In article , Chris Isbell
wrote:
On Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:12:42 +0100, Jim Lesurf
wrote:
Right. However I was asking about your comment re using net radio. I
was assuming from the context you were saying that BRK and France
Musique were an advantage for using a net radio device as the rx over
using a computer, etc.
For me, the main advantages of a net radio are that it is silent (no
fans or hard disks), it starts up faster and it is in a different room
from my computer.
This has been a concern for me. However it is possible to get computers
which make little or no noises. Albeit with a cost and some searching
around, etc. The Shuttle 'PC' I use has its fan disconnected, uses a
fanless brick PSU, and I have a SSD instead of a conventional HD. So it
makes no 'noises off' when I am using it to play audio, iPlayer, etc. Using
Ubuntu helps as it is quite happy with a 60GB SSD and only occupies a GB or
two.
I now also have a new laptop with a fanless PSU brick and a 60GB SSD. This
does have a fan, but it almost never comes on when I am simply listening to
the radio iPlayer or LPCM soundfiles. Does come on when using the 'TV#
iPlayer, though.
The main downside of the one I use is no digital output to feed external
equipment.
With the Shuttle I've ended up feeding digital via USB to a DACMagic, and I
then run an optical spdif from that to my Meridian 563 to break any ground
loops and get reclocking. Bit OTT but sounds good. :-)
With the Laptop I feed out its optical spdif to Pioneer CD recorder that I
also use as a player in the room where I tend to sit and use computers.
Meaning to try out a cheaper USB device, but as yet lack the round tuits...
Has anyone reading this tried, say, the 'Firestone' USB dac that has an
optical output?
've found all kinds of music on net stations with the announcements not
in English. Fortunately for me, the streams often have an accompanying
set of tags that label the content for when I don't recognise it! :-)
Parles-tu français ? Sprichst du Deutsch? :-)
A few words. :-) Many years ago I used to travel a lot when I worked in
mm-wave astronomy. Made kit for 90 - 400 GHz receiver systems and took it
to telescopes, etc. So did pick up 'FrangleDeutch' which was a guddle of
various European languages. But I've only ever been able to do that on the
basis of 'hear and learn'. Enough for some purposes, but hardly general
fluency! Found *English* hard enough to pick up! :-)
FWIW Many decades ago I was working in Tolouse for months. Project to use
Concorde 001 to fly along the track of a total eclipse to get prolonged
shadow for mm-wave measurements of the solar atmosphere. This mean I did
pick up some of the local dialect French. Mainly words for tools like
screwdrivers, equipment like transformers, etc, and how to order food and
drink.
With me was an academic who'd learned 'good' French at school. The problem
for him was that came across as a 'posh accent' to the locals. So they used
to pretend they could not understand what he said and turned to me to
explain as I spoke with the accent I'd picked up from them. :-)
But I can't now recall more than a few words.
Later on, most of the visits to telescopes were to Hawai'i. Less of a
language problem, but found people kept assuming I was Australian. ;-
Fun whilst it lasted. I love the views from c14,000ft up a mountain. And
despite being very unfit I never had problems with the lack of atomsphere.
Was one of the reasons I later got my old research group into making
mm-wave radars etc for volcanology. So they could boldly go up volcanoes
and have fun with big boots on around the world. :-)
Slainte,
Jim
--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics
http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio
http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc
http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html
BBC Radio using AAC and internet radios
Hybrid Mode
