re: Audiophile/Vinyl Thread - Post Pics, Advice, Questions, Setups, etc.

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BlackHelicoptorPilot

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It looks as though that CD player has a digital optical output. All you need is an optical digital cable (sometimes called Toslink) to go from the CD player to the optical input on the Peachtree integrated amplifier. If you do it this way, you will be using the digital processors in the Peachtree rather than those in the CD player...and it will free up the analog input for something else, like the turntable.

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BlackHelicopterPilot

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Nice!!

Looks like your friend anticipated you one day connecting another digital source and using the optical input!
It never hurts to have an array of cables for when just this type of thing comes up.

You don't HAVE to use the optical input, per se, but if you run the CD player into the analog input, you won't be able to run the turntable into the Peachtree. If I am correct, the Peachtree only has one analog input (RCA), and 4 digital (USB, optical, and 2 coax). So you will need to connect the optical cable to the "digital out" on the CD player and run it to the optical input on the Peachtree.

I also run a MacMini as one of my digital sources. I would recommend downloading a program such as "Amarra" or "Pure Music" or "Audirvana"--these are all "players" for iTunes.

What does that mean??...iTunes will allow you to store HiRez files (24 bit/192k), but will only play back up to CD quality (16 bit/44.1k). Why apple does this--no one knows--because Apple. Audiophiles have been bitching to Apple about this for years, to no avail. So some folks created software to allow for it.

If you ever want to download a really HiRez file (above 16/44.1) from the likes of HDTracks, or many musicians websites--more are doing HiRez daily) and play it back through your system in its full bit/sample rate resolution, you will need to "boot out" the iTunes Player for one of the ones mentioned above.

I don't have a boatload of 24/96 files, but the ones I do have are music that lends itself to taking advantage of the higher resolution (think Diana Krall, George Benson, Keith Jarrett, James Ingram, Michael Jackson, Grover Washington Jr., Quincy Jones, etc. --they were recorded exceptionally well to begin with). Try some out and judge the difference in resolution rates for yourself.

This does not mean you need to boot out iTunes--you just basically use iTunes as a library and, say, Amarra, as the player. When you have Amarra or Pure Music loaded and click on its icon on the dashboard, it automatically opens iTunes. It displays a small audio player above the iTunes screen. Ir will also display the bit and sample rates of the music being played. It is pretty simple, and it replaces the Apple player automatically upon running the program.

The add on programs are like $30-$50, and they offer 30 day trial periods.

What it does is allow the HiRez files to be played and sent to the Peachtree, which can decode up to 24/192 files (I believe the new Peachtree models may even do DXD/DSD--Direct Stream Digital--which is what SACD is--über HiRez!!).

Your friend steered you into some decent gear. Buy him a beer.

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Jail Cell Odell

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Is there a specific genre of music you like? I ask because most of the '60's through '90's music has been repressed and most modern day stuff is released on vinyl. That being said, I find that what places that are legit charge for an original pressing starts to encroach on the price of buying a new copy...and you don't have do deal with "grading inaccuracies" of records when buying new.

Now, if you are a hard core Underground garage band junkie, well you may be at the mercy of the used record store. But even now I am surprised at all the old rare stuff that I see being repressed.

As far as Discogs goes, I believe them to be trustworthy. I have only purchased a couple LPs from them, but it was a very rare original WSP record (still not re released) and a Phish record that was limited to 1000 copies back in 1997...they had them and I paid a handsome sum for them, but they were as advertised.

I have not, but This Guy has heard them a bunch...

Any of you guys ever had issues ordering vinyls from Amazon?

First time ordering a vinyl online and I have read a few reviews of people saying the record was warped some.

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Any of you guys ever had issues ordering vinyls from Amazon?

First time ordering a vinyl online and I have read a few reviews of people saying the record was warped some.

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I've only had one issue. It was a bad pressing with the A and B side both containing the A music. Other than that, no issues.

Wow---I actually had one for years!!

If you read back 15-20 pages in this thread, you will read how I helped a Tulane Law student out by lending him some old gear that I had. Well, the little fricker split town and took a bunch of the stuff I lent him...including the Pioneer PL-41 that my uncle brought back from Vietnam. it had a Sumiko Blue Point cart and was fully restored.

I know the table well--it is a tank with a heavy top plate and wooden sides. Just regrease the bearing.

If you want an original box for the PL-41 (still have it) and inserts for the table, you can have mine since I don't have the table anymore. Let me know and I can get it to you.

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Any of you guys ever had issues ordering vinyls from Amazon? First time ordering a vinyl online and I have read a few reviews of people saying the record was warped some

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The only issue I have had is they left the package out during a rain storm and it ruined the packaging, but other than that they come in very sturdy packaging and the quality is good. Sometimes the sleeve will be slightly bent or torn, but I am not really ordering any collectibles from there. EDIT: This is still a rare occurrence. As long as the album cover and record are in good shape, I am good with the whole thing. I ordered the Beatles Mono box set from them and the Sgt Peppers B Side has the label for the Help! B Side, but plays the Sgt Peppers B Side anyway. I don't think that is on Amazon, I think that is the manufacturer.

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Marco

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On your side rig, the one with the Pro ject table, what speakers were those and what were you pushing them with? It slipped my mind, but I do remember how good they sounded.