Audio Holy Grails - What are yours?

[joelha]

There are few items I would love to be able to own or accomplish in my audio hobby.

 

Maybe some of these exist and I'm not aware of them.

 

Otherwise, for those manufacturers monitoring this site, please pay attention. There may be opportunities for you here.

 

In no order of importance:

 

1. Audiophile and very easily transportable desktop speakers (would have to fit in carry-on luggage with lots of space left for other stuff. Could weigh no more than 2lb-3lb's each).

 

 

2. Easy method for ripping SACD's to 24/96 or higher resolution with detailed instructions.

 

 

3. Self powered DAC using digital stream of Ipod (again, very easy to carry).

 

 

4. Smyth Realizer in hand-held version, self-powered.

 

That's what I can think of for now.

 

And your grails would be . . . ?

 

Joel

 

[realhifi]

I realise that computer audio is still somewhat in it's infancy but for the life of me I can't understand why we need so many formats for music storage.

 

Getting them all to play seamlessly together and come together as one logical library without needing a degree in computer science is at the moment my "holy grail".

 

Oh, and a set of 150 watt tubes amplifiers that are affordable and give off very little heat.

 

[bikemig]

3 has been taken care of: http://www.cypherlabs.com/Products.php

 

[4est]

Perfect sound forever...

 

[bleedink]

without transcoding and doesn't crash and doesn't get hung up playing multichannel music. I would also like to see and end to quashing the life out of music produced for commercial consumption. Even someone I enjoy, like say Adele's new album, is about as dynamic as a sheet of paper. If the woman is whispering, let her whisper. It doesn't need to be loud as the loudest percussive instrument. As much as I love high res, I would be nearly as happy with decent sounding redbook. I should say decent sounding material that is not jazz or classical...though I enjoy both, it's out there and has been out there for ages. This is about everyone's wish list though...

 

[joelha]

Hey bikemig,

 

Thanks a lot for the information.

 

Do you have this setup?

 

If so, how do you like it?

 

Regardless, I'll definitely be looking into it.

 

Thanks again,

 

Joel

 

[bikemig]

Joel: I don't own it but I've read a few reviews online since I'm thinking of picking it up. The buzz on the net is positive but then they're all from headphone addicts (not that there's anything wrong with that, . I'm looking forward to reading your review hopefully on this site . . . . if you buy it. Miguel

 

[blueixus]

Believe what you read....simple and effective

 

[James1776]

I would like a Hi-Rez (24/192) iPod that sends a digital signal wireless to a DAC...No docking stations...

 

[howlingfeedback]

Bowers and wilkins computer speakers could cover item 1

 

Mine would be and I doubt it will ever happen

because I need a big house miles from nowhere to have my loudest best quality hifi hooked up my computer.

 

Secondly and this is off the subject a little but a festival

with this line up, but it is a holy grail

 

Led Zeppelin Porcupine Tree Dream Theater Black county Communion and Spocks Beard.

 

[soundsolutions11]

How about the ability to purchase CD quality (of course Hi Rez is too much to ask for right now) by the song from an itunes like store! BTW- for no more than $1.99 per song

 

[realhifi]

James1776:

 

"a Hi-Rez iPOD

I would like a Hi-Rez (24/192) iPod that sends a digital signal wireless to a DAC...No docking stations..."

 

 

James,

That one just might see the light of day.....Airplay Plus I guess you could call it. Write Tomlinson, maybe he can get that going!

 

PS. I know of at least 3 manufacturers that are working on the dac end of that wish right now.

 

 

 

[stillone]

I would just like more current music released in HD. Most of what is out there is re-releases of old music that I listened to years ago.

 

[Stevef]

I would have to go with seamless formats and more hi-rez DLs. Get formats that simply transfer, appear, work and exist on both Mac/Windows. And maybe ease of set up for everything.

Steve f

 

[bernardl]

Boy, how good would that be...

 

Cheers,

Bernard

 

 

[baxtus]

Herewith the Grail according to Baxtus:

 

A room that defines the word quiet, elegantly, comfortably and tastefully decorated to promote a relaxed demeanor and lined by my lifetime collection of books. Multiple individual and different chairs randomly arranged so that this music could be shared with others who enjoy relaxed music listening.

 

Uninterruped time. . .

 

Dead quiet computer driven audio system (probably Apple with iTunes because of its inherently brilliant library and playlist functionality). Reliable file storage in dead quiet enclosures.

 

Electrocompaniet DAC and Amplification driving either Stax or Quad Electrostatic speakers with 2 large, neutral subwoofers to move air at LOW SPL. These components have been chosen because they inconspicuously and somewhat humbly deliver believable and consistently musical transparency over an extremely broad range of musical styles at low SPL and have been manufactured by companies with integrity and longevity.

 

Let the rest of the world go by. . . .

 

 

 

 

 

[losingmyreligion]

 

 

No possibility of cables making a difference in sound - neither power, digital, analog interconnect nor speaker.

 

oh, and perfect power everywhere.

 

[Paul R]

on every album, CD, DVD, Bluray, and live performance recorded available instantly, and at minimal cost, with the absolute best resolution of the time it was recorded.

 

Playable with top quality fidelity on any connected device, phone, computer, media player, TV, whatever.

 

-Paul

 

P.S. I might as well throw in every movie and TV show ever made too. With full video and audio resolution.

 

 

 

[James1776]

If they can send a wireless analogue signal (http://audioengineusa.com/Store/Audioengine-W2), they should be able to send something as simple as 1's and 0's....

 

Television is digital now. The technology is decades old. The limiting factor is the pitiful DAC in the iPOD that does not do Hi-Rez. I blame Apple.

 

[fishnchips]

Speaker drivers made out of this:

http://jap.aip.org/resource/1/japiau/v109/i1/p014306_s1?isAuthorized=no

probably the ideal diaphragm material: tougher than diamond but not brittle at all, light, and capable of being rolled out or formed into any shape.

 

[joelha]

Thanks for the suggestion on the B&W speakers, howlingfeedback.

 

I had actually purchased a pair some time back and, with apologies to those who like them, I didn't love them.

 

But please keep those suggestions coming.

 

Joel

 

 

 

[DaveLew]

I'd like to have the hearing of my german shepherd so I could actually hear the difference between standard and hi res

 

I'd also like the high end industry to track the price performance improvements of the rest of the semiconductor industry.