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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
 
Already selected the USB from the remote, but it still didn't play. It recognized that the computer is connected, but I still can't get sound.

Do you mean that I can get DSD with the flash drive but not over a cable?

Thanks,
Scott
dtc's avatar
dtc
1,024 posts
 
Correct. DSD does not work via usb cable on the 105, only using the thumb drive. You can do PCM over usb from a computer, but not DSD. I believe that is just a limitation of the asych usb implementation for computers on the 105. The newer 105 Darbee does allow DSD over the usb from a computer. But the 105 does not. You should be able to play PCM files.
dtc's avatar
dtc
1,024 posts
 
Are you getting PCM over the usb cable to work now? If so, how does it compare to playing a PCM file from the thumb drive?
smrex13 OP
423 posts
 
Yes, got the cable to work, but right now I'm just using DSD files on a thumb drive with the remote app on my iPad to run the Oppo. Pretty cool so far!
lewinskih01
793 posts
 
Scott,

Glad to see you are moving along. Just for the record, you are not taking the easiest route to learn computer audio! Playing with DSD, when hardware and software are still coming to grips with it is not exactly starting easy :-)

I don't mean to discourage you at all. Just to note this so next time you get frustrated with something not working (believe me, it WILL happen again!) you remember you are trying at the forefront. To some, the mix of frustration and musical payback is worth it. To others, just the convenience of playing good old 16/44.1 files off a computer is enough.

Enjoy the ride!
Cheers.
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