Computer Audio Players

Since I have all apple mobile devices, there is a plugin for foobar that lets you use apple's remote app to control foobar, and it works very well, I use that all the time.

 

Assuming you are in same room as desktop connected stereo or in another room but audible in bed and just want to run your current desktop player remotely, then this might work:
http://www.theverge.com/2013/10/17/4849284/remote-desktop-android-ios-windows-pc
Then it doesn't really matter what player you have.

And there are remotes for
Plex as well.

 

I have a Mac and a PC. All my music is on my PC because space is not as expensive as it is in a Mac. I use Foobar 2000, because it is so simple, yet customisable and can do direct to hardware output thru WASAPI

 

MPD on a dedicated linux server; Vox on my Macs; foobar2000 on Windows, mostly for library organization.

I was using Audirvana, but Vox seems just as good. I haven't A/B'd them.

 

Could any member familiar with Foobar kindly help me out? I've recently started to use Foobar. I've downloaded George Yohng's VST wrapper and now it is in active DSPs. But I am at lost here regarding how to use this VST. The instructions I found on line are not clear. My immediate goal is to be able to use EasyQ plugin to make some music tracks more enjoyable with HD800. Please give me some step-by-step pointers if you could.

Thanks!

 

1. Install Component using foobar's component page as per normal.
2. vst adapter will appear as a small icon in your system tray in Windows.
3. Click on said icon and a dialog will appear. From the dialog, click on "VST Setup"
4. "Add" file directory using the system dialog and the wrapper will scan for any available dsp in that directory.
5. Click on the icon in system tray to get back to the original dialog and go to the " Use VST Effect" tab and select your desired VST.
6. After doing so, from the original dialog, click on "Show/Hide Plugin Editor" to enter your desired parameters for Easy Q.
7. Finally, getting into Foobar's DSP manager, add "George Yohng's VST wrapper" to get the VST into your signal chain

 

I recommend grabbing foo_vst instead of George Yohng's VST Wrapper. You install VST plugins at the top then use them in the DSP Manager like anything else.

 

@firev1 & @Luckbad

Thanks for taking time helping me! Following your instructions, I think I have made some progress in EQing down the 6Hz peak with HD800.

 

No problem! I've also posted this elsewhere, but it might help with using EQ in general.

If you use foobar2000 (or JRiver, or anything that can use VST plugins), this is what I liked to use on EasyQ for the Fostex TH600:



That is using foo_vst to use VST and EasyQ (available in DSP manager after installing foo_vst and EasyQ). If you grab that, also get their EngineersFilter at RS-MET; you can do insane bass boosts with it with a hard line if you want.

I like this:



But you can also do stupid crazy EQ slopes like this:



You can actually use VST in Windows if you go through some hoops and use VB Cable and Reaper (or similar options--I just prefer those. JRiver can also act as a fake sound card to use VST).

The easiest free option for Windows is EqualizerAPO with PeaceGUI.

These settings cleaned up the treble on my TH600 nicely (5500Hz being the only important setting; the rest are flat):





If I wanted to go high volume with crazy bass on the TH600, I'd use this or a similar 15dB version. It rolls off all treble in addition to targeting the peak so I can turn the volume up even higher.

 

Thanks. I see that you lower that 5.5KHz peak by as much as 6dB. I've not got that far but will experiment. I slightly prefer no EQ on the low frequencies as driving the HD800 from speaker taps gives enough bass to my ears as it is. But it is eye-opening that you can do that many things with the plugins

 

I recently trialed and subsequently purchased Amarra for use with my Mac (ALAC rips) when sitting in front of the computer. I find it seamless in integration with iTunes and does improve the soundstage and sort out instrument placement.

I do not use equalization (seems to result in more harm than good to me) so this is not an important feature in my choice of player.

 

Audirvana+ sill has direct mode (bypassing coreaudio) in 10.11 so it seems still possible.

I use Audirvana mostly for the integration with iTunes (column browser and smart playlists 4 lyfe) and the Apple remote app.

 

For Windows Jriver users with schiit DAC, what output mode do u generally prefer?

On my system, Paul pang v3 --> jriver -> Yggdrasil, ASIO seems to sound more 'soothing' subjectively and WASAPI from schiit default driver sounds a little more 'agressive'. Seems more of a difference than improvement when choosing between the 2. I didn't perform the test in blind test, but done them mostly on my 2 channel.

 

I am waiting on Gungnir Multibit but with my current DACs I like WASAPI (Event). I do not expect that to change. The purpose of both ASIO and WASAPI is to bypass the Windows mixer. They should not sound different. Choose one that does not pop or sputter on your processor/OS combo and you should be fine.

 

For casual listening, usually and mostly with headphones or computer speakers:

PC: Win10, Foobar
Android phone: Neutron Player (out of the phones dac or via usb otg)

For serious listening on my main speaker system:

NAS, Rasberry Pi2, Moode (Linux) MPD

 

I use AISO for Jriver Playback as I do not experience stutter and that is the prefered mode of DAWs when recording, however as @cooperpwc stated, there shouldn't be a difference between WASAPI and AISO. In my opinion, use AISO if you do not experience stutter.

To get the best audio quality, your software should communicate directly with your sound hardware, without Windows or any other layer doing resampling or other processing of the signal. Core Audio, ASIO, WASAPI, and Kernel Streaming are all hardware direct.

ASIO is a sound card communication system created by Steinberg. If your soundcard has a native ASIO driver, this is the most direct (and normally best) way to communicate with it. Please note that ASIO4All is basically Kernel Streaming with an ASIO wrapper. There's no good reason to use ASIO + ASIO4All vs just using Kernel Streaming directly in Media Center.

WASAPI is a hardware communication system in Vista, Windows 7, and newer. When used in exclusive mode, the Windows system mixer is bypassed, but other applications cannot simultaneously use the audio device.

 

I found this interesting.
http://archimago.blogspot.com/2015/11/measurements-apple-mac-os-x-yosemite.html

That linux driver has a very clean output.

 

Wow, I'm surprised by how many people are running Linux. I have been running Linux for several years now, and I have been recently using DeaDBeeF as my audio player.

 

I am taking a risk on an IDGG player Seiun/ Amp/dock they have got thier own server cloud software but I am thinking of trying to make a music server from a kickstarter Android PC remix mini I got for the wife but she went back to her Sammy S6..
Run Neutron Player off it for EQ Adjustments maybe try tidal.

To act as transport for my OPPO HA1.
Only just found out about PI players...8^/
Any one with android advice, I'd appreciate it.
Keep smiling
Dave
8^)

 

I just got volumio working on a Raspberry Pi 2. This Linux-based setup can play music from a USB HD or NAS, and it also acts as an Airplay device. It is controllable from any phone or computer on the network (slick browser interface; no app required). The playback is "bit-perfect". The server is fanless and fits in the palm of your hand. I have it also fully battery powered.

If you are running it off of ethernet, and you already have storage and a phone charger or USB battery, then the cost of this music server is <$50. Any battery that charges a phone can be used. I'm using a 2Ah lithium polymer battery (which is pretty expensive at $100, but I already had it lying around from another project). For the HD, you can go fancy with a SSD and appropriate enclosure if you want nothing mechanical in the setup, but a regular HD works just fine.

I can post pictures of the setup, screenshots of the interface (and a BOM if people are interested) soon.