Digital Drive

Re: cdp+outboard dac

71.112.106.190

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Thread: Display All Email ] [ Digital Drive ]

Ted Smith

(B)

In Reply to: cdp+outboard dac posted by marvda1 on August 13, 2006 at 16:49:29:

Howdy
Probably not in the way you mean. However bass solidity can be affected by the quality of the transport and if the transport has jitter that the DAC can't deal with there might be some hi-freq tizz or imaging problems...
Things like freq balance, detail, decay, etc. are mostly from the DAC itself.
-Ted

Follow Ups:

Balance, detail and decay. - Quiet Earth 22:37:44 08/13/06 (11)
"Things like freq balance, detail, decay, etc. are mostly from the DAC itself."
That's what I thought too, until I heard a Audio Note transport.
- The demo may have been rigged. - Ozzie 10:43:17 08/14/06 (2)
  It is not like someone doing the demo would go out of their way to level the playing field.
  - You assume too much. - Quiet Earth 17:21:16 08/14/06 (0)
    I borrowed the mark 1 transport from the dealer. I took it home and used it over the weekend, three days actually. I noticed the huge improvement all by myself without mommy holding my hand.
    Then I bought the mark 2 version because the mark 1 had been discontinued.
    Same reaction, even better. No demo, no playing field. Just me and my music.
    How 'bout that?
  - I agree, but - Frihed89 11:40:05 08/14/06 (0)
    The new transports really are nice. I have had a little contact with the AN shop here, and my sense from sitting around the shop is that this stuff sells itself, without any hype. The dealer is very laid back, very objective, and helpful in the best danish sense of the world. I mean i know this guy in town, an american immigrant actually, who doesn't own car, skimps on vacations and saves all his money to buy AN equipment.
- Re: Balance, detail and decay. - Ted Smith 10:28:22 08/14/06 (7)
  Howdy
  On which DAC? What did the transport change (or is that obvious "Balance, detail and decay."?)
  Just curious as I haven't (yet) had an AN DAC or transport in my system or heard it outside of some shows. Thanks.
  -Ted
  - Re: Balance, detail and decay. - Quiet Earth 17:39:40 08/14/06 (6)
    I already owned the Audio Note DAC2.1X signature when I borrowed the transport.
    And yes, it was obvious to me. Especially the detail and the decay of sounds. All of this new information affects the entire balance of what you are hearing. It was a clear improvement, more like direct to disk is to vinyl. I did not have to "try" to hear any differences. I could just hear more of the musical information that's already on the disc.
    The sound, by the way, is not hyper detailed. You just feel like you're closer to the master tape. It's hard to go back once you've had it in your house.
    - Thanks - Ted Smith 17:48:43 08/14/06 (5)
      Howdy
      I don't have experience with AN DACs and have no reason to doubt you in any case.
      I just haven't experienced that big of difference from a transport, tho the differences I have experienced even changing just the power cord on a transport are sometimes unbelievable (especially when you don't believe they could make a difference :)
      -Ted
      - That's interesting Ted - Quiet Earth 21:15:04 08/14/06 (4)
        
        In Reply to: Thanks posted by Ted Smith on August 14, 2006 at 17:48:43:
        
        You have quite a nice bundle of gear at your place, the room included. And you have a fancy transport too! It kind of bothers me that you don't hear differences between transports. It's not that I want to prove a point or anything. To each his own, right? It just seems that if you can tell when you've upgraded a power cord then you should also be able to hear what a better transport can do. Maybe your DAC rearranges everything anyway and that's why all transports sound the same (upsamples? reclocks??). The AudioNote stuff is more about just playing the music "as is" and letting the chips fall where they may.
        You should go check it out sometime just for fun. It's a kick!
        Best,
        QE
        
        I never said that I don't hear differences between transports :) - Ted Smith 22:23:57 08/14/06 (3)
        
        In Reply to: That's interesting Ted posted by Quiet Earth on August 14, 2006 at 21:15:04:
        
        Howdy
        Oh, I never said that I don't hear differences between transports. There's a reason I'm using the EMM Labs CDSD instead of the modified Philips SACD-1000. (I don't like spending money for no differences.)
        I was trying to make the point in my original post was that the differences I hear between transports are small (or at least different) compared to the differences I hear between DACs, but that they are still significant.
        I believe that the original poster was wondering if he could expect the same balance, detail, decay, etc. if he changed DACs (keeping the same transport) and my point was that that was less likely than if he changed transports (all other things being equal.)
        I've posted elsewhere the differences I hear when I use S/PDIF instead of the three AT&T ST glass fibers, i.e. adding jitter. The thing I find that's most telling is the reaction of one of my friends who thinks SACD and vinyl are worse than Redbook and that my DAC also makes CDs sound too much like SACD or vinyl. By using the more jitter prone interconnect he said "That's better!" :)
        -Ted
        
        Jitter can be good - Patrick82 10:46:51 08/25/06 (0)
        
        In Reply to: I never said that I don't hear differences between transports :) posted by Ted Smith on August 14, 2006 at 22:23:57:
        
        Sometimes a jittery cable gives better synergy because of edgy detail, like if the system is too muddy.
        My stock Valhalla cables were too fat and muddy so I preferred Toslink over Valhalla digital because it sounded more harsh, but it wasn't neutral. After I modded my cabling I could use the Valhalla digital cable again.
        I heard huge differences when demagnetizing the transport with a PS Audio Power Plant. It all matters!
        
        Your story makes a good point. - Quiet Earth 06:35:42 08/15/06 (1)
        
        In Reply to: I never said that I don't hear differences between transports :) posted by Ted Smith on August 14, 2006 at 22:23:57:
        
        We all identify with what seems to be "right" and then we latch on to it. I know I do. The story of your friend might as well be about me. Hey, as long as we're happy! ;> )
        Good to talk to you,
        QE
        
        Re: Your story makes a good point. - Ted Smith 06:39:30 08/15/06 (0)
        
        In Reply to: Your story makes a good point. posted by Quiet Earth on August 15, 2006 at 06:35:42:
        
        Howdy
        Good to talk to you too.
        Let's enjoy some good music.
        -Ted

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Schiit Audio

You can not post to an archived thread.