Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Ref: What Should I Buy ?
deutscherhififan;448438 Wrote: Go for the transporter. There is a guy selling new product on Audiogon for $1250 right now. If you compare this to a lesser 'combo solution of for example a duet ($400) and a decent DAC (for example Cambridge DAC Magic), you are much better off with the transporter, especially at that price and given the transporter's performance. Two antennas for better reception, two configurable screens, a DAC much better than a DAC Magic or similar, a better internal power supply, the list goes on. As I said, no question. Transporter owners will always tell you go for a Transporter ;-) How about getting a SB Classic as proof of concept which you can always re-use elsewhere in the house if you upgrade to a Transporter? And if Wi-fi performance is an issue, how about Homeplug/Powerline devices? I use these to great effect connecting server to router to switches to TP etc. Bob -- morris_minor Living Room: Transporter Study: Receiver Kitchen: Boom Son's Bedroom: Classic iPeng on an iPhone, 2 x Controllers Server: TranquilPC T2-WHS-A3i SC 7.2.1 - 23630 - - - - http://www.last.fm/user/morris_minor_1 morris_minor's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=13950 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66594 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Best Sounding version of Slimserver?
I was asked recently by a work colleague who knew I was into streaming music what the best audiophile router was. I told him to look for those that had gold plated ethernet sockets and linear power supplies and also to be careful what cat-5 cable he bought (Monster Cable might be good place to look . .). He thought wireless would degrade the sound, so I mentioned that Shakti Stones help focus the signal by increasing the resolution. Hopefully that's him sorted, then . . . -- morris_minor Living Room: Transporter Study: Receiver Kitchen: Boom Son's Bedroom: Classic iPeng on an iPhone, 2 x Controllers Server: TranquilPC T2-WHS-A3i SC 7.2.1 - 23630 - - - - http://www.last.fm/user/morris_minor_1 morris_minor's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=13950 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66366 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Better DAC, Transporter, or High End Pre Amp, Help!
So I spent about 4 hours yesterday reading about DACs and the choices are too numerous. Background: I am playing flac files ripped in dbPoweramp, then Squeezebox duet, Yamaha CX-800U preamp, Onkyo Grand Integra M-508 (200wpc @8ohms), and then through Infinity Kappa 9's (very capable and revealing speakers). My assessments is that the sound is a little harsh, edgy, and 2 dimensional. Don't get me wrong the Sqeezebox is not bad, but the Infinity Kappa 9's make poor source material obvious. My options look like the following 1) Buy an external DAC 2) Buy a Transporter 3) Buy a high end Pre amp with an internal DAC, like a Bryston SP2 $5,000 The External DAC options and numerous. Here are some of the ones I have read about, both new and used. Adcom GDA-600 - used $225 Music Fidelity V-DAC Gigalab NOS USB DAC TDA1543 1ppm TCXO Dual clock ver $200 Valab NOS USB Re-Clock DAC Low Jitter Dual 1ppm TCXO $200 Behringer ULTRAMATCH PRO SRC2496 - $300 www.pacificvalve.us - has a ton of different DACS Music Hall - DAC 25.2 - $600 PS Audio - Digital Link III - $700 Lavry DA10 - about $800? Apogee Mini DAC - ? Benchmark DAC1 - $900 - $1900 Beresford TC-7520 Bryston - BDA-1 - $2,000 CIAUDIO - VDA-2 - $600 Stello DA100 - $700 Zhaolu D3.5 DAC - $350 Cambridge Audio DacMagic - $450 Musical Fidelity X Dac V3 - used $525 If I were to buy one of these DACs it would probably be the Cambridge Audio DacMagic or one in the $600 - $1,000 range, like the Music Hall DAC 25.2, PS Audio Digital Link III, or Lavry DA10, or a Benchmark product. The slippery slope But once I am spending $800 bucks, why don't I just get a used transporter (around $1,200), and if am spending $1,200 on a Transporter, why don't I just get a High End pre-amp with a quality DAC inside and just use the optical out on the Squeezebox. When I started this search, I was leaning towards an external DAC, but now I am leaning towards a Transporter. The speakers are bright and capable of producing lots of Highs, and my home has lots of concrete, glass and steel, so the environment is bright. Does a Transporter allow me to bypass the preamp? It wasn't until I got the Infinity Kappa 9's (about 20 years ago), that I realized how critical source material, I could clearly discern good cd's and bad cd's. Now that I have set up the Kappa's again, I am trying to get back that good rich sound and I think the SB is my limiting component. There are just too many choices, I am confused. -- John_Dumke John_Dumke's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9709 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66754 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Best Sounding version of Slimserver?
Hi, I (still) think that dudeymon has a point (forgive me if any logistic problems - this is my 1st post... o ) /long(er) post warning/ I've been using the SB3 since 2007, and have been looking into this (generally) useful forum amny times. I have had the same issue about SC versions rumbling for quite a while, and have seen earlier questions being handled about the same way as now : Highest version# is best, period; or the voodoo-tales. Personally, I have now finally removed the green stripe on my PC harddisk. and now is the time to grab the opportunity to register and post a comment and all. So please bear with me... My current SC version is Slimserver 6.5.1, SC3 firmware 72. Why is that ? Simply because I have done numerous switches from highest# back to 6.5.1 (or 6.5.4) and it does sound - at least - differently. The switch in SC# has been done on the PC (Windows XP) with the rest of the gear left untouched - and with a warm-up of at least 24h. The SC 7.3.3 (or whatever high at the time) does not sound bad - but well... not better than previous versions. At least in my set-up (will describe that a little later): The bass is more defined, but also somewhat thinner and somewhat recesed. The mid-tones are also thin in the layer, and will start listening fatigue (still _my_ set-up). The treble is better: Detailed and with fine grains. The Slimserver 6.5.4 has a little boomyer bass, the midrange is good (you can feel voices and guitars in the diaphragm on certain recordings), and the treble is a little more rough and not so detailed, but still ok. The noticable thing is that using the old versions, you feel like turning up the volume (good!), with the newer versions you may turn it up the places where you know some goodies will come - but then you feel like turning down again (not good). So this is not double blind A/B testing - but this is my opinion. I'm allowed to have that, my probation officer tells me ! And, the nerve, or timing is with the 6.5.4. better, in my opinion, again. Theory/fact is that the bits should arrive to the D/A converter the same way, independently of SC version. But, the ARE conditions during the streaming that will influence the sound. Unfortunately I'm not into the technical stuff to comprehend the implications, but I have at a point in time observed at this forum that the absolute phase was reversed (FW15?). Also I have experimented a little with the Inguiz plug-in, but didn't really get it to work. And at a point it the SB3 sounded simply dreadful, so I removed it again (nb: check also the All users folder!). And then there's the SOX thing, which also impacts (with conversion algoritms). Anything more? All the above is in no way to critizise the SB(3) - I think that it's great. The future of using music recordings. And it is versatile and flexible, well built etc. a.s.o. No doubt. And the open source concept works - with some parental guidance... Although I lack some of the improved functionality of new SC versions, I prioritize the sound, though. Question (finally!) is : Can anyone map the changes/parameters that impacts the sound (is it firmware only?) , and if so, can it be selectable, somehow ? (Inguiz?). I refuse to NOT listen to my own two ears - even if they are at drift sometimes. Depending on level of red wine, level of general fatigue, level of stress e.t.c. Also I do beleive that the (general) power supply has an impact on your sound system, i.e. the noise that is picked up from there. That's why week-ends are mostly the best window for listening, since industries have powered down My set-up is: Windows XP. EAC(+accurip) to WAV. Wireless to SB3 (no problems). SPdif/optical into DAC (Behringer). DAC to poweramp (SONY TA-N80ES), Clario two-way speakers (Italian) + 1 DLS sub. So the system is not the most expensive, but I have always pursued the optimum of whatever's around. The amplifier is maybe a little on the bright side, but with the proper SC version it sounds sweet and good (when recording allows). ps. This IS the audiophile forum, not the gadget forum, pls. remember :o). Hope for positive feeback, Jan. __ Follow he who seekest the truth. Shun he who has found the truth. -- wavfan wavfan's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32277 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66366 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Ref: What Should I Buy ?
I would go with morris minor. Get a SB3 and you can test everything. When you feel comfortable with it buy a transporter and use the SB3 with some nice little 2.1 Boombox somewhere else in the house. I think nearly everybody here started with one SB3 or Duet and got more and more Squeezeboxes when time goes buy. I am using 1 Transporter , 2 SB3 and a Boom at this time in four different rooms (started with 1 SB3). -- Aurumer Aurumer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=31601 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66594 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Best Sounding version of Slimserver?
Download 6.5.1 http://downloads.slimdevices.com/ -- Amauta SqueezeCenter 7.3.3 on Qnap TS-119. 2x Squeezebox2. 1 BOOM, excellent sound! lastfm.com/user/Squeezebox_II Amauta's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2669 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66366 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Higher Sampling Rate for Transporter
When the Transporter was first launched, I recalled Sean Adams mentioning that there's plenty untapped horsepower under the hood. I am wondering if there is any plan to support higher sampling rate to pass through... I use the Transporter as a 'transport' feeding into the Berkeley Alpha DAC. Companies like Reference Recordings are now selling higher sampling material. It's a great way to get better sound. e.g., RR offers 24 bit 176.4 kHz material for purchase. But the Transporter maxes out at 24/96... On a separate note, what is the best way to down and re-sample from 24/176.4 to 24/96 on OS X? Thanks. -- WSLam WSLam Slim Devices Transporter - Berkley Audio Design Alpha DAC - dartZeel NHB-18NS - darTZeel NHB-108 Model B + Magico Mini II 'Photos of Transporter, Inside Out' (http://photos.lam.ws/gallery/1930618) | 'Photos of my Setup' (http://photos.lam.ws/Hi-Fi) WSLam's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=830 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66761 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Best Sounding version of Slimserver?
This thread has officially jumped the shark. -- radish http://www.last.fm/user/polymeric radish's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=77 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66366 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Best Sounding version of Slimserver?
radish;449276 Wrote: This thread has officially jumped the shark. Yup. Please ignore the comments about running special old versions and complicated configurations. These setups are basically bullshit for reasons explained many times before. -- SuperQ SuperQ's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2139 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66366 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Transporter to pre- or poweramp
A poll associated with this post was created, to vote and see the results, please visit http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=64028 Question: To what is your Transporter connected - Preamp - Poweramp vantagesc;443481 Wrote: Has anyone tried the NHT passive volume control between the Transporter and their amp? Yes I have both types of the NHT passive controllers (balanced and unbalanced versions), and have tried each with a Transporter and also with an SB3 (SB Classic). These NHT passive volume controls are easily the best passives I've ever tried to date, and I think this might also be partly due to the excellent Jensen line-level input transformers contained in them. I wish that I had discovered these little NHT devices a long time ago, I find them to be *the* ideal match for the SB and Transporter. -- NewBuyer NewBuyer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=7862 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=64028 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Better DAC, Transporter, or High End Pre Amp, Help!
Welcome to the unforgiving pinball machine of system-sound improvement. :) Out of all your suggestions, I recommend you focus on the preamp idea. If your budget allows it, consider a Bryston preamp with built-in DAC. -- NewBuyer NewBuyer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=7862 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66754 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Ref: What Should I Buy ?
morris_minor;449081 Wrote: Transporter owners will always tell you go for a Transporter ;-) How about getting a SB Classic as proof of concept which you can always re-use elsewhere in the house if you upgrade to a Transporter? And if Wi-fi performance is an issue, how about Homeplug/Powerline devices? I use these to great effect connecting server to router to switches to TP etc. Bob I too agree with Bob on all of the above. -- NewBuyer NewBuyer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=7862 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66594 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Better DAC, Transporter, or High End Pre Amp, Help!
Hello and welcome to the Forum. First let me start with this is not a flame or knock of your system. Its a better system then average and now for the but. But some of the points that you have pointed out or heard are probably the equipment you already have in my opinion. The amp just doesn't match the speakers very well in my opinion. You made the statement that the speakers reveal poor source material, well there isn't any better source material then FLAC Files. They are an exact digital copy of the Red Book CD if properly ripped with dBpowerAmp with the added advantage of no mechanical interference or CDP error correction. Try running the Receiver straight into the amp and see what you hear. This removes the Pre-Amp from the chain. Remember to turn the volume all the way down on the Duet and also verify in SC before powering off everything and disconnecting any RCAs. After changing the connections, reverify that the volume is all the way down in SC before applying power to anything. If I owned your setup and had the money, I would get a good used high current amp off of Audiogon first. From my experience with the Kappa 9s, they need a bunch of current to be happy and to produce good image and soundstage. I would spend the next money on a Transporter to drive the new amp especially if I could due without a pre-amp anymore (IE just play music off the server to the Transporter). This would be the simplest setup. If you just have to have a pre-amp then don't buy the Transporter now. Find the amp on Audiogon and then look for a much better pre-amp as well on Audiogon (the Yamaha has to go (motorcycles and piano yes, pre-amps no)) and run the Duet's Receiver into the new pre-amp. After all this, maybe you can tell that I think your source is OK as well as your speakers for now, its the Pre-amp and amp that I feel needs upgraded/replaced. Anyway that is where I would start and/or how I would go about it if I were you. I am not you, so YMMV. -- iPhone *iPhone* Media Room: Transporter, VTL TL-6.5 Signature Pre-Amp, Ayre MX-R Mono's, VeraStarr 6.4SE 6-channel Amp, Vandersteen Speakers: Quatro Mains, VCC-5 Reference Center, four VSM-1 Signatures, Video: 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 Ford Thunderbird: Duet, Mac Mini Ford Expedition: SB3, ToughBook iPhone's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=13622 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66754 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Better DAC, Transporter, or High End Pre Amp, Help!
I've got a Lavry DA-10 that I use with my SB3 (Classic). It is a great combo; the Lavry is a very smooth but articulate sounding DAC. I auditioned a Transporter and decided my existing SB3 + the Lavry was a better value, but that was a couple of years ago. If you wanted a Transporter back then you paid $2K - I didn't recall seeing any on the used market. At $1,200 I'd have to think a bit harder if I was starting from scratch. However, I like what I have now so there is no urge to change. Another DAC you might consider is the Channel Island. They're a pretty good buy brand new at $600. Good luck with your decision. Just keep in mind there are no real losers regardless of whether you go the DAC route or the Transporter. I don't know enough about preamps with built-in DACs to offer an opinion on that option. -- mlsstl mlsstl's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9598 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66754 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
