Topic: TSKB: 24 bit DVD-A and a playback system

[BobW]

The only reason for me to go DVD-A over DVD-V for PCM audio is the ability to do 24/88.2 (my preference) and the better DACs that you may (or may not) find in a DVD-A player.
DVD-V will only support 24/48 and 24/96, I believe.
DVD-A has 24/48, 24/88.2, 24/192, and 24/96 as well as 16/44.1, 20/44.1, 20/48 and 16/48

There are other encodings allowed based on compression and multi-channel support.
I don't remember those....  in fact, check me on the above:

http://www.berklee.edu/bt/112/alook.html

[pfife]

go diskless.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

DVD-V will only support 24/48 and 24/96, I believe.

also 16 bit at either of those rates.  Those are supported bit rates for LPCM.

As for the better quality DACs, I doubt that is as much an issue today as several years ago when DVD-A was supported only in expensive audiophile decks.  All the current model multi-format players support at least 24/96 LPCM and sound pretty decent.  The higher end decks generally have better solid state devices and better components in the analog signal path so they sound better as a result of that and not the format support. 

out of curiosity, why do you use 88.2?

[dmonterisi]

out of curiosity, why do you use 88.2?

i would imagine because the downsampling to 44.1 is (probably) more reliable.

[Brian Skalinder]

go diskless.

What he said.  But it should be disc with a C, not a K.  Discless listening is awesome!  Soooo happy I don't do optical media for listening anymore.  Love my HD-based system, I find it way more convenient.  (Of course, my Squeezebox doesn't do 24/96, but I"m awfully pleased with 24/48, and the new SB firmware will downsample on-the-fly from 96 to 48...not ideal, but functional, at least.)

[pfife]

go diskless.

What he said.  But it should be disc with a C, not a K.  Discless listening is awesome!  Soooo happy I don't do optical media for listening anymore.  Love my HD-based system, I find it way more convenient.  (Of course, my Squeezebox doesn't do 24/96, but I"m awfully pleased with 24/48, and the new SB firmware will downsample on-the-fly from 96 to 48...not ideal, but functional, at least.)

  believe it or not, I actually had it typed with a "C", but it looked funny to me, so I changed it!   

i reckon by the time I figure out what the heck you guys are talking about, and finally get the gumption to give it a go; y'all will have moved on to the latest and greatest system that will prove to further confuse and confound me into my grave......

goes and loads another dvd-a disc, and kicks his feet up.

Moke, really its as simple as using a computer as a source... I'd imagine you're already doing something very similar for monitoring and tracking... most of the complication comes in the networking and backup.   I haven't moved to the squeezebox yet, but I'm getting there.   I'm trying to decide between a SB and or a nice DAC to go between a PC and the amp....

SlimServer is pretty sick.   

[scervin]

what about all the noise from the inside of the PC?  Power supply?  Just wondering, but I'm sticking to my optical media for now.  In the next house with home automation, I imagine I'll move to a server for general listening.  Critical listening will NEVER include a PC.   

[pfife]

what about all the noise from the inside of the PC?  Power supply?  Just wondering, but I'm sticking to my optical media for now.  In the next house with home automation, I imagine I'll move to a server for general listening.  Critical listening will NEVER include a PC.   

squeezebox gets around the noise issue.   I have a PC hooked up analog out -> analog in to my amp, and I think it sounds fine.  Believe it or not?

[Brian Skalinder]

what about all the noise from the inside of the PC?  Power supply?  Just wondering, but I'm sticking to my optical media for now.  In the next house with home automation, I imagine I'll move to a server for general listening.  Critical listening will NEVER include a PC.   

squeezebox gets around the noise issue.

Yeah, same here.  PC's simply delivering a 24/48 digital stream to the Squeezebox.  I then run the digi-out of my SB into my 3000ES in the LR.  For my office, I run digi-out of my soundcard to my playback DAC > pre > etc.

[Ed.]

I had used the Pioneer Elite 45a for a couple years and found that to be very good for the money.  That said, I've found the Onkyo SP1000 to be much better for DVD-A/SACD, CD, and DVD playback. 

I bought pioneer player, and may be interested in selling it if you're still looking for a player.  Its an all-in-one, plays everything but divx I think, but it'll do cd/dvda/sacd/dvdv for sure.  PM if you're at all interested.  I think I paid around $225-$250 from Scott.

As for using a pc, if you're willing to build it yourself, and use the proper fans, etc it will run silent...I've found this site rather helpful: http://www.htpcnews.com/

[L Ron Hoover]

My plan (and I know it's not practical for everyone) is to place a computer in the basement and run ~20ft optical  up to the Sony. The box will be somewhat right below my listening chair with the monitor and wireless keyboard next to me on a table. I will have to run DVI cable and USB cable up through the listening end of the room and optical up through the stereo end. I just hope that jitter won't come into play with an optical cable that long.

[BobW]

out of curiosity, why do you use 88.2?

i would imagine because the downsampling to 44.1 is (probably) more reliable.

Yup, downsampling 88.2 to 44.1 is considered to be preferable to DS from 96 to 44.1, if CD is the ultimate intent
Mark Nutters, from the 24bit FAQ, swears that it sounds better as well
It seems too logical to deny

I like optical media.
It travels to the cars well
It's shiny (a quality that cannot be taken too lightly)
It's easy to hand back to bands after recording them
It's easy to share with folks
Sure I am an entrenched ludite, but it works for me right now
Perhaps I'll go Solid State on playback soon

Who's got my heady S.S. FLAC player with great D/As and silky pres?
And more importantly, who has a quality car deck with an easy Aux in?

[Ed.]

And more importantly, who has a quality car deck with an easy Aux in?

I've been selling the ipod too much lately, but just a note, that just about any car deck with cd changer controls can have an ipod hooked up to it and for the most part, you'll be able to control the ipod from the car deck.

[Brian Skalinder]

I've been selling the ipod too much lately, but just a note, that just about any car deck with cd changer controls can have an ipod hooked up to it and for the most part, you'll be able to control the ipod from the car deck.

Not the VW Phaeton, unfortunately for my father.  Gotta say this is one of the coolest features of the iPod, though.  If only I had a car with a CD player, I might re-evaluate my iAudio M3 player.

[svenkid]

I still have a cassette deck in my truck.

I have one in my car. all you gotta do is get one of those cassette deals that can hoook to any player out of it's headphone jack and it works!