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Re: Adaptation for PC Streaming to a NAD Receiver?
terzaghi #350563 06/20/11 02:27 AM
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Actually, Rhapsody's quality is excellent. I've never heard any sort of compression artifacts. Though, I've never A/B'd against a real CD, I'm quite impressed with what they offer.

Plus, they just enabled (optional) 192kbps AAC streaming to phones (if your data plan can handle it). So even music on the go sounds good.


Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011
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-Chris
Re: Adaptation for PC Streaming to a NAD Receiver?
Captain4105 #350564 06/20/11 02:27 AM
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No problem, Lee. Glad I could help!


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Re: Adaptation for PC Streaming to a NAD Receiver?
terzaghi #350576 06/20/11 07:55 AM
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Originally Posted By: terzaghi
The guy's house I went to when I auditioned axioms in 2007 had a squeezebox and I was pretty impressed.

I wouldn't count on Rhapsody providing you with very good recording quality. I suggest you build a digital library in FLAC format and stream that to whatever receiver you decide to buy for pure lossless m80 awesomeness.

I rip all of my digital library in FLAC via a Vortexbox Appliance, serve it up through Squeezebox and am extremely happy with both the ease of ripping and the sound quality. It's totally plug and play or if you want you can build your own Vortexbox with the free software provided.


Rick
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Re: Adaptation for PC Streaming to a NAD Receiver?
Captain4105 #350577 06/20/11 08:24 AM
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Lee, I was aware of that 765 deal at the time of my previous reply, but because of my comment relating to some dated features I didn't link to it. My thought re the 765 still stands, and if you do decide to get an NAD, I'd suggest you go with at least the 775 here, with more updated features, including Audyssey room correction.


-----------------------------------

Enjoy the music, not the equipment.


Re: Adaptation for PC Streaming to a NAD Receiver?
JohnK #350580 06/20/11 11:58 AM
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Chris, I had heard that the quality wasn't the best but have never listened to it myself. Good to know that isn't necessarily true.


-David
Re: Adaptation for PC Streaming to a NAD Receiver?
ClubNeon #350585 06/20/11 02:25 PM
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Hi Chris and all,

I agree with you, Chris, on the sound quality of Rhapsody; I've not heard any compression artifacts on the admittedly limited number of selections I have on my portable player.

What is often overlooked in many forum discussions about data rates and audible artifacts is the complexity of the musical programming.

As someone who spent days on a professional listening panel auditioning various compression schemes at various data rates in a experimentally extremely well-controlled listening environment, I can state that for most musical content, it was surprising how many of the test selections passed the listening tests at very low data rates. At 192 kbps and higher, it was only with concentrated headphone listening (the phones were high-end electrostatics) and repeated A/B/X comparisons that some instruments sounded flawed: mainly harpsichord, and castinets.

These tests, by the way, were repeated by similar panels of "golden ears" in the U.K. (BBC music producers) and the Australian Broadcasting services and the results were the same.

ON the other hand, there was one test selction, an a cappella version of "Tom's Diner," by Suzanne Vega, that proved to be one of the most critical test signals. At any data rate below 320 kbps, Vega's voice took on a slightly metallic quality that was quite audible and offensive.

Using data rates above 320 kbps, all of the test selections including complex orchestral works by Ravel, with plenty of percussion, were artifact-free.

For those interested, the A/B/X comparisons required the listener to compare uncompressed digital files to various codecs (unnamed) at random and see if we could detect any audible differences. You always had the choice of listening to the headphones or high-end tri-amped professional monitors. Some compression artifacts that were easily detectable with headphone comparisons totally passed with loudspeaker listening.

While I've been amazed at how much excellent music remains untainted by data rates as low as 192 kbps, I never forget the Suzanne Vega example.

Regards,
Alan


Alan Lofft,
Axiom Resident Expert (Retired)
Re: Adaptation for PC Streaming to a NAD Receiver?
alan #350597 06/20/11 03:46 PM
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oooooh!

A new, odd sig line! smile


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
Re: Adaptation for PC Streaming to a NAD Receiver?
MarkSJohnson #350603 06/20/11 04:17 PM
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Sig adjusted.


With great power comes Awesome irresponsibility.
Re: Adaptation for PC Streaming to a NAD Receiver?
Murph #350644 06/21/11 08:55 AM
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Thanks John, I know you think highly of the Audyssey MultEQ XT technology and am convinced it would improve the sound quality of my system in its playing environment. There is an upgrade module for the 765 that has this feature but buying the 765 and adding this module would cost more than the advertised 775 at this point and it's at a great price. As it is my first order for business was to obtain the main M80 speakers initially for stereo listening (and as I write I am listening to Sibelius and the M80's are just singing away!).

I think a power source has to be my next investment before any other expansion of speakers for surround & subwoofer purposes. I also believe the NAD's are rated very conservatively & I am leaning toward the older and upgradable 765 & 775 now for its solid engineering and reserve power. Another minor issue is the requirement for phono pre-amp since one isn't built into the NAD's and I have some 400 vinyls, a decent Denon turntable and a great Shure V15 Type IV MM cartridge. I know I should jump on this deal now but I am not by nature impetuous but rather take my time to carefully study my options and then wait for the next time a deal arises.

Re: Adaptation for PC Streaming to a NAD Receiver?
Captain4105 #350731 06/22/11 05:31 AM
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Yeah, Lee; I see that the AM 200 module alone lists for $600. For that amount of money I'd get an entire receiver, such as the Onkyo 808 at Accessories4less, which would do the job just fine.


-----------------------------------

Enjoy the music, not the equipment.


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