jh901 wrote: > I don't think anyone was asserting that redbook CD is better than a > properly ripped WAV file. Computer audio has come a long way, but there > are kinks yet to be worked out. Even so, my claim is much different and > I don't see how it would be hotly contested. It is a fact that in my CD > player the circuitry is different when playing a CD from it's own > transport versus accepting the digital into the DAC section via S/PDIF. > > I'm not sure where all of the anti-audiophile stuff is coming from, but > if anyone genuininely believes that there are little or no sonic > differences between the Transporter and a hi-end player at $5 grand and > up, then I'll start taking bets. Gotta have serious hi-end speakers and > supporting electronics and then prepare to have your mind blown. And I > am dead serious. I did not believe that the Cary 306 SACD Pro as a DAC > versus the analog outs of the Transporter would result in much of a > difference, but I nearly fell out of my chair. I would not, under any > circustance, have believed that I was listening to my own system (same > speakers, pre/power amp, only swap DAC) had I not been sitting there > myself. The bass alone was over the top convincing (deep/taught). > Digital artifacts I didn't know were there...gone. Etc, etc. > > And again, the topic of this thread is "BEST top end players". While > the Cary 306 is excellent and has earned quite a reputation (see > reviews), it will be easily beaten by $15 grand and beyond leaders in > digital. It's difficult to make a "value claim" for an $8,000 CD/SACD > player, but taking that leap into "BEST" is very expensive. Why? > Proprietary chip sets and more. > > Finally, the Transporter is awesome. Period. I have no clue why the > Transporter must be heralded as the best DAC ever made at any price > point when A) that's a ridiculous line of thinking and B) it was a > remains a great unit at $1,000 and C) many here continue to enjoy it.
901: While I enjoy your writing and can easily tell by the tone that you are not looking to pick a fight or start a flame war, may I just point out that many here are not "anti-audiophile" nor are there claims that the Transporter is the best DAC. On the other hand, this a public forum and not one of the high end audio magazines, so statements like: "I did not believe that the Cary 306 SACD Pro as a DAC versus the analog outs of the Transporter would result in much of a difference, but I nearly fell out of my chair. I would not, under any circustance, have believed that I was listening to my own system (same speakers, pre/power amp, only swap DAC) had I not been sitting there myself. The bass alone was over the top convincing (deep/taught). Digital artifacts I didn't know were there...gone. Etc, etc." will only invoke lots of nasty comments because the simple fact is that regardless of the DAC and the audio system used the sonic differences between that DAC and the Transporter's analog outputs will be, at best, subtle. Please leave all the hyperbole and "the greatest thing since sliced bread" comments to the audio rags. I do believe that you did hear and experience a very real and audible difference, I only have an issue with your placing these differences into the realm of "night and day". By the way, have you tried the magic green marker on the edges of your hard drive platters? Really a night and day improvement :) Might void the warranty but definitely worth it! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ralphpnj's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10827 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96407 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
