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Help a REAL newbie. Please

Hi everyone,

I've recently returned to high end audio after a 20-year absence. I'm very happy with the sound of my set-up, but apparently I missed a few things in computer audio over the last couple of decades :). I have only downloaded one album to iTunes in my life, and I know nothing about hooking up my computer to a stereo system. I don't even own an iPod. I have an Oppo 105 and a Hegel H80 integrated (has an internal DAC). I also have a Macbook Air, but I haven't used it for audio purposes.

Rather than expanding my fairly limited CD collection, I'd like to begin to build a library of high resolution files that can be played on my system. But I really have NO idea where to start. I've had a heck of a time finding a good guide to computer audio that isn't too advanced for me or that covered lots of irrelevant (to me) information. I'm only interested in getting the best audiophile-quality sound I can out of my system.

Do any of you have a suggestion of books, websites, videos, etc. that might get me up to speed relatively quickly on the basics? It's a new world out there for a luddite like me who doesn't even own a cell phone.

Thank you for your time to help out a newbie.

All the best from Oregon,
Scott
smrex13
smrex13 OP
423 posts
 
Forgive my ignorance, but why would a CD player need settings for crossovers and speaker size if one is merely sending the signal to an amp?

Thanks,
Scott
hgeifman
1,193 posts
 
Scott: Assuming you are ONLY using the Oppo 105 as a DAC and your MAC Book Air is the source for all music, I do not believe you need a monitor for the Oppo 105. When my MAC Book Pro was connected to the Oppo 105, used as a DAC ONLY, I did not use a monitor for my Oppo 105. As I stated above, once you set the Oppo 105 input to USB, you are ready to start playing music from your MAC Book Pro. As someone stated above, there might be some audio setting needed for fine tuning, but, most likely, these settings are not required for your application. When I used the DAC only in my Oppo 105, I used the standard Oppo settings and made no changes. Once the MAC is connected to the Oppo 105 via the USB cable, all audio controls are done on the MAC using iTunes and the volume control on your amplifier.

If you want to review the settings in the Oppo 105, you can temporarily connect it to your TV (or any monitor) and make the required changes and return the Oppo 105 to your audio system.

If you plan on using the Oppo 105 for video or for playing CD's from the Oppo (and not the MAC Book Air), an external monitor is definitely required. You need to verify this but I believe Oppo Digital changed the operation on the Oppo 105 so that an external monitor is not required for playing CD's.
dtc's avatar
dtc
1,024 posts
 
Since you are sending a digital signal into the Oppo, it may try to apply its room correction and speaker adjustments. If the main speakers are set to small, the low frequencies may be sent to a sub output. I only use my Oppo to output digital, not analog, so you want to check with someone who uses the analog out. Just something to check.
smrex13 OP
423 posts
 
OK, I'm starting to get the attraction :). I got a cheap monitor to be able to navigate the Oppo and downloaded the firmware update that allows it to play DSD files. I downloaded a few albums onto a thumb drive and plugged it in. I'm sitting here listening to the Miles Davis ("Kind of Blue") and it is SO much better than my redbook CD copy. Wow! I also have Muddy Waters's "Folk Singer" and the clarity is startling. Just what I needed - another place to spend my audio money :)

Thanks everyone for getting me off on the right foot. I think this is going to be fun!

Best,
Scott
dtc's avatar
dtc
1,024 posts
 
Congratulations!

The user interface on the Oppo is not as flexible as iTunes or one of the other players, but it does take all the computer issues out of the picture. It seems like you are on the right track. To do DSD over usb you need the 105 Darbee edition

You can use a multi terabyte drive and have access a large amount of high rez music. Not all high rez downloads are that much better than Redbook, but a lot are. The trick is to find the ones that were re-mastered, which is not all that easy to determine.

You may have done so already, but you should try a high rez LPCM download from you MAC and from the thumb drive. Eventually, you should be able to get them to sound the same, but it may take some work.

Enjoy the music. That is what it is all about.
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