HD Surround Audio Downloads?

Hi. I am looking for a nice media server that does HDTV, flac and 24/96 lossless and that is why I am browsing this forum. You have a great idea.

I have still to find a media server that is stable and fits my needs. Your idea may be a year or so ahead of it's time before any great demand finds you.

It is my opinion that DRM is what killed DVD-A and SACD. Blu-ray isn't going to come to the rescue.

'nuff said.

Hi Dr. AIX,

I have several of your DVD-Audio titles and really enjoy them. My friends are always amazed at what can be done with good audio compared to their compressed ipod crap. I would be VERY interested in this service. Where do I sign up? Thanks.

This was interesting.
Where exactly fo I find the samples?
I only found one, Moonlight Acoustica WMA, at http://www.itrax.com

Are there only WMA samples? Or any other formats?

br
/J

Ok, I guess I misinterpreted the below a bit wrong. I thought you meant that you made samples available already....



/J

Dr. AIX, can you recommend a hardware/software solution to play the 96/24 or 192/24 files? Is there a media streamer out there that can play these files, or do I need to use a general purpose computer?

Dr. AIX,

Thanks for getting this started. I purchased one of the earlier Linktheaters, and was surprised at the lack of support (especially in audio) that the industry was offering. I wrote Buffalo a long letter about how they were going to miss the boat if they didn't address what consumers really wanted. Five years ago I thought everyone would have a media server next to their AVS by now! Thanks again

Paul

For ross:


All the media servers on the market right now suck. HTPC with a good sound card works for me. BTW I am using an Emu 0404 w/ optical, hooked up to my Yam and I love it.

Dr. Aix-

I'm really looking forward to your product. Our company, Amplio Audio, is developing new audio hardware for this market. We've combined a high quality external audio interface (soundcard) with an analog section that performs as well as high end dedicated DACs and class-D amp modules to create a new PC-centric prepro/amplifier.

Not too long ago it was impossible to find HD source material, but now you can purchase 24bit/88.2KHz or 24bit/96KHz tracks from sites like MusicGiants.com or Linn Records. It's exciting that more options are going to be available.

I will do my best to spread that word about your high resolution audio offerings.

I've purchased music from both Linn and MusicGiants and have been impressed. So I can't wait to hear something from your catalog.

Yes, we currently support 24/192 7.1 multichannel surround audio. Standard configurations will include stereo, 2.1, 5.1 and 7.1. Our current drivers handle ASIO, multichannel WDM and multichannel WDM under Vista. We have more work before we complete the multichannel Vista drivers with full support of SysFx.

We are putting a lot of effort into making sure our drivers and control panel mixer application support home theater and music playback functionality music lovers will really appreciate. Our goal is to offer a product that sounds better than anything available from the pro-audio soundcard manufacturers, but with the usability of the consumer soundcards. We will include support for features like bass management, digital room correction and digital crossovers. So unlike the pro-audio soundcards that must have both great low-latency recording/mixing and good playback functionality, we put 95% of our engineering into playback functionality and great sound quality.

Actually, our interface supports up to 96 channels in 24/96 (48 for 24/192). Our chassis will only support up to 8 channels, but people can daisy chain systems to support more exotic configurations, like a system with 7 3-way speakers utilizing digital crossovers and a subwoofer (7.1) for a total of 22 channels (3 x 7 plus 1). This might also work well in a whole-house audio environment, but there are other networking capabilities that we will need to include for that environment to really do it right. Anyhow, our system is very scalable.

Hi all,

I would like some suggestions on my next sound card upgrade. I have been using an EMU-0404 for years but would like something that can handle DTS etc. I have a yamaha rx-v2500 for my av system. Nothing to high end please, I still have kids to feed!

Thanks,

Paul

Mark,

I hope that your timing is right on this as I want to see it succeed. Per my PM to you I have DVD-Audio in my car and two setups in my house and a stereo setup on my patio. I use Squeezebox3s and they are capable of doing surround sound through the digital outputs but they are limited to 48 KHz. Would it be posibble to post a 48 KHz, 24bit, 5.1 sample.

Thanks

Actually those formats will work for me as the SqueezeBox3 can handle pass through of AC3 and DTS streams, though that requires some manipulation of the file that I don't fully understand yet.

Mark,

If you haven't already posted on the SlimDevices forum and/or talked with the folks at SlimDevices, I would highly recommend it. You will find a very active and receptive audience to your venture.

I would be quite interested myself in hearing what you have. I would like to get into HD Audio. I just purchased a Galaxy TVISTO Multimedia HDD enclosure. And it just so happens to support 5.1 surround sound. Hopefully this will work with your content? Let me know if you would like some Beta testers.

Billl

Thank you for taking on such a project. I downloaded the one track that you had available about a month ago and still use it to this day for demo purposes. In the past I was quite hessitant about pc based audio as the sound was always just soso at best. Then i picked up the xm card, changed opamps, bypassed caps, and did the power mod. The sound coming from my pc now destroys my denon 3910. Now I just need to find more high quality audio for the pc, and your website should make things very easy. Would love to help beta test if needed.

Hi all,

After researching my audio card upgrade options to handle DTS or HD audio, I am once again disappointed with the state of the industry. There are very few DTS capable sound card options at the consumer level. I can go to Walmart and find a player that will pass DTS to my receiver for $29, but for $200 I can only find a few sound cards that will do the same; and of those, most have the same c-media chip (I have no experience with them). It seems to be similar to the media servers; half of them use the same crap sigma chip, and I felt like I was paying to be their R&D. I really hope thru efforts like this one that the manufacturers start catching on that this is the direction that consumers want to go and get onboard.
Once again, if anyone has experience with a card that is working for them please help.


Paul

My x-meridian card handles dts and hd audio perfectly. There is a huge thread about it in the computer forum on this site. Best part is you can plug in new opamps for even better sound, bypass caps, and chang power for even better sound. Many of us have already done so with great success.

Thanks for the info dreamhost. I am wondering why you chose Auzentech; when there are half a dozen companies selling the same c-media chip. I read on their website that they were teaming up with Creative Labs to produce their own X-FI based card in the near future. I shutter at the thought of ever buying a Creative Labs product! When Creative purchased EMU I knew I would never buy another EMU. Besides that I just want to have the best sound for my money, but I wish I didn't have to upgrade the opamps myself. I would think that someone would have them for sale if it was a better solution. BTW I saw a new Razor sound card with that same chipset. Razor did wonders with the ordinary mouse, perhaps they will bring something new to the sound card table.

Paul

I started with the creative x-fi, hated the sound, so started looking for a replacement. After finding the xm thread on these forums, reading tons of reviews, and seeing that it could be moded and only <$200 I figured what the heck. When I first put the card in, I wasn't all that impressed. Then I swapped the opamps, and bypassed the caps. The sound difference was immense. I had been using a 'tubed' and heavily modified denon 3910, and for the first time I was getting the same quality sound from my pc, which was totally unexpected. The 3910 hasn't been used since.

Frankly, I looked everywhere for the best analog card for my pc. Didn't care who made it so long as it was under 1k, kinda my 'toy' limit. Other than recording cards I couldn't find anything better. If there is, then I would jump on it.

You are correct, it would be nice not to have to change chips or bypass caps, but there seems to be little option out there right now. I don't play games, so the only thing that matters to me is the absolute best analog sound possible. I built a new computer as close to the top of the line as needed just to listen to music and watch my movies, whether in sd or hd-dvd/blue ray. I love not having to get up and change the disk all the time, as when listening to music, I may go through a number of albums in a single session. Just wish I could use my sacd's on my pc, but kinda doubt that will ever happen. That is why I am so excited about your new website and being able to download the ultimate in quality. I'm sure it will be quite a hit, and look forward to my first purchase. (Also will beta test if you need it).

Yes!
If I rename DTS files to .wav my Tvix 5000 can read them and let the receiver do the DTS decoding.
Gives great sound in my opinion.

/J

Could we have an idea of the catalogue you're gonna carry?

Seems like this tread went dead? Dr. Aix are you still with us?


Billl

Dr. Aix, Have you considered an all-you-can-eat subscription plan?