have argued there is a difference that can be heard.

Neil Young's Pono Digital Music Service

Neil Young's new "High Resolution" music service seems to finally be gaining some traction. Rolling Stone reported yesterday it may be expanded and could eventually rival Apple's iTunes (and will hopefully finally force Apple to actually make available decent quality audio files instead of their totally trash MP3/AAC stuff)... He has also unveiled the first Pono media player device for the service.

Earlier discussions this year had centred around the desire to get all the major record labels on board.

Magic Jandals!

Adriano Adewale - Flip Flop

What you can do with some Jandals! Unfortunately YouTube doesn't do it justice - get the DVD (Antonio Forcione Quartet in Concert) to get the full bass effect from the audio! The whole concert is pretty fantastic.

Vinyl Collector's Really Are The Whackiest People

Amazing Video Documentary by a Vinyl Collector - wonderful stuff and well worth a watch. Quite long though (almost 2 hours).

Watch Vinyl (2000) - Alan Zweig investigates the wacky world of record collecting in Lifestyle  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.comYou may ultimately find some of it rather sad... or disturbing!

The Focal SM9 Joy Continues...

Focal SM9

A few days on (see my previous post) and well I was continuing to be amazed by these Studio monitors and am being drawn even more to the music – at the time they were nearing the upper end of the 20 hours initial running in period at medium to higher volumes that is recommended to get them loosened up – and while I have not perceived any major shift in the sound ‘quality’ the music (as opposed to the ‘system’) they just seemed to get more compelling the more I listened!

Listening to The Eagles, “Hotel California”, in 24bit/192kHz resolution I’ve never heard the drums sound like they did on the title track – you can feel the tautness of the drumhead, feels like the drum kit is right beside you in the sense of the ‘realness’ and texture of the sound…

Continuing A Dedicated Music Server Journey (Part 5)

Since my last post there has been a bit of progress, I now have my server running fan less. This just took a little bit more minor tidying inside the case and the removal of a large heat source from directly beneath the server – my Perreaux 350P Power Amp! In fact this has been part of a major revamp of my entire system (as discussed in my The Joys Of Discovering Focal Pro SM9s post), which basically is seeing my entire audio system (apart from my Subwoofer) replaced around the Music Server & my Oppo Blu-ray Player which will be the only components remaining. One benefit of this big change is a lot more space in my rack, eliminating the heat issue alluded to above – the presence of the Perreaux 350P causing a passive build-up of warm air around the server without the presence of the fan. Now that’s gone the unit is happily running fan less.