Comments for bemused http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:44:27 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on DIY music server – finally brought my hifi into this century by Mike http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/2009/04/18/diy-music-server-finally-brought-my-hifi-into-this-century/#comment-280 Mike Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:44:27 +0000 http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/?p=47#comment-280 Hi Les I haven't answered this one for a while - for good reason! Just before your comment, a Windows update caused a significant problem with the ASUS. Essentially the analogue out started to 'stutter'- not just on Albumplayer but Spotify and Itunes too. Made it unusable. Last resort would have been to System Restore to before the Update. However, I've been wanting to try out the digital out for a while, so I finally shelled out for a Toslink /S-PDIF optical cable. Wow. Stutter gone and much more clarity using my venerable old Sherwood A/V. Now I can say that although an mp3 isn't going to quite reach the quality level of CD, my favourite albums, which I've digitised to FLAC, are _indistinguishable_ from the originals played on my £500 Denon 2900 (though that is 'louder'). Hi Les

I haven’t answered this one for a while – for good reason! Just before your comment, a Windows update caused a significant problem with the ASUS. Essentially the analogue out started to ’stutter’- not just on Albumplayer but Spotify and Itunes too. Made it unusable.
Last resort would have been to System Restore to before the Update. However, I’ve been wanting to try out the digital out for a while, so I finally shelled out for a Toslink /S-PDIF optical cable. Wow.

Stutter gone and much more clarity using my venerable old Sherwood A/V.

Now I can say that although an mp3 isn’t going to quite reach the quality level of CD, my favourite albums, which I’ve digitised to FLAC, are _indistinguishable_ from the originals played on my £500 Denon 2900 (though that is ‘louder’).

]]> Comment on DIY music server – finally brought my hifi into this century by Les collier http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/2009/04/18/diy-music-server-finally-brought-my-hifi-into-this-century/#comment-279 Les collier Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:44:03 +0000 http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/?p=47#comment-279 Hi Really interested in your solution, it'd nice and compact and not too expensive. My Hifi system is not bad quality wise, It is rated at 40 to 20000 hz. ( yes I know you can't hear it) I am trying to keep the quality without spending a fortune. I tried using an IPOD on the end of an analogue feed and it sounded terrible even when the highest sample rates for Itunes was selected. Can you tell the difference on your system betwee the original CD and the playback from the server ?? I think that sums up my concern. Hi
Really interested in your solution, it’d nice and compact and not too expensive.
My Hifi system is not bad quality wise, It is rated at 40 to 20000 hz. ( yes I know you can’t hear it)

I am trying to keep the quality without spending a fortune. I tried using an IPOD on the end of an analogue feed and it sounded terrible even when the highest sample rates for Itunes was selected.
Can you tell the difference on your system betwee the original CD and the playback from the server ?? I think that sums up my concern.

]]> Comment on DIY music server – finally brought my hifi into this century by mikelowndes http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/2009/04/18/diy-music-server-finally-brought-my-hifi-into-this-century/#comment-278 mikelowndes Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:41:18 +0000 http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/?p=47#comment-278 Hi There is an optical digital out but because my old amp has run out of connectors, for now I'm using the 3.5 stereo line out jack on the back of the eee, via a Monster cable into an aux input. So DAC is whatever the built in soundcard is. For most of my stuff, its perfectly adequate (I'm not a purist these days!). Mike Hi
There is an optical digital out but because my old amp has run out of connectors, for now I’m using the 3.5 stereo line out jack on the back of the eee, via a Monster cable into an aux input. So DAC is whatever the built in soundcard is. For most of my stuff, its perfectly adequate (I’m not a purist these days!).
Mike

]]> Comment on DIY music server – finally brought my hifi into this century by dr hogan http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/2009/04/18/diy-music-server-finally-brought-my-hifi-into-this-century/#comment-277 dr hogan Sat, 01 Aug 2009 17:28:39 +0000 http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/?p=47#comment-277 what do you use for the DAC? Output through a sound card in the eeebox or is there one in line connected to the eee box via USB? what do you use for the DAC? Output through a sound card in the eeebox or is there one in line connected to the eee box via USB?

]]> Comment on solar schmolar by Diy Solar Panels http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/solar-schmolar/#comment-276 Diy Solar Panels Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:46:11 +0000 http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/?p=22#comment-276 I agree Energy Saving Trust really does provide a lot of good info for DIY projects I agree Energy Saving Trust really does provide a lot of good info for DIY projects

]]> Comment on Zoom in to the Hubble Ultra Deep Field by Jeremy http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/zoom-in-to-the-hubble-ultra-deep-field/#comment-272 Jeremy Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:09:26 +0000 http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/?p=42#comment-272 That just blew my mind. And what an awesome site - I'll take the old-school styling for the fantastic content. My kids have been studying space in their after-school science club and then exposing my scant knowledge of the subject, but tonight I can go home and dazzle them! That just blew my mind. And what an awesome site – I’ll take the old-school styling for the fantastic content. My kids have been studying space in their after-school science club and then exposing my scant knowledge of the subject, but tonight I can go home and dazzle them!

]]> Comment on Going nuclear: Gaia and the Green Nuclear debate – thoughts on The Revenge Of Gaia by chemical warfare pictures | Bookmarks URL http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/2008/10/26/going-nuclear-gaia-and-the-green-nuclear-debate-%e2%80%93-thoughts-on-the-revenge-of-gaia/#comment-270 chemical warfare pictures | Bookmarks URL Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:46:51 +0000 http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/?p=35#comment-270 [...] Going nuclear: Gaia and the Green Nuclear debate – thoughts on The … Examples he gives include DDT (which used properly and with discretion is very effective against malaria but has been blanket-banned), On (the banning of chemical) nitrates, he also points out (to me at least) the quiet revolution in UK … [...] [...] Going nuclear: Gaia and the Green Nuclear debate – thoughts on The … Examples he gives include DDT (which used properly and with discretion is very effective against malaria but has been blanket-banned), On (the banning of chemical) nitrates, he also points out (to me at least) the quiet revolution in UK … [...]

]]> Comment on solar schmolar by diy solar panels, earth4energy http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/solar-schmolar/#comment-269 diy solar panels, earth4energy Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:38:44 +0000 http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/?p=22#comment-269 Thanks for a good idea. That would work. http://www.alivegreenpower.com Thanks for a good idea. That would work.

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]]> Comment on solar schmolar by solar schmolar http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/solar-schmolar/#comment-262 solar schmolar Sun, 12 Oct 2008 13:14:54 +0000 http://mikelowndes.wordpress.com/?p=22#comment-262 [...] Go to the author’s original blog: solar schmolar [...] [...] Go to the author’s original blog: solar schmolar [...]

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