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hi everybody, in my long quest to get a decent pc audio based system , i would like to give my experience during this past month (sorry for my english, i'm just a french man...)my system is very simple , one pair of monitor active speaker (cello serafin 15000$ not usual pc active speaker :) ) driving in direct a dac/preamp audio aero prima 24/192MKII
i v got a MARK levinson 37 for cd transport referenceFirst i have tried 'cheaper' solution
maudio 24/96audiophile , waveterminal u24 and squeezbox model1
i have found that the best sounding (to my dac) was the wave terminal u24 equals with the squeezbox wired version ( but i have found the slimserver awfull ..)
the maudio 24/96 card was very poor sounding..anyway, none of this 3 solutions sounds better than the levinson drive (i use foobar, asio plugin, eac ripping etc...)
so i decide to try another way and buy a "real" USB dac the BRICK from wavelentgh audio with a mac mini the result was really good, very natural sounding , no harshness and a good definition..
but ... in my system with long rca cable and a passive preamp (bent audio NOH Transformer passive preamp) the small output voltage of the brick ( less than 1V) give me some problems of lack of dynamics and bass
but i think that in a normal sensivity system the brick is a keeper and gordon rankin from wavelength audio is a nice guy to threath with..after few weeks of "audiogon business" for "re"selling all this stuff and get back some money, and the story goes , i have read some good feedbach about empirical audio and his works in mods of pc audio..
after some mails (steeve from empirical is also a nice person to talk with), spending some $, a new black box comes to me
the OFF-Ramp Turbo from empirical audio
and.............................................(before, i want to tell that i live in France and haven't nothing to do with any of these companies or guys , i don't even know what they look like)
now i can say that a pc based source is better than cd drive source..
in many ways, definitions, peacefull sounding, finest treeble and incredible deep and tight
bass, resume its the better sound i have never heard with my audio aero
( my off ramp goes on battery)my conclusion is ..
if you believe you have a good dac don't be afraid to try this magic box from Empirical Audio (990$) and use it with a batterry pack if you can.
if you have no dac give a try to the wavelength audio "BRICK" (1750$) i cant give an opinion with the ones i haven't heard ( perreaux usb dac, scott nixon usb dac, twind dac plus, etc..)
a last advice don't buy an expensive cd drive any more......
good listening....
Follow Ups:
You said you found the Slimserver aweful. What Operating system are you running the Slimserver from? I noticed that the Windows port of the slimserver software was horrible. I switched to Linux and hadn't had a crash for about 57 days (it crashed when the power to my home went out). Also the new 6.2 release fixes many stability problems. I can't speak for the Windows version anymore because I setup a Linux server which is now for "mission critical" Squeezebox deployment :)I agree with you fully that PC sources are better than cd sources when setup properly. I am glad you have a keeper.
yes , i have a bad trip with slim server with windows, perhaps it was my fault..
now i use a mac osx with itunes and even my wife can use it .... ( french joke?)
anyway if you like your squeezebox try to get a regulated power supply for it or best use it on battery.
cheers..
"now i use a mac osx with itunes and even my wife can use it .... ( french joke?)"No not a French joke :) It's a global joke. WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) is the best. The more WAF points you get the better :)
So your on a MAC system then. That's great! MacOSX is an excellent architecture :)
Happy listening
.
nt
hi juanitox, what kind of battery do you use with the OFF-Ramp
thanks.
He must be using the nice battery PS featured on Empirical Audio Website.Or, you could try something like this :) Sounds Incredible!
Hi JonL:
Would you list the specs on the caps across your battery? I would like to try this on my battery powered amp.
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