krochat;156792 Wrote: > Folks, > > I've now had a Transporter for a week and have done some testing with > it and the SB3 into my TacT system (see signature). In all cases, the > Transporter and SB3 were synchronized as to volume and source > material. > > There are a large number of permutations, and I've tried many of them. > I guess I'll summarize in no particular order. > > 1) The Transporter vs. SB3 digital coax out sound very close, but the > nod, particularly in the mid and low bass, goes to the transporter. > > 2) I can't tell the difference between the SB3 running through the > Apogee Big Ben into the TacT RCS and the Transporter running direct > into the RCS. > > The SB3 was connected to the BB with an inexpensive glass-fiber Toslink > cable for electrical isolation. The BB is connected to the RCS with > home-made AES-EBU cables. > > For a digital source, the SB3 + BB will run you about $1300 (for a used > BB) vs. the $2k for the Transporter. > > I was happily listening to the the SB3 while watching the Transporter > VU meters! All further references to the SB3 refer to it running > through the Big Ben. > > Among the permutations tried were setting the last 4 RCS inputs to > SB3+BB coax, Transporter coax, SB3+BB AES/EBU, and Transporter Toslink > and cycling through them. I had no preference for any of the inputs. > > 3) All of the digital outputs on the Transporter sound the same to me, > with the exception of the BNC output. Using a Radio Shack BNC to RCA > converter, it sounds just a smidge more fatiguing than the other > outputs. I can't even pin it down to a tonal or spacial difference, I > just don't enjoy listening to that particular output as much. > > 4) The Transporter analog output into the RCS A/D converter sounded > exactly the same as using the Transporter digital outputs. There was > about a 2dB level difference, but the louder (digital) one didn't sound > better - it sounded the same. > > 5) 96kHz/24 bit rips from LPs (Weavers Reunion at Carnegie Hall) > sounded the same on both SB3 and Transporter. I used to hear a > different between 96 and 48kHz playback from my PC, but I don't hear it > now. It could be older ears or better done digital. > > 6) I did try electrically isolating the Transporter by using just the > Toslink output - I still heard no difference between the Transporter > and the SB3+BB. > > Bugs encountered: > > 1) The Transporter somehow got into a state where there was no digital > output on any output. Pulling the power plug fixed it. > > 2) When playing 96kHz material on the synchronized boxes, the SB3 > slowly got behind the Transporter, approximately one second per 5 > minutes of play. I'd guess there was a bug in the 48kHz downsampling > algorithm. > > Notes: > 1) Spdif coax cables are Zaolla DCR-3 > 2) Analog cable is BEL P1-1 > 3) SB3 is running a stock Lambda linear power supply > 4) BB is running a Welborne linear power supply > 5) RCS is modded - power supply, shielding, input transformers, etc. > 6) Power conditioning consists of an ExactPower EP15a, ExactPower SP15 > balanced power transformer, and Electronic Specialists ISO-21 isolation > filter. > 7) Your mileage may vary. > > Regards, > Kim
Great report. Are you're going to send the Transporter back for a refund? -- jhm731 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ jhm731's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=7685 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28307 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
