• RE: AN Dac's - RGA 07:46:37 06/12/13 (0)
  In Reply to: RE: AN Dac's posted by AudioNoteKits on June 11, 2013 at 13:31:50

  It's funny you say this
  
  I just began to read the article linked that 24/192 may in fact be worse - not better than CD. Going by cursory auditions at shows Computer Audio comes in dead last.
  
  I am reviewing a 384/32 bit capable USB Asynch DAC at the moment - playing back Lossless versions of CD the sound has been good - waiting to get some hi res files to see what happens when compared with the CD in a CD player as well as the CA version of the lower res download.

  • http://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html   (Open in New Window)

  
  

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• RE: AN Dac's - astrostar59 03:06:35 06/12/13 (4)
  In Reply to: RE: AN Dac's posted by AudioNoteKits on June 11, 2013 at 13:31:50

  Hi Abel
  
  I understand your thoughts re higher bits rates.
  
  I run a Mac Mini with firewire external drive and Audirvana+ feeding an M2Tech EVO full stack, then into my AN Kits 3.1 DAC SE. What can I say, it sounds fabulous on Redbook and 96K recordings.
  
  I used to have Meridian, Naim and Musical Fidelity DACs that handled 192, but they used the Delta Sigma chip seta and upsampled all 44.1 Redbook. Honestly, the sound was dissapointing, very digital and unrealistic especially on vocals and wood wind instruments.
  
  I have bought some 96k tracks from HD Tracks, and they sound good, but I would question the jump in quality. With an Audio Note None Oversampling DAC ALL 44.1 sounds so good, the gap is so close that I can't really see any benefit in higher resolution material.
  
  It seems to me that folk are getting hung up on this subjct, like we all did on SACDs format and before that DVD Audio. And I would question the integrity of many HD Tracks. Did they really get back to the masters? Or are they upsampled from 44.1 I have read a lot about that, and it is very unclear.
  
  For example, I bought YES Fragile from HD Tracks, and it was the old original track selection, not the more recent remastered selection with the extra tracks! So was it simply upsampled from 44.1?
  
  Anyway, I would ,listen to an Audio Note DAC with Redbook and 96k capability before getting hung up on 192k. I am in the 'it's another blind alley' camp' as regards HD Tracks. And I can't afford to pay 250% increased prices for those 192k files.... Seriously, how many titles would you buy? Maybe it would be like Blue Ray, and you buy 2% of your collection....
  
  

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  • RE: AN Dac's - Kipp 16:13:10 10/03/13 (1)
    In Reply to: RE: AN Dac's posted by astrostar59 on June 12, 2013 at 03:06:35

    "I run a Mac Mini with firewire external drive and Audirvana+ feeding an M2Tech EVO full stack, then into my AN Kits 3.1 DAC SE. What can I say, it sounds fabulous on Redbook and 96K recordings. "
    
    Astrostar59 or anyone:
    
    I just bought a Mac Mini (i7 16GB RAM, USB 3.0) and have been using a CAL Sigma II DAC on my previous desktop- a W7 PC using optic cable output. But Mac Mini has no optic or S/PDIF co-ax output (right?), so I have to get a DAC with USB input, or get a USB> S/PDIF converter if I wanna still use the CAL Sigma II. I have been considering AudioNote DAC 2.1A kit with USB input option. I am listening to Pandora and TuneIn Radio on the computer. Will eventually expand my audio sources to whatever DAC I have.
    
    Looking for any tips/advice. Was using native SoundBlaster program on motherboard of Windows 7 PC> optic cable> California Audio Labs Sigma II DAC> RCA cables to vacuum tube stereo setup. Have Linn Sondek for vinyl. Plan to use Mac Mini now for computer audio instead of W7 PC. Seeing if there is consensus on equipment that works well with Mac Mini. Is there a preferred connection technology for path between the Mac Mini and DAC's? Thanks, Kip..........
    Linn Sondek LP-12, Lingo PSU, Ittok LVII arm, AT OC9ML cart, Audio Origami lead, ASUSA PP-1 phono stage/ARC SP-9, Cayin TA30 integrated tube amp, TAD (Bizzy Bee) 805SD speakers.
    
    

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    • RE: AN Dac's - The Bat 23:38:56 10/03/13 (0)
      In Reply to: RE: AN Dac's posted by Kipp on October 03, 2013 at 16:13:10

      The Mac Mini does have an optical output. It's shared with the headphone socket and you need a mini-toslink adapter - mine came with the cable.
      
      
      

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  • RE: AN Dac's - lokie 09:45:32 06/12/13 (0)
    In Reply to: RE: AN Dac's posted by astrostar59 on June 12, 2013 at 03:06:35

    Well said Astro. My thoughts exactly.
    
    I would add that I buy cd collections for a few bucks a piece as people are ripping and dumping. The idea of spending $40 on a hirez download seems absurd even if it was consistently superior (which it isn't by a long shot).
    
    The only issue I see going forward is if I was ripping vinyl or recording over the air radio broadcast, I would be very curious as the SQ of the higher rates.
    
    
    

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  • RE: AN Dac's - RGA 08:06:36 06/12/13 (0)
    In Reply to: RE: AN Dac's posted by astrostar59 on June 12, 2013 at 03:06:35

    Download a few torrents at the Pirate Bay of HD Tracks first to determine if you think they're better or not. Normally I don't support doing this sort of thing but to me this serves to take out confirmation bias. If you spend $25 on an album that advertises that it's HIGH RESOLUTION 24/192 blahblah - then you're going to assume it's better.
    
    If however you get the album for free you can just do a test against one of your regular CDs of the album.
    
    Also, try to ensure that the download album has not been remastered because that isn't the same comparison anymore.
    
    I have a few 24/192 mastered CDs on a special technology (the disc itself is different than regular CD - well so they claim - and I will try high res downloads and CD of the same albums.
    
    I don;t have an Audio Note CD player - but the player I have is one of the better ones available for $1500.
    

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