Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] What is the best top end player now ?
jh901 wrote: Note that the complete MSB stack priced at $50,000 is reviewed in Stereophile this month. I haven't read the article yet, but it better compare favorably to the dCS Paganini. Frankly, it should be MUCH better at that price for redbook and hi-rez since its transport doesn't support SACD. The primary reason I wanted a transport at all was for SACD (and my player supports HDCD as well). Hi there, I notice in your signature you have 'Transporter as a server' , would you mind explaining how you use it and what kind of server it is ? As I said I've been away for a while. Kind regards pkfox's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=5346 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
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] What is the best top end player now ?
I didn´t look up all devices jh901 listed but on first sight none of them can serve as streamer for your digital music collection as the Transporter does. I doubt the Transporter will be considered as good enough transport for all these DACs even ;) Wombat's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4113 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
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] What is the best top end player now ?
pkfox wrote: Hi there, I notice in your signature you have 'Transporter as a server' , would you mind explaining how you use it and what kind of server it is ? As I said I've been away for a while. Kind regards I'm sure he means that the Transporter is the network music player (i.e., taking the digital music from the computer/NAS running LMS). Then the Transporter digital outs feed his DAC. The transporter is not a server in the sense of running LMS, storing music, etc. garym's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17325 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
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] What is the best top end player now ?
jh901 wrote: The top digital players are manufactured by dCS and their ring DAC is pretty much the king. For redbook only, the Naim CD-555 is world class. Those and many, many other players (excluding the many outboard DACs) have sound quality that will surpass the sound quality of the Transporter by a huge margin. Here's a shortlist: dCS Ring DAC (Scarlatti, Paganini, Debussy, Puccini) Naim DAC (CD-555) CH Precision C1 DAC APL DAC-M (Designer: Alex Peychev) Light Harmonic Da Vinci Playback Designs MPD-5 MSB Diamond DAC IV EMM Labs DAC2 Burmester (069, 089, 113) Wadia 9 series Audio Research Reference DAC Simaudio 750D (built in transport but mainly a DAC) Zanden 5000S ... Of that list I've compared the EMM DAC2 with a DAC even lower than the Transporter, honestly neither myself or friend could discern a difference when single-blinded listening one afternoon (about 4 hours total listening with breaks in between) - this was of course on good amp and speakers. I'm really suspicious how this list came about... Zanden 5000S? Really? After these kind of results? http://www.stereophile.com/content/zanden-5000-mkivsignature-da-converter-2000-premium-cd-transport-measurements If John Atkinson's measurements are correct (assuming of course we might not hear these limitations), I would not be happy with this - not exactly SOTA for a $15K DAC! No hi-res either? I cannot imagine ANY DAC based on the TDA-1541 be considered 'best' in 2012! Archimago's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2207 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
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] What is the best top end player now ?
Yes, I'm using Transporter as a network music player and files are stored on a ReadyNAS. I use the Cary analog outputs in this case and, with my current gear, the sound quality compared to the Transporter analog outs is night and day. So much so that my non-audiophile neighbor simply couldn't believe it and even asked if I'd added a sub-woofer (as the Cary is known, among other things, for bass extension). That list is not comprehensive or official. I'm sure we have members here who prefer to believe that the Transporter is the best DAC ever and if you are satisfied, then I have no argument. As for others looking for far superior sound quality in all areas (transparency, freq extension, transient speed, etc) and you have the speakers and amp to provide the resolution, then the list is a decent starting point. If you drop down a notch to the likes of the Cary 306, which remains among the very best at under $10 grand, then you will still have quite an amazing upgrade. The next rung up will require a bit of investment, but prices may be coming down as Esoteric has recently reduced theirs. It's an exciting time in digital. jh901's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=18175 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
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Support for 24bit/92/192khz...?
Is there a wiki somewhere that talks about high HD files are handled? Clearly, the SB Touch has a DAC in there that allows it to handle everything up to 92kHz, it seems. The other units will ultimately downsample? Furthermore, if I play a 24bit/92kHz file via an SB3 that is optically conntected to an external DAC, the file will be passed transparently? As I start buying some stuff in higher def it'd be nioce to know exactly what happens where so I can optimize it. :) Thanks! pablolie's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3816 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96438 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Support for 24bit/92/192khz...?
LMS has logic that knows the max resolution of each player attached to it. If you try to play a file that is higher then the max sample rate of the player LMS will down sample it and send the player a version that is at it's max rate. The Touch can send 24/96 out its SPDIF port unaltered. If you want a higher sample rate then 24/96 you'll need to use something like VortexBox player that can support higher sample rates. agillis's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=21140 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96438 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Support for 24bit/92/192khz...?
agillis wrote: LMS has logic that knows the max resolution of each player attached to it. If you try to play a file that is higher then the max sample rate of the player LMS will down sample it and send the player a version that is at it's max rate. The Touch can send 24/96 out its SPDIF port unaltered. If you want a higher sample rate then 24/96 you'll need to use something like VortexBox player that can support higher sample rates. Thanks a lot, that makes a lot of sense. I don't think I'll go all the way to 192kHz, is seems 24/88 is plenty... :) But I'd be interested in others' experiences. So an SB3 will be getting a downsampled version from the LMS whether it connects to an external DAC or not? Good to know. :) pablolie's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3816 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96438 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] What is the best top end player now ?
jh901 wrote: That list is not comprehensive or official. I'm sure we have members here who prefer to believe that the Transporter is the best DAC ever and if you are satisfied, then I have no argument. As for others looking for far superior sound quality in all areas (transparency, freq extension, transient speed, etc) and you have the speakers and amp to provide the resolution, then the list is a decent starting point. Am i right that between your DAC and amplifier you use a Cary Audio SLP-05 with Tube? Wombat's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4113 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
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] What is the best top end player now ?
Wombat wrote: Am i right that between your DAC and amplifier you use a Cary Audio SLP-05 with Tube? Yes. I had the SLP-98 tube pre before (now in storage) and the SLP-05 tube pre, fully balanced and with tube power supply, does live up to its world class reputation. So my system is all Cary electronics with Focal speakers. Each are known to be very fast and transparent and provide a high level of overall resolution. I do place the speakers at the thirds and keep the sweet spot off of the rear wall. I also have DIY cylinder bass traps (9 and 16) and Richard Gray AC conditioner. I've found that having components at roughly the same performance level with a proper set-up leads to quite an impressive hi-end experience, particularly with well mastered source material. It is very easy to hear deep into a recording at low volume (inner detail, low noise floor, etc). Again, I was shocked upon upgrading from the Transporter analog outs to the Cary's. It was several days and many hours of listening until I was able to associate the level of sound quality with my own system. This is why I don't mind pushing members toward pricey CD players. They are worth it. jh901's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=18175 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
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Support for 24bit/92/192khz...?
SB3 supports 44.1 and 48. Natively the Touch supports 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96. There is an applet for the Touch called EDO (Enhanced Digital Output) which will pass 176.4 and 192 on the digital outs, AND allows you to connect a USB DAC to the Touch and will go up to 192 if the DAC supports that over USB. (There are quite a few DACs that support 192 over S/PDIF coax but not over USB) If you try and play a high sample rate file to a player which does not support that rate, the server will resample down to a rate the player does support. John S. JohnSwenson's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=5974 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96438 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Support for 24bit/92/192khz...?
And if you are using sync ,your least capable player sets the limit as all synced players uses the same stream. Mnyb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4143 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=96438 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
