Why should you use computer for playing digital music?
The answer is very simple. If we had the recent computer technology in 1980, no one would ever think of storing the audio files on CD ROM.
Will the transfer of your CD collection on hard drive improve the quality of audio playback?
Yes. The playback of digital music files through the sophisticated software on modern PC enables the bit perfect audio. This is simply not possible with CD players.
Let me to tell you something about some Hi Fi frauds first…
The only relevant issue during the evaluation of stereo equipment is the ability of the equipment to reproduce the music as convincingly as it is possible to the original, concert sound. Only the very good recordings of unamplified acoustic instruments are suitable for the serious tests of stereo systems. Acoustic instruments have a specific, recognizable sound that can be slightly altered only by the acoustic environment and the quality of the instruments. The sound of electronically amplified musical instruments depend entirely on type and quality of amplification and tone filters used at the recording session.
The mainstream audio literature usually analyze amplifiers, CD players, speakers, hi-end cables etc., by listening to the same sequence of digital music over and over again. The conclusions that usually glorify some part of the stereo system are made after the test. How often do those same experts listen to the live acoustical music in the concert hall and how deeply do they concentrate on sound fidelity from various acoustical instruments when analyzing stereo equipment in their reviews? We will never know.
If you share the opinion with the mainstream audio magazines, that the scientific, double-blind tests are not(?) relevant for evaluation of Hi-Fi stereo equipment, the topic of this text is not going to make you happy.
Here’s why the “experts” from the mainstream audio literature do not like the objective testing of the human audio perception:
So, everything is based on the principle – “I like it, I don’t like it”.
The buyers who cannot make the decision without the “experts”, who are connected with the sellers, buy expensive and inadequate stereo equipment.
Playback of the digital music files in so called “High End” quality is dominated by the CD players. However, in recent years it has become clear, except for the most conservative opinion leaders and audiophiles, that the digital music is being recorded in grater sample size and higher sample rate at the studios worldwide. Today’s digital Studio Masters, whose sample rate varies from 88,2 to 192 kHz are being downsampled to the old red book standard and then distributed worldwide on CD albums. The fact that the red book format was the only available solution for storing and playing back an album in 1983, doesn’t explain why we still use it today.
Nevertheless, CD ROM has somehow retained the position in audio industry. The heavy and almost bullet proof enclosures for those retro machines, still evoke interest at the audiophile community. The members of this easily manipulated group are prone to believe that the red book standard (16 bit / 44,1 kHz) from the last century is still the ultimate digital resolution and that only the 20kg< CD players can restore the musical perfection. This nonsense is being carefully warmed up by the audio industry that enjoys making profit on chronic ignorance of the audiophile community. The CD players priced 5000$ or more, are still an absolute must for the “serious” audiophile setup. One Japanese company offers the CD transport only for 32.500 $(!!).
So, if you are interested in this retro technology and willing to pay the ridiculous price for the machines whose quality has never reached the level of the classical gramophone, do not read this text any more and do not download this distribution.
Maybe it was a heresies a few years ago, but the audio connoisseurs are now fully aware that you can get more by ripping CD album on hard drive and then streaming it from an adequately prepared computer.
The hi resolution recordings are only available for download on your HDD and can be played only on computers or music streamers (actually simplified computers).
We encourage you to wake up from lethargic dream about Hi End CD players (they do not exist). The digital music is made and played back by computers.
So we give you the first operating system dedicated to audiophiles for free download.
Enjoy!
“you can get more by ripping CD album on hard drive and then streaming it from an adequately prepared computer.”
OK , how do I adequately prepare my computer
i use computer for my Tera FLAC ….
CD will RIP soon …. and will go to second hand market …and rare item collector
long live computer audiophile ..
I agree with most of the article but the redbook standard will continue to be a standard because it’s sufficient for the human ear, I cannot explain it in technical terms as my english isn’t good enough but what makes a good recording isn’t the samplerate, there are a lot of truncated “high-res” music but the quality of the recording, mixing and mastering.
Plus it’s a good ambition to have an audiophile oriented distribution but it’s overkill as you can get bit-perfect playback with deadbeef, qmmp, etc if you know how to manage the settings.
So if you want to use as a music server why not, but for everyday use it’s not worth it.
It’s a simple test, just download, run from a disk. All I can say the only problem I have is keeping this quiet before the box in the corner of the room becomes worthless. I record my acoustic guitar in a small home studio, copy the file to my laptop and play it on my Hi-Fi, and it sounds just like my acoustic guitar!
Just amazed and thank you.
Except audiophiles are embracing computer audio. Newer DAC’s are all about USB connections and high-res files. The main problem is that ripping a large CD collection is a chore.
hey, thanks for this project! this is really nice.
it’s nice to know that somebody went through all the work and research to get this kind of result.
a lot of us music composers need systems kinda like this, but we use them for assembling tunes, not so much for listening. but your project is an excellent reality and shines good light on the playback side of things.
that you’ve innovated with both arch linux and linux mint makes a lot of sense and is revealing. i’m curious to see how this works out for me. in the past i certainly used some computers as fancy jukeboxes and OMG–i am familiar with some astonishingly impressive tunes and songs in my life.
thanks for the innovations, and have a great year.
onward to 2024!