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2007-12-01
, 15:47
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Posts: 139 |
Thanked: 73 times |
Joined on Oct 2007
@ Winnipeg, Canada
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#12
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The Following User Says Thank You to TenSpeed For This Useful Post: | ||
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2007-12-01
, 19:27
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Posts: 3,524 |
Thanked: 2,958 times |
Joined on Oct 2007
@ Delta Quadrant
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#13
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Check www.headphone.com for an excellent and well-priced portable headphone amp, the HeadRoom Total AirHead ($99).
The audio portion of the TSC2301 contains microphone input with built-in pre-amp and microphone bias circuit, an auxiliary stereo analog input, a stereo line-level output, a differential mono line-level output, and a stereo headphone amplifier output. The digital audio data is transferred through a standard I2S interface. A fully programmable PLL for generating audio clocks from a wide variety of system clocks is also included.
Ah, I thought of a solution that is actually getting me excited! I think the N810 would be able to drive the cousin of the AirHead called the BitHead, which is basically an outboard DAC (soundcard) too: that would clean up the audio quality greatly since the N810 would be supplying a perfect digital signal to the amp--as good as plugging an optical cable into your amp.
The only question is if the USB device would work, but I think the probability is high. Has anyone tested tested a USB soundcard with OS2008 and/or the N810 yet? If it doesn't work already, it should be feasible since it's a very simple and standard device. The Bithead takes batteries, so it shouldn't have any issues with a lack of USB power either.
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2007-12-01
, 19:46
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Posts: 3,524 |
Thanked: 2,958 times |
Joined on Oct 2007
@ Delta Quadrant
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#14
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As far as listening to binaural recordings while on the move, check out the Etymotic ER-4B in-ear headphones http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er4.aspx. The 4B model is specifically designed to reproduce binaural recordings, and they all have excellent sound isolation characteristics (in case your listening environment is less than ideal) - typically 35-40 dB isolation. Price is about $250-300, and you'll certainly have to order the 4B, as stores tend to focus on the 4P.
As far as UPnP, I'm leaning toward a dedicated NAS device with all my media on it, and with the option (?) of using the N810 as a remote of some sort. This is well beyond my areas of expertise, and as I said, I only started looking at it yesterday, so I don't have much to add just yet. Maybe in a few weeks.
Perhaps Canola could be used as a UPnP source/controller?
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2007-12-01
, 20:27
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Posts: 160 |
Thanked: 7 times |
Joined on Nov 2007
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#15
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Yes, it's a nice way to measure electronics (and even better, to market them), but it has very little to do with how we listen.
Great recommend! Do you have experience with this product?
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2007-12-01
, 20:39
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Posts: 160 |
Thanked: 7 times |
Joined on Nov 2007
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#16
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Then the computer looks at the Total BitHead, and if it doesn’t recognize it, the computer will download the driver stored on the Total BitHead and quickly install it.
Then the computer will begin to use the Total BitHead as an audio playback device. No batteries are required; simply leave the power switch off and the Total BitHead filters, re-regulates, and runs of the computers USB power bus. If, however, you are of an audiophile mind, turn the power switch on and the Total BitHead’s digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and power amp section will run off the internal batteries for ultra-clean performance and lower power drain on your computer.
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2007-12-01
, 21:45
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Posts: 139 |
Thanked: 73 times |
Joined on Oct 2007
@ Winnipeg, Canada
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#17
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2007-12-02
, 18:37
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Posts: 108 |
Thanked: 6 times |
Joined on Nov 2005
@ Central London
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#18
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2007-12-02
, 20:16
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Posts: 3,524 |
Thanked: 2,958 times |
Joined on Oct 2007
@ Delta Quadrant
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#19
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I own the ER-4P's and they're very good. Of all the earphones out there (in-ear and regular earbuds) they are at the topic for balanced response. To get the best out of these, as with any high-end ear/headphones, you should listen to them through an amp. The ER4-P's need a small adapter that changes the impedance, or ohms, to make them match the amp--the ER-4S are made for an amp without that tiny adapter, but don't work as well with a self-amped device like an iPod.
Google "binaural recording" or something and give some of the free samples out there a listen with whatever set of headphones you have lying around. Find some music suitable for binaural recording (big bands/anything electronic or amplified = not very suitable, but solo instrument = wow) and close your eyes. It's fun.
I don't know if I read your post carefully, but if you suggested some kind of switch mechanism that would let the output switch between amped and line--well, that would be awesome.
About the Bithead, it really shouldn't need proprietary drivers on any modern system. It's just an outboard DAC (digital-to-analogue converter), which is one of the most simple and standard kinds of chips out there. It doesn't need a signal sent to it in any special way; it just receives the audio stream digitally over USB and the DAC converts it to an analogue signal. Done.
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2007-12-02
, 20:28
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Posts: 3,524 |
Thanked: 2,958 times |
Joined on Oct 2007
@ Delta Quadrant
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#20
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And Captain, I'm very interested in this idea, but want to wait for the next version of Canola to be released. It sounds as though there might be a way to add this sort of capability as a plug-in in Canola, using their interface etc. I'm planning to hold off for a few weeks until that situation becomes more clear.
By the way, a HUGE thanks for the Linux audio server article - that's just the sort of thing I needed to read.
Anyway, you're judging things through a screen again: whatever set of headphones you used. You have no way of knowing where the inaccuracies were produced without doing exclusive testing.
Last edited by bexley; 2007-12-01 at 06:33.