Are the DACs inside the C50 a serious one?

[HiFiGuy528]

I am really loving my Cullen Mod PS Audio DAC. If I do get a C50 in the future, are the DACs inside as good or better than my PS Audio? Your comments are appreciated before I drop $6500.

 

[ron-c]

The four digital inputs and dedicated USB section of C48 and C50 are a bit more than just a DAC. This is digital solution that addresses many things.
The end result is superb sound quality, smooth conversion to analog with excellent depth and imaging.
What are your digital sources?

Thanks,
Ron-C

 

[HiFiGuy528]

Ron,

I read in the manual that USB in can control iTunes playback. Does USB sound as good as optical from Mac Mini? From my experience with the PS audio, the optical in was way.... better sounding than the USB. The main source will be Mac Mini and a Sony SCD-1 as a CD transport.

 

[waxman]

Ron, is this reclocking thingy in MCD500 also?

 

[ron-c]

Waxman, no it is not since MCD500 is not dealing with USB. MCD500 is also one of the finest SACD disk players.
Hi-Fi Guy, you can compare the optical and USB inputs on C50 and you can also adjust each input's volume offset so they play back at the same level. Having this ability will allow you to judge cables, input formats, etc.
USB audio is plug and play as far as just getting sound but you will need to add a better music player such as Pure Music for MAC, if you want top notch sound quality.
I am amazed at how my laptop computer sounds over my big system when using USB into C48. Simply superb.

Thanks,
Ron-C

 

[waxman]

Ron, I'm using Amarra for Mac, and with toslink to my MCD500. Amarra did a remarkable upgrade to the sound! I guess it works the same way with Pure Music..

Thanks!

 

[ron-c]

Yes, you have to use another program to bypass the less than stock music systems that computers use. Makes a big difference. I use JRivers on my PC and some run this on their MACs in bootcamp mode.

Thanks,
Ron-C

 

[HiFiGuy528]

I use Amarra Mini right now on my Mac. I like the sound improvements but not the clunky UI.

How would you rate the DAC in performance against other MacIntosh CD players? I have a MCD205 changer and I like the sound from that. Will I get as good performance using my Sony SCD-1 as a transport and send the digital to C50 DACs?

I am getting close to getting a C50 so that's the reason for so many questions. Hope you undersand. Thank you for your help.

 

[ron-c]

C50 should sound great with any transport you use. As far as USB it all depends on how the computer is set up.

thanks,
Ron-C

 

[HiFiGuy528]

Why would the USB in my PS Audio sound like crap compared to the optical in from the Mac Mini?

 

[ron-c]

That is a question for the maker of your DAC.
You might want to look on Computeraudiophile.com for other's opinions since they are computer music centric on their site.

Thanks,
Ron-C

 

[HiFiGuy528]

Does the C50 fancy high end USB cables or a cheapo will do?

 

[ron-c]

I use Belkin Gold, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable. Have not tried anything fancier.

Thanks,
Ron-C

 

[specialized]

I use Belkin Gold, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable. Have not tried anything fancier.

Thanks,
Ron-C

I have the same.. I tried Audio Quest fancy USB and i can't notice any difference..


Greetings

Darko

 

[MikeSp]

I have the same.. I tried Audio Quest fancy USB and i can't notice any difference..


Greetings

Darko

Hmmm -- do you suppose that the 1's having passed through the high-priced botique USB cables are better 1's than from Belkin or Monoprice cables and the same for the 0's??

MikeSp

 

[ron-c]

Actually USB cables for audio are important and some generic ones I have tried are not so great. Keeping the cables short is a good idea and you can forget about anything over 10 ft if you are running higher resolutions. USB releases in packets and is not a continuous data stream like SPIDF or AES/EBU digital streams. While it is true that digital ones and zeros make up the signal they are analog once they move over a cable.
The Belkin Gold USB 2.0 cable if very good, low cost and known to work well.

Thanks,
Ron-C

 

[HiFiGuy528]

So anything beyond 10ft is not recommended?

 

[specialized]

Hmmm -- do you suppose that the 1's having passed through the high-priced botique USB cables are better 1's than from Belkin or Monoprice cables and the same for the 0's??

MikeSp

If there is some essential quality of cable reached then definitly there is no difference at all (at least i can't detected). Sound is the same between USB i tried that cost 3 EUR compared to Boutique AQ i tried (30 EUR)..

Still i keeped AQ becouse it's not that expensive, and i like flexibility (Belkin i had it's stiffer cable)


Greetings

Darko

 

[ron-c]

If you are going to run a long digital cable, coax or toslink would be a better choice than USB. You will know when you have exceeded the USB length for your system.

Thanks,
Ron-C

 

[HiFiGuy528]

I am currently running a 20ft optical cable. Perhaps that may be the reason it sounds much better than USB going in the PS Audio. Thank you for all your help Ron. I will post my impressions and pictures here. Stay tuned.