Desert Island Discs

[TuneGirl]

Island should be tropical, music to be Ravel's Bolero, a package of Oreos and a good book!

[BenMurphy6]

on anything; i've tried it. you don't really lose clarity going to mp3; if anything, i've noticed that you lose a little bit of bass extension, which isn't too bad. <P>btw, don't knock computer speakers . the only real barrier to getting excellent sound out of a pc is the sound card, and there are some very high quality sound cards for reasonable prices, that offer all of the decoding options you can get out of a receiver. all you need then is a good amp. <A HREF="http://www.videologic.com/Products/Product.asp?Product=VL-60402" TARGET=_blank>here are the speakers i use.</A> i got my complete setup (sound card, speakers, etc) for about $400; a lot less than the typical home theater system and equal in sound to a much more expensive system. the computer is really an ideal setup for this sort of thing.<p>[ 02-19-2003: Message edited by: BenMurphy6 ]

[thornhill]

BenMurphy6,<P>Maybe I have sensitive ears, but I never have a problem distinguishing MP3 from redbook. The sound always strikes me as being thin and having a reduced sound-stage. There is also a noticeable drop in warmth and brightness. <P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>and there are some very high quality sound cards for reasonable prices <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>No doubt, but if you're going to use your computer for CD audio and you're willing to spend a lot of money on a sound card/computer speakers, you might as well spend a little more and buy a stereo reciever and put together a little audio system.<p>[ 02-19-2003: Message edited by: thornhill ]

[BenMurphy6]

do you know which encoder was used for the mp3's you've heard? it makes all the difference. also the bitrate is a large factor; if you're encoding at 96 kbps as opposed to 256 kbps (about a quarter of the size of cd audio) the difference in fidelity is large. i have pretty good ears and although i don't deny the difference, i'm totally satisfied given the amount of music that can be stored on one disc. i guess it comes down to what you're willing to put up with.<P>my point with the computer speakers is that currently you can get equal quality for less money. you're not going to be able to match a multi-thousand dollar audiophile system but certainly the typical home setup is well within reach. so why not spend a little less and you've got an equivalent audio system?

[thornhill]

BenMurphy6,<P>LAME encoder.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>my point with the computer speakers is that currently you can get equal quality for less money. you're not going to be able to match a multi-thousand dollar audiophile system but certainly the typical home setup is well within reach. so why not spend a little less and you've got an equivalent audio system? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>I'm not talking about "multi-thousand", but about $600 - $800.

[BenMurphy6]

the lame encoder is one of the better ones. then again my setup (actually a 4.1 variant of the one i linked to) tends to accentuate brightness and provides pretty good staging. come to think of it, that's probably why mp3's sound so darn good on them..<P>as far as a $600-$800 system, my point is why not spend, say, $450-$500 and get the same sound? <P>anyway, that's that. i reckon we'll just have to agree to disagree :p

[thornhill]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR> as far as a $600-$800 system, my point is why not spend, say, $450-$500 and get the same sound? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>For various reason, such as the number of input and output jacks, I rather spend a few hundred more to have a receiver.

[dai bread 1]

There are some very good computer speakers around now, but I prefer headphones. Top-notch ones can be had for about USD 200.<BR>You can then crank up the sound to suit yourself.<BR>You need a decent sound card too, but they're available. The rig I've got makes me sorely tempted to get broadband, but if I did it would cost me about NZD 8 per hour to listen to BR. The snippets I can get on a 64kbps feed are extremely tasty!

[thornhill]

don't get me started on headphones...

[BenMurphy6]

[bait]headphones are my favorite!!1[/bait]<P>j/k thorny. btw, i like to have lots of inputs and outputs too. wiring is fun.

[treebeau]

Mr. Bread never mentioned if there would be AC electricity on the island, but I doubt that's going to be the case. So, running your home stereo would be out of the question. That leaves you with a CD player like a Walkman and headphones. Given that, maybe you'd be ok with MP3 encoded CDs.<BR> <P>Regards,<BR>Tim B.<P>P.S. Mr. Bread, this was a fun topic. Please post another today. In other words, give us this dai our dai bread.<BR>(groans expected)

[barfle]

UuuuuhhhhhHHHHHHH!<BR> :p

[EJA]

So, dai bread <B>1</B>, did we forget our password, or what? If so, e-mail the moderators and they'll reset your old account

[dai bread]

Thanks Treebeau. I'm glad you liked it. As I said at the start, an oldie but a goodie and I'm glad to see the BB active on it. And yes, groans herewith!!<P>EJA, you surprised me, because I did actually forget my password when I went to make that post as dai bread 1, and I wondered how you knew that. However the 1 is used because when I wanted to use my computer at work to log on, BR wanted a new login.<BR>

[navneeth]

Island should be tropical, music to be Ravel's Bolero, a package of Oreos and a good book!

[emphasis mine]

I was actually thinking about that when I opened the thread. I'm not sure if TuneGirl has been listening to B.com in the last three years, but if she has, she would probably change her mind.

P.S. Is this a new record for reviving an old thread. Where's the record keeper when you need one?

[Shapley]

I didn't realize Bo Derek had posted on this board.

[bignaf]

it's probably not the record. I think Serenity holds that from reviving this

[Serenity]

I'd take an MP3/video and huge gigabyte capacity player with a solar battery charger. I'd have at least the entire Ring Cycle loaded.


Maybe, if I was able to record naked images of myself on the island ... on a wireless band somebody would pinpoint my location and come rescue me!

[Trumpetmaster]

:flex:

I'd take an MP3/video and huge gigabyte capacity player with a solar battery charger. I'd have at least the entire Ring Cycle loaded.


Maybe if I was able to record naked images of myself on the island on a wireless band somebody would pinpoint my location and come rescue me!

I'll be right there!

[dai bread]

Ain't it wonderful how technology changes in 3 years! Solar battery chargers, DVDs- I wouldn't want to leave!