In article , Rob
wrote:
On 06/04/2010 12:42, Jim Lesurf wrote:
In , Rob
wrote:
On 06/04/2010 09:18, Jim Lesurf wrote:
In , housetrained


I'd also be wary of finding that a 'packaged' system became obsolete
when people started using a new file format, etc.


I think they use FAT variants so they can attach to a Windows machine.

Sorry, I meant encoding formats - mp3, AAC, FLAC, etc. With your own
computer you can easily install these. But with a packaged device you might
run into problems, depending on how flexible the design may be.


As with traditional audio, some will 'DIY', others will throw cash at
'experts', etc.


It does seem to be something that's difficult to get right, different
needs maybe. Naim and Linn have some interesting variations, but at a
price.

I have the feeling that a lot of the problem is that many computer hardware
makers and vendors are a mix of clueless and unconcerned about audio. The
attitude is that "You can hear something, so it works!" This exposes buyers
to the situation where to get something that works *correctly* as a package
you get presented with Sooloos, Naim, etc, etc. i.e. expensive badged
packages you are expected to throw your money at.

No doubt they work very nicely. But given that playing a soundfile only
demands a trivial load in modern CPU terms this should be something almost
any old computer can do with ease without any fans whirring. Alas people
have been 'educated' sic to go, "X GHz, whoo! that's fast!" and "3 GB
RAM. Massive!", without thinking that a *silent* *low power* slower and
simpler setup would actually do such tasks with less fuss and cost.

That said, people perhaps have bypassed this to some extent without being
aware of it when they use ARM variants, etc, in other mobile devices. :-)

Slainte,

Jim

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