Category: Audio

New Kid On the Block

Post author By davehamby
Post date December 3, 2016

For some time I’ve been wanting to move media serving off of my Mac Mini because the design of the available servers requires the machine to be running and logged in which vastly increases its attack surface. I’d been looking for a number of alternatives, particularly one that was energy efficient, had a low footprint, and would be doing what it was designed to do. nVidia came to the rescue about a year ago with nVidia Shield TV, an Android TV. So I’ve allowed the Android camel into my tent.

References

Before you buy

Do two things. First, read the fine manual at [1]. Go through the FAQS at [2]. I didn’t include any video links as most are long on talk and low on information density. The links above will take you to the setup screens so you can review them.

You will need internet service. Shield has both WiFi and Ethernet interfaces built in. Both work well. If you have Ethernet available in your media cabinet, wired service works well. Shield just knows what to do. A wired interface speeds firmware updates. WiFi is adequate for media playback.

What’s in the box?

nvidia-shield-tv-stock-photo — nVidia Shield TV System Components

The base kit consists of a game controller (left) and the Shield machine (right but just the fin part). The nice aluminum base and the nice aluminum Android TV remote are optional extras. The kit also includes a power adapter, HDMI cable, and USB cable for recharging controllers and remotes. And there is a quick start guide and all the warranty and compliance statements.

Audio

Hi Fi Updates

Post author By davehamby
Post date February 22, 2016

Last spring, I boxed up the stereo and put it in storage for the duration of the lounge remodel. When I unboxed it and powered up the system, my trusty Conrad Johnson PV1 preamp failed. After considering its age, accumulated problems, and the technical evolution occurring since I had bought it in 1980, I elected to replace rather than to repair.

Audio

Lounge Audio and Video

Post author By davehamby
Post date February 20, 2012

DAC, Apple TV, and Telly — 21 Century Audio and Video!

Last summer I finally acquired a 21st century telly, a Panasonic plasma TV. My old Hitachi 27″ was refusing to die but it couldn’t do modern audio and video tricks so I upgraded. That was just the beginning of this adventure which continued with image adjustment and routing of audio over to the hifi. This last trick was not hard but not obvious.

Audio

Audio Bit Schlepping

Post author By davehamby
Post date January 29, 2012

I’ve been an audio hobbiest for 40 years. I began by building a Dynaco Stereo 70 power amplifier and PAS-3 preamp from kits in 1967. Over the years a Conrad Johnson PV-1 preamp, Gas Ampzilla power amplifier, and Dhalquist DQ-10 speakers have come to stay. Sources have come and gone over the years with a Cambridge Audio 610 tuner and Cambridge Audio DacMagic being my current sources. Much of my music lives on a Drobostore storage array connected to a Mac Mini running OS X Lion (10.7). How do the bits get from the Drobostore to the DacMagic?