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After a good deal of thrashing and gnashing of teeth, I was able to successfully download and install the USB driver and after further swearing and trying this and that, I've gotten JRiver 20 to "talk" to the DAC. Never said I was the sharpest knife in the drawer.I'm running an external hard drive into my PC, JRiver 20, a Cabledyne Reference Silver USB cable and that's it. I can understand now why the DAC's designer, Ted Smith, says that the USB input is his preferred method of listening. I can also begin to understand what the fuss about this DAC may be.
How much continued break-in is a factor, I can't quantify, but this is without a doubt the best I've heard from the DAC yet. The level of detail while maintaining delicacy and smoothness is exceptional. The sound stage projects into the listening space, recording allowing, with dense, well-defined images clearly delineated from each other without being paper doll cutouts.
I've tried a similar set-up (different USB cable) with the Oppo 105D and while that is excellent, this a different ballgame. I'm very pleased as you can see and now definitely glad I kept the DAC.
Joe
Edits: 05/02/15Follow Ups:
d
Edits: 07/06/15
HowdyI responded to your claim on the PS Audio board when you made it. You have a misunderstanding about the causes of noise in your system. Further which DACs do you use that sound about as good and have less sensitivity to jitter?
http://www.psaudio.com/forum/directstream-all-about-it/new-directstream-software-work/page-6/#p42664
-Ted
Edits: 05/13/15
...the majority of music which is not recorded very well? I read a lot about DACs that sound great w/ wonderfully recorded music but are very "hard" on bad recordings. This does not impress me seeing as how most music is not recorded well.
This is not a DAC that I would typify as "ruthlessly revealing". Just my opinion, naturally, but I find SACD/DSD, in general, to be smoother than RBCD. I know this is a generalization and so much of it depends on the recording. But, I think the DirectStream's operating principle of converting the source to 10X DSD then downsampling it to 2X DSD somehow removes some of the digital nastiness. In the process, not so hot recordings benefit.Please, I hesitated in responding because I don't want to get involved in some kind of battle where I have to defend what I hear on technical grounds that I don't understand but for whatever reason I do hear.
Maybe I should've just stuck with my first sentence and left it at that.
Edit: DAVID, the "battle" comment wasn't directed at you but just in general. I welcome a discussion, just not a pissing contest.
Joe
Edits: 05/08/15
...I perfectly understand your point of not wanting to get embroiled in a long battle...I don't either. It's just that while I do highly value detail extraction I do not like ruthlessly revealing. I want to enjoy all my music not just the top tiered stuff. Thanks for updating us on this DAC, it is much appreciated, as well as your honesty!
> > I want to enjoy all my music not just the top tiered stuff. < <
If the recording is limited to ~ 2db of dynamic compression, which too many are, these highly compressed/limited hot recordings squash dynamic life and tilt tonality towards overly bright & edgy.
Nothing much any good DAC can, and SHOULD do ...
This tech sounds really promising, and such a great way to go.
With the PSAudio and the APL, - perhaps more designers will jump on board.
I am also interested in what these two DACs will do with shite .mp3 level, and streaming level files.
I am growing increasingly worried about the difficulty in obtaining redbook level discs and files. I can convert FLAC to AIFF no problem: but I'm concerned about even finding FLAC files, with some artists.
"Asylums with doors open wide,
Where people had paid to see inside,
For entertainment they watch his body twist
Behind his eyes he says, 'I still exist.'"
The pleasure was mine, you're welcome.There are already a number of companies that have gone the way of field gate programmable arrays. It could be an indicator, but it's difficult to tell.
Judging by a number of factors, I'd guess you're on one end of the chronological continuum while I'm on the other. If I were you, I wouldn't be anything but optimistic.
Not sure about the availability of certain types of music, a lot seems to me to be available on vinyl and I find that interesting since that's where I started. Certain things just sound particularly good with vinyl. But overall, I don't regret having abandoned that format. Especially when products like the PSA DirectStream come along which have so many of that format's pluses.
It should be an interesting journey.
Be well,
Joe
Edits: 05/05/15 05/05/15
send it to my house for a 30 day review!
E
T
You list the Conrad-Johnson MF-2100 and MF-2500. I haven't heard those two, but I did live with the MF-2250A. It's too bad I didn't know enough, to experiment with after-market fuses.
In stock form, the MF-2250A had enough honesty and resolution, to reveal that:
a. the Cardas Golden Reference interconnect was an awful melted, muddy, chocolate mess.
b. the Cardas Golden Reference speaker cable was much better, with less coloration and distortion than the IC.
c. the Nordost Valhalla, even Cooked, had that "white cloud, scraped shins" coloration.
d. the Esoteric DV-60 was mediocre, never having the textures to make music believable.
e. the Premier 18S did not have enough volume control steps, being TOO LOUD, even at the "01" setting.
f. it didn't flinch with any of the speakers I threw at it.
The MF-2250A just showed that, being near the end of chain, it is totally at the mercy of the source components, interconnects, powerline conditioning, and preamp. Therefore, if you acquire top-notch sources (perhaps the PS Audio DirectStream qualifies), chances are high that the MF-2100 and MF-2500 can keep up. If so, you'll appreciate them even more.
If you go to CJ's website you'll see the MF2250 and 2500 and the 5 channel 5600 came out at the same time. The "A" mod for the power supply came out a few years later.
The MF-2100 came out with the 2200 and 2300. See link! Did you get my email last week?
E
T
You already have a couple of PS Audio's products on the power conditioning/noise reduction side, Earl. Maybe you should branch out?
:)
Old friends, that I haven't seen in too long, have your speakers. They purchased them new from the now defunct (?) Atlantic Stereo back when I got their much smaller brothers, the SDA-2B model. Always thought the SDA SRS 1.2TL was one of the best I'd ever heard. Especially on large scale music once they started breathing.
Treat yourself -- you can always return it.
Joe
Someday I will and I really do have fun with the 1.2's I rebuilt the crossovers w/upgraded parts and did a couple of other things. I'm going to upgrade the binding posts next. There is a gut that makes greatly improved empty and populated crossover boards at the link. He has a higher dollar one too w/Duelands etc.
E
T
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