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MDAC First Listen (part 00111011)

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Didn’t John go down the road of a new display about 5 years ago, Jarek and someone else was working on it? Wonder what happened to that? We appear to be going round in ever decreasing circles and are about to disappear up our own optical input ...
 
If the device is run by a RPi, which strikes me as an excellent decision, does it need a display, or even an interface. I never touch my MDAC. I adjust volume (occasionally) and all my other interaction with my system nowadays is via my phone or laptop. In fact most of my interface with my house is via my phone... I rarely use a lightswitch, so I suspect I'll never use the MDAC 'screen' except for initial setup, though, as a designer, I can see why John is trying to create a complete 'device', but, for me, I'm interested in (and confident of) ultimate sound quality, but when my MDAC2 arrives, it will probably go in a cupboard, and will never be seen again...
 
Even if my phone is in my pocket I prefer a bigger screen to control my hifi. Horses for courses inning.
 
My guess is that those that do headphones like buttons because they have the DAC within arm length and the rest of us like app or remote because we sit to far away from the hifi while listening.

I do like the touch screen, but ideally it would fill the whole front with no buttons or headphone socket. Nice and clean :)
 
If dac is on table it probably will need some custom stand, like desktop speakers have. Otherwise it will not be comfortable angle for hand to work with it.
 
I would say it the same with buttons if you have to bend down to reach them. Remote or an app will always be more comfortable than using screen or buttons ;)
 
Once you are dealing with streaming software, you need an app. You don't want to be craning your neck and squinting while trying to work out which track you are looking for. I suspect that most Squeezebox touch users, like me, mainly use its screen for play/pausing an already selected track or playing favourites etc. After all sonos users manage without any screen.
The only way a device screen is really needed is if you have a pro console type arrangement with the device at eye level in front of you. I can see why it might appeal to John.
 
I like the convenience of a dedicated device screen, and rely on my squeezebox touch to choose which tracks / radio station to listen to, as well as control playback afterwards. While there is a place for phone apps, they are often overly complex (iPeng), and require switching the device on, entering a password, etc. which ends up being cumbersome
 
adamdea said:
Once you are dealing with streaming software, you need an app. You don't want to be craning your neck and squinting while trying to work out which track you are looking for. I suspect that most Squeezebox touch users, like me, mainly use its screen for play/pausing an already selected track or playing favourites etc. After all sonos users manage without any screen.
The only way a device screen is really needed is if you have a pro console type arrangement with the device at eye level in front of you. I can see why it might appeal to John.
Click to expand...

By the time the MDAC2 appears we will be controlling our devices by the power of thought alone.
 
EIffel said:
I like the convenience of a dedicated device screen, and rely on my squeezebox touch to choose which tracks / radio station to listen to, as well as control playback afterwards. While there is a place for phone apps, they are often overly complex (iPeng), and require switching the device on, entering a password, etc. which ends up being cumbersome
Click to expand...
If you don't have your phone on and in your pocket while at home, then I can see that this might be a problem.
I will concede though that I have a squeezebox radio in a holiday home which is only ever controlled from its fascia buttons. It has two presets: BBC radio 4 and BBC radio 3.
 
People will be talking to their toys pretty soon, if they aren’t already - “Hey Siri, play me Kind of Blue.” I already prefer to ask my phone to phone someone, or set a timer, or tell me what the time is. It’s much easier. Why press buttons?

A recent report has predicted that the voice economy will be worth $1 trillion in 5 years, and that the keyboard will be largely redundant.

https://9to5mac.com/2019/07/20/sirios-launch-2020-report/
 
Been there right from the start on DIY audio etc, even before there was an MDAC, and the MDAC took a while, but with this, i think i'm pretty much done now.
MDAC still working OK as a headphone amp.
I'll see how much i'm in (not that much i think, as i lost track long ago of what was going on), and if anybody is interested in taking on my payments (for a considerable reduced cost) etc PM me.
 
I also like to be able to do everything from the screen. I really do not undemanding he hate he screen gets from some here.

But for simple controls like play, pause, skip track and source selection and volume control a IR/Bluetooth remote will always be preferable. Even if the DAC is within arm length I would still use the remote for the basic operations because i is easier/more ergonomic.
The good ting is tat I think the streamer can already do most with a media remote:)
 
AndyU said:
People will be talking to their toys pretty soon, if they aren’t already - “Hey Siri, play me Kind of Blue.” I already prefer to ask my phone to phone someone, or set a timer, or tell me what the time is. It’s much easier. Why press buttons?

A recent report has predicted that the voice economy will be worth $1 trillion in 5 years, and that the keyboard will be largely redundant.

https://9to5mac.com/2019/07/20/sirios-launch-2020-report/
Click to expand...
Yes you are right that this is the trend. But I hate it for several reasons one is ta I am too paranoid to let devices record everything I say.
 
AndyU said:
People will be talking to their toys pretty soon, if they aren’t already - “Hey Siri, play me Kind of Blue.” I already prefer to ask my phone to phone someone, or set a timer, or tell me what the time is. It’s much easier. Why press buttons?

A recent report has predicted that the voice economy will be worth $1 trillion in 5 years, and that the keyboard will be largely redundant.

https://9to5mac.com/2019/07/20/sirios-launch-2020-report/
Click to expand...

You may be right about the distant future, but for the present and near future I'm sceptical. Once Siri is able to respond accurately to all the ways we pronounce and mispronounce the names of classical composers, artists and so on, I'll be on board. But (as a professional linguist) I really don't see that happening any time soon -- especially given the inability of UK English speakers to get their heads around the pronunciation of German (my specialism).
 
Space is the Place said:
Been there right from the start on DIY audio etc, even before there was an MDAC, and the MDAC took a while, but with this, i think i'm pretty much done now.
MDAC still working OK as a headphone amp.
I'll see how much i'm in (not that much i think, as i lost track long ago of what was going on), and if anybody is interested in taking on my payments (for a considerable reduced cost) etc PM me.
Click to expand...

You have waited for so long, with the MDAC 1.5 PCB being so close to being released - you might as well hold on for a couple more months... We are just issuing a single-ended version of the DAC PCB tomorrow, with the MDAC 1.5 PCB design expected to be completed in the next 4 weeks.

MDAC1.5 - think updated Dacapo (Discrete DAC, upgradable Modulators (even a Legacy modulator option with a twist based on SAA7350 + PMD200 HDCD filter)).
 
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