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How do you play your 24-bit FLAC files?
Free Lossless Audio Codec
The 24-bit FLAC files we offer full members of Society of Sound are proving incredibly popular. They are close to being the most popular of the three formats we offer, which is both reassuring, and a little bit surprising. Reassuring because we feel that they offer the best sound quality possible, and we know that like us you care about sound quality. Surprising, because they are a little trickier to handle than the other options - for example, Apple Lossless, which you can just dump them into the massively popular iTunes and listen to them.
So we’d like to ask you a question? How do you play them? On your computer, streamed to your hi-fi, copied to DVD or some other way?
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Posted by SusannaGrant on Thursday, 6 August 2009 Comments (284)
[...] can also check our recent 24-bit blog post to see how fellow audiophiles listen to 24-bit [...]
Your 24-bit FLAC files remain on the hard disk of my Computer PC (Windows).
(and they are saved on external mobile hard disk Freecom)
On this PC I have the software “MediaMonkey Gold” which is 24-bit FLAC compatible.
And my PC has a top-level audio card : its exit is connected to a Hi-Fi stereo.
I choose the wished file on the 1920*1200 pixels screen of my PC, thanks to the software “MediaMonkey”: that is much more practical that the 5, 6 or 7 lines of the “Media Centers” . . . (NAIM “Uniti”, YBA “YS201 Encore”, . . . )
Bernard PASTY
My music is partly ripped from CD`s with dBPoweramp CD ripper and partly downloaded all in FLAC stored on a QNAP NAS streamed by a Linn Majik DS into a full Linn system — sorry no B&W.
I am using FLAC as the only reliable format for hifi’s nowdays.
Recently I got my hands on Bower & Wilkins Collection released in 24 Bit format and I really must say. WOW.
I do play it in my Ferrari laptop and my speakers are A pair of Maggies + a sub.
I am deadly in love with this combination.
//Liptonius.com
I play them with Cog on my MacBook, which I plug into the Aux input in my Linn Classik using a USB-RCA converter. I use the Classik primarily as a pre-amp. I have a 4-channel Linn Amp (AV5125) driving Linn Ninka speakers in an Aktiv configuration. It sounds beautiful: better than CD’s and approaching a vinyl record played on my LP-12.
Thank you for the music.
MP3 and itunes sucks! Flacs @ 24/96 or higher is the way to go, if you really appreciate music!
I play my flacs on the PC in my home office with winamp usually, but there are other media players just as capable of playing 24/96 flacs. I believe you can even do it with windows media player if you have the right add-ons/codecs installed. My PC has a 24/96 capable sound card from MAudio and it’s connected to a Denon stereo amp., with Acoustic Energy speakers.
For the best playback experience I burn the flacs to DVD-Audio and play them in the comfort of the living room on a Pioneer SACD/DVD-Audio player, through a Denon multi channel reciver out to a full range 5.1 surround speaker system.
I often use a VST Plug-In to create a surround recording from the stereo flacs. It gives a better surround sound that the hardware player’s ‘virtual’ surround sound.Having backups on disc is good in case of PC problems.
I noticed someone comment ‘why record to DVD-Audio when there is only a CD’s worth of material in the flac download?’ Well you can’t get a CD’s worth of flacs @ 24/96 onto a cd without downsampling them to 16/44.1. So then the question is why get good quality 24/96 flac downloads if you are then going to mash them down to CD quality?
I have been thrown into the wonders of pure pleasure with your FLAC files, especially the 24bit. I have an optical link from a MacPro to a Lyngdorf 2200 with Room Perfect, I use a Cog palyer. The results are three dimensional sound that I have never experienced before. It is like sitting in the studio right there with the artists, so clear at times that a breath can be heard, I even hold my breath to make sure it is not mine I am hearing. If this isn’t the next format to take us into the next century then there is something very wrong. Tell me something though, surly it costs more to go from original recording to CD quality, rather than just straight to FLAC? When is the world going to wake up and see what they are missing? Thank you for waking me up to what is a little piece of heaven on earth.
I do not know if flac is going to be the file format of the future, given the hype around the inferior formats that date back to the days of Napster, dial-ups and 4GP harddrives.
With the transfer speeds and and cheap storage we have today, there is no reason not to use flac, except… the portable player manufacturers stubbornly refuse to support it
Christopher, I don’t see the point of burning them to DVD audio if they have been extracted from a CD. There is only a CD’s worth of data.
I listen to them by hooking my desktop to my sound system through a Delta Audio Audiophile card. Thinking of retiring my old laptop and make it a dedicated music server, though. Problem: It does not have FiWi. Any suggestions on quality USB soundcards?
Was going for the corresponding Delta audio one, but it has been discontinued.
Streamed via wired Cat5 network from a PC server to (multiple) Squeezebox 3’s - both main systems run digitally (coax) to Cyrus DAC/Preamp then to various amps and speakers. Almost all our CDs have been ripped to FLAC using EAC - I rarely use CDs now.
I even have a car computer which plays the flacs (through the standard soundcard and a line-in headunit) using WXMusic player. Beats changing CDs every few days, and is much better quality than *cough* MP3. It’s a useful way to back up the home server too; I wouldn’t want to have to rip all my CDs again if a hard drive died!
I use Nero 9 to convert and write FLAC files on CDs via an old but excellent LG 1x writer. Then I listen on Musical Fidelity A.5 with B&W 705. I tried a 24 bits file burned into DVD ; while comparaing 24 bits and 16 bits files of the same music running at exactly the same time, it was clear that my Gutwire/VDH/Musical Fidelity A.5 combo was sounding way better than my Audioquest/NAD T562 DVD running 24 bits. So until I have 5000$ to invest, I will use FLAC on CDs. The moral of this story : 24 bits is fine but keep in mind that if you invested a lot on a CD player and wires, you will have to pay the same amount on a decent DAC and wires to get the very best of 24 bits…
Thanks for starting this discussion - I’d never know the difference. Now I re-downloaded 24bit files and burned them to DVD. Fantastic!
Ian
I store FLAC files on regular PC or storage. Most of the time I play FLAC files (16bit or 24bit) by converting back to WAV (downsample if 24bit) and burning as CD-DA, then play them on my usual stereo system. Rarely I plug my notebook’s line-out to my stereo and play the 24-bit FLAC files via Win Mplayer.
I would like to try in future:
- A standalone multi-format hi-fi/end player.
- A CMP with low energy, low heat, low noise components with a low latency OS. Player will be Foobar2000.
- A notebook with an outboard sound card.
- Possibly with a MAC.
I store the files on my Linux PC and the stream them directly to a Logitech Transporter, through a Sherwood A/P965 amp, and out a pair of B&W CDM7.
I download them on a WD My Book, keeping FLAC format, connected to a Yamaha RX-V2700 through a Western Digital WD HD TV, and at the end the B&W 602S3. Simply amazing…
I store my flac files on a ReadyNas box which connects via a Linux server to a Logitech Transporter - the playback is through my Meridian integrated amp - and lastly outputs through a pair of Monitor Audio gold speakers
I stream 24 bit FLAC files from a Logitech Transporter to AVI ADM9.1 speakers. I find hi res. files streamed to active speakers with a built in DAC a great solution with lower cost, fewer boxes and better sound.
I store the files on my PC and the stream them directly to a Logitech Transporter, through a Roksan Kandy K2 intergrated amp, and out a pair of B&W CM9’s. Sounds great, I love the 24bit files.
I play FLACs through my SB3 Classic, streamed from a NAS server. Cambridge Audio DacMagic to ARCAM amp, connected to Rogers LS3/5a speakers. Fantastic sound, have replaced most of my collection with FLACs now. Use EAC to rip my CD’s to FLAC.
I’m using a Mac Mini as media player connected by Firewire to an Apogee MiniDAC, I’m using as well the program “Play” for do the job
I store the 24-bit files in FLAC format on my NAS and stream them to my Transporter, which plays 24-bits FLAC files natively.
I play them trough a squeezebox classic with a Rotel preamp RC1070 and Rotel amp RB1070.
Also a Musical fidelity DAC because it’s better then the Burrow Brown DAC that comes with the Squeezebox classic.
The records that i play are only Audiophile quality.
The loudspeakers are the 685 from Bowers and wilkins equiped with the Kimber Kable PR8 and BWT next gen connectors.
I have recently added anAbrahamsen DAC V6.0 to my setup. I am playing FLAC files from the server via a laptop over USB to that DAC. Sounds great, but not 24/96 via USB.
I store in FLAC and play them from a TranquilPC R7, running JRiver Mediacenter V13 through an EMU 0404 USB which passes the 96/24 (or 88.2/24) s/pdif through a Meridian 562 into my Meridian DSP3100 speakers
Thanks for providing FLAC format. When I first subscribed (before FLAC was available), I feared I would have to install iTunes on my PC (shudder). But no! Now I play FLACs from MediaMonkey with an ASUS Xonar Essence STX sound card. This either drives my big old HiFi from the line output, or Denon AD-H2000 headphones from the dedicated headphone output. And MediaMonkey can convert to Ogg Vorbis for listening on my iriver Clix 2 8GB through a headphone amp and Shure SE530 earphones. Or even to MP3 to make a mix CD for the car. I did try burning a CD DA (wav) and playing it with a fairly expensive CD player into the HiFi, but it didn’t sound as good as FLAC direct from the PC, so I won’t bother with that again.
I play flac 24 bit (& multi-channel) through my Netgear 9150 hooked up to my Yamaha RX-V2700, with 5.1 B&W speakers.
24-bit FLAC files are streamed to my Logitech Transporter (which handles up to 24bit/96khz just beautifully).
FLAC is the way to go for high resolution audio files - please keep it! The format is non-proprietary, mature and has multichannel support. 24/96 B&W releases would be even nicer, but might exclude some listeners as they lack true 96khz playback capability at the moment. (Current Squeezebox products offer realtime downsampling from 96 to 48khz through the server software, which is a good compromise.)
I download from LINN and Tag using Media Monkey 3.0. Or Rip & Tag FLAC from CD also using MediaMonkey on to my NAS (QNap Ts209 running squeezecenter,) and stream wirelessly to my Squeezebox.
Yes.
I convert them to DVD files & burn them to media.
I play them back via a Meridian 596, which outputs 9624 via the spdif, into a Benchmark DAC1.
I download to my PC and play through my B & W 610’s via Winamp. First played was Hey Eugine by Pink Martini, which did not disappoint me. long live the lossless.
Foobar with ASIO component upsampled to 24/96 > M Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcard > Cambridge Audio Azur 540a V2
I dowload the 24/96 Flac files from Linn, transfer them to my PixelMajic media box which is connected via coaxial SPDif to a Perpetual Audio (1/2 of Audioi Alchemy)P3A DAC and then to either Earmax Pro headphone amp Sennheiser HD650 headphones or Arcam Alpha 8 integrated to B & W 602s.
I rip my CD’s to wave format using EAC.
Downloaded to an AVA RS3, FLAC streamed over wireless to a Logitech Squeezebox with the digital out going to a Naim AV2 and analogue onwards to a FlatCap/NAC112/NAP150/NAPV175 combination.
I rip CDs to WAV using EAC. I then use Media Monkey to tag and add meta data and stream using Linn or Naim. WAV rules.
I copy them over to 24bit uncompressed wav files and then there are a lot more options for replay with or without processing using various software and hardware(dither, upsampling, etc.)
Buy CD, digitize with foobar2000, tagged with mp3tag using cover art found on the internet or scanned, transferred to a ReadyNAS Duo equipped with 2 1TB drives in RAID 1 mode running SqueezeCenter, streamed over a wireless connection to a Squeezebox Duet which is digitally connected to an Audionet MAP I, amplified with an Audionet AMP VII driving a pair of B&W 802D in Bi-Amping.
The Squeezebox Duet is targeted for replacement by a Logitech Transporter or something similar (hopefully Audionet will at some point in time offer a solution). Otherwise I am perfectly happy and would never ever use a proprietary or lossy format in that chain.
Playing the files with the NAIM HDX, which is capable to stream up to 192 kHz/24 Bit.
I would like to have the opportunity to download even higher resolutions.
Linn Klimax DS > Klimax Kontrol > Kaber Aktiv system. 24bit really engages the senses. Struggling to get Max to convert FLAC to AIFF to use via iPod & Zepplin
After converting to AIFF I Play my 24/96 files through a Mac mini connected to my Cyrus DAC/XP, Mono X amps and Dynaudio Contour speakers. Sounds fantastic, will probably never buy a CD Player again!
I’m one of these folk that wasn’t interested in computer based music until recently. My audio funds have been spent on my hi-fi. As I have a very old computer (early ninties!!)I don’t have the up to date sound card and DVD burner to make use of this stuff. Also iTunes seem fairly easy to use with flac an all together more difficult to figure out with different players and burning software and long download times and the like. When it is a bit more user friendly I’ll investigate more.
Through a squeezebox attached to my stereo system which is equiped with B&W
CDM9 NT speakers.
I store all my flac on a Netgear ReadyNas, play them on a Squeezebox Duet via Electrocompaniet further through B&W CM1. Very satisfied! Music made accessible! Listen to much more music than before I “went digital…”
Current system is iTunes on Mac mini, files on local network hard drives - I keep flac and apple lossless - output to Behringer DEQ 24/96 used as DAC. Naim amp, and Martin Logan speakers. Use itunes mainly as I can control it via iPod touch. When I have enough flac files to justify it I’ll buy a Linn DS or Naim DAC
I stream them from my laptop through a USB DAC to either a Ming Da tube pre-amplifier and Martin Logan Purity speakers or through a Rotel amplifier and som old Stax Lambda headphones. Sure beats MP3. Later on I will invest in a streamer solution between the home network and the stereo.
I converted couple of 24-bit Flac files to alac using max. I use a mac mini hooked up to CA Azur 540A with CA S30 speakers and also macbook/iphone with iGrado headset. Anyway, I compared them with direct alac downloads and to be honest I don’t hear much difference. Is that because I don’t have a DAC, I don’t know , but I am planning on buying either e-mu 0202 or pro-ject usb box. Any ideas? Also 24bit alac files don’t appear on itunes shared music, any one has the same issue?
To Bern W - How do you find the Zune? I haven’t yet invested in this kind of thing so just wondered.
To Bettina and others eventually managed to find a free download “Switch Sound Converter”, saving my Flac files for alternative listening but using switch to burn an mp3 cd for in the car etc.
To lots of people, everything went completely over my head, all this technical knowledge and expertise, really impressive but sorry don’t understand it i just listen.
I use JRiver Media Centre -> Lynx AES16 via AES -> Bryston BDA-1 SPDIF -> Beolab 5.
B&O Beolab 5 speakers accept 24bit / 96KHz SPDIF.
Through squeezebox which is linked into (sorry) Cyrus amp and Spendor speakers. Sennheiser headphones as an alternative. I got the squeezebox specifically to stream high quality audio files through my hi fi. I don’t try converting them to my Ipod.
I burn a DVD Audio
I play 24-bit FLAC from NAS (Synology) –> squeezebox duet –> CA Dacmagic –> stereo amp and speakers.
I play all my digital music including B&W 24-bit FLAC files via my SqueezeBoxes. I have several around the house, plus one hooked to an audio distribution system that currently servers the back yard and one room in the house.
1-downlaod to PC the FLAX file 24bit/48KHz
2-convertion from FLAC 24/48 to AIFF 24/48 with the program MAX
3-import in iTumes of the AIFF 24/48
4-conversion from AIFF 24/48 to ALAC 24/48 inside iTumes to avoid waste of space
5-copy of the ALAC 24/48 from PC to iPod Classic 160GB and to Apple TV
iPod is able to reproduce ALAC 24/48
Apple TV is able to reproduce ALAC 24/96
to listen to music wurh the iPod I’m using an earphones ULTIMATE EARS TRIPLE:FI 10 PRO
to listen to music wurh the Apple TV I’m using an amplifier SONY DG910 driving 5+1 JBL speakers
When I compare a music sample in ALAC 16/48 with the same sample in ALAC 24/48 with the iPod-eraphone the difference is evident
the same thing is not true using Apple TC-amplifeir-speakers
the reason could be the great transparence of the earphones OR the downlaod conversion to 16/44 made by the Apple TV in ouput to the amplifier
So far I’ve just listened to them on the PC using my Sennheiser headphones - very unadventurous I know!
I am using my Popcorn Hour 110 thru HDMI to my Denon AVR 4308 and B&W speakers 683 to listen to 24 bit FLAC. The Denon reports that audio is recieved with 48 Khz, at the moment I have not verified the Popcorn capabilities regarding 24 bit Flac. It sounds quite OK though. My Denon does not support 24 bit FLAC (hopefully there will be an update available soon). By the way I have a local network with servers to provide the service to media players like the Popcorn Hour etc.
Regards
Denny
My answer is “not yet”. I’m considering a 24-bit audio card for my next PC (due soonish) which might then provide proper quality output.
More importantly, I believe in proper mastering of 16-bit material — more often than not, the 16 bits aren’t nearly exploited to their full capabilities, so that 24-bit just adds 8 bits of noise, but no real information…
For the time being I have to down-convert them using Audacity to 48khz-16bit to be able to play/stream them on my SONOS system. Me, like a few other Sonos users, are hoping that Sonos will be handling 24bit natively some time in the (near) future.
The flac files are kept on the PC. Then I use foobar to send the data via the asio driver (juli@) to an external dac (cambridge dac magic). The dac tells me it is recieving the music at the same sampling rate as the orginal.
I’m happy with the setup.
From the B&W team,
This is a two-fold message; firstly an apology for not approving all the comments earlier. We had a small technical issue now sorted. We weren’t ignoring everyone.
Secondly, we are amazed by the response, so thank you all, and those who are less in the know we hope you can find some ideas here that might help with trying out 24-bit FLAC - the sound is amazing…
I admit that I never tried playing the 24 bit 48 kHz files until today. But I was curious…
My SACD/DVD-A player supports high definition audio playback, so I tried to create a DVD-A (on a Mac).
A program called ‘DVD-Audiofile’ did the job, and the resulting DVD plays back just fine in my SACD/DVD-A player. It does not, however, play back on the Mac (neither with ‘DVD Player’ nor with ‘VLC’). But this is likely an issue caused by the programme I used.
We are developing streaming clients .. :-).
I am using a Bridgeco chipset which is in use in many high end streaming devices.
Last year we have extended it to FLAC 24/96 … and we are probably going for FLAC 24/192 soon.
We do offer a complete module/SDK which handles everything from UI to decoding.
DA conversion to be done by our customers.
2nd option is my notebook and a USB DAC box from terratec - excellent sound and supporting very high sampling rates with 24 bit.
Lyngdorf TDA2200 (using Squeezebox as streamer)
I generally convert them using the max application to apple lossless to play through an iphone if on the move, or if at home, out of a macbook pro through a fubarIII DAC into a headphone amp and a pair of senn reference headphones.
it’s worth a little faff to know i’ve got the source quality i need for whichever media i want it down on.
I play in amadeus pro with Apogee Ensemble soundcard to Focal SM 8.
I burn them to CD with Foobar listen on my Unison setup and also rip the CD onto Zune.
I don’t use the format as I don’t know how to play it. I need to know how to burn a DVD or CD to use the format. I would like to use the format to benefit from the maximal quality.
I stream the files to my Transporter, wirelessly.
As a music server I use a Mac Mini together with an external LaCie hard drive. This set up fills all my requirements brilliantly, and the Transporter is just great for handeling such files, no hiccups at all.
I use VLC on my PC when listening at home or convert the files to WMA and burn them to a CD for playing in my car.
I import to iTunes, burn a cd, play it on classé cdp-5, luxman co2+mo2, infinity ren 90 - sounds brilliant. Intend to do the wireless mac-to-zeppelin in a another room.
I manage all the files into itunes. I use an ipod with my Zeppelin. If I like the album I will burn a cd and listen through my 703’s (Rotel stereo).
All my music (FLAC) along with many high-bit-rate files frpom 24/48 to 24/192, are stored on a 2TB NAS, connected with GB ethernet to a Squeezecenter server running CentOS (Linux) and streamed to multiple Squeezebox players as well as a Transporter connected to a Musical Fidelity Trivista DAC. On Windows PC’s I use Winamp or MediaMonkey with the ASIO plugin to get the highest supported bit-rates.
I convert them to AIFF and play in iTunes through a MAC. I use the audio digital output on the MAC to an Audio Research DAC7. I have 804S speakers and Rotel preamp and amp.
I burn them to DVD-A discs. I also use VLC to play them on my PC, but I have better speakers on the system with the DVD player.
I use a Squeezebox: served via cat5 from PowerBook G4 /external firewire drive in den, to Audio Refinement Complete / ProAc Tablette 2000s in living room. Sounds very nice — hardly use my CD player any more.
I would like to listen to 24bit FLAC files on my Sonos system, but it won’t hand these files yet. Now I listen from my computer using MediaMonkey and a Benchmark DAC1 with Grado headphones. Great sound! Digital files are the best, I doubt I will be purchasing any more SACD discs.
I burn them to CD then play them thru my 2 piece Accuphase Transport and Dac. Then into a Celest amp and Vandersteen 3a speakers. Great sound!
Convert to AIFF, import to iTunes, play on my MacMini via SPDIF to my processor for D/A conversion.
I convert the 24bit FLAC files with dBpoweramp to Apple Lossless 24 Bit or AIFF 24 bit and play it over Mac, iTunes and Apogee Rosetta
actually the 24 bits don’t really offer any improvement over 16 bits apart from about 40dB more SNR (16 bit already offers more than 100 dB SNR) but the 96KHz sample rate (f.ex. from vinyl rips i make) makes a world of a difference.
i use amarok under linux to play 24/96 material. i have all my music on a fileserver and i play the files on a client computer with a rme multiface2 interface. from there the signal goes into the amp. nowadays it is not so hard anymore to find hardware, that can do 24/96
I Play them at home with with my PC (Windows 7RC1 + Foobar2000 player + soundblaster X-FI Platinum {96kHz master resampling, x-fy cristalizer at 15%-25%} + a basic old stereo amplificator {Pioneer A307R….} + a pair of B&W 602 S3).
At work, I use my Samsung NC10 (Windows 7 RC1 + Foobar2000 player + Creative X-Mod USB + Sennheiser PX 200
I copy them to DVD-Audio and play the disc on my DVD(-Audio) player. For me this gives by far the best sound quality.
I play 24-bit FLAC from NAS (Synology) to squeezebox duet to CA Dacmagic to stereo amp and speakers. Download with MacBook Pro.
Sounds excellent!
I listen via computer, iPOD & also burn to disc (best) & listen back through my Meridian F80. Great service really enjoying..
Linn Klimax DS
Served from SqueezeCenter (which also runs a few Squeezeboxes around the house in lower-fi rooms) using SkweezyDS to make the Klimax intercept commands to a Squeezebox.
I convert the files to Apple lossless and play them on my MacBook Pro with a attached DAC/Headphone amp using iTunes.
I play the 24 bit files through a Squeezebox to a Cyrus DAC-X and it sounds very very good indeed.
Alternatively from my computer through various methods. It’s a bit of a challenge getting the computer system to actually play 48khz rather than it transcoding to 44.1 but it’s interesting.
At present AIFF through i-tunes but would be interested in transfering 24 bit Flac files to DVD if this is relatively simple?
PC : NuForce Icon set up through Foobar
Hi Fi: Squeezebox Ver 3 through Music Hall DAC 25,2
Cheers.
I store them on AVA RS3 home server and play back via Linn Majik DS, Majik Kontrol, Tri-Aktiv Chakra C6100 and Ninkas. Controlled by iPOD Touch or PC. Looking forward to the arrival of Kinsky for the PC bacause Linn Gui is a bit pooey!
@ Chris Connaker (in case you return to this page):
Is there a specific reason for you to convert to AIFF rather than 24-bit Apple Lossless?
… and …
I find Play to sound a little finer than iTunes - without seeing a good reason for that: both programs *should* ideally deliver the same bits to the USB port. Any experience on your side?
(I remember some not-so-fruitful discussion about iTunes not being “bit-perfect” - was that on your website?)
Playback of 24 bit DAC files is done in compatible PC players like foobar2000. The output is routed digitally via a 24bit Edirol UA-25 soundcard to a X-DACv8 from Musical Fidelity before it enters my Rotel/BW system.
I always battled downloading and converting the Flac files to use on itunes or my ipod, so stuck to AAC. Any ideas?
My final format is Apple Lossless. I convert FLAC to WAV, via Foobar, and WAV to Apple Lossless, via iTunes. The resolution rate is maintained via this process. My music server is an AppleTV connected, via TOSLINK, to a Benchmark DAC.
I stream them wirelessly via Squeezecenter through to a Logitech Squeezebox (in the bedroom) and B&W 705s, and to a Logitech Transporter hooked up to B&W 804Ss in the living room.
I am in the minority that still do not know what to do with them. I want to buy a valve pre-amp and then pass the signal from my Mac to a mixer, then amp, then to my B&Ws. I hope it works.
I listen via external DAC using foobar.
Generally I only to CDs in the car so to
do this I covert to wav files and burn
I must confess that I do not download the FLAC files as:
1. Can’t listen to on my iPod Touch (I know….)
2. My home hifi is not networked to listen to computer stored music and cannot play recordable CDs. It does however play SACD very well indeed!
I store my 24bit Flac files on a Netgear Server and play it via a Linn Majik DS. The Majik DS is a fantstic piece of HiFigear and the sound of your 24bit Flac files is outstanding. Though I find also your 16bit files are playing in the top-league of soundquality. Thank you and go on - it is the right way!
The truth is that I it want to burn FLAC files into DVD, in DVD-A format, but I don’t know how can i do this, to play it in my DVD-A player. I need help, please.
I have a Mac.
Thanks!
P.S.: Sorry for my English!
All my 24bit Flac files are stored on a Tranquil Home Server, played via a Squeezebox and Cambridge DAC. The system is Naim XS and 805s. The squeeze box is a marvelous piece of equipment. It just gets better and better with new releases of the server code delivering new functionality.
I burn them to DVD-Audio using DVD-Audio Solo running on Windows 7, then play them on a Linn Unidisk SC.
Or, I play them from a MacBook Pro running either Windows 7 or OSX, toslink to the Unidisk SC at 24/96.
Eventually, a Linn Akurate DS will be my streaming client.
FLAC -> Mac Mini -> Firewire -> Apogee DAC -> Macintosh Amplifier -> B&W 703 speakers (1 pair) + “Frankenstein” NEC powered sub-woofer
I use my zeppelin with a ipod touch or my M1 soundboxes plugued into a Onkio receiver.
Does somebody use the Squeezebox Transport? It got a good review in Stereophile but is expensive. Does the Squeezebox handle Apple Lossless, ALC files, as well?
I play them on my Linn DS system (MajiK DS/Majik I Amp/Keosa), FLAC files stored on NAS, absolutely great music playback. I really appreciate the fact that you have made 24-bit files available.
Love the music you are offering as well
On my desktop Mac, I play them with “Play” thru a USB-attached E-MU 0202 to my ATH-700 headphones.
In the listening room, I have a Squeezebox3 reading the FLACs directly from the Mac download folder and playing them thru a E-MU 0404 (as standalone DAC) on my Hi-Fi.
@Jeremy: as far as I understand, the Squeezebox is being served maximum 24/44.1 rsp. 24/48 by the SqueezeCenter software, it may not be an inherent limitation in the box.
The FLAC 24B/48Khz are convert in 16B/48Khz WAV on a USB HDD pluged to my PS3 opticly connect to my HiFi amp with CABASSE EOLE2 or on my PC with VLC in FLAC 24B/48Khz or MediaPlayer in WAV 24B/48KHZ my soud card is a CREATIVE X-Fi Xtreme with a 5.1 sound system. like that I don’t need to use the CRYSTALYSER or other setting it’s not mp3 files, only the CMSS-3D for the Stereo sources. I Love FLAC ……..:-)
Convert to WAV store on HDD.
Play using Media Monkey from PC to DAC to amplifiers and speakers
Interesting question from Jeremy P - I was hoping to play them through my Squeezebox with digital output to my Chord DAC64 but all I get is silence.
Also tried the analog outs on the Squeezebox direct to my amp - also silence with this configuration.
The Apple lossless files are fine through the Squeezebox - I haven’t tried the 16bit FLAC files.
If anyone has succeeded in getting 24bit FLAC files through a Squeezebox I’d love to know how / more about the config - does it need some additional plugin software on the SqueezeCentre server?
Presumably B&W have succeeded in getting sound out of a Squeezebox or they wouldn’t have posed the question as to whether anyone uses this approach - If so please post some help/pointers.
I store them on my pc , stream them thru squeezebox to the living room with nice big Canton loudspeakers
i use apple lossless as it is the simplest via iTunes and appleTV to play
Is FLAC playable via other MAC audio programs that I can easily stream to AppleTV or I need to burn onto CD/DVD?
Thanks for your feedback.
I have been sticking to Apple Lossless because I am G5 Mac-based and at present with a MyBook NAS feeding AVI Duo speakers via Airport Express and an Onkyo CR 515 stereo receiver so I presumed this set-up would not do justice to 24-bit but if I will follow Chris’s example and convert to AIFF, and keep the FLACs for the future when I upgrade to AVI ADM9s? Does that make sense??
Not quite got this right yet. I burn the files to DVD-Audio but my CD player is far superior to my DVD-Audio player so end up playing the CD. I’ve just purchased a PCMCIA 24/96 sound card for my Vista laptop but can’t get it to work yet! Incidentally CD quality FLAC downloads sound excellent through the USB port of a CA DacMagic.
I use a Logitech Squeezebox that access my music library wireless stored on a NAS (Thecus N5200, 2TBytes).
…Oops! Damn, I am a fool. No. I only play 16-bit flacs on my DAPs. Doesn’t work with 24-bit. The 24:s I play on my Mac with ‘Cog’.
I store them on a Tranquil PC NAS server and stream them via HomePlug to my Linn system (Akurate DS). Also stream wireless to Squeezebox SB3 and Duet for other rooms.
I used to play them through my hi-fi (a restored Crown valve amp with Tannoy speakers) from my old laptop, which had a M-Audio Transit soundcard, running Winamp with the ASIO plugin.
Unfortunately, I just got a nice new Macbook and Itunes won’t play them
I’ll try VLC, as a previous comment suggested, and choose Apple Lossless from now on.
Have tried burning audio DVD (do not have DVD-A player) without much success (problematic). Now testing via Playstation 3 and PS3Media Server on PC. Can not yet hear quality diff between MP3 and 24/96…. A/V receiver Yamaha RXV3800, B&W 703 speakers. Still hope to get sound quality improvement otherwise what is the point?
I play the tracks on my Squeezeboxes. Either in kitchen on Audio Engine speakers. Incredible sound for $200 or I play squeezebox on my Zapsolute Class A amps with Martin Logan SL3. Love the sound Regards Soren - keep up the good work Peter
i stream them wirelessly to a Squeezebox (supports up to 24bit/48kHz) then into Keces DA 131 Mk2 Converter, then EARMAX headphone amp with Sennheiser HD 600 connected. Sweet!.
I stream them from my Mac via Airport to my Hi-Fi. I use my iPhone with remote app to control the Mac. Works GREAT…..
I play them on my DAPs with Rockbox (open source replacement firmware). Iriver H120 & Sansa c240.
Stored on Tranquil PC server. Played back using Linn Sneaky DS. Controlled by SongBook on iPhone.
I have a high quality CD player, so prefer CD’S . Therefore, I use Apple Lossless and don’t bother with the 24 bit Flac files. I wish that I could load them straight into I player or WM Player and burn to CD.
I convert them to AIFF and listen to them on either a) iTunes on a Mac; b) Transporter in my bedroom; or c) Songbird on Ubuntu laptop (through external DAC).
At home I use a Pro-ject USB DAC-converter between the PC and my stereo equipment. At he office I use a Creative X-fi extreme sound card as a pre-amp. This is then connected through a Cambridge Audio power amp to a pair of B&W LM-1 speakers and a B&W 8″ sub-woofer. Needless to say, I don’t share office with anyone.
I make a DVD audio and listen to it with my home theater
I just store them as i’m not sure how to play them. I play the apple lossless on my PC via iTunes and on my iPod. Ideally i would like to stream my music around the house and access it anywhere. Unfortunately i am neither a milllionaire or have a PHD in electronics so for now i may have to wait until it becomes simpler and financially more reasonable (as well as being acoustically excellent)
I play them through iTunes on iMac, via toslink to a B&W Zeppelin. Sound = good, anyone else has experience with such an interface? Any suggestions on high quality toslink cables with mini 3.5 mm connectors?
Off QNAP 209 NAS with Twonky to Linn Majik DS
I store the files on my NAS Lacie, stream them through my wired network to any computer and play on my HIFI equipment using an USB DAC.
I play them on the computer with headphones connected directly to the sound card.
I’m not expert, but well, I don’t use 24-bit FLAC. I always thought that that you need higher-than-cd quality (16bit/44kHz) only when you create music (mixing various tracks into one) to get good result, which will be converted to 16bit/44kHz.
Actually, well-recorded CD quality is very, very good. On most non-studio hardware (player+amplifier+speaker for $50000) there won’t be difference. Correct me if I’m wrong.
I use Play (http://sbooth.org/Play/) on MacOSX to listen to them over a Metric Halo ULN-8 interface through either RCF-22A speakers, Adam A7 monitors or Etymotic ER-4 earphones.
PMO: streamed by my QNAP TS439 to my squeezebox receiver and then decent amplifier + speakers. FMO: exchange squeezebox for transporter.
I play all my Society of Sound FLACs (24-bit and otherwise) primarily on my HTPC and also my office computer - both Vista-based and using Songbird. Both use external DACs and high-quality down-stream components (B&W and Martin Logan) to reveal the extra quality. The PC-age of audiophiles is upon us, and that’s specifically why I joined SoS. Who needs shinny spinny things any more? BTW, kudos to B&W for soliciting some voice-of-the-customer on this issue.
I stream the files to a Linn Majik DS/Theta Gen Va DAC. There are quite a few people over on the Linn forums that also stream using the Linn digital streamers.
BTW, I’d love it if 24 bit was made available as Apple Lossless too - it would save me a bit of work converting them.
I store the files on a simple WD My Book World Edition and stream them wireless to a squeezebox (Duet) connected optically to my Denon AVR 3806 receiver.
I play them from my HTPC using Winamp connected to Tag Mclaren AV32 or stream them via Airport to the Zeppelin.
I convert the FLAC files to Standard formats and use them in my DVD or CD system respectively. The advantage of the FLAC16 are that they are playable on my in-Car system (Linn Audio) too. At home, I use a combination of Denon’s A1 series with Piega speakers in either stereo or up to 7.2 configuration. Files are stored on NAS for backup purposes only.
I play them through a Squeezebox Boom and a Squeezebox 3.
I use Apple DVD Studio Pro to create a DVD and play the 24-bit files on my set top DVD player.
I don’t know how to use the 24 bit FLAC files. I’ve been downloading as Apple Lossless and streaming through an Apple airport express to my DAC and my Creek amp. The sound quality is excellent, but I’d still be interested in the 24 bit files which might be even better.
I burn them to DVD and listen through my home sound system (Meridian G98, Aragon 8008×3 and B&W 802’s.
I listen to them through my LINN Sneaky Music DS which is 24bit capable. I havent done a comparison on the same songs over 16bit, but they sound great.
I download them in flac and store them the same way.
I use Play from soundbooth.org on my Mac then through firewire 400 (power bus disabled) to a Metric Halo ULN-2 which is powered with a car battery.
I store the FLAC files natively on my external HDD as an archive.
The played files are converted (via XLD) to 24bit Apple lossless into iTunes, then;
1) iMac (via firewire) to Apogee Duet, ARC D250, Apogee Duetta Signature.
2)iMac-Airport Express-Sony receiver.
3)iMac -Headphones.
4)iMac - iPhone for car and personal (at 24/44).
I just burn to a CD.
I decode to AIFF and play through iTunes. Has anyone had luck with a FLAC decoder plug-in?
Does anyone know if ALAC supports 24/96? If so any chance we can get HD ALAC files in the future? This would make iTune users life a little easier!
I connect my computer straight to my preamp using the Blue Cirlce USB Thingee. I use the Thingee to send a digital signal to my Bryston BP26DA preamp which can decode 24 bit.
I convert them via Max ( sbooth.org freeware) into AIFF and straight into iTunes on a MacMini music server…listening via Benchmark DAC, Krell KAV 300i, Martin Logan Vantages….they do sound good but I havent done extensive ALAC / FLAC listening comparisons….life is too short for such stuff!….keep up the good work……….
I save them to a TranquilPC AVA RS3 NAS running Asset UPnP and Twonky, play them back through the network to my Linn system - Akurate DS streamer, Kinos DSP pre-amp, Audyssey MultiEQ Pro room equaliser, AV5125 amps, and Akurate 212 speakers. Can use Sony MDR SA5000 or AKG 701 headphones through a Graham Slee Solo amp. For other rooms, use a SqueezeBox SB3 and SqueezeBox Duet. Controllers include Linn Kinsky Desktop on laptop, SkweezyDS via Duet Controller, Leia DS on Nokia 810, and Songbook, PlugPlayer, iPeng, & Squeemote on iPod Touch.
I also copy the FLACs to MP3 for portable listening.
I store the files on an old computer I keep in the closet and stream them to a Transporter that connects to some good ol hi-fi. Personally, I am really enjoying these 24bit files, please keep them coming!
I use PC (Vista), connected to E-MU 0404 USB playing through tube pre-amp and power amp. Software is MediaMonkey. Sound is super, particularly Tom Kerstens and Potico.
Convert them to AIFF, resample/redither to 24/96 if necessary using SampleManager, Play them on a custom-built Mac with no moving parts using Amarra/iTunes software, output via USB to an Empirical Audio Offramp 3 before streaming to the DSP/DAC/Pre device.
I use Foobar2000 on my pc. Use dBPowerAmp to convert to Wav for my Denon DVD2200/NADT785/B&W683’s setup. Next upgrade to deck I would like to think will play FLAC directly. Pretty sure that dBPowerAmp will convert 24bit flacc for dvd; not sure about DVD-A though.
At the risk of being branded a Luddite … I have no idea how to burn them to CD (iTunes doesn’t seem to handle them), let alone to DVD, and I’m not even sure if the equipment I have will play them back. Therefore, I’ve so far stuck with the ALAC files. No doubt someone here can set me straight on what I should or could be doing …
S.
I convert them to wma lossless 24 bit (just an encoding change, no change to the music data, so no quality loss). Then I store them on my Windows Home Server. I have several Windows Media Center PCs in my home and they all connect to the same Windows Home Server. Those PCs are each connected to a DENON DRA-295 receiver. Which on its turn is connected to B&W inwall speakers in every room.
The media Center PC in the livingroom has a dedicated audiophile soundboard that connects thru HDMI to my denon surround receiver and B&W surround set.
I enjoy it every day, keep up the good work !
Apple Lossless works on iTunes, iPod & iPhone, FLAC requires me to jump through hoops. Please keep offering downloads in Apple Lossless!
I described earlier how I listen to the 24 bit flacs.
My entry got deleted.
I guess I shouldn’t have mentioned the LaScalas.
I don`t use FLAC cause I don`t know how to handle it on my Mac. Therefore I use to download using Apple Lossless format and burn a CD to listen on my home teather using Itunes.
I’ve been burning the 16 bit flac to CD, but am still unable to burn the 24 bit to DVD. I presently have Media Monkey, Vista, and Windows media player. Any advice on a program that will burn an audio DVD with what I have available?
I store on my Netscape ReadyNAS 2Tb Duo (in a “soundproof and ventilated cupboard), into my Squeezebox Duet (love to hear the Transporter) and through my MF X-DAC v3, X-10 v3, and into the stereo. Excellent sound, altogether more detail, wider soundstage, less fatigue, etc, etc.
Easy to use, endlessly fascinating, great music.
Transfer to my Ipod and play through my avr Ipod dock.
I burn them to DVD Audio disc and play them, using a universal player, through my audiophile system.
Um . . . I’m actually not listening to them yet - a bit of a music pack rat, I’m afraid.
But I am watching this forum for hints on the compromise between the best and the simplest way to do so.
I run the FLAC files through Cirlinca DVD-Audio Solo to burn them to a DVD-R at 2x creating a DVD-Audio disk. Then I use a Denon DVD-3930 to play the disk through my Hi-Fi. If I want to take a closer listen with some private time I use my Stax electrostatic headphones. Like the turntable days I guess I am holding on to optical technology?
I play them from Squeezecenter 7.3.3 (which I believe use Sox to convert them to 16bit?) to my Squeezebox receiver via a Cambridge DacMagic to my Naim/B&W system. Sounds awful(ly good)
I store and listen to them on an Olive Opus 4 with a Cambridge DacMagic. I also convert them to AAC (m4a) for use on my iPod.
I use Squeezeboxes networked from a PC and then connected through to a Yamaha amp + Focal Speakers and to Audioengine 5’s.
I play mine either through Foobar2000 on my PC (with external DAC and headphone amp, both Harmony Design top models) or the Squeezebox to my Primare I21 & Klipsch RF-63 system.
Since my DAC is quite portable (oh well, everything is relative), it happens that I move it to my stereo and connect it to the Squeezebox.
I used my WICKED B&W ZEPPELIN through a ipod classic. It is remarkably brilliant. I don’t burn them to cd. Will eventually use an airport from my mac.
I stream them as Apple Lossless from my Windows Home Server using Squeezecentre to a Transporter and then through my Cyrus system.
Simon
I burn the files to a CD on my MAC, then in my family room I play it on a McIntosh MCD500 SACD/CD player through a McIntosh MC402 amp out to my Signature Diamond speakers. Almost no discernable difference between a true SACD and the copy that I can make on a MAC. Having great files is only half the way to having great music.
I convert everything to ALAC and play them using iTunes on my mac connected via Toslink to my DAC, which is connected directly to a pair of Sennheiser HD650’s.
I listen in my IPOD with the speakers of Apple, in my car with Ipod, and in my Hi Fi Denon with B&W speakers 600 series. A stunning sound. Congratulations for your project.
I convert them using MAX software to play using ITunes on my Mac book.
Take the optical or USB out to the Chord QBD-76 DAC and all is well.
I have not tried downloading Flac 24 yet but use Apple lossless with itunes. I listen to the music on a KingRex T20U with JB3s, through the USB output of my MBP. Would there be any benefit for me to use Flac 24 with a player like for example Vox, knowing that the DAC of the T20U is specified for a 16 bit, 41Khz signal? Does anybody know how the Flac 24 is converted to match the DAC’s word length and sampling frequency?
Oops. That should be “B&W 801 matrix Series IIIs”, not 810.
I’ve avoided downloading them, since I play stuff from an AppleTV connected wirelessly to my Mac network, and the machine doesn’t seem to know what to do with them.
Am I missing something, or does converting to AIFF work fine?
And an equivalent of Apple Lossless would be very very attractive.
Mac-iTunes/ReadyNASNV+ -> AppleTV -> Integra DTC 9.8 via HDMI -> dual Behringer Stdio 500s (!) -> a pair of B&W 810 Matrix IIIs
I store the files in a common external HD, to play them I use my PC (with the player Foobar) connected to a USB DAC aqvox.
The sound is amazing.
Sound Grinder Pro on a Mac Pro through Digidesign 003 Rack into Adam P33A powered monitors.
I play them on a Linn Klimax DS based system.
I store the files on my NAS NV+ and stream them through my Transporter (wired) to Classe CP500/CA2200/802D - Nice sound!.
I missed the 24 bit on the last album.
i play them back on pc/mac/xbox with XBMC (www.xbmc.org), imho the best foss media center around. all systems hooked up with optical to an onkyo receiver and b&w 600 series speakers.
The main source in my audio system is an absolutely quiet computer from Hush Technologies (the cooling is fully based on heat pipes; SSD) with control also by the infrared remote. For purposes of cataloguing of files and their playback the program Media Center 13 (J. River, Inc.) with ASIO drivers is used. DAC - MSB Platinum DAC III, which also serves as pre-amp, is connected to reference class mono blocks and excellent B&W 802D. The storage of musical files is several terabytes in size, it is connected to the local network and physically stored in another room, as to ensure that it works absolutely silently, is very hard task. I regularly shop at HDtracks.com, Linn Records, and other sites which offer high-resolution files.
I play them with Music Player Daemon on the PC with Linux, conected throug S/PDIF to an external DAC and then to HIFI
I play them on my Windows computer using MediaMonkey.
I play them through Plex on my mac mini to my receiver.
I play mine using a Squeezebox and external DAC. If I’m playing them in my office then I use Winamp.
I play them through my Linn DS player(s).
Sounds fantastic - thanks B&W for making hi-res downloads available at a great price.
Rik
Convert to Apple Lossless via XLD, store in iTunes, listen at 24/96 (upsampled or not) on local Mac and automatically downsampled to 48 kHz on remote Airport Expresses.
Another VLC user here for FLAC although player of choice is itunes so also rip FLAC to apple lossless via WAV to get around the 16 bit restriction… Stream everything these days to the DACs on a Denon AVR 4306 - am hunting for improvement here if anyone’s got a recommendation?, will try a CA Dacmagic later this week.
I burn them to 24 bit 96 Khz LPCM dvd’s with DVD-Audio Solo on Windows 7 sometimes, then play the discs with a Linn Unidisk SC.
Alternately, I will play them from a 13″ MacBook Pro (Win 7 or OSX) toslink to the UnidiskSC, or stream them from a Windows Home Server via Airport Express (downsampled to 16/44.1) to the Unidisk.
One day, a Linn Akurate DS will do the playback directly from the Windows Home Server.
I use VLC on a (old) Apple powerbook 12″ connected to a USB MAudio Transit. The Transit is connected by toslink to a Zhaolu D3 DAC. The high quality society of sound FLACs are then converted to analog…
Certainly not straightforward but works like a charm!
PC side -> PC running mediaportal, 1 Terabyte usb SATA drive, firefly remote, Rockfish Soundcard with toslink out.
Audio Side -> MSB Tech DAC-Link, PASS Bride of Zen, McCormack DNA-1 to Hawthone Duets.
I burned them to DVD and play it through my PS3 -> receiver -> B&W speakers. Very good.
I download apple lossless and never tried 24-FLAC. I`m so happy to have it on iMac iTunes, burn on excellent CD`s and on iPod touch. Never burnt on DVD. Should i try 24-Flac? Okay, i will do. I live on the landside with 384 KB/s and that makes me tired……believe me.
Play them with a PC, using foobar2000, connecting directly to my DAC etc..
@Jeremy P:
Yes, unfortunately the Squeezebox classic, boom and duet are capable only of delivering 24/48 even using the digital outputs. (I have posted a case with them to allow for 24/96 but so far that has not happened.) The squeezebox transporter should be able to deliver 24/96 though..
I burn them to DVD-Audio (you can find some free tools on the internet) and play the disc on my hifi equipment. For me this gives by far the best sound quality.
Streams the music over Ethernet from a HP Media Server running Twonky Media to my Linn Sneaky DS. I love the format (and the music) Keep up the good work
I use my Logitech Squeezebox Duet, it works perfect. I have the Duet connected to a laptop in one end and a Denon Receiver with B&W Speakers in the other.
I use Nero Showtime to listen to the files on my PC and I use Nero Burning ROM to burn them to CD to listen to the CD’s on my audio system.
I use TwistedFLAC to convert them to 24-bit WAV files so that I can play them using iTunes on my MacBook Pro via the USB input on my Peachtree Nova, which is an external integrated amp/DAC hybrid.
FLAC file -> Mac mini -> FireWire -> Apogee DAC - > Macintosh Amp -> B&W 701 speakers (1 pair) + “Frankenstein” NEC powered subwoofer.
I play them using either Winamp or Foobar2000 to one of two DACs: through optical digital to a DAC which can take up through 24/192, and through USB to a USB DAC which has a limit of 24/48. So, I’m actually glad that the 24-bit files are 48KHz sampling rate (instead of a higher 96 or 192) so that I can use them via USB as well. The added bit-depth of the 24-bit samples adds a nice dynamic depth to the sound that my ear appreciates.
I stream from a Mini ITX computer to a Linn Majik DS connected to my hi-fi
I also play them from my Mac (iTunes) through Airports to my Zeppelin, my hometheater and living-room sound systems.
I convert them on a Mac with xACT to AIFF and import them to iTunes. As I have connected the Mac via S/PDIF with my Mark Levinson system I can listen to this great music on my B&W Diamond Signatur. Even I can sync the to my iPhone, as there are still 48k only, and can listen to them on the run.
I convert them on a Mac with xACT to AIFF and import them to iTunes. As I have connected the Mac via S/PDIF with my Mark Levinson system I can listen to this great music on my B&W Diamond Signatur. Even I can sync them to my iPhone, as there are still 48k only, and can listen to them on the run.
Not found a way to play 24-bit FLAC files yet.
Transcode to 24 bit 96 kHz ALAC files with MAX, load in iTunes, and play via SlimServer/Squeezecenter, ethernet (wired from a MacMini) through a SlimDevices Transporter.
I play FLAC in foobar2000 using ASIO connected E-MU 0202. Playing Apple format would be trickier for me
I listen to them on a Linn Majik digital streamer through a Theta Gen Va DAC. There are quite a few people over on the Linn forums that also use the Society Of Sound music on their Linn streamers.
Currently, I play them via Foobar 2000 from a share on my Mac. When I will dump my old Sony Laptop and get a Macbook Pro, I will have to convert them to AIFF and play them via iTunes… hence… if you read between my lines, 24 Bit Apple Lossless would be great. By the way, I use a Weiss Minerva as a DAC to my Conrad-Johnson.
I managed to get my first file onto my itouch and then lost it and now can’t for love nor money get it back on. So guess next step is to try burning to cd for best listening option.
Mostly streamed via Squeezebox Duet through Cyrus DACXP/MonoXs and out through the B&Ws. Occasionally, I burn to disc. Sound great.
via a Squeezebox Duet albeit downsampled. Occasionally from the laptop via USB in to my Beresford DAC.
The next generation of Squeezebox should play the files in full resolution so where possible, I’m downloading in as high resolution as possible in advance of this.
I convert to AIFF and play on a MacBook via Amarra Mini, and fire the signal out via USB to a Offramp then dac
I started with Slimserver, moved to Foobar when I got the Offramp, and finally trialled Amarra and JRiver. Amarra is far superior to the other three. Not cheap (and Mac only) but the sound is stunning
I play all digital audio files through a squeezebox, output digitally to a Bel Canto Dac 2 and into my preamp. The squeezebox plays 24-bit 48khz flac files natively. It doesn’t support 96khz playback, but the newest SqueezeCenter (the squeezebox server, which I run on a mac mini) automatically downsamples 96khz content to 48khz for the squeezebox. The 48khz/24-bit (or 44 khz/24-bit) files from SOS are ideal for me. The only thing I didn’t like was recently one of the SOS 24-bit downloaded albums had a text file included that indicated the 24-bit files had been upsampled from 16-bit. That’s a big waste of bandwidth and disk space (and I think borders on false advertising but I don’t want to sound too critical). I deleted them and downloaded the 16-bit files.
I think the SOS is great–please keep it up!
Linn Akurate DS
The Mac Mini has a 24/96 dac on the headphone output. I use Play (http://sbooth.org/Play) to read the files (it understands 24/96) and connect analog to the rest of my system.
I stream them off a PC to a Logitech Transporter and an external DAC.
Stream them from my nas to laptop/dac and foobar 2000 or winamp.I also make dvd-audio discs and play them on my pioneer all format spinner.Worth every minute in the making.
I burned it on dvd with AudioDVD Creator and listening with my Home Theater. The quality is very good but I don´t like the offer of music. I would prefer something more jazz rock, jazz fusion, where they can better appreciate the instruments in 24-bit.
I do it in 2 ways: 1- Windows media player 11 64bit with K-Lite codec pack, Asus Xonar Essence STX and Dynaudio monitors.
2- windows vista media center 32bit/K-lite codec pack, Asus Xonar D2X (SPDIF out) into TAG AV32R DP, TAG 250×3R, TAG Calliope speakers with bass modules and Revel B15a subwoofer.
Convert to AIFF and play through iTunes.
Erm… not sure what to do with them so haven’t downloaded in this format.
I use FooBar2000 on he computer. Sounds good.
Have also advised Mark Levinson that their most recent CD player was a little behind the times having just introduced SACD. I was hoping for more digital capability such as streaming FLAC 24 bit etc…
regards
Sonos soundsystem and Winamp on laptop
I play FLAC files with my Squeezebox.
Most often through my M-Audio FW-1814
burn to CD, also stored on DVICO TVX
We have a house full of Macs so I only use the apple loss less format. The files are retrieved often from a laptop and streamed via i-tunes to an airport express which is then optically coupled to a Linn system. Alternatively a Mac is optically coupled directly to on of the Linns. The Linns are hardwired together using CAT5 cables to distribute the sound throughout the house. I generally burn the files to a CD and archive it.
I play my flacs through a Squeezebox using a Duet Controller and a Beresford DAC into a Pioneer amp which outputs to SD Audio (now sadly defunct as a company) speakers. The flacs are on my Home Server.
I have not found an easy way to listen to them.
I use iTunes and have not found an interface to it.
So I only download the Apple Lossless files which I import to the iTune library.
Isabelle.
I also play them on my PC with WinAmp. One thing that might be obvious - PC to AMP connection could virtually kill the quality. I also started using external USB based audio converter and quality is amazing!
I play them through my Zero dac to a QED expander then through a Pioneer VSX-9300 to Wharfedale E-90’s and a Yamaha VSX-2400 and Bose 901’s.
I grab the 24 bit FLACs, convert them to AIFF and then to Apple Lossless and put it in Itunes. I listen to it on an Apple TV connected to my receiver and speakers… this loses the additional quality, but the quality is preserved in the file - and hopefully, a new AppleTV with 24 bit support will arrive someday. Or a 24 bit squuezebox that can send a digital signal without costing a fortune.
I use Apple lossless codec and listen to them with Itunes ( on my my computer, my 2 airport express and an Apple TV.
I burn them on to CD and then play through my ancient Pioneer rack hi-fi (it’s over 20 years old). If I like them I keep the CD otherwise I throw it away. The hi-fi has better speakers than the PC.
I play them through my Prism Sound 8-channel AD/DA converters on my Pro Tools HD rig.
I stream them FLAC to a HTPC or I burn them to a DVD-Audio an then use my Linn Akurate CD
I play them through my hifi using a Linn Majik DS player.
Old school (The ritual). Burn a CD and play it in a CD player plugged into a 706 Onkyo receiver with a pair of Jamo C607 speakers.
Amazing.
I play my FLAC music files - both 16 and 24 bit - through either a Squeezebox Duett in my living room, or via a simple Vista laptop PC solution upstairs. On the PC I use Media Monkey. All files are located on a common XP Pro machine.
Some 24/192 input capable DAC is foreseen.
First thing I do is look at the notes to see if they say this, as is too often the case: “These 48k 24b files were created from 44.1k 16b files using Digidesign Tweak Head conversion.” If I see this then I just convert them to Apple lossless files. Otherwise I convert them to AIFF and play them through iTunes on the Mac. I use a Apogee duet for headphones or another external DAC when I want to use speakers.
I play 24-bit FLAC on my PC using Media Monkey and Grado SR 325i. I only manage to burn a CD with two tracks. The sound is very good!
I convert the flac files to AIFF and then play them through itunes with a Mac Mini.
Streamed to my hifi through a Slim Devices Transporter. I prefer FLAC.
I use FLACs because they are open source and lossless. I avoid proprietary codecs such as Apple Lossless, because I don’t wish to be locked into a format that other companies don’t support and might lose popularity over time. On the computer, I play back using MediaMonkey software (free, and surprisingly good). More usually, I stream the files from a Windows Home Server to a Squeezebox.
mostly through my PC and Mediamonkey with an outboard USB DAC. Also through my squeezebox and occasionally burned as DVD Audio discs….
Sean
Mainly through Foobar2000 and an RME HD soundcard. A Town Called Addis went in the car as well :-). We aspire for something along the lines of NaimUniti or some such delcious gadgetry. Not quite there yet, though.
I convert them wit “Max” to Apple Lossless and play them from my Mac via a RME Fireface 400
I convert them to AIFF or ALAC with xAct or MAX on Macbook, and listen to them via optical DAC into a high end headphone system through iTunes.
I import the FLAC file into a laptop running J River MC14 and use that player to send via USB to my USB to spdif converter.
I play 24 bit FLAC files through a Logitech Transporter.
I always download the 16 bit flac, as that is what my Apollo will play. It still sounds pretty good, though…
VLC for 24 bit FLAC
–> Mytek 192 converters
–> David Berning amp
–> Hornshoppe Horns w/Hornshoppe cube.
or –>Sennheiser 650’s
I use different methods, decode to other formats for use in portable devices, record to cd/dvd, or stream from pc to my Arcam amp. - and I’ve discovered at least two more ways to use the files from this blog…
Convert them to aiff. Play on mac with iTunes
to a USB DAC (e-mu 0404 USB) then
to Bottlehead preamp and amps. LaScala
speakers. The music sounds great!
I play them box on a Squeezebox receiver served wirelessly by a Linksys router. The SBR feeds its digital signal to a Musical Fidelity V-DAC which is connected to a Musical Fidelity A300 integrated amplifier — driving a pair of B&W Nautilus 804 speakers and a Sunfire Jr. Subwoofer!
Convert to WAV and play on Mac Mini to external DAC via firewire (into Hifi system)
I a laptop on battery power and a Trends UD10.1 audio convertor, listening on headphones on the Trends or feeding coax signal to a Benchmark DAC1 for my Hi-Fi.
I use Foobar 2000 and ASIO4ALL bypassing the computer volume controls
Play with Apple’s AirPort Express to my Marrantz reciever+B&W
I convert them to mp3 at 128 kbps and play them on my Dell Axim; but the music choice is not really to my tastes so I’ve only listed to a little of the music offered.
Played through Squeezebox into Mark Levinson 35 DAC, 380S Pre, ML335 Power amp and finally B&W N802’s… absolutely riveting.
I play them from my Mac through Airport to my Zeppelin.
For Christopher, I havent burned them to a dvd but I have to cds
I stream them from my PC using Media Monkey and the Sonicweld Diverter. I’m thrilled with this service and wish there were high-quality FLAC downloads from more sources.
Currently using Squeezebox Duet streaming at its top 24/48k but someday will implement a way to stream at full 24/96.
XLD.app: 24/96 flac > 24/96 ALAC > iTunes > Audio Out > Stereo.
So, it would be easier if the flac files were posted as ALAC right from the beginning.
VLC on my mac (i hope that iTunes 9 will work with FLAC…)
B&W 683 speakers
I don’t use them because I don’t know what to do with them. John
I convert them to AIFF and from there to
1) 24 bit Apple lossless to play via optical digital out from MacPro > DAC > Preamp > Poweramp > Speakers
2) 16 bit / 44100 lossless for streaming to my iPhone via Simplicity
3) 256 kbps (VBR) to keep on my iPhone/iPod)
Then delete the AIFF files.
This is much quicker and more efficient than it sounds when you have made the scripts.
no idea how to burn the files on a dvd
My Onkyo TX-NR906 home cimena amp has a network audio feature (and USB)
The USB supports FLAC 24bit, and I use dbPoweramp to convert the FLAC 16/24 to lossless WMA (16/24bit 44/48K) as the Onkyo will play WMA lossless from the network. I have all of my music stored in WMA lossless on my Windows Home server.
Its sounds awesome. I would like the option for WMA lossess as a download…..it will same me time in converting the FLAC files. Also the WMA files are smaller, but less portable.
I convert the FLAC 24 Bit with the software Max under Mac OS X to Applelossless with the same bit depth and sampling rate. I use iTunes for the playback. My iMac is connected via optical Toslink to my Bose Homecinema System where I can listen to the superb quality of the B&W Music Club music.
I stream them to my LINN Majik DS (on SSP-800 and the 802D)
I play them back using Winamp on my PC. They sound amazing though my XT4s
I convert them to AIFF and play the in iTunes on a Mac.
Chris Connaker
Founder
Computer Audiophile
Does the Squeezebox only output 24/48k?
Has anyone successfully burned such files to a DVD as a DVD-Audio disc using a current Mac? If so, pray tell?
I play them with Foobar2000 on the PC, connected to an external DAC - Headphone Amp - Headphones.
I intend to install some kind of streaming solution later this year though.
I use a Squeezebox served wirelessly by an iMac, and connected to a Pioneer A9 amp/Wharfedale Diamond 9s + PSB subzero i.
I play FLAC (+ DVD’s & dts-encoded audio) with VLC (http://videolan.org/).