Going digital without getting discouraged

Once a die hard vinyl person decides they want to dip their toe in digital waters, what's the best way to go about making the most of it without getting discouraged? Have a question you want to ask Paul? www.psaudio.com...
I have finished my memoir! You can go read it now: www.amazon.com... It's called 99% True and it is chock full of adventures, debauchery, struggles, heartwarming stories, triumphs and failures, great belly laughs, and a peek inside the high-end audio industry you've never known before.
I plan a few surprises for early adopters, so go to www.paulmcgowa... and add your name to the list of interested readers. There's an entire gallery of never before seen photos too.

[@karltodd2518]

Go for it my friend. I was late into the streaming world! Without a doubt it's the best musical journey I have ever made. There is so much new music waiting for you to discover it. I use a chord Hugo with the baby version of your speakers B&W 805s and it sounds very analogue. I feel like a child in a sweet shop when I'm browsing the Vast libraries of music on tidal, it's amazing!!! When I'm ready for some new gear I plan on checking out PS Audio gear! I'm curious as I've not heard it in the UK.

[@Gregor7677]

Can't imagine confining myself to one format. I have open reel and cassette players, CD and DVD (DSD soon) , a mono and a stereo turntable , HD files and a streaming service.

[@nightstand68]

I rip all my CDs into FLAC files and play through a DAC and the CDs are put away. My main listening experience at home is records but I also subscribe to Google All Access music and I treat that as I would a regular radio broadcast. Great for discovering artists and new music alike.

[@johnsweda2999]

I was thinking that a DAC and a streamer for that case would sounds superb of batteries? what is it like Paul a DAC running off batteries. I can imagine it's a lot quieter more detail less harshness. Why don't you make a battery pack power supply using batteries and power capacitors instead of your regeneration thing maybe a special connection on your equipment so it can be plugged direct or just fed to a mains plug for other people's equipment. Let me know what a DA converter sounds like off batteries thanks

[@karltodd2518]

I have a Chord Hugo that is battery powered! Chord recommend you disconnect the charger for optimum performance even though it only ever runs of the internal battery! I guess connection to the mains is considered undesirable. Ps the battery lasts upto 8 hours when set at line level.

[@AmazonasBiotop]

Hej John. You do not need to dig so far. I good HW designer as Sutherland with his 20/20 phono stage. He stopped to make/use HW components with batteries when he realize that he could construct and even make better than useing of batteries. See his KZbin video "Ron Sutherland Talks About Sutherland 20/20 phono .. " There he explains how do better than batteries. Very interesting.

[@HareDeLune]

www.vinnierossi.com

[@Lesterandsons]

Analog and digital work perfectly toghether

[@edwardallenthree]

On streaming: I don't do it. Not because of quality, with Qobuz and Tidal, quality is great. I don't stream because the streaming service strips the music of it's context. No liner notes, no detailed metadata with individual performers names, no credit for the others who worked on the music. It is just there, and we are told that every time we listen to a song, the creators get paid. But the creators then show us checks for a few dollars a month.

[@Paulmcgowanpsaudio]

Actually, quite the opposite is true depending on the server/user interface. For example, Roon, and our upcoming Octave music server platforms offer a ton more metadata, liner notes, links to associated artists, recording engineers, you name it. Much richer experience if done right.

[@edwardallenthree]

@@Paulmcgowanpsaudio I appreciate your response! I didn't mean to suggest that digital audio, or digital interfaces are a problem. In fact, the work that you do to add context back to streaming is great, and I dramatically improves the experience. But this is context that you add, not that Spotify adds. Maybe Qobuz or Tidal are better. But, I must confess, I have "reconnected with my youth" and my music, both of my youth and today, by buying CDs and Vinyl. I like the "context" that the musicians had in mind. I recently purchased a new album from HD Tracks and found myself missing that, even though the sound was fantastic. So I found the CD used. I like holding it in my hand. I don't even care if it plays.

[@jonathansturm4163]

@@edwardallenthree I'm tempted to invest in Roon just because it provides far more metadata than LP covers and CD liners. The latter bug me because they are set in tiny type and often in poorly thought out colours. Roon OTOH provides a huge amount of information and being on-screen, can be made legible for those of us over 35 years of age. This applies to my existing collection of music, not just streamed.

[@edwardallenthree]

@@jonathansturm4163 I use JRiver as my server, and Song Kong to get the metadata from Discogs that it doesn't. I find this has at least songwriter credits for most of my collection. I really should start updating it with the parts of collection that are missing. My complaint about metadata was a specific complaint about the streaming services and their policies. My favorite source of music, these days, is bandcamp. I can buy a record or a CD and download the flac files. Roon is not for me, but that is mainly because I have invested so much time customizing JRiver.

[@HAL9007]

That's why god made AllMusic.com.

[@divertiti]

For all you vinyl guys interested in digital, look into the Lab12 DAC1 SE, it's a tube dac using 8 of the legendary Phillips NOS chips, it's the most analog sounding DAC I've ever heard, destroys the Border Patrol on neutrality and openness. If you find a used one, it's the closet thing to vinyl you'll find under $2K. If you want solid state R2R, Denafrips is the way to go.

[@charlescalkins4732]

A GREAT !!! Vinyl systems cost A LOT of money. Several years ago I heard a GREAT vinyl system. Damn near knocked my socks off what I heard. BUT !!! The owner of the system had $40,000 tied up in it. Not amps. Not Pre amp Not speakers. And all the other gear. $40,000 for the turntable and whatever made it work. Not my cup of tea at any price.

[@jonathansturm4163]

OTOH some of us get by with a $500 TT/cartridge. What blew my socks off was how good a recent Ortofon MM cartridge sounded compared to my 30 year old Audio Technica MC. I sold my MC for nearly what I paid for it on fleabay! Then I spent my ill-gotten gains on a bunch of 2nd hand CDs :-)

[@Schaneification]

build a computer for streaming and rip your owen files .

[@bc527c]

Get a Steaming DAC from PS Audio or Chord or someone else who is doing the same, which is a DAC that converts to DSD before converting to analog, that will be more in harmony with your vinyl source.

[@jonathansturm4163]

A steam-powered DAC? Now that's a must-have for a steampunk fan...

[@ilovecops6255]

Digitals is high level voltages or low level voltages or Phase Shift Keying.

[@johnlebeau5471]

Vinyl: Turntable/arm/cartridge/phono amp. A million possible combinations. Easy to get wrong. Expensive to get right. Digital: It's all about the DAC. A million different choices, or so it seems. Easy to get wrong. Expensive to get right. See...they are pretty much the same thing. The best is not cheap, and cheap is not the best, in either format. Paul always says to start with the speakers when building a system. This is true but the source is just as important. They are both transducers: something that changes the grooves or digits into electrical waveforms and something else that changes electrical waveforms into sound waves. Yours is a good, high end system. Get a DAC that is it's equal, or better. That will keep you from being disappointed. I have made this switch in the last few years, modern digital equipment is very good and DSD is even better than vinyl. I stream from Tidal through a computer, and love the sound. My DAC is the most expensive single piece of equipment I have ever bought.

[@Grassy_Gnoll]

DSD is the only digital format that comes close to vinyl, to me, anyway.

[@rajeshgill1780]

Hi Paul. Greetings from Singapore. Got my book delivered today!

[@Paulmcgowanpsaudio]

Yes! Hope you have a fun read.

[@craigblackwood2165]

I was wondering if you folks @ PSAudio plan to tackle the task of making a record player. I would have expected that before speakers but you surprised me again.

[@endrizo]

Dont get crazy..just get a bluetooth receiver with aptx hd codec and optic output...into your pre and amp and you are done...play your cell phone music library in flac files or internet services through your big stereo system....most av receivers have bluetooth and tidal etc Android tv boxes are cool too. And sound very good..i play youtube in one connected to my system..sounds good.

[@ShellstaTube]

This guy is bi-amping - he's gonna want a solution beyond what you suggest.

[@endrizo]

@@ShellstaTube biamping is in amp stage...i give source suggestion..you simple amp or bi amp it later...i give you an optic output signal....then you amplify it as you choose.

[@ShellstaTube]

@@endrizo Yeah - I'm just saying that if he goes to the extent of bi-amping - he's likely going to seek e.g, uncompressed content and 'premium' hardware, as source.

[@fraudsarentfriends4717]

Streaming is not a product,It's a service.Apples and oranges comparison,Exploring new music is the only thing i use Pandora for.

[@edwardallenthree]

Digital sound sources sound great, and you dont have to spend as much as on a good cartridge. Great companies like this one I've heard of, ps audio, make great and simple digital streamers. Or you can use your computer and get a good DAC, like, the great product from geshelli labs.

[@james-xf1ox]

It's less costly to play digital files well than to play vinyl well

[@swinde]

There is no reason to worry because you add streaming. I hope you are not going to throw away all of your vinyl collection just because you add a new source. I began buying CDs in 1985, but I still have all my vinyl. and 70s era playback gear. I still have more vinyl than CD. I also have much of my collection on my computers, both from vinyl sources ans CD.

[@andershammer9307]

My old Telarc LPs made from a soundstream digital tape sampled at 50K sound great but the CDs sound dull and compressed. Digital seemed to go downhill fast after these records. Even the later Telarc LPs sucked.

[@andershammer9307]

Is that a Mercury Wing vinyl record on the floor ? most of the wings were not very good. You need to try a real Mercury Living Presence LP.

[@rodgermasinde3696]

hi i have different quiz i got a car stereo 50*4 watts i want to use it at home .How mch amps is sufficient for it .Thanks

[@rodgermasinde3696]

Thanks

[@ryanray6215]

4 Millions songs on Kobus which 3.9 millions are totally useless . I rather have my very own 100 + excellent vinyl records ! The sound of high quality turntable is simply unbeatable to me . But don't get me wrong Paul, please enjoy your 4 million + songs .

[@FooBar89]

bad parts of digital? like what?

[@jonathansturm4163]

The bad part for me was ripping a large collection of vinyl/cassettes* then processing the resultant files to reduce clicks, pops etc. It took a _long_ time. After that it was heaven being able to cue up a bunch of albums and just sit back, relax and enjoy. Another upside was having all of my collection on a pocket drive that goes everywhere with me. Even if my original LPs/cassettes/CDs are stolen/destroyed, I still have my music. I just wish I could get back some of the rarities that were stolen before they were digitised. * I started on 28 October 1999.

[@freezerburn6454]

What chairs are in this video?

[@br6768]

This video feels like a break up 💩

[@davebrown3230]

Thumbs down , because you didnt get into the different sources and equipment you can use for streaming . I'm new to high resolution streaming . Can my desktop PC be used for that kind of streaming and storing files? I have Amazon prime , can it be used for High Reolution ? I can be a noob without being a idiot , but dont assume to much , when a person is just starting out , in the High Resolution world . I didnt enjoy giving you a thumbs down , but for me , I have to be honest . For the good news , UPS is bringing me a Emotiva Airmotiv Sub tomorrow . I will also be hooking up a usb DAC for my PC , later today .

[@Paulmcgowanpsaudio]

You can't get high resolution from most streaming services, certainly not Amazon, Apple, or Spotify. You can from Tidal and Qobuz. You can always email me directly [e-mail] if you need.

[@ShellstaTube]

Amazon have announced they are working on a 'better than CD quality' service - www.theverge.com/2019/4/26/18518182/amazon-music-service-cd-quality-hi-fi-tidal-competitor-unlimited-prime-price

[@jonathansturm4163]

@@ShellstaTube I wouldn't mind a dollar for every "working on" better hi-fi device/system I've heard announced. And the ones that made it to market but subsequently failed... But then I've been actively listening to music for half a century! Thirty odd years ago I had a pair of curved electrostatic speakers demonstrated to me. Even though they were prototypes they were as good as I'd ever heard. I believe they're going to make it to market... er... some time last year ;-)

[@ShellstaTube]

@@jonathansturm4163 Tee Hee - the project sponsor must have another source of income.

[@davebrown3230]

@Douglas Blake Good information , thanks Douglas . I plan on doing some research . Paul's video was posted as I was just starting .

[@thegrimyeaper]

5:29 I threw up in my mouth a little.

[@r423sdex]

If he listens to modern vinyl, he is already listening to digital.

[@chielwouterscw]

Dave G but it's mostly the mastering that makes the difference between vinyl and digital.

[@jonathansturm4163]

@@chielwouterscw Isn't that Dave G's point? Mastering has been digital for a long time now.

[@chielwouterscw]

Jonathan Sturm I might be missing something here but I mean that even though the source material may be the same and the mastering is done digitally, to press the music into vinyl and make it sound right, they have to master it differently only for the vinyl records.

[@r423sdex]

@@chielwouterscw yes they do, with less dynamic range. If that's what you want.

[@r423sdex]

To beat a top £1000 dac, you would have to spend £20,000 on a turntable setup.

[@DanishGameplayerZz]

Why is it that some Speakers doesn't need to get toad in, like My Dali speaker?

[@jonathansturm4163]

Toads don't like surrealism...

[@HareDeLune]

@@jonathansturm4163 Lol!

[@Paulmcgowanpsaudio]

Much depends on how the speaker designers dealt with their off axis response. If it's pretty uniform, as it should be, then toe in should be unnecessary for a pair of speakers that are not too far apart,

[@diosubescu]

The world of obsessive audiophilia .....

[@skampster]

Easy answer, you want digital to sound more analog, buy a Chord M Scaler.

[@skampster]

Pete is never wrong but the m Scaler is not a dac……………………

[@skampster]

Pete is never wrong have you put the M- Scaler in front of the AN within your own system?

[@skampster]

Pete is never wrong ah awesome. I’m loving my Scaler and Qutest.

[@skampster]

Pete is never wrong main thing is that it takes the sharp edges off digital. I worry less about gear now and just enjoy listening to music.

[@musicman8270]

Analog is real music, digital is a representation of real, a series of pulses strung together to make a fake sine wave. Sounds great, just not real.

[@musicman8270]

@Pete is never wrong like I said. Sounds great, just not real. When I bought a CD of "learning to crawl" because playing vinyl in a truck is difficult it was a bit disappointing because it just didn't sound as good as the vinyl I bought back in the eighties. Not as real, just not as good. Have over seven hundred albums in digital, but none beat vinyl. Still enjoy them though..just not as much as vinyl.