Going Digital!

[Kt77]

Cool, thanks.

Hi RH67,

Byron sent me a message asking if I might chime in on the cabling matter, so here I am. If it's okay might I ask you to send me a PM stating the content of your system?, as this would then allow me to narrow down say 2 - 3 worthwhile options you can look into........., as I've been active in borrowing all sorts of cabling looms at various pricing from the Cable Company since 2004, I do have somewhat of a keener insight on how to use certain brands to enhance ones system, as cabling to me is the vital part that either makes or breaks the synergistic approach to said enhancement abilities to begin with.

And trust me, I know which ones work according to what's needed?, and therein lies the truth of the matter - we must address the total voicing needs of our systems from a wholistic mindset, lest we can't make up for its weaknesses without understanding how it should be matched between amp and speakers as far as speaker cables and power cord - then addresses as far as ICs and USB cabling are used at the preamp/integrated and source end.

Either way?, I've your back and thank me later.

Be well,
_oh

 

[Kt77]

Thanks Oscar. Are the USB cables that Byron gave me the link to the same one that you recommend? He mentioned that you listened to several. Thanks.

You're more then welcome.

I too have said same USB cable listed as the Neutral USB ( standard in my case ) and love it, but I also adore several others I've lying around equally as well as a means of having different flavors as needed from time to time - so can recommend say the Vertere Acoustics Pulse D-Fi V2 ( $175/1m ) as well as the Black Cat Silverstar USB ( $99/0.6M or $150/1.25M ) as absolute giant killers depending upon what's needed?.

And CRL ( Cable Research Lab ) whom I love as far as cabling in general goes as it's what I've settled on after many many many years of borrowing cables as mentioned earlier - sent me three prototypes of their upcoming USB cables which blew me away, and here we're talking about ones priced between $100 - $150 using OCC Copper or Silver and are extremely balanced top to bottom.

If you've any other questions?, I'm always a click away.

:yes:_oh

 

[RH67]

You're more then welcome.

I too have said same USB cable listed as the Neutral USB ( standard in my case ) and love it, but I also adore several others I've lying around equally as well as a means of having different flavors as needed from time to time - so can recommend say the Vertere Acoustics Pulse D-Fi V2 ( $175/1m ) as well as the Black Cat Silverstar USB ( $99/0.6M or $150/1.25M ) as absolute giant killers depending upon what's needed?.

And CRL ( Cable Research Lab ) whom I love as far as cabling in general goes as it's what I've settled on after many many many years of borrowing cables as mentioned earlier - sent me three prototypes of their upcoming USB cables which blew me away, and here we're talking about ones priced between $100 - $150 using OCC Copper or Silver and are extremely balanced top to bottom.

If you've any other questions?, I'm always a click away.

:yes:_oh

Oscar
Always good info. the above cables are all within my price range so that is a plus and the new CRL USB cables spark my interest.

Again thanks, i will look into the above mentioned cables.

 

[Kt77]

Oscar
Always good info. the above cables are all within my price range so that is a plus and the new CRL USB cables spark my interest.

Again thanks, i will look into the above mentioned cables.

RH67,

Once again, you're welcome. Please know that while many of the so-called Ballers or Audiophiles with deeper pocket would've have one to believe that if you aren't using a USB like say the Lightspeed or Crystal Cables priced between $999 and upwards of $9.000 ( yes, there's one that cost that much ) then we're aren't worth taking to or worse yet associating with, but I can tell you I've borrowed these very same USB cables and came away more impressed with the ones between $100 - $500.

If at some point ones budget allows?, look no further then one of the ones from the likes of Chord Company - CAD - Paul Pang Audio - JCAT or Tellurium Q and call it a lifetime regardless of how much is invested into ones computer source, as these play music in a manner where one begins to understand the very subtle differences that exist between some hitting the right notes and are about sonic purity based upon musicality, while some have more of a forced and rather unnatural Hi-Fi' ish type of sonic signature that one would expect from a boom box, if that.

And Man............., those CRLs are smokers, I'm talking very very very very very hot. And will be in my collection once they're in production, I can assure you of that much.

Happy hunting, and I'll be watching this space for your new baby's arrival in said time span.

Until then.

 

[BenWaB3]

Man...you are so right! All my computer music is Played back is DSD128. I love it! The cap upgrade is a great option! Congrats!

Once you get use to your system, be sure to get the Fidelzer optimizer. I've heard all the GoldenEar speakers and my dealer has the new ones in as well. I will hear those this Saturday when I go to his home. He uses A Mac and Bel Canto DACs. And I can tell you, those GoldenEar speakers with all the transparency they bring to the table are going to love the Amber DAC! Dave, you are going to have a knockout system with the Line Magnetic amp, Lampi DAC and GoldenEar speakers!

Just so you'd know, Triode Wire Labs makes a power cord for digital now! I would have purchased one, but my DAC doesn't use those big power cords.
But within a few months, I will be purchasing. HD Plex Liner PSU....I may purchase one for it.

Keep us posted on the Amber DAC.

My micro iDSD is back from the repair facilities so I'm back in this thread again

Please keep us posted with your Golden Ears impressions. I heard the Triton 1's and also another model a few months ago (can't remember if it was 2 or 4). If I hadn't heard the 1's first I would have thought the other model was a great sounding speaker but, oh those 1's!! A stellar midrange sound. One of the best speakers I've ever heard (although my experience is somewhat limited in comparison to a lot of you here). Of course they're 5 grand, but that's considered quite a bargain for what they do. Lately the new 5's have been getting raves from people reporting from the big audio shows so I would be very interested in hearing your opinion of them (the 5's) if they're among the ones you get to listen to this weekend. Thanks!

 

[slippers-on]

Yes, I will...my dealer has informed me they sound like the 1's only with out the powered subs.

How is the iFI doing now? Did they find the issue?

 

[Kt77]

Just a heads up on something being discussed of late here - as to not try to get things to far off topic, but of importance none the less:

http://www.audiostream.com/content/lampizator-hq-player-audiopax-avante-garde-digital-done-right

Once again, I truthfully believe in both Lampizator and iFi DACs are very capable of showing more then a few others what DSD is truly capable of........., but in hindsight, I'm biased.

Oops!, I forgot to mention my dealer swells by that little UpTone Audio Regen interfacing thingy as compared to said iFi iUSB, and hopefully you guys have been following the news on the little AudioQuest Jitterbug thingy as well?, in my mind it's the little things that make it all come together.

 

[slippers-on]

Just a heads up on something being discussed of late here - as to not try to get things to far off topic, but of importance none the less:

http://www.audiostream.com/content/lampizator-hq-player-audiopax-avante-garde-digital-done-right

Once again, I truthfully believe in both Lampizator and iFi DACs are very capable of showing more then a few others what DSD is truly capable of........., but in hindsight, I'm biased.

Oops!, I forgot to mention my dealer swells by that little UpTone Audio Regen interfacing thingy as compared to said iFi iUSB, and hopefully you guys have been following the news on the little AudioQuest Jitterbug thingy as well?, in my mind it's the little things that make it all come together.

And Bro....that ain't no Mac Mini running that rig.

 

[Billfort]

Yes, based on what I listen to most evenings, not too surprised by reviews like the one linked to above by Oscar.

IMO, just as important as finding that DAC where SDM5.6 is the sweet-spot, is feeding it well which to me means HQplayer doing all that conversion heavy-lifting to DSD outside that DAC - as mentioned in that snippet. Yes, it means a little bit of horse-power in that PC but SDM5.6/DSD128 is not too much of a challenge - I'm doing it on a 4yr old quad-core AMD machine with 8GB RAM and Win7 on a SSD. Not the "anything works" mantra pushed by many but not a high-dollar state-of-the-art power-house computer either. Now going to DSD256 or DSD512 is an entirely different matter but I'm just fine at DSD128 - spectacular results.

Have to get me one of those Uptone Audio regens to try too but it looks like delivery has stretched into end of July - the hype-machine is off the charts on them but for the price...

 

[Kt77]

And Bro....that ain't no Mac Mini running that rig.

And Bro........, I noticed that as well,mseeming that very little gets pass me, but what does Lukas actually use?.

BINGO!!!!!!.

In this case, I'm referring to said DAC - Regen and the fact the article mentioned

" Digital Done Right ", other then that, I love Apple products and that won't change regardless of what someone else likes? Freedom of choice eh?.

 

[Kt77]

Yes, based on what I listen to most evenings, not too surprised by reviews like the one linked to above by Oscar.

IMO, just as important as finding that DAC where SDM5.6 is the sweet-spot, is feeding it well which to me means HQplayer doing all that conversion heavy-lifting to DSD outside that DAC - as mentioned in that snippet. Yes, it means a little bit of horse-power in that PC but SDM5.6/DSD128 is not too much of a challenge - I'm doing it on a 4yr old quad-core AMD machine with 8GB RAM and Win7 on a SSD. Not the "anything works" mantra pushed by many but not a high-dollar state-of-the-art power-house computer either. Now going to DSD256 or DSD512 is an entirely different matter but I'm just fine at DSD128 - spectacular results.

Have to get me one of those Uptone Audio regens to try too but it looks like delivery has stretched into end of July - the hype-machine is off the charts on them but for the price...

Amen.

I've yet to learn how to convert things over to DSD, but I'm to busy adding music to my collection and will get around to it at some point........, for now, it's about the music on my end. And the Regen certainly looks worthwhile. I shall continue to watch this space to see where it leads you/us?.

 

[for_p1]

Amen.

I've yet to learn how to convert things over to DSD, but I'm to busy adding music to my collection and will get around to it at some point........, for now, it's about the music on my end. And the Regen certainly looks worthwhile. I shall continue to watch this space to see where it leads you/us?.

Conversion of PCM source to DSD is just one more digital filter implementation. Get regular PCM DAC with selectable digital filter. It is better for experiments. DSD DAC is for playing DSD source material.

 

[RH67]

Man, i have a lot to learn.

 

[slippers-on]

And Bro........, I noticed that as well,mseeming that very little gets pass me, but what does Lukas actually use?.

BINGO!!!!!!.

In this case, I'm referring to said DAC - Regen and the fact the article mentioned

" Digital Done Right ", other then that, I love Apple products and that won't change regardless of what someone else likes? Freedom of choice eh?.

When Lukasz was here, he had a small mac laptop. But bro.....once again, Macs and PC's...share some of the same parts inside man. Mac has a few that only they use, but I can tell you first hand, because I work with them both at work every day.....its about choice....quality and crap is found in both....its a matter of understanding computers and what to do with them and making them work when they go down, and if so, knowing whats a good part and a crappy part. Look at Bills computer...an old, built upon a PC frame and doing the job he wants....aint nothing wrong with that. NOw is one really better than the other? Having work with them both, not really, but its about how the individual likes it. Some like Ford, some like GM. But if your talking wifi adapters apple uses in their small devices, well thats a different story.

Ok, back on track.

 

[Kt77]

Conversion of PCM source to DSD is just one more digital filter implementation. Get regular PCM DAC with selectable digital filter. It is better for experiments. DSD DAC is for playing DSD source material.

for_p1,

Great point there, as the regular iFi Micro PCM DAC was actually the one primarily recommended to me by my dealer Rich c/o Signature Sound, but it was upon seeing how much Byron and a few others here were enjoying the iDSD so much that I decided to follow suit, and so far I'm loving what I'm hearing with standard downloads converted to higher sampling rates if you will.

It's nice having a device which to my ears has the capabilities of sounding nice with both. As there's a certain refinement with said DACs I've yet to hear short of $2.000 ones, so as always in that sense........., I intend to ride it out, yet somewhere down the road can see investing in their Pro model as well as I like the way they've voiced their wares more so then others I've heard to date.

Yet I do understand your point once again.

H/ear - Here.

 

[BenWaB3]

Yes, I will...my dealer has informed me they sound like the 1's only with out the powered subs.

How is the iFI doing now? Did they find the issue?

The iFi had made a loud screeching noise & then went dead. I sent it to Avatar Acoustics down in Georgia. They fixed it & sent it back but I don't know what the problem had ended up being.

If the Golden Ear 1's have that midrange & definition of the 5's they should become best sellers. Especially when you consider they're only $2K for the pair. I would wonder about the tightness of the bass with all those passive radiators but remember reading somewhere where that wasn't a problem. However I would rather hear the opinion of people like yourself who live out here in the real world of audio than that of many of the full time reviewers.

 

[BenWaB3]

I find passive radiators a little thumpy and found Golden Ears to be that way. I have never liked the powered subs (built in to speakers) with the built-in crossover circuit that you cannot adjust to your room. I mean for the price they are nice but I think I actually prefer the Sonus-Faber Venere's for that price range - just me though.

Then there are the Wharfeldale Jade series too. There is a lot in that price range to look at.

Yes, there is. The new Monitor Audio Silver 8's come in at that range & I've been curious about them as well. I imagine they would have a fairly different sound signature though. Then there's the new Maggie .7's at $1.400 too. Again it would get down to what the rest of your system sounds like to get the best match, speaker sound signature wise. Of course, since I have 3 different pairs of JSE Infinite Slope's I'm in no hurry until I have to start downsizing. Then I'll have to very reluctantly part with the Model 2's.

 

[for_p1]

for_p1,

Great point there, as the regular iFi Micro PCM DAC was actually the one primarily recommended to me by my dealer Rich c/o Signature Sound, but it was upon seeing how much Byron and a few others here were enjoying the iDSD so much that I decided to follow suit, and so far I'm loving what I'm hearing with standard downloads converted to higher sampling rates if you will.

It's nice having a device which to my ears has the capabilities of sounding nice with both. As there's a certain refinement with said DACs I've yet to hear short of $2.000 ones, so as always in that sense........., I intend to ride it out, yet somewhere down the road can see investing in their Pro model as well as I like the way they've voiced their wares more so then others I've heard to date.

Yet I do understand your point once again.

H/ear - Here.

I am running TEAC 501 DAC for both PCM and DSD. It has 4 filter options for PCM, and 3 for DSD. Only $800.

For price reference - speakers which I use had MSRP over $12000.

 

[slippers-on]

The iFi had made a loud screeching noise & then went dead. I sent it to Avatar Acoustics down in Georgia. They fixed it & sent it back but I don't know what the problem had ended up being.

If the Golden Ear 1's have that midrange & definition of the 5's they should become best sellers. Especially when you consider they're only $2K for the pair. I would wonder about the tightness of the bass with all those passive radiators but remember reading somewhere where that wasn't a problem. However I would rather hear the opinion of people like yourself who live out here in the real world of audio than that of many of the full time reviewers.

sounds like the filter wasnt working?

I've heard the Trinton 7 which has a passive sub and its great! I imagine the 5's will be more of the same on a larger scale.

 

[RH67]

Yes, there is. The new Monitor Audio Silver 8's come in at that range & I've been curious about them as well. I imagine they would have a fairly different sound signature though. Then there's the new Maggie .7's at $1.400 too. Again it would get down to what the rest of your system sounds like to get the best match, speaker sound signature wise. Of course, since I have 3 different pairs of JSE Infinite Slope's I'm in no hurry until I have to start downsizing. Then I'll have to very reluctantly part with the Model 2's.

I have the Tower 2`s and depending on the recording the music that comes out of them can be stunning.

It has taken many hours to find the right setting for the powered sub`s for my system and room. A little too much and you lose some mid- range and highs, too little and the speakers can sound bright and forward best setting for my system is in the 12 o`clock position. When you audition the powered towers some time needs to be spent with their sub settings to really get the best from the speakers as it affects the entire speaker.

Emerald Physics has a new speaker under 3k with an intro price of $1995. It will be at the Newport Show next weekend and i intend to check it out.