Impulse purchase - now I need guidance

[sjtm]

Bug Head is a free program that processes music and brings out the best in it. It was developed by a Japanese genius. There are other programs such as JRiver, HQ Player and several others. Most you have to pay for. JR has the best music library for cataloging your music. It does other things like burning and ripping your music. These programs allow you to up convert your music to hi rez. I have not used all of the programs but from my experience and to the experience of others, Bug Head is way above the rest.

Bug Head requires a computer with a little horse power. You can run it with a good I-3 processor and 4 gigs of ram. It is a ram intensive program and it sounds its best with 8 gigs or higher (note it still sounds great with 4gigs, I just upgraded to 16 from 8 and it does improve the sound). BH also recommends a quad core I-7. I was using a computer with an I-3 that runs at 2.5gHz and 4 gb ram and it ran well. I now have a computer with a 5th gen mobile I-7 which is only a dual core and I have not noticed any difference in sound. You probably can run it with an older high end dual or quad core cpu.

Bug head


Infinity Blade HQ (Bug Head Emperor) worth trying - Computer Audio - JPLAY - hi-end audio player for Windows

I am now bleeding from my ears. Luddites are more technically sophisticated than I am. I do have a four year old nephew that might be able to help me navigate this. Gaming for me generally involved quarters, flippers and not going tilt. But I will start reading up on this.

[blackraven]

If you need help with computer programs, let me know. Also, if you are interested in a DAC (which you will need if you want to get into computer music) or if you want to rip your non SACD Cd's to your computer and run them through a program like Bug Head which will markedly improve the sound I would be glad to help.

[sjtm]

If you need help with computer programs, let me know. Also, if you are interested in a DAC (which you will need if you want to get into computer music) or if you want to rip your non SACD Cd's to your computer and run them through a program like Bug Head which will markedly improve the sound I would be glad to help.

Thanks for the offer. This whole audio journey started with the purchase of a FIIO X3 and a pair of Sennheiser 598's last spring. Shortly thereafter I learned about lossless files and transferred about 200 CD's to my computer in this format, as well as to the FIIO. I then found a great deal on a pair of Sennheiser HD700's and also purchased a JDS Labs O2+ODAC that I used between my laptop and HP's. Sound was fantastic, but I felt constrained by the setup, so began my search to put together a modest loudspeaker based system. I currently use the HD700's through my IA when the family says I am too loud.

I believe my Marantz SA8004 SACD player also has a built in DAC. It has a USB port on the front. I also purchased a Marantz PM7005 which definitely has a built in DAC, but I have lent it to a friend who has decided he wants a system too. I replaced it with a PM8005.

Perhaps I have an ability to listen to lossless files through the equipment I have. Not sure how head Bug integrates into all this though. My laptop is I3 based with , I believe, 4G of RAM. I just am not sure what the difference is between "Hi Rez" and Lossless file - I know the lossless take up a bunch of space, as I could only get about half as much capacity on the 64gb card in my FIIO.

[JoeE SP9]

All CD and SACD players have a built in DAC or DAC's. All music files can be compressed. There are lossy and lossless compression schemes. MP3 is a lossy scheme. FLAC is a lossless scheme. Lossless files take up more space because non of the music is discarded. Lossy compression discards some of the music. That allows the files to be smaller.

Hi Rez files are higher resolution (24/96 for example) than standard Redbook CD files (16/44). Either type of file can be compressed with either a lossy or lossless scheme. However, IMO it makes little sense to use lossy compression at home with storage space so inexpensive. OTOH lossy compression for portable listening makes sense to me. I use FLAC for all the music on my music server at home. For portable listening I use MP3. IMO the higher quality of FLAC is pretty much wasted on portable listening. Bear in mind this is from someone who only uses headphones for on the go listening.

[blackraven]

Your computer should be able to run Bug Head. What is the speed of your processor or what model number is your computer. Upgrading ram is cheap but 4gb will work.

Your 8004 has 2 usb inputs and you should be able to run your computer music through it. You may need to download and install ASIO4ALL which is a driver if you are going to use Bug Head unless your 8004 has an ASIO driver. The only way to know is to hook it up.

ASIO4ALL - Universal ASIO Driver


You will need a decent usb cable. Good budget cables are the Audio Quest Forrest or Cinnamon. Higher end cables are the Wire Word Starlight Red, Shunyata Venum, AQ Carbon to name a few. The WW Starlight 7 Red has a warmer sound and is good for a bright system.

USB Audio, Extension & Power Cable Types available from The Cable Company

[blackraven]

By the way, sorry to turn this into a digital thread. Enjoy your TT as vinyl has a unique and more pleasing sound.

[hifitommy]

mr peabody.....whereas lyn stanley DOES, most assuredly have audiophile QUALITY recordings, her singing is NOT jazz, but more like cabaret. the jazz musicians she has hired are top notch as is Al Schmidt the best available engineer, that doesn't bring her into the realm of jazz. listening to the back up musicians is a treat on otherwise pedestrian singing in lyn's part.

it's too bad, it would be THE all around best package were it not for the singing style. as good as amanda mc broom DTDs are, i don't want any of those either.