[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] How good is the Transporter anyway?
Very good indeed! IMHO. I just replaced my fuse with a good German silver variety. The sound has improved on each iteration. Sure I could use more power. Probably the Wyred 4 sound integrated amp would give me that mid and base punch I am looking for from my maggies. Thats ok. The sound through the ethernet connection is VERY good! Much better than the wireless. I would be hesitant to go to ANY USB interface at this point. I would have to hear it first. Forget about 24bit 96khz. I have a fair amount of 24bit downloads. Not a big difference at all. 16bit sounds great through the Transporter. Isnt that what its all about? The CD's that we now have sounding great! I have a $15 25ft ethernet cable and it sounds fantastic. Could I go that long with a USB? Probably not. Call me a nut! I am not convinced that USB has an edge at this point. synch or non synch. -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=78950 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Small form factor Amp/receiver
As far as T-amps go - I have the Winsome labs Mouse. - two of them actually. Great little amp for $300. 45 WPC. You can tweak them to sound really great, but sound very good stock. Super reliable and very small. Fits in your hand. Jay at Winsome is very good to deal with as well. -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=75439 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] External DAC - does it make a difference?
Hold onto your hats folks! - Dont cream your jeans over a DAC until the Wyred 4 sound W4S-DAC1 comes out! You could be lusting after the wrong girl! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=75447 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] External DAC - does it make a difference?
I have found that the pursuit of differences is not a good approach for the audio hobbyist. What is more productive is to explore the question: What is it that I do and don't like about the sound of my system? There are ways to solve various problems in ones system and it is not as simple as buying a better piece of equipment, such as adding an external DAC. All systems sound different. Even the exact same system in a different room sounds very different. The cheapest way to make your system sound different is to move it to a very different room in your home. Guaranteed it will sound different. Possibly better, possibly worse. Move it around in the same room - different again. You can learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of your system from doing this. Focus on the things that you don't like about the sound you are now listening to. Locate the source of the problem and make some changes. Not an easy thing to do. Reading about how others feel about the sound of various components is helpful. You can draw some generalities from these reviews that can lead you in the right direction - harshness can be cured with good wires and tubes. Muddiness can be corrected with better crossover components, etc. etc. Many different opinions to go around. Take them all and form you own. Experiment! Don't be afraid! - Bon Chance! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=75447 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Transporter over ethernet
Andy8421;513953 Wrote: Earwaxer, I have searched computeraudiophile.com and I was unable to find Gordon suggesting that he could hear the difference between USB cables using his 'async' process. Can you post a link to this? Thanks, Andy. All you have to do is log on and ask him! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=74721 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Transporter over ethernet
I encourage you all to spend some time on computeraudiophile.com. Gordon Rankin of Wavelength Audio,ltd. has a few interesting observations that would get your juices flowing. As you are probably aware, he and his team have designed and patented a state of the art asynchronous USB protocol for their DACs. Gordon admits, quite emphatically, that he has heard a difference in USB cables even in asynchronous USB. How can this be? I believe that he does hear a difference. If I understand asynchronous USB correctly, there should not be an audible difference between cables. But there is. Hence you can spend in upwards of $5 for a 2.5m USB cable. I'm not making this up! Even after 7 pages this discussion is not going to end. The axiom everything makes a difference lives on! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=74721 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Transporter over ethernet
Kuro;512775 Wrote: Hi Andy, In my finding, the TP's digital output is not jitter free, despite its claim of a very stable clock. Putting an Apogee Big Ben with a linear PS can still make a significant improvement in sound. Also, by asking TP to use/sync the clock from my TacT 2.2xp preamp's digital out via Toslink improves the sound as well. But then again, this also depends on your DAC. Some DACs have more jitter resistant input, and some don't. My TacT 2.2xp is sensitive to input jitter. The improvement I hear with BB is less harsh/edgy treble, stronger bass. The sound/tempo feels slower and is best described as more relaxed. The TP's clock is not quite top notch. Many high end CD transports beat it handily. I've listened to a couple CD transports that had TP beaten on its own. I'm not saying the TP's design is bad. It is not. It is just not as perfect as some would believe in here. This description of sound improvement by Kuro is pretty close to what I have experienced. -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=74721 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Transporter over ethernet
Robin Bowes;512549 Wrote: On 31/01/10 18:49, earwaxer wrote: I gave the cable another go. Yes there was a volume difference, If there really is a volume difference between wired and wireless then they *must* be using a different profile on SBS, IMHO. What network topology are you using? Does the Transporter get a different IP address when connected wired vs. wireless? R. I use a new draft N router, and it does use the same IP address in wired and wireless. I knew this was going to get the techno boinks dander up! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=74721 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Transporter over ethernet
I haven't posted in awhile, but I feel this experience is worth getting out there to see what others think. I have been happily listening to my Transporter via wifi for some time now. No problems, great sound, no dropouts etc. etc. In my comparison to various USB devices I was quite confident (and still am) that the wifi approach was superior in some very real ways - jitter being one. A very happy camper. I have discussed on these forums with others the merits of using the wired option (ethernet) vs. wifi. It has been universally agreed that there is no technical reason to expect for there to be a difference in sound quality between the two. It made perfect sense to me and it still does. The bandwidth over wifi is more than adequate for the task. There is also the electrical isolation over wifi that cannot be matched with a wired protocol. Over wifi the digital is transferred bit perfect. The clock is also not a problem. On and on. I had to preface all that because I know this is going to cause a stir! On a whim I bought a cheep ethernet cable at walmart. Mostly because I hadnt tinkered with my system in awhile and I was in the need to tinker. I was quite surprised to hear the difference when I hooked up the cable. At first I thought that the difference was not actually a good one and I came to a quick conclusion that the wifi was better, unplugged it and went on with my life. The sound seemed a bit harsh on fist listen. I interpreted this as noise and thought - I'm only out $10 for the cheep cable - no biggie. Then I started thinking - what if there is a volume difference and I'm not giving it a fair shake. That in fact was the case. I gave the cable another go. Yes there was a volume difference, but more than that, I would summarize the sound difference in several ways. 1. What I would call broader bandwidth (higher resolution) effect. The sound was more complete and detailed. 2. More real less euphonic. When I think of euphonic I think of warmth. I would say the wifi was warmer in that respect. Sometimes this kind of clarity can become clinical but this was not the case here. All good so far. 3. Authoritative and very nicely defined base. This was huge. Base like I have never heard from my system. 4. My maggies projected sound with an almost eerie precision and focus. At low to moderate volumes the sound stage was holographic (if I moved my head from left to right and moved out of the plane of one of the speakers I could no longer hear sound from that speaker). I'm not talking about a small effect here. The more I listen to ethernet the more I realize that I'm not going back to wifi. Everything sounds better. It's not even close. Like I said - I haven't made any system changes in some time now. This was unexpected. I guess I have to pay homage to the saying everything makes a difference. I have to conclude that this difference is in the positive direction, and definitely the cheapest tweak so far in this expensive hobby! Cheers! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=74721 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Advice Please
Ditto on the ripper - EAC or dbpoweramp. If you have the space rip to WAV. No downsides to WAV - it comes right off the disk. dbpoweramp has better functionality for album art etc. It also can rip 20 bit HDCD to 24 bit files (with the last 4 bits empty). -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=74724 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] NAS questions
I have thought about the NAS as well. My conclusion was that it didnt really make any sense. Stick with the PC. -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=74591 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Transporter over ethernet
I agree with DC on all of the above, except I cant see how my other components are that sensitive to wifi from the transporter when there are plenty of other wifi receiver/transmitters in the area, including the laptop connected on a short ethernet cable! I know and agree that it doesn't make sense! Ck it out and tell me what you think! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=74721 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Touch versus Transporter - beta testers chime in please
My two cents on the use of volume control on the transporter. I have been back and forth a few times - using it, then not using it. What is clear to me at this point is that my system sounds better when the volume control is defeated! I know it probably may not make technical sense. I dont really care about that. The audiophile realm is largely made up of alchemy and possibly blended with some good old fashioned mysticism! Why do you think people are willing to spend $10K on a component? I dont include myself in that group, but I dont knock those that are able and willing to do it, not because the component has $10K worth of parts but because it SOUNDS like it is worth $10K! Hence the axions - your mileage may vary, and everything makes a difference -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=74715 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] The end of the CD player :-)
The new dbpoweramp converter can decode your 20 bit HDCD's to 24bit. Very nice indeed! The last 4 bits are discarded. I have found the HDCD sound through the Transporter to be very satisfying when compared to the 16 bit. Ex. Dire Straits hits album in HDCD vs. Brothers in Arms in 16 bit. Just another bonus to using the PC as a music server. I never owned an HDCD CD player. Now I get to hear my HDCDs as they were recorded. The CD may be dead or dying but don't get rid of yours until you are sure they are properly ripped! Thats something you cant say about LP's. The more you play them the more worn out they get. If you happen to get a great new turntable and cartridge down the road it doesn't really matter. All the disks that you have been enjoying daily for years are now worn out! - Time to replace them so you can really hear how good the the vinyl sounds. Sorry not for me. - No going back. -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=71619 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] I am torn...
I can relate to the torn predicament! I think it is useful to focus on what it is you are torn about. Once I took an honest look at what I was looking for next in the sound of my system it became much easier. For me - I was unhappy with my systems lack of realism. That being there experience. The frequencies were all there, now I needed some real music. - I know, we're all looking for that! - the question became - How can I move in that direction? I was going to go to tubes. I ended up with class T, with mods to speaker crossover, wiring and amp caps. Before I realized I had to focus my efforts I was looking at replacing or removing my Alps Blue Velvet pot as well. That would have been the wrong move - or at best a lateral move, as I now see it. I feel for you! This is not easy. Best of luck! Eric -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=71841 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] New transport user queries
Dont put the DAC on the amp. Dont put anything on the amp. First of all - The Rotel is second rate. Sorry - I had a Proton back in the 80's. It was great so I thought. It's all relative. When you get into the real stuff you are going to put your Rotel up for sale lickety split! My bias is get the hell out of class A/B. Either go tubes, or class T, D or pure class A. I tried mosfets - no way - I'm into class T now and I'm not turning back. I though about tubes at one stage but cap tweaking has done the trick. The Transport is one awesome sounding front end. Work on the other stuff and dont bitch about the Transport! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=70132 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] US Amplifier advice please
It depends on what you are looking for but for my money the class T amps are the best bang for the buck. I have the Winsome Labs Mouse and I'm fixing to biwire\bimap them. I have the maggies MMG's - modded - The T sound is awesome. At 45 WPC its not bad. 90 is better - so I'm going to rewire the maggies to do biwire. Not a big deal since I have already replaced the wires and crossovers. I'm dragging my heals because the sucker sounds so freaking awesome now! It's just a little limited on ultra clean volume (my hearing is probably better off for it!) I'm a rocker so there is that need for volume. One other thing on the T amp thing. Very good for tweakers. At 3-400 bucks a pop you can afford to screw with it (and possibly screw it up). I shorted the mouse out more than a few times but it keep coming back for more. Replaced the jumpers and the caps. I have these huge Mundorf caps sitting on top of it. The sound is freeking perfect! Forget tubes - go with T! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=70001 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] A small amp for my livingroom setup.
I have the Winsome Labs Mouse - It sounds great! Fits in your hand. Just set the volume control to full and use your SB as the volume control. I'm not sure if you want to spend, but at $350 you cant touch it. Much more powerful than the $200 15 WPC t-amps. Lots of power at 45 WPC @4ohms. It will drive just about any speaker although not to concert levels. I have found it to be very reliable as well. I have shorted it out a few times in the process of tweaks and its on chip protection circuits quickly did their job. Let me know if you ever get the yen for modding it - mucho amazing sound with a couple of fairly simple mods! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=68259 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 SPDIF out - the simplest mod that brings the biggest improvement?
Kuja;460427 Wrote: Hello, The simplest mod that brings the biggest improvement! Exactly the thing I'm looking for. :) . My experience on tweaks - If it isnt broken (or cant identify what is broken) dont fix it! - If you are unhappy with say harshness and lack of depth - look to replace crap wires with pure silver. If you are haveing trouble with thinness and lack of timber - look at your caps - both amp and speaker. It the bass sucks - again look at the quality of caps and mostly the speaker inductors (most speakers have crap for crossovers as a general rule). Hack the analog first - then the digital (if you still want something to hack). The biggest bang for the buck is in your analog mods! Cheers - Eric -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=68192 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] any expereinces using the jumper?
I have been playing with the -10,-20,-30db jumpers along with using the volume control on the Transporter. I can set my amp to 3/4 volume and trim the volume with Transporter with the jumpers set to -10db. It sounds good. I havent really noticed any sound differences. I would not want to use the Transporter volume control for more than 10db or so, to avoid any significant loss of data. Its mostly a paranoia thing. I really havent noticed a sound difference from loss of signal due to the digital volume control. I tend to trust my Alps Blue Velvet pot over the Transporter volume control. Most of the volume adjustment occurs there. Something new that I tried that has been very satisfying is I now use my MSB dac for the sub amp. I run the digital coax from the Transporter to the dac and run the RCA's off the dac to the sub amp. - The bass is very good. If anything there is too much signal. I have to set the high pass at 30Hz and play with a 3-5db cut in the 50hz area. The nice thing is the digital out is controlled by the Transporter volume control, so from my chair I can control the volume to both amps with the Transporter volume control. I guess I wonder what other feel about using the jumpers - Thanks - Eric -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=68090 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] any expereinces using the jumper?
very cool! - thanks for the info! Eric -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=68090 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] The next major Audiophile question on here?
I own the Transporter, but I know I could have a lot of fun with the SB/Touch as server to a outboard DAC. But that is because I'm crazy! I'm continuously fiddle farting around with my audio system, and I know I will continue to do so until the day I die! I have $500/pair maggies that I have modified to sound very very good! I havent compared them to $10K speakers nor will I probably ever have the opportunity to do so. They, to me, satisfy like a $10K speaker would - at least what I would expect from a $10K speaker. Is it fun to take a $300 component and make the most of it? You bet! Not all are like me though (thats a good thing). Many like to put the system together and expect it to perform and satisfy with minimal fuss and tweaking. Nothing wrong with that! As far as an SPDIF protocol sounding different or better from one piece of equipment to the next - I'm not convinced that one could reliably come to that conclusion - It would be easy to find a difference between component A and component B, but to attribute that difference to the SPDIF interface would be dubious. I am of the camp that everything makes a difference. I didnt used to be. I was a cable sceptic for many years. I think it is important for us as audiophiles - more importanly to our bank accounts - to stay focused on not just what makes a difference but what makes a significant improvement. It needs to make sense as well! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=67711 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] RATS! Recommendations/advice requested
It's interesting to read the responses to this fundamental question of life! I have owned the Transporter for 6 months or so and have been having a ball with the tweaking potential that it opens up. My opinion is that the Transporter lays it out in such an honest way that the rest of your system is brought into focus. The amp/speaker synergy will be revealed for what they are (or not). Many have found the Transporter clinical. I agree! The challenge is to mate it with amp/speakers that are more euphonic to the extent that they may introduce a desirable tube like coloration. I have not owned a SB but from what I have read it seems a very good start, and you can have beau coup fun with finding/tweaking the other components after that! I would have no hesitation with buying the gate-way and going from there. I just couldn't go with having to figure out the DAC part, and I know I would have spent ALOT on the DAC! The Benchmark would probably have not made the cut - even though I grew up not too far from where they make them! A great product. Just not up to par with the Transporter. I have personally found the Transporter as the gait-way drug into the affordable realm of ultra high end audio experience. I was looking at $2K as a gait-way expenditure when juxtaposed against the $5-10K gear like Weiss and Berkeley etc. It all depends on what is expensive to you, and more importantly, your SPOUSE! You have to live with her after all! If you are trying to simplify the number of variables in the audio picture - ie. you are obsessive (like me) about tracking down the source of the issue in your system - it might be a better idea to go with the Transporter - or for the well healed - the Modwright Transporter! - It eliminates the S/PDIF issues with cables etc, blah blah blah! What I am saying is that the Transporter for me was a good place to start. I'm not convinced that the passage of time always produces better DAC's, or better utilization of D/A conversion. Sometimes older tried and true DAC's have a loyal fan base to this day. I have a VERY dated (late 90's) MSB Link DAC III that I will not sell/get rid of! It just sounds very good! Not as good as the Transporter - the Transporter is just plain clean and refined! Black backgrond - It's all there. That aspect of it makes it so fun to tweek other parts of the downstream system. The MSB is like the experience of listening to vinyl. It sounds good! (I'm not going back to vinyl - no way no how! Especially since I now have 600 CD's ripped to WAV on my hard drive.) It is very REAL and visceral but not as sophisticated as the Transporter. The MSB sounds better after a few beers! The Transporter doesnt need a few beers to sound as good as it is! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=67907 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] The next major Audiophile question on here?
I'm going to go out on a limb here with some vast generalities! My opinion is that how you get the bits from the computer wirelessly to the DAC is a fairly benign digital process without much if anything to worry about in terms of sound quality issues. When you start the D/A process is where the rubber meets the road! I'm not a big fan of SPDIF (coax and optical) but that is my bias. Other folks have no problems with it. I personally dont want my 1's and 0's converted to SPDIF so that my DAC can handle it. I2S is supposed to be better, but it is difficult to handle, and it is only designed for very short runs, not in cable lengths. USB is another option - not crazy about that either (although asyncronous seems decent - Wavelength DAC). Firewire might be better - jury is still out. Where does that leave us? The transporter takes care of it without dealing with the above issues. For me - I sleep better at night. It's not the final word though - I would like to hear a SB going SPIF to a Berkley Alpha DAC! But then we are talking $5K for the Alpa! Dream on! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=67711 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] The next major Audiophile question on here?
Check out this link - Wonder why Wavelength declined to participate? http://www.avguide.com/article/tas-194-the-state-usb-audio -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=67711 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Transporter quality Stereo into a Home Theater Setup
My take on the difference between data over a network protocol vs. data streaming over USB or S/PDIF is that over a network the data is delivered in packets, with various transfer verification procedures for bit perfect transfer without being dependent on clock synch between the source and the receiver. In S/PDIF and USB you are dependent on the clock synch between the source and the receiver (hence jitter errors), and bit perfect transfer is not insured (no handshaking). I have not heard a good argument for why a streaming protocol is inherently higher fidelity than a network protocol. It is usually the opposite. -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=67446 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Transporter vs. Duet+DAC?
My two cents is that if I had a high end dac in the the leagues of a Weiss, Berkley Audio, Wavelength or maybe a Benchmark I would not be looking at a Transporter. Possibly a modwright Transporter could be the ticket if I was in need of more color and timber in my system - if your system is a little too clinical and precise, lacking life and excitement, the modwright could possibly cure that. It has also been my experience that cap tweaking can also make a huge difference for not a huge expense (except for v-caps!). I have replaced my speaker crossovers (obbligato from China) and the caps in my amps (Mundorf) with very good results in the area of soundstage, dynamics, timber, clarity and noise floor. The great thing about replacing a cap is that everything else stays the same. That way you can hear more into your equipment to try to diagnose deficiencies. For example - I knew from the get go that the transporter was clean and precise with a black background - It wasnt until I replaced the Bennics in my t-amp with Mundorf silver/oils did I hear just what it was able to deliver in the way of ambiance and depth. All that for $65 per cap! If it doesnt work I can always solder in the old ones. I have never had to do that though! At some point I think it is good for us all to pop the hood on our gear and get a feel for what is inside. If its expensive eye candy with crap parts inside we shouldnt buy it! I feel that as consumers we could change the industry for the better by buying intelligently made good sounding equipment that also happens to look good! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=67682 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Ref: What Should I Buy ?
Its true Phil that we should trust our own ears, but we often do not have the luxury to listen to all or even a small sample of the equipment that is out there. We have to take in other opinions and weigh them against what we have heard and experienced. That is the reason why we spend time in forums like this one, along with listening for ourselves. I do agree that we should not fully trust anyone's opinion. The extent that we trust a review has to do with how that reviewers experiences have been supported by other opinions as well as our own. Some trust is usually warranted, to the extent that a reviewer has explained why he/she has reached the conclusions about a particular piece of gear. Many different factors have to be taken into account. The highly subjective nature of what sounds good is part of what makes the audiophile hobby so rich and interesting IMO. -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 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] transporter - wired ethernet vs. wifi?
First of all - I dont know jack s**t about what I'm talking about, but the only way I can understand why the USB interface is subject to audible differences in cables is due to the streaming and clock oriented transmission of data vs. the packet delivery over ethernet. Hence the reason USB is subject to jitter as is SPDIF. Those who have any knowledgeable feedback on this please chime in! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66445 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] transporter - wired ethernet vs. wifi?
Good one! - Thats the level of crap I was getting on another computer audiophile site from so called experts trying to push their wares. I had a real problem with the observed sound differences between various USB cables, not with the differences they were finding, but because of the fact that there was an observed difference at all. I wasnt disputing the differences between cables but I was disturbed by them. How is this different than SPDIF if we have to worry about our stupid cables? I dont have to worry about the air that is between my router and my transport, or the ethernet cable if I chose to attach it. They didn't seem to get the point in that discussion. Of course they were hawking $5K USB cables, with a high end bargan cable going for a mere $150. What a deal! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66445 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Why Hi-Fi Journalists make my blood boil...
dBerriff;453123 Wrote: I would not consider anything other than powered monitors for my (low-end) home studio. Even my bass guitar amp cabs are self-powered. It makes sense so why hadn't I made the connection with my HiFi set-up? Not sure really - anyway I have decided to try the AVIs as the worst I could find in any review is that they are very revealing. You could be onto something here! - The case for audiophile grade chip amps is growing by the day! The class A/AB SS and Tube manufacturers are probably not in agreement with me on this, but the amp on a board class of products is getting huge and they sound fantastic! I have a class T amp(though with modified caps that are almost as large as the amp itself) that fits in the palm of my hand. It sounds better than anything I have heard. It doesnt make 500wpc but who cares! I does make 45wpc into a 4ohm load and it plays clean right up to clipping when its on chip circuit protection kicks in. It will drive my maggies with no problems. As far as simplicity goes there are no wires in the box at all! (except for the speaker jumpers). A complete amp/preamp on a board. That amp could easily be stuffed in a speaker, and why not? You could have a biamped system, with double the power (90 wpc). No need for speaker wire runs. This is dangerous thought process! Tweaking is one thing. A major project like that one is another! It is very intriguing though! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=64972 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Higher Sampling Rate for Transporter
I thought I was the only audiophile to not be impressed with 24/96 sound! I have found much better sound improvement from fairly simple and relatively inexpensive tweaks. For me, substituting solid core silver wiring in my t-amp has improved the sound of my paltry 16 bit music collection to a similar degree as to what many reviewers find in their comparisons between 16bit and high res sources. Improved staging, better separation of instruments, better clarity, like a veil was lifted. Until or unless all 16 bit music is remastered in 24bit and offered for download over the internet I don't see myself getting too excited about it. I would probably buy all my Beatles stuff again if it was available for download in remastered 24bit, because its just part of the audiophile hobby and pursuit. Why play 16 bit when 24 is available? Right now 24bit is not available so its really a non issue unless you a classical or jazz fan. Its fun to think about and talk about just like it's fun to talk about the difference between upsampleing and oversampling. -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse (modified) Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 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] Ref: What Should I Buy ?
From what I have read about the sb plus dac vs. transporter option, you wont save much going with the sb plus dac if you dont already have a high end dac. You would have to at least look at Benchmark DAC for about $1300, and that would be the minimum to put you in the sound category of the transporter. You are also going to have to go SPDIF out from the sb to the DAC - not a big fan of SPDIF! From a sound perspective my transporter blew away my Rega Apollo, which is a $1000 Stereophile Class B rated cd player. The Transporter was immediately more revealing and open in the sound. More flesh on the bones. Super clean and super clear. If you dont already have a high end DAC I would go with the transporter. You really cant go wrong, and you can tweak the sound to you room and preference with your amp/preamp/speaker. The transporter is a great basis for a very high end system. Possibly even better would be the Modwright Transporter - modified with tubes etc! Some very real bucks there at just under $4K! The Modwright was rated state of the art by 6moons! You cant get much better than that! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 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] Why Hi-Fi Journalists make my blood boil...
Wow - this topic is exactly the way I have been feeling now for some time I was in some heated discussions on another site over wireless vs. USB. The founder expert genius from one of the USB DAC companies quickly poo poo'd wireless in favor of USB (since that's what he sells), but was quite lame in his reasons for it - wireless was too difficult... USB has always sounded better to him... he has experimented with wireless a lot without much success...and something about bandwidth issues with wireless that later proved to be mistaken. What I am saying is the experts are really not to be trusted on their own. We have to filter it all very carefully! Chances are if you look at the adds on the mag pages you will get a feel for what sort of gear they find the best. Go to other mags with different advertisers and see how they weigh in on the same equipment. The other issue that has come to the forefront of my consciousness is that the stuff that makes up our high end electronics is largely crap and the manufacturers seem to get away with it too much of the time. Its rare to find detailed information on the electronics used in most sets. High end tube amp companies usually get into the details, but you would be hard pressed to find out what kind of caps/inductors are used in your favorite speaker! You would be shocked to find out! They go with the $1.50 a pop crap and you just shelled out $2,000 for the pair! Could they have done a hell of a lot better with a $65 cap - my experience has been yes. My point is - we should be asking for more! We need to know how a piece of equipment sounds and how it would be good or not good for our system, instead of smoke and mirrors generalities. -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=64972 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Subwoofers from a high-end perspective?
I use a HSU 12 ported sub from some years back when they were round! I love it! The round cabinet is much tighter than a square one. It doesn't vibrate at all. The thing I like the most is that I can put it behind my listening position and not have to run a long interconnect. The amp was separate from the sub way back when, and that setup is, I feel, much more flexible. I run a 15ft. run of Audioquest Granite speaker cable (just one) from the slave amp to the sub. A short high quality interconnect between the amp and 500 watt slave amp. Slave amps can be had very cheaply from sites like Parts Express. By placing the sub behind the listening position I get the benefit of the quick and punchy bass at 40-50hz as well as a nice 3D blending of the lower frequencies. Crossover is about 60hz with my Maggie MMG's that are placed about 6ft from the wall and about 6ft from the listening position. -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=67022 ___ 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 It's interesting to read others experiences with the transporter! I love it, but it has me tweaking my ass off! My experience is that the transporter needs some color. There are many different ways of doing that. Tubes being the most obvious path. This goes beyond and around the question of using or not using a preamp in the signal. If one was to add a good tube pre I could see how that would really work well. I have the t-amp sound in my system. Very good but still tweaking caps. The sound is very precise but still a bit thin and clinical. Much more fleshed out than my mosfet Perreaux (which is considered as euphonic as most if any SS amps), but still a tad anemic. I think the challenge with the transporter is with matching the right analog leaning sound amplification/downstream reproduction to the mix. It seems it would be simpler to take the preamp out of the variables and go direct to a power amp. That way if it doesn't work you know what is wrong. I personally feel that the newer class D amps are a good place to start - Wyred4sound comes to mind! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 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] Music Fidelity v-dac and SB3
I bought the v-dac before I got my transporter. I was thinking of going the PC as server through USB to DAC. I sent the v-dac back after a few days of burn in. I couldn't stand it! Both through my PC USB and SPDIF through my Rega Apollo. I found the sound to be 2D. Thin and lacking in color. The transporter was much more interesting out of the box. It was almost like the difference between AM and FM. If the rest of your system tends to be a little loosey goosey then the v-dac could firm things up a bit. The transporter is tight and deep! I think I'm getting a woody! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66820 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Ref: What Should I Buy ?
I dont think you can go wrong with the transporter if you have the cash! There are tons of ways to MAXIMIZE the transporter sound that you may want to explore. You need to add some color. Probably the easy way would to put some tubes in the signal path in the way of a cheap tube pre. Run you rotel as a power amp. You could also run the transporter as a pre but not as good an option in my opinion. Also you can experiment with t-amps, depending on how sensitive your speakers are. I run my 86db maggies with a 45wpc t-amp running dual 2050's. Its fine. Not concert hall levels, but quite enough! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 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!
I have the transporter and I really like it. I had to make a few changes to add some euphonics to the set up. I am still tweaking my capacitors and am heading toward oils for the t-amp. I added some obligattos to my maggies and they really helped. The transporter is great BUT it tends to be a bit on the clinical side. Very clean and accurate - but it needs a bit of color. The Modwright cures that with tubes. I think that is a bit of an overkill but if you are into tubes anyway it could be a good go. You could probably compliment the transporter very well with solid state gear but you have to be a little selective. I'm not sure there is an easy answer to your situation! - The more tweaking I do the more I feel like I want to do! Thats part of the hobby. Sometimes small changes can make a big difference. Like gutting your gear of its crappy wires and replace with silver. It doesnt cost a lot and a large bang for the buck. You have to start with something that already is good in an entry level sort of way. Every manufacturer cuts corners to save cost. Sometimes even just a $10 run of silver wire can make a larger difference. -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 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] just got new transporter, very disappointed with sound
Curious as to how the sound of your NuForce compares with your t-amp? I know the NuForce is hugely more powerfull but what about microdynamics and musicality at lower volumes? - thanks much! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66347 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] just got new transporter, very disappointed with sound
It would be cool if Sean could explain how the volume control still works when it is bypassed - the volume level changes on the player screen and in squeezecenter but it seems to be out of the circuit - it has no effect. If the volume was just fixed at %100 I would think that the effect of trying to change the volume would have no effect on the volume graphic. Maybe a Transporter programmer could weigh in on this one! -- earwaxer Waxer Transporter Winsome labs mouse Maggie MMG's (modified) JPS Labs power cords Audioquest Granite speaker wire Silver Bullet interconnect HSU research sub earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66347 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] transporter - wired ethernet vs. wifi?
Sorry if this has been totally hashed already! - I was thinking of doing a comparison of wired vs wireless on sound quality - I tend to think it wont make any difference. Any experiences with that? - I know I'm crazy and obsessive! I cant help it! Thanks Wax -- earwaxer earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66445 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] just got new transporter, very disappointed with sound
I just tried the bypass the volume control option. I would have to agree! The sound is in fact better. I would call it more of an effortless sound quality as apposed to the volume control being in the loop. I am surprised! - I guess all those that say a volume at %100 is no different than one that is out of the circuit is not quite right! -- earwaxer earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66347 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] just got new transporter, very disappointed with sound
I tend to think that the programmers put a defeat button in because it offered something more than what you would get at %100. Being a programmer myself - I would not code something that did nothing! The only other logical use for the defeat selection is to idiot proof the volume control, so that it is not accidentally decreased. That doesn't sound very flattering for a device aimed at the audiophile! -- earwaxer earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66347 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] anyone use a software emulated tube stage with their transporter?
A cheap and easy way to see if going in the tube direction is what you need is to try a t-amp. Depending on how efficient your speakers are - over 89db or so - you can go real cheap and go with 2020 based amps that put out about 15 wpc into 4ohms. I spent about $400 on the winsome labs amp based on duel 2050's. It gets about 40 wpc into 4ohms with a 30V power supply. If that doesn't help then you might have more going on! - ie speakers are WAY bright. good luck! -- earwaxer earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66383 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] just got new transporter, very disappointed with sound
I was a burn in skeptic as well! It took me 20 yrs to believe in the concept that cables make a difference! I now believe in both! It's a strange thing for sure. The rationale behind burn in for capacitors has some basis in theory. The idea is that during the process of winding the thin film, micro-perforations develop. There is an arching across these tiny holes until the gap is fused with melted material thus repairing the hole. Why cables sound better over time is one I still cant quite get! The concept with cables is supposed to be based on the analogy of a stream or river that flows through and around rocks and obstacles. Over time those rocks are worn down or moved out of the flow so as not to impede it! - That one is a little tough! -- earwaxer earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66347 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] New filters for Transporter
My opinion is that we can waist time and money trying to chase the latest and greatest upgrades when what we should focus on is what specifically is it about the sound that we have NOW - what do we like and what do we dislike. To try to cure what we dislike is a more fruitful pursuit than trying to find something new. If the sound is harsh then we need to look at the solid state side of the equation. What is causing the harshness. Is it digital side or the analog side or a combo of both? I'm not saying that it is easy to find the answer to that, but when we look for a piece of equipment to improve that side of the equation then we need to stay focused on the goal. In the case of harshness, I think that a person can substitute various front ends and see if there is any real change. If not then try the amp. Sometimes they are both wrong. Sometimes its the speakers and cables, but I feel they do largely what they are told (the old GIGO adage). Speakers can be tweaked but first you have to get the front end and amplification right. I'm sure some will differ with this approach, but I have saved tones of money by looking at the simple solutions instead of constantly selling my stuff off at a %50 loss on ebay etc. I still have a 8 yr old MSB Link DAC lll that I probably will never sell because it does so much right! I use it as part of my reference equipment if and when I get the itch to replace a piece of equipment (especially a DAC). Even though I'm not using the MSB now, any DAC that I consider buying will have to blow away the MSB! enjoy -- earwaxer earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=65907 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] DAC reccomendations...Looking for some warmth
Ok! - all that was said above is valid - get a working copy and then we can talk! - beyond that - you have to burn the unit in! - The Transporter is on the clinical side of things sound wise! - it mellows with time. I can dig how you can get turned off on the first few listens - I returned a Musical Fidelity V-DAC after a few days - I just couldnt stand the sound! - even after burning in for a a couple of days. I may have overreacted. I dont regret it though - now I have the Transporter! The transporter sounded MUCH better to me than the MF out of the box! After some months its much better and has blended well with my modified maggies, winsome labs t-amp and a fair amount of silver cabling. I'm not saying EVERY system is going to play well with the Transporter. I personally think some tubes mixed in there is the trick! - see Modright transporter - As I said in other posts - euphonic capacitors can really help! In summary - I feel the Transporter has great potential but it needs patience for burn in and proper matching to downstream equipment. Is the Modright the way to go? - could be - if you have a highly detailed and clinical system. Otherwise you can mold the system around the Transporter strengths. Cheers -- earwaxer earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=64335 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] just got new transporter, very disappointed with sound
I think you need to burn it in continuously for a couple of weeks then do some serious listening. My Transporter has opened up, and extended out if you will. I'm not sure if its just that my Obligatto caps have burned in now as well, so I cant really say. What I do know is compared to my Rega Apollo the Transporter sounded better out of the box. I think the Rega was even more clinical than the Transporter and I noticed it right off. The Transporter is very clean and clinical for sure, but it also has a certain cleanlyness that is enjoyable in its own way. VERY low jitter may play a role here. I have magneplanar speakers and they tend to show it all, especially in the higher register. What I was looking for when I started my search to replace the Rega was more musicality. I was looking to go tubes if I had to, and I'm still not sure that the transporter would not be best served through a tube amp -see Modright Transporter- (I now use the winsome labs t-amp - it has a tube like sound that does sound very good. I am convinced that people overreact to the clinical sound of the transporter out of the box - I feel that the transporter does so much right that it needs to be matched well to the downstream components. Dont give up the ship! - I dont know if you are a DIY type - I would take a look at your speaker crossover (replace a clinical cap with a euphonic one) - the same could be done on the amp/preamp stage. I have switched caps twice on my maggies. Big difference in sound each time! -- earwaxer earwaxer's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=32040 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=66347 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
