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In Reply to: RE: Not For Me It Isn't......... posted by Todd Krieger on October 22, 2021 at 19:56:51
I use it too. My Ruby has 3 inputs into the DAC: USB, SPDIF and Toslink. I have to say I think the Toslink sounds more musical from my SB Touch, of course it doesn't allow for DSD. I also like that it frees up the two other inputs for the computer and a Blu Ray player. I like having it all!
Follow Ups:
"I have to say I think the Toslink sounds more musical from my SB Touch"
Makes some sense for such an ancient streamer.
"I have to say I think the Toslink sounds more musical from my SB Touch, of course it doesn't allow for DSD."
One of the big breakthroughs for me would be the capability to use optical with higher-resolution formats..... I've seen designs that use "dual Toslink" for this... But unfortunately, it is only available on gear priced way beyond affordability.
CD is a weird source for one reason..... When done well, it doesn't make me long for higher resolutions (and I *am* a resolution freak)...... (I often enjoy CD versions of albums expressly to spare my vinyl.) But easier said than done.
Some people laugh at me because I like FiiO digital players , but they really suit me and they sound absolutely awesome. I just bought the new FiiO M11 Plus LTD and I'm amazed at its sound quality. I connect it directly to the balanced inputs on my Parasound Halo A21 amplifier, which drives my B&W PM1 speakers set up in an ultra near-field listening configuration. I'm very impressed with the sound.
I also own the FiiO M15 Flagship DSD player and it sounds better than my Mytek Brooklyn Bridge. I'll bet its sound quality is competitive with just about any DAC or digital player out there. The M15 has dual top-of-the-line AK4499EQ DAC chips with both balanced and unbalanced analog outputs.
Unfortunately, neither of these players have optical inputs, but I have nothing against Toslink Optical. My HDTV is connected to my Mytek Brooklyn Bridge with Toslink Optical and it works just fine.
Since discovering FiiO a couple of years ago, I use these little FiiO players for all my digital music listening. They'll decode all digital formats up through DSD512 although I don't have any DSD512. Each player uses a 1-TB micro SD memory card to store my digital music files and they play everything up through DSD256 directly from the memory card.
I have found that UNF listening can be a bit sterile because small speakers pulled out too far will lack bass. However, I see the subs in your setup.
I use the subs only with the Thiel floor-standing speakers. However, the Thiel's are still fairly near-field--about 6-ft from my ears. The little PM1 speakers are closer still--3-feet from my ears--and farther away from walls, yet they seem to have adequate bass without subs.When my friend and I auditioned the B&W PM1's in the audio dealer's show room we were both impressed with the bass response from such small speakers. We compared them with the B&W 803 and 804 floor-standing speakers, and we both liked the full-bodied, robust sound from the little PM1's better.
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Edits: 10/23/21
I have a FiiO BTR5 portable DAC...... It's a nice piece, but it got knocked off by a Hidizs AP80 Pro Red Copper Limited Edition portable player..... (The FiiO required a separate playback source, and didn't sound quite as good.) The AP80 Pro Red Copper LE is a great one-piece solution for portable digital audio. (It's also the player I alluded to in another post in which I had "meta tag" issues, and "sitting in a drawer for 15 months" due to the COVID restrictions.) It does sound considerably better than the standard AP80 Pro.
Yeah, the BTR5 is not something I would want, either. Like you, I also prefer autonomous players. Additionally, I prefer AKM DACs instead of ESS DACs. My Brooklyn Bridge has ES9028Pro DACs and it doesn't sound as good as either of my FiiO players with AKM DACs.
It's unfortunate that AKM DACs are no longer available due to a fire at the AKM factory. I hope it's not permanent because I think AKM DAC chips are the very best DACs ever. ;-)
Best regards,
John Elison
had one but never replaced it ... but you keep talking them up and you'll give me gear acquisition syndrome to do just that ... I think they're great
they're not just the niche product many assume they are
btw, nice collection of toilet seat covers you've got there
regards,
Its a crowded mess!
So, what's you point? It's my setup--not yours! Why would you care if it's a crowded mess?
Jeez.... My systems are a lot messier than that........ (This was the high-efficiency system ["100dB Club"] six years ago, but the system hasn't changed much since then.)
Hey John,
I think it's great that we all find what works for us. I have my new Ruby SACD player/DAC and it's just lovely, perfect for my needs of a SACD disc player and DAC. Those who've given up on the silver discs have what works for them.
I wanted to ask, how are the headphone outputs on those players?
I think the headphone outputs are great. I have a number of different headphones and earphones and they all sound fine to me. My favorite earphone is the new FD7, which is really superb. It's the best I've ever heard. I also have the FD5, which is excellent, too. I have several other FiiO earphones in addition to Koss ESP/950 electrostatic headphones and a couple of pairs of Grado headphones, the HP-1 and RS-2. I probably have 10 different headphones and earphones and they all work very well with my FiiO digital players. I have the original Grado headphone amplifier, but I haven't used it in quite some time because the FiiO players work just fine. The headphone output on my TASCAM DA-3000 is also very good.
I wish I had access to the top-of-the-line Stax headphones because I'd like to compare them with my FiiO FD7 earphones just to see how much better the Stax are. ;-)
Best regards,
John Elison
Thanks, and good to know, a portable player is on my list of wants. I'm looking at new headphones and would love to try e-stats and planars. Having a hard time trying to figure out how much to spend. I never really was a headphone guy, but current living situation with the wife still working from home for the foreseeable future requires it.
One of the amps I'm looking at seems like they can drive almost anything (maybe not Stax...but most others from the specs.) IEM's are most definitely not for me for long term listening. I like the isolation, but just have a hard time with comfort.
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