Beology wrote:

On a side topic.... do you have any/many music files you have at 256 kbps AAC that you play through the Lab 5s? If so, how do they hold up compared to lossless? I have a mixture of lossless AIFFs and AACs and don't want to try and get all AAC files as lossless, unless they are poles apart.

Hey Justin

After reading about Soundproofs comments about lossless above, I decided to rip a few CDs in lossless for my iPhone. I can't comment on the Beolab 5s but I can hear the different between 320Kbs on my A8 earphones and lossless on my iPhone. With the beolab 4000s it is very clear the difference. I think the Beolab 5s will clearly show a marked improvement. I just spent the last few days re-ripped all my CDs from 320kbps to lossless (around 900-1000kbps).

Hi Kim, the BL5's only listen to the SPDIF when you select "CD" as a source. This is the only limiting factor in using this configuration... I would love to simply use "AUX" as that is a source I have now open. I have the BV10, and I couldn't have it connected as the Videomaster, because it doesn't carry the "data info" or something similar in the Powerlink cables, thus making the BL5's unaware of what source they are being fed with.

I'm still confused about wheather or not to get the extra soundcard. I'm just blown away by the awesome sound I get playing directly from the mac mini's optical digital out and converting the signal to coaxial. I can't hear any difference from CD...

But since the soundcards are pretty inexpensive, I guess I'll try it at some point.

Thanks Major for your input.

I do understand that AAC files are superior to mp3s so Im hoping for someone who has done a direct comparison with that format(i.e. high "quality" itunes) and lossless. I suspect however that I'll be doing as you suggest/have done- going lossless.....

Bayerische- Let us know how you go if you do get the soundcard, and if there is an improvement.

Thanks guys.

Justin

@bayerische Thank you for clearing that up. The autosensing on spdif works like a charm when I select the cd source. The CD on my Overture stopped working years ago, but thats just perfect now. When I hit CD my Ouverture turns on, the bv7 turns on it's display and the BL5s fire up. As soon as they get a spdif signal from my Twin Impact / mac mini beatiful tones fill the room.

I have not made a comparison on the Twin impact versus a signal straight from the mini. I went ahead and bought the Twin Impact when I saw the danish musicshop www.aage.dk offer it at 1999 DKK, aprox. Euro 270. I found it to be a bargain.

Next step is to rearrange my living room. The pictures of Soundproofs listening room above and his description match my livingroom almost exactly. I'll give Soundproofs layout a try and I think I might start a seperate thread about it.

When I am in option 0 I need to prwss CD to get the output from the soundcard recognized by the BL5s. i then have the Beomaster in the loop.

When I am in option 1, the output from the soundcard takes presedence over everything else (s/pdif). But if I switch off the soundcard, then what comes down LINE is recognized. i have my surround processor delivering to the BL5s through LINE.

Please try Channel Ds Pure Music software. They give you a fourteen day trial period, you'll appreciate what their proprietary player delivers to the speakers.

I have a different situation but wonder if the Impact Twin box and Pure Music software would be beneficial for playing digital music:

I now have: iMacG5, iTunes->Airport Express-> BC9300->BL8000

Would this be better?: iMacG5, PureMusic->FW400 port->Impact Twin->BC9300->BL8000

I use airport express from iTunes not for distance but because it has a fixed line output for the BC9300 (rather than headphone out analog from iMac). It does drop out sometimes as people have said which is annoying.

From what I understand on this thread, this would be better because:

- Impact Twin better DACs than Airport Express

- Core Audio output from iMac better than Quicktime engine

Another thing I wonder- would a CD ripped lossless on the iMac sound better or worse through this method than played on the BC9300's internal CD/DAC circuit!?

 

The Airport Express has a pretty lousy dac, so you would be better off using the straight headphone out on the iMac, or getting an external soundcard.

 

About DAC's in the BC9300 VS the iMac with/without soundcard... I'm guessing it will be a matter of personal opinion. The DAC in the BC9300 is probably a good quality one, so I wouldn't worry about that.

bayerische wrote:

The Airport Express has a pretty lousy dac, so you would be better off using the straight headphone out on the iMac, or getting an external soundcard.

About DAC's in the BC9300 VS the iMac with/without soundcard... I'm guessing it will be a matter of personal opinion. The DAC in the BC9300 is probably a good quality one, so I wouldn't worry about that.

This is a bit of surprise because it seems in previous posts folks have expressed fairly low opinions about the DAC in the Mac, or any computer for that matter and that AE was better. I have read also you can use the digital out from the AE and get some better results. But soundproof's remarks got me thinking the core audio to firewire to DAC route might be more optimal. One advantage of AE over the built-in DAC is only music goes out, not all the other dings and dongs the computer makes, and the volume level out is constant and not regulated twice.

I don't have any complaints with the CD player in the 9300 although again various remarks get made about it not being as good of a system as the 9500 had etc.

Tres,  tres cool.  A very attractive and simple exection.  Are u still pleased with the Beolab 5s?  How do u like your video setup from the Nas?  Do u get coverart for both audio and video on Ipad with this? 

 

 I am in the process of settting up a vacation property.  Beo6 control, is in place but I miss my metadata that I am used to on my home crestron system. Therefore,  am having Iphone/Ipad control programed at present(though having to use pre Os5 devices as no support as yet for 0s5 as I suspect you know).  Any thought you can share are appreciated.  Ron

I have near the same setup as Soundproof and Bayrische - my Beocenter 2 is connected to the Beolab 5. The Sound is coming digital from a mac mini and controlled by ipod touch / ipad. This solutions works perfekt in the mainroom, but i have several Rooms with Beolab 3500 speakers, connected with Masterlink. The Beocenter 2 is configured as Audio Master. Now i will use a Beomaster 7000 as MASTER for open the Digital SPDIF input on the Beolabs and to feed the CD input with analogue signal from the mac mini.

How can i still use my Beocenter 2 for DVD and for Radio (Build in DAB)?

Which options for the Beomaster 7000 as AUDIOMASTER and the Beocenter 2 as SLAVE?

Thanks for any input