The official "Theta" thread - Page 15

I'm "trying" to use a free server application Craig told me about called Plex, which I think shoulda been called 'Com-Plex'!
It seems very nice for a free server app. and it actually has "fixed" certain problems caused by iTunes (which I will get into shortly, really I will) but there are just so many settings involved with getting these things up and running all over my wireless network. I wish I could have just plugged it in and sat my butt down, which is really what I do best.
I've never even really made much use of the wireless network before, so what's second nature to most people these days is not for me, since I just emerged from being under a rock.

New kinds of computers, wireless networks, server applications, ripping, etc., too much stuff for my old worn out brain to understand all at once and I'm really finding it all a bit much all at the same time!
Throw in the new Hi-rez audio codecs and HDMI with the Casablanca and it's a whole new world of confusion for me.

I've spent a good 16hrs on the phone with apple support the past few days and yet still managed to lose the VPN and security we had installed that connects us to the Main Frame of the local collage, a very handy little thing to have!

And I've still got to get Microsoft Windows installed on at least one of these things, cause as I understand it, I cannot use any of this Mac stuff to connect with the Casablanca to install it's OS updates without it!
I guess I will probably not be able to use whatever new "Crystal type" software they eventually release without a Windows OS either.
This stuff is totally out of my realm and I've never had to worry about what works with what before since I've always been a Windows guy and it seems like just about everything will work with Windows first and maybe Windows only.

As simple as some of these things might seem to some of you guys, I think if the schools Computer lab does not mind a third visit, I will leave them to deal with creating partitions and installing the Windows OS for my CB-IIIHD to use.
But of course I'll probably be on my own as far as server applications and what-not go.

Anyway, the real reason I actually mentioned all of this stuff was to bring up the subject of the CB-IIIHD and the way it reproduces audio when input HDMI audio from a computer.
And also to make any Mac user aware that Windows will be required for any software updates, but probably ever Mac user in the world already understands these things!

Still more to follow

OK, getting a little closer to the discussion about the CB-IIIHD and HDMI input from a computer , which last week I said i'd look into whatever problems there were associated with the CB-IIIHD accepting certain audio formats or playing them properly from the HDMI output of a computer when my new computers arrived.
I volunteered to do this since I'm such a whiz with computers.

Since they actually have arrived, I actually have been slowly exploring my options with audio output from a computer via HDMI into the CB-IIIHD, while not on the phone with Apple, and I have run into some different situations where the CB-IIIHD did not react as I would have liked it to, but it did do what i expected it to cause a week or so ago someone posted about these very situations and the problems they're experiencing with this particular type of input.

On the other hand, since I still cannot update my CB-OS software yet, I am now probably running software that is a version or two behind some of the other guys and I have no way to tell if what happens to me now with my version software happens within the newer versions.
But I think with these issues they'll all act similarly because of last weeks post, and I think most of the revisions to the software have had to do with expansion to 7.1 and these computer input issues via HDMI are probably universal, no matter how many speakers your system has, if you go beyond a pair of mains.

I'm don't remember which CB-IIIHD owner mentioned quirks via HDMI with computer inputs but perhaps they'll chime in again soon.

I guess some of the next few posts will go over what I've found and what these quirks are and what i'm trying to do to avoid or work around them, so the CB-IIIHD will sound and work like we'd like it to, even with audio fed by a computer.

Welcome to the world of computer audio, which is a complete and utter configuration nightmare, Mac and Windows alike. Sending audio from a computer over HDMI is a relatively uncommon practice. Most folks would use an S/PDIF soundcard, a USB DAC, or an USB to S/PDIF converter. For computer audio into a CBIII HD, I would think the latter is you best bet.

[quote=Steve Bruzonsky;20105441]Right now I've got a 2.0 system, waiting for my CB3 HD upgraded to come back. Craig says Theta got more HDMI boards last week and shipped another upgrade, so that puts me closer to being done, hopin' in the next week or two. Think I was like #13 on the upgrade list.


Steve, great to hear the news that new boards are inbound. I am #16, hopefully my upgrade could be completed by the time the NCAA "SWEET 16" comes around.

I look forward to hearing your evaluation of the upgrade, as you are truly a premier user of the CB3.

Yeah well I'm goin in kickin and scratching but I'm goin in.

You should realize by now that I'm a relatively uncommon sort to begin with.
I just thought that HDMI outputs from computer gear was itself uncommon until as of late, so what you describe would have been the only way to do it in the past.

So as for not using available HDMI from some disc drive or other, why not?

And how would I get any HD video content I may have stored to my display without it?
Of course that means going through the CB-IIIHD in order to be decoded in the first place, so I'm not really getting the use of S/PDIF and stuff at this point?

Display port technology on the MACs I thought was the latest and greatest craze but.?

You trying to sell me your old coax or something

BB52, little off-topic, but if you want to play video through a mac with Plex (or VLC) I can tell you that playing the same files through a Tvix Slim S1 mediaplayer is better, more stable and also a little bit better image quality, and you can forget about keyboard/mouse etc. Also starts up faster and is available almost instant when powered on. Supports internal HDD. Never had a problem with it. Also had the previous model, never a problem. I have a Mac Mini as well, but only uses it for viewing online content or iTunes/spotify for playing background music.

Thanks for the suggestions but I already own this stuff so I will try to make it work for the little that I'd like it to do. I f I really get into the whole thing, then I will consider doing things even better. As it stands right now, I'm off and running at a very slow pace and that's my top speed at the moment.
I realize there is much better equipt. and no doubt better ways but this is my chosen path at the moment.

You should contact Amirm. He has what appears to be an excellent product for a very reasonable cost. It converts USB to S/PDIF.

There are considerations relating to jitter when using HDMI for audio. You may want to contact Amirm and ask him about Audiophellio. It looks like a very good product that is extremely user friendly.

Besides the apparent stability issues with HDMI audio from a computer, I suspect it is probably the worse digital audio signal quality coming out of your Mac. If you want to play the family video clips this is not an issue, but audiophile quality music need not apply.

I personally use the PS audio bridge for high quality audio, and an M-Audio Transit USB to S/PDIF converter for all the rest, including netflix streaming. I will look into this configuration again once Netflix starts streaming audio in Dolby+ and I can get decent surround sound.

Thanks Raul.

Well implemented Asynchronous USB interface in my opinion is really the way to go to get both high fidelity and ease of use. With most products there is nothing to install. Simply connect the USB cable and you are good to go.

I find that these devices increase the performance of any DAC I have plugged it into. Even the low-end DAC in our Peachtree Nova ($1,100 DAC with amp) improves in fidelity over its own built-in USB. That kind of makes sense is that low-end DACs need a cleaner source to do well and the async USB boxes do exactly that -- an independent clock with electrical isolation from the PC.

The Audiophilleo costs about $500 for the standard version and $900 for the one with bling (OLED display and such). The latter is fun to have as it lets you see the effect of jitter by switching from one clock source to another instantly. There is an audible difference even though the low-quality clock is actually pretty good with 1ns (?) jitter spec. It also has a cable length simulator but I have not heard that make a difference. If you don't care about these features, the standard one at $500 has all the same guts.

I have tested the above against S/PDIF and Toslink out of various PCs and it is always an improvement. Comparison is relatively simple as I connect both paths and then change the setting in the control panel. There is an audio glitch in Windows but nevertheless you can switch back and forth.

I am #12 and mine was shipped out yesterday. I expect to get it tomorrow!

I hope I am #13 and I hope I am next.

Wasn't that the HOT BLONDE HUMAN/Borg on Star Trek Voyager, #13?

She was 7 of 9.

13 was the hot blond in House. She was named the sexiest woman in men's magazine last yr.

PS I prefer 7 of 9. 13 is nice, but she is a little on the skinny side.

I have used a Mac Mini in my HT since purchasing a PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC with Bridge late last year. Sound quality was some of the best I've ever heard. Also ripped all my CDs to Apple Lossless. The Mini is great and dead silent. I can't test HDMI directly from Mini to the CB3HD as I don't have it yet (#18). However, I'm very interested in how good this will sound compared to using a USB out of the Mini to something such as the M2Tech Hi-Face EVO into the AES/EBU input on the CB3HD. I know plugging the Mini HDMI into my DVDO iScan and coming out coax to my CB2 with Superior DACs was not very impressive at ll. Mini Toshlink to CB2 is better but not real impressive either. The mini into the PWD USB was awesome. Streaming with the Bridge was better but I'm not sure how much and I sold the PWD along with the analogue preamp I was using with it so I can't compare it anymore.

(Com)Plex takes some time to get used to. I've tried it for a few movies but I will never have the patience to rip all of my movies to a server. Right now, I'm content with having my music on the Mini. Just need to perfect the interface to the Cassy. I can't wait for my CB3HD with Extreme DACs to arrive!

For guys like myself with 7.1 or 8.1 when playing any codec that can't be expanded from 5.1 to 7.1/8.1 (sacd, dvd-a, lpcm) using speaker plus settings. The end result is the surround channel is played through the side speakers. The good news is that by turning off the side speakers the surround channel plays correctly through the rear speakers(surround). Kind of a pain in the ass work around...

"For guys like myself with 7.1 or 8.1 when playing any codec that can't be expanded from 5.1 to 7.1/8.1 (sacd, dvd-a, lpcm) using speaker plus settings. The end result is the surround channel is played through the side speakers."

That is what it is supposed to do. When soundtracks were expanded from 5.1 to 7.1 it was rear speakers that were added, not sides.

Shawn

I just pickup mine this morning..... so sweet.... 12 channnels extreme Dac.Casablanca hd
Craig shumar call me yesterday .Thank you my friend.... theatermax...is great .He help me to get this upgrade possible .
Finally I'll be enjoying this weekend .The manufacture is about 10 times bigger than the aguora hill, more people working also .The people is really nice there, Dave showing me how to change dac arrangement.
I should be able to play around with my casablanca hd this coming weekend.

I really have to say good bye to 6 shooter..., it just ate(use) too many cables....make my cabinet crawling with too much cables.
anyone interested on 6 shooter?? what is the market vakue now??

Give me ten bucks and I'll take it off your hands

OK I''ll pay for the shipping.

Congrates on that 12 channel rig, I'll bet it's going to a nice home!

My business trip overseas is finally almost over. I leave tomorrow for the US and will set up my CBIIHD on Friday (or even Thursday night depending on how tired I am).

I feel kind of guilty that I got mine the day before I left while others have been patiently waiting and don't have theirs yet.

I don't recommend three week business trips overseas. Really not much fun.

The mini was just too convenient to pass up trying. I wanted something mainly for Pandora, Netflix and the like, but I've just been a ripping fool the last few days cause in a couple of days I gotta go to Fla. for a few weeks and somehow there is a way to use this (com)PLEX to connect via the internet and then at least I can have some hundreds of my own CD's tracks with me.

I've installed PLEX on the Mac Pros too, so that's how I'll connect with the home server if I can figure out how to do it, in between ripping disks and packing the gear I'm taking with me.
Very little in the way of clothing enters into the equation, so I might as well carry gear!

While there is plenty in the way of audio gear down there now, there is nothing in my bedroom so I've got a small powered subwoofer and a pair of small speakers to see if I can drag down there.

I don't have any of these adapter cables like mini TOS to even try with the mini, but I'm guessing HDMI is probably the better bet to the CB-IIIHD anyway, although, I might not mind giving that USB to Coax adapter a shot sometime.

For the time being and without trying a USB converter, the little I've have time to listen to the mini over HDMI has not been awful so with the rush I'm in at the moment, I think it's friggin great that it just plugs right into the CB-IIIHD via HDMI for audio and video!

Will there ever be more the 4 or 5 CB-IIIHD owners home at the same time?

Your coming, I'm going, Ash just got back!

Ok,

Since I know squat about playing stuff with a puter, I ripped a DTS music disc of The Moody Blues figuring with the signal passed digitally to the CB-IIIIHD via HDMI, the blanca would decode it but that ain't happening.

Is this sorta thing not possible or is there some sort of plug-in required for the CB-IIIHD to read this thing in any sort of fashion and not just give me white noise?

I am no fan of the original Superior dacs. The Sup II is a significant improvement but you really need Xtreme dacs for better sound.Of course Gen VIIIs are the ultimate dacs. From Edorr's and Steve's reports you will not beat the PS Audio dac with the Xtremes.

Not with the way Theta does it. Theta calls the rears, surrounds, and contends they can be placed at sides or rear. In a 7.1 set up this same channel goes to the rear and additional channels, sides are created.

Not good . The upgrade is reducing the need. I sold both of mine at not so great prices. But I got the Gen VIII to use for two channel analog at a great price. If ever I need more channels of analog volume control, I will buy more Gen VIIIs!

Thank you Bulldogger, this is very frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!

If you want to keep your system reasonably simple and get SQ comparable to what you were getting with the PWD + Bridge, you need a GenVIII + HiFace EVO (or equivalent). MacMini + HiFace EVO into CBIII HD with Xtremes will be a step back, although the Xtreme's play very competent 2 channel audio.

If you don't want to invest in a GenVIII you should have kept your PWD+Bridge, just sold your analog preamp and bought a Six Shooter. Scott4888 is selling his for peanuts!

Jerri Ryan,7 of 9, had a very public divorce. The husband, Jack Ryan was running for the U.S. senate. It was quite a scandal with the husband allegedly trying to get her to do all sorts of freaky things in public places and join sex clubs. I think the records were sealed to protect the son from future embarrassment. Do you think he made her dress up in "character" at home? I would have, hehehehehe."You will submit. I am the Borg."

Unfortunately, I want it all and that includes bass management for 2 channel. The most simple way to get that is to go through the CB3 DSP. I could do that with my previous analogue preamp but that's gone too. I will likely pick up a SS while prices are good. I understand I may be taking a step backwards but that remains to be heard. I'm also taking a giant leap forward going from a CB2 with 1 Superior and 1 Standard DAC to the CB3HD with 2 Extremes. A GenVII may very well be in my future.