Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Transporter Review in TAS
Anne;422791 Wrote: http://stereophile.com/mediaservers/207slim/ this is over 2 years old...did it ever get a bad review? Actually, yes. There was an extremely biased and carelessly written review from audioenz.com, highlighting only on how operating the Transporter is as difficult as learning a new instrument, and that it sounds good, but a Airport express+DAC is just as good for less money. Both highly untrue of course as I used an Airport Express with Lavry and benchmark DAC before and none of them came close to the Transporter. -- agentsmith System 1: Transporter+Hi-Line RCA-DIN, Naim 202/200/Hicap+Powerline/NAPSC, Harbeth Monitor 30 System 2: SB2 or Airport Express connected via TOSLINK to a Meridian F80 Headphone: Naim Headline+NAPSC and ancient Senn HD580 agentsmith's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1838 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63161 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Power supply DAC for my SB3 - recommendations?
Another vote for the 'Beresford TC-7520 DAC' (http://www.beresford.me/UK/Stereo_Audio_Digital_to_Analogue_Converter_USB2FCOAX2FTOSLINK.html) . The headphone amp might even be better than the one you've got. You'll get your money back if you're not satisfied IIRC. -- Uluen SYSTEM: MUSIC - EARS http://www.last.fm/user/Uluen Uluen's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=12166 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63349 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Break-in period for Transporter?
dekaliber;424233 Wrote: Thanks for the replies, all. After a weekend that involved a good bit of listening, I'm really not sure I can pick out a real difference in sound quality between the two players. A lot of my initial impressions before level matching them were extremely biased by loudness. As it turns out, the Transporter is about 1 dB louder that the SB3 at fixed output. The CI DAC is 1.5 dB louder than the SB3. Both of these units sounded pronouncedly better until I level matched them using pink noise and an SPL meter, after which they all pretty much sounded the same. (There's a more noticeable difference between the CI unit and the two Slim Devices units, but it's still pretty subtle.) Don't get me wrong, it sounds wonderful, and I almost wouldn't mind buying one just to know that I have pretty darn close to the best that money can buy (I expect there might be a few in here that will take issue with that claim, but I'm not about to drop 5 figures on any single piece of audio gear anytime soon). Plus, I do enjoy its aesthetic qualities and feature set. That said, the SB3 comes awfully close in terms of purely sonic performance, at least to a point where I'm pretty sure I can't tell the difference. I didn't get a chance to do a DBT this weekend so that is to follow this week. I'm willing to believe that there might be something to the theory that audio quality past a certain point works on a pretty subconscious level. If I can identify the Transporter in a blind A/B test as being better most of the time, I'm quite content to make it a fixture in my system. Regarding the noise that my tweeter emits from the SB3 vs the Transporter, I did end up trying them both on RCA outs. No major difference between Transporter on XLR vs RCA. Difference between the SB3 vs Transporter as mentioned before, is very audible with my ear against the tweeter, but as soon as I got a couple feet away, I couldn't hear it anymore. Note that this is at a setting 30 dB above my usual listening volume. So, yes, the noise floor is lower in the TP, but I'm not convinced that it actually matters when I'm sitting 8+ feet from each speaker. Anyway, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed. I was hoping the TP would be a total knockout, but it's been a little underwhelming so far. I agree that if your expectations are sky high you will be disappointed. The audible SQ differences between decent (decent mind you) digital sources are subtle IMO. Stack them against the differences between most loudspeakers or recordings, for example, and they seem to pale into insignificance. Whether the differences are worth the money depend completely on the rest of your system and your budget. However, IMO a new DAC or source will often (not always) be the bit which will do the least to improve SQ. There are other reasons to buy equipment too: knowing you have the best as you mentioned, looks or style, minimalism, domestic considerations, simplicity, features etc. All completely valid reasons if you apply them consciously! Darren -- darrenyeats http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/richpub/listmania/byauthor/A3H57URKQB8AQO/ref=cm_pdp_content_listmania/203-7606506-5721503. (Inguz bass EQ'd) SB3 - (pre bypassed) Krell KAV-300i - PMC AB-1 (caps bass EQ'd) Laptop - Genius Slab SW-flat2.1 700 SB3 / Rio Karma / Laptop - JVC UX-C30 / Sennheiser PX-100 darrenyeats's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10799 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63394 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] New System, Transporter Final Piece?
Digital output of both TP and SB3 equal. So your decision to buy a TP has to be related to it's DAC and some other peripheral questions. If you expect the TP to trounce the SB3 sonically , you will be dissapointed. IMHO if sonics are the only question then an outboard DACof your choice and flavour might be the better buy. If you want looks , digital effects loop , balanced outputs , better power supply , the ability to play hi rez music and the ability of the TP to act as a stand alone DAC and digital pre all in one unit - then buy one. -- Rodney_Gold Sb3/Z-sys RDP1/meridian DSP5500's TP/X-cans v3/Senns 650's TP/TACT 2.0/SCM 50a's TP/Meridian DSP5000's The nicest thing about smacking your head against the wall is...the feeling you get when you stop Rodney_Gold's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14618 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63465 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] New System, Transporter Final Piece?
Rodney_Gold;424327 Wrote: Digital output of both TP and SB3 equal. So your decision to buy a TP has to be related to it's DAC and some other peripheral questions. If you expect the TP to trounce the SB3 sonically , you will be dissapointed. IMHO if sonics are the only question then an outboard DACof your choice and flavour might be the better buy. If you want looks , digital effects loop , balanced outputs , better power supply , the ability to play hi rez music and the ability of the TP to act as a stand alone DAC and digital pre all in one unit - then buy one. If you have the money for the Transporter, if it were me, I would put that in your system in a heartbeat. I have to disagree with Rodney on the TP and SB3 digital output being equal. The TP has a much better power supply. And I believe the Jitter is much lower on the TP then on the SB3. I do tend to lean toward Rodney's way of thinking when only using the digital output to a point. I am in the camp that the SB3 and a DAC like the Bel Canto is hard to beat, but combined they cost more then a Transporter. Again just my personal opinion, but my Dodson DA-217 MK2-D Digital Processor sounds better and is more real and alive when being feed from my Transporter then from my SBR or SB3. -- iPhone *iPhone* Media Room: Transporter, VTL TL-6.5 Signature Pre-Amp, Ayre MX-R Mono's, Vandersteen Quatro, VeraStarr 6.4SE 6-channel Amp, VCC-5 Reference Center, four VSM-1 Signatures, Runco RS 900 CineWide AutoScope 2.35:1 Living Room: Duet, ADCOM GTP-870HD, Cinepro 3K6SE III Gold, Vandersteen Model 3A Signature, Two 2Wq subs, VCC-2, Two VSM-1 Kitchen: Squeezebox BOOM Bedroom: SB3, GFR-700HD, Thiel 2.3, Second Boom Home Office: SB3, NAD C370, two VSM-1 Home Gym: SB3, Parasound Vamp v.3, Thiel PowerPoint 1.2 House Portable: SB3, Audioengine A5 Thunderbird: Duet, Mac Mini Expedition: SB3, ToughBook iPhone's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=13622 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63465 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Power supply DAC for my SB3 - recommendations?
jezbo;423329 Wrote: My current system is detailed below. What reasonable cost (sub-£200) enhancements would you recommend to get the best improvements for listening to lossless (and possibly lossy) files through the SB3? I think I need to improve the setup with a new power supply (the one I'm using is the one that came with the SB3) and external DAC. Are there any other weak links in my set-up? SB3 - (Marantz PM4001 amp) - Heed Canamp - Denon AH-D5000 headphones (for listening through cans) SB3 - Marantz PM4001 amp - Mordaunt-Short Avant 904i Speakers (for external speakers) Save your money and buy a Transporter. There is no power supply or mod available to improve the power section on an SB3. Phil and I have done a bunch of testing on this, and there is no solution that plugs into the current 5VDC factory PS input (which I feel is due to the fact that the SB3 has internal switching supplies after the factory PS input). I even went as far as to disabled the internal switchers and feed the inputs with linear and then battery supplied power and the results are not worth the cost and effort. The DAC in the SB3 is actually very good for the price point of the SB3. Again, I recommend saving up for a Transporter or a DAC in the over $1000 range to see/hear improvements worth paying for. -- iPhone *iPhone* Media Room: Transporter, VTL TL-6.5 Signature Pre-Amp, Ayre MX-R Mono's, Vandersteen Quatro, VeraStarr 6.4SE 6-channel Amp, VCC-5 Reference Center, four VSM-1 Signatures, Runco RS 900 CineWide AutoScope 2.35:1 Living Room: Duet, ADCOM GTP-870HD, Cinepro 3K6SE III Gold, Vandersteen Model 3A Signature, Two 2Wq subs, VCC-2, Two VSM-1 Kitchen: Squeezebox BOOM Bedroom: SB3, GFR-700HD, Thiel 2.3, Second Boom Home Office: SB3, NAD C370, two VSM-1 Home Gym: SB3, Parasound Vamp v.3, Thiel PowerPoint 1.2 House Portable: SB3, Audioengine A5 Thunderbird: Duet, Mac Mini Expedition: SB3, ToughBook iPhone's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=13622 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63349 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Squeezebox A/B - digital out rca out same level?
peterw;422019 Wrote: Not I'm the latest software verisons. Don't recall when that changed -- sometime after 7.0. That capability was removed to make room for other stuff in the Squeezebox firmware. Damn ! I was hoping i'd be able to do that in order to so the same kind of testings (A friend of mine will bring his Zhaolu DAC to compare it with SB3's DAC). So, is there any other way to level the volumes ? (which does not involve buying some expensive hardware) -- BlueScreenJunky BlueScreenJunky's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=22725 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63198 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] New System, Transporter Final Piece?
For myself i can clearly answer the question Transporter Final Piece? with yes It's the final piece of an audio network streaming device (for me again :-) kind regards, Markus -- schiegl schiegl's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=6654 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63465 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Calculate Attenuation
Hi, I want tot connect my Transporter directly to my Primare A33.2 poweramp. It has the following inputs: XLR, 2V for 120W into 8 Ohm RCA, 1V for 120W into 8 Ohm The Transporter has the following outputs: XLR, 3v RCA, 2v How do I calculate how much attenuation I need on both the RCA en XLR outputs in order to match to poweramp inputs? -- S2K S2K's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=12675 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63495 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Squeezebox A/B - digital out rca out same level?
If you have a preamp that can set different levels for different inputs, you're good. Otherwise, you might have to look into passive attenuation. -- dekaliber dekaliber's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9852 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63198 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] New System, Transporter Final Piece?
another option to think about if your spending around 2000GBP... http://www.audiovenue.co.uk/news_info.asp?id=230 http://www.whathifi.com/News/BRISTOL-SHOW-Naim-makes-a-plea-for-Uniti/ Does what the Transporter does...but has a Naim CD player and Amp built in. just a thought -- Gazjam Gazjam's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=18604 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63465 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Squeezebox A/B - digital out rca out same level?
Nope, only an integrated amp. I'll see what I can do with squeezeslave and the digital output of my PC :-/ I'll check passive attenuation too, thanx. -- BlueScreenJunky BlueScreenJunky's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=22725 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63198 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Nu Force amp and pre amp on the way
And... How are the Amps? Christian -- Schindler Schindler's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=8461 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=62326 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Calculate Attenuation
You don't use a calculator for this. Just start at -30dB and work your way up until 100% on Transporter's volume control corresponds to your maximum desired listening level. Or another way to look at it: if you always have Transporter's volume control set to, say, -20db or lower, then it means you should instead be using -20dB analog attenuation. -- seanadams seanadams's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63495 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] New System, Transporter Final Piece?
Thank you for the quick responses, any thoughts on the DAC in the Transporter versus the Rotel? -- parkmad parkmad's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=839 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63465 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] New System, Transporter Final Piece?
parkmad;424512 Wrote: Thank you for the quick responses, any thoughts on the DAC in the Transporter versus the Rotel? no contest! TP is superior to any midfi inegrated dac (nad, rotel, arcam...) -- GuyDebord '*LAST.FM*' (http://www.last.fm/user/bloodyrosa) - SPEAKERS: Kharma CRM 3.2FE - v/d Hul Inspiration - PRE: Lyngdorf DPA-1 - Kharma Grand Reference XLR's - AMP: Halcro MC20 - ANALOGUE: Clearaudio Ambient CMB, Satisfy Carbon Lyra Helikon SL, ASR Basis Exclusive phono pre - Acoustic Zen Silver Reference II XLRs - DIGITAL: Slim Devices Transporter - Siltech Golden Ridge AES/EBU - AC: PS Audio Power Plant Premier, PS Audio Statement(PPP), ASR Magic Cord(ASR), Siltech SPX30 MKII's for the Lyngdorf, Halcro Transporter GuyDebord's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=14587 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63465 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Empirical Audio Pace Car Reclocker Observations
Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in. I just received a Pace Car 2 and Bitmeister SPDIF cable today from Steve @ Empirical. For the skeptics in this thread, I will say unequivocally, hands down, this device has added tremendously to my system in very, very noticeable ways. I'm sitting here writing this while I listen to some music I know well (i.e., Seal Best of Acoustic 24bit recording ripped from DVD-A, Rebecca Pidgeon Retrospective 24/96, Blue Coast Records tracks in 24/96, Norah Jones, Lauridsen's O Magnum Mysterium, even a popular CD like Taylor Swift Fearless, etc.), and am finding myself reguarly having to lift my falling jaw... and this is in it's first hour or two of duty and so not broken in yet. Music has more detail, meaningfully more extension in the highs and lows, more musical and analog sounding (without any compromise in detail), better separation between instruments / voices, bigger soundstage (and far better imaging of the instruments within the soundstage). Setup for context is Transporter-PaceCar2-Meridian568.2-Krell amp. (the PaceCar2 uses it's word clock output with the Transporter as slave) Kudo's to Steve for such a great product. -- silverlight silverlight's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=29788 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=57107 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Break-in period for Transporter?
Break in time == about the time it takes to boot :) -- mswlogo XP Cat5 Transporter/DuetController SPDIF Meridian G68 DSP6000, DSP5500HC, DSP5000 XP Cat5 SB3 SPDIF Meridian DSP5000 XP Cat5 DuetReceiver SPDIF Meridian G91 DSP5000 'My Transporter Setup' (http://forums.slimdevices.com/showpost.php?p=350741postcount=45) 'Hitch Hikers Guide to Meridian' (http://www.meridianunplugged.com) mswlogo's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9090 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=63394 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
