PC sound - bookshelves or desktop speakers?
Discussion
Shuvi McTupya said:
Thanks, so I have found a website that converts audio files to FLAC but it is unable to convert a track from an audio CD. I assume i need to convert it from CDA to something else and then to Flac, but would it then sound better, or worse than it was when i started??
You need to 'rip' the CD to .wav format, and then convert the .wav to .flac.The size of the .wav file will be considerably reduced with no audible loss of quality, and you will also be able to add metadata to the .flac file (e.g. song title, genre etc. etc.).
There are programs like dbpoweramp and exact audio copy for windows, that will rip a CD to flac.
otherman said:
TonyRPH said:
You need to 'rip' the CD to .wav format, and then convert the .wav to .flac.
Or just keep the .wav, given that hard drive size is no issue these days. - well you can, but it's not very easy and you can't store as many tags.
Well here it all is!
Pair of these https://www.richersounds.com/hi-fi/standmount-spea... with the earlier linked Nobsound Amp/DAC.
Still impressed with it all. Amp seems to struggle to provide much bass at low volume but there is a good amount there when turned up. Anyone looking to play with lossless stuff for free take a look at Tidal (https://tidal.com/gb) , they do a 30 day freebie service and the library is excellent along with the quality!
Pair of these https://www.richersounds.com/hi-fi/standmount-spea... with the earlier linked Nobsound Amp/DAC.
Still impressed with it all. Amp seems to struggle to provide much bass at low volume but there is a good amount there when turned up. Anyone looking to play with lossless stuff for free take a look at Tidal (https://tidal.com/gb) , they do a 30 day freebie service and the library is excellent along with the quality!
The lack of bass at low volumes is likely more to do with the fletcher munson curves - which in laymans terms means that the human ears are less sensitive to the frequency extremes at low sound pressure levels.
You've probably heard of systems with a "loudness" button. That is what it does - it boosts the lower and higher frequencies at lower volumes to compensate for this anomaly.
As you're using a computer then you have multiple ways of applying loudness or EQ fixes.
You've probably heard of systems with a "loudness" button. That is what it does - it boosts the lower and higher frequencies at lower volumes to compensate for this anomaly.
As you're using a computer then you have multiple ways of applying loudness or EQ fixes.
Looks good - Mordaunt Shorts?
One of my speakers is about 8-10mm lower than the other - to get away with full size bookshelves I've put one desk next to another, hence the slight difference. I'm not really sure if a) it's worth raising up full stop, b) what to use if so and c) whether or not it'll look a bit rubbish if I do. Anyone done similar?
One of my speakers is about 8-10mm lower than the other - to get away with full size bookshelves I've put one desk next to another, hence the slight difference. I'm not really sure if a) it's worth raising up full stop, b) what to use if so and c) whether or not it'll look a bit rubbish if I do. Anyone done similar?
tenohfive said:
Looks good - Mordaunt Shorts?
One of my speakers is about 8-10mm lower than the other - to get away with full size bookshelves I've put one desk next to another, hence the slight difference. I'm not really sure if a) it's worth raising up full stop, b) what to use if so and c) whether or not it'll look a bit rubbish if I do. Anyone done similar?
Its only a centimetre..I wouldn't worry..One of my speakers is about 8-10mm lower than the other - to get away with full size bookshelves I've put one desk next to another, hence the slight difference. I'm not really sure if a) it's worth raising up full stop, b) what to use if so and c) whether or not it'll look a bit rubbish if I do. Anyone done similar?
TameRacingDriver said:
The lack of bass at low volumes is likely more to do with the fletcher munson curves - which in laymans terms means that the human ears are less sensitive to the frequency extremes at low sound pressure levels.
You've probably heard of systems with a "loudness" button. That is what it does - it boosts the lower and higher frequencies at lower volumes to compensate for this anomaly.
As you're using a computer then you have multiple ways of applying loudness or EQ fixes.
Any recommendations on a simple software EQ?You've probably heard of systems with a "loudness" button. That is what it does - it boosts the lower and higher frequencies at lower volumes to compensate for this anomaly.
As you're using a computer then you have multiple ways of applying loudness or EQ fixes.
tenohfive said:
Looks good - Mordaunt Shorts?
One of my speakers is about 8-10mm lower than the other - to get away with full size bookshelves I've put one desk next to another, hence the slight difference. I'm not really sure if a) it's worth raising up full stop, b) what to use if so and c) whether or not it'll look a bit rubbish if I do. Anyone done similar?
Yup thems the ones. One of my speakers is about 8-10mm lower than the other - to get away with full size bookshelves I've put one desk next to another, hence the slight difference. I'm not really sure if a) it's worth raising up full stop, b) what to use if so and c) whether or not it'll look a bit rubbish if I do. Anyone done similar?
geeks said:
Well here it all is!
Pair of these https://www.richersounds.com/hi-fi/standmount-spea... with the earlier linked Nobsound Amp/DAC.
Still impressed with it all. Amp seems to struggle to provide much bass at low volume but there is a good amount there when turned up. Anyone looking to play with lossless stuff for free take a look at Tidal (https://tidal.com/gb) , they do a 30 day freebie service and the library is excellent along with the quality!
You could create a panoramic wallpaper that splits a larger image over both screens or have a different one on each. The same one on both makes my OCD gland twitchPair of these https://www.richersounds.com/hi-fi/standmount-spea... with the earlier linked Nobsound Amp/DAC.
Still impressed with it all. Amp seems to struggle to provide much bass at low volume but there is a good amount there when turned up. Anyone looking to play with lossless stuff for free take a look at Tidal (https://tidal.com/gb) , they do a 30 day freebie service and the library is excellent along with the quality!
Geeks - try this (has bass boost and loudness but you should only use one)... It's possible you might not have the option as well but it's there in mine.
https://www.wikihow.com/Boost-the-Bass-on-Windows
Or alternatively use the controls on your favourite music player, but the windows solution is more universal.
https://www.wikihow.com/Boost-the-Bass-on-Windows
Or alternatively use the controls on your favourite music player, but the windows solution is more universal.
TonyRPH said:
You need to 'rip' the CD to .wav format, and then convert the .wav to .flac.
DB Poweramp will rip directly to FLAC.Free trial available too.
https://www.dbpoweramp.com
Quick thread update and request for a bit more advice:
Firstly - the setup itself is working nicely. And SWMBO is happy, because with the lights off one of the coloured bulbs on the TV (used as bias lighting) reflects off the metallic surrounds of the tweeter and mid/bass driver and she thinks they look really good when it does. She's right. Sound wise I'm very happy with the setup.
Anyway. I've now decided to pick up some Chromecast Audio's and use them for a multi-room setup so I'm now starting from scratch for a sound setup in the front room. I'm pretty settled on Q3020's (not the 'i' unfortunately) as bookshelves, but I'll need an amp that'll take both an aux or RCA feed from the Chromecast Audio, plus the TV input (optical being the obvious choice, but honestly I don't care what - it's an old plasma used for Paw Patrol & Love Island duties.) I've been trawling through the likes of SMSL/Lepy/Nobsound etc on Amazon but I'm struggling to see anything at a reasonable price. Do I need to up the budget and consider something like a Tangent Ampster, or a £150 stereo or AVR from RS?
Firstly - the setup itself is working nicely. And SWMBO is happy, because with the lights off one of the coloured bulbs on the TV (used as bias lighting) reflects off the metallic surrounds of the tweeter and mid/bass driver and she thinks they look really good when it does. She's right. Sound wise I'm very happy with the setup.
Anyway. I've now decided to pick up some Chromecast Audio's and use them for a multi-room setup so I'm now starting from scratch for a sound setup in the front room. I'm pretty settled on Q3020's (not the 'i' unfortunately) as bookshelves, but I'll need an amp that'll take both an aux or RCA feed from the Chromecast Audio, plus the TV input (optical being the obvious choice, but honestly I don't care what - it's an old plasma used for Paw Patrol & Love Island duties.) I've been trawling through the likes of SMSL/Lepy/Nobsound etc on Amazon but I'm struggling to see anything at a reasonable price. Do I need to up the budget and consider something like a Tangent Ampster, or a £150 stereo or AVR from RS?
Pioneer, Sony, but prices can get a bit silly on some of those.
Denon is another good call - the PMA250 or similar.
Denon PMA250 II £70
Denon PMA 350 £65
Heres a complete compact Denon system for £89
Another compact Denon (amp only) £73
The Denon stuff sounds pretty good - the compacts are good too (particularly the last one)
Denon is another good call - the PMA250 or similar.
Denon PMA250 II £70
Denon PMA 350 £65
Heres a complete compact Denon system for £89
Another compact Denon (amp only) £73
The Denon stuff sounds pretty good - the compacts are good too (particularly the last one)
TonyRPH said:
Unless you need remote control, just get a used vintage amp off Ebay.
It'll sound way better than those Cheap Chinese things.
Back in about 1990 I bought an old quadraphonic amplifier to run one pair of speakers.It'll sound way better than those Cheap Chinese things.
The nice thing was it had a master volume and then a separate volume control for each of the four speakers but seeing as I only had two bi-wirable speakers I could seperatly control the volume of each speaker cone.
Unnecessary, but nice to be able to do it!
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