Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
Stock sb3/chord chrysalis - entry level cd player. sb3/linear ps/chord chysalis - entry level cd player. sb3/linear ps/Benchmark Dac1/chord chysalis - Naim cd5/Flatcap2/HiLine. sb3/linear ps/Benchmark Dac1/Naim HiLine = Identical to Naim cdx2/xps2/HiLine. Keith -- KeithL KeithL's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9272 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
Keith L. How are you using the Naim HiLine and what do you have plugged into the HiLine? Thanks- I'm very interested. Bill -- mr_bill mr_bill's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=6737 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
mr_bill;201466 Wrote: Keith L. How are you using the Naim HiLine - is that an interconnect? Bill Yes, a hiline is a Naim interconnect. The one from the cd to the pre-amp is din to din and the one from the dac to the pre-amp is phono to din. Keith -- KeithL KeithL's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9272 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
Thanks Keith, I have the same set up as you = SB3/Linear PS/Benchmark DAC1 and then straight into amps. Very high performance! Bill -- mr_bill mr_bill's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=6737 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
I got my SB3 yesterday with mods by Bolder cables to the analogue and digital stages, in my opinion listening to it against my Marantz sa-14 the SB3 is the winner Boy am i happy so far ;) -- el_hefty el_hefty's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=11485 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
I found the stock SB3 to be about equal to most inexpensive cd/dvd players.. $100-$300 range.. Basically decent mass market sound. If you're going to use it in a revealing higher end system then either an outboard DAC or say Bolder Mods are the thing to do. -- ErikM ErikM's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=7576 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
I hardly ever see folks mention Digital Preamps (Lexicon, Meridian, etc.). This is what the SqueezeBox really shines on. Allowing me to put ALL my music on the computer, not just CD's. You should hear for example Blue Man Group or Dark Side of the Moon in 5.1. It will blow you away. What's nice about these is you can Rip your music DVD-V's (DD/DTS) and DVD-A's (usually in DTS form) as well. Then the SqueezeBox can play back MultiChannel music in addition to 2 Channel Music. Digital Preamps run the full array of Price/Performance from your basic Yamamha/Denon to the top of the line Meridian/Lexicon. -- mswlogo mswlogo's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9090 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
I have a Musical Fidelity integrated playing my SB3 FLAC streams that are decoded by a Zhalou DAC from China. The MF is a solid-state machine, so what's a digital one? If you wish to post some links for my edification, I would certainly appreciate it. Cheers. -- mark-e-mark mark-e-mark's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4726 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
Ron F.;200619 Wrote: Main rig: NAD 7600 + NAD 2600A - Phase Tech PC-6.5 speakers Sweet! I used a pair of NADs in bridged mode for many years, a 7155 receiver + 2155 power amp. Unbelievably dynamic! Even at very low volumes I could hear a real difference. I've though of picking up a used 3400 + 2400, but don't really have room for a separate 2-channel system now. -- Pale Blue Ego Pale Blue Ego's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=110 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
gevorg;192950 Wrote: For those of you who had/have audiophile CD players or DACs, and now using SB3, which of the CD players or DACs is SB equivalent of in terms of sound quality? You might be interested in this thread, where we compared a SB3 to a transporter in a very high-end system: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=35068 We also compared the SB3 analogue outs to an $8,000 Dodson DAC, and briefly to a $4,000 Oracle CD1000. It was difficult to do a good comparison as we had some difficulty getting the levels matched and it wasn't our main goal, so I can't say anything firm, but if there were any differences other than volume they were quite subtle. -- opaqueice opaqueice's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4234 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
mark-e-mark;200787 Wrote: I have a Musical Fidelity integrated playing my SB3 FLAC streams that are decoded by a Zhalou DAC from China. The MF is a solid-state machine, so what's a digital one? If you wish to post some links for my edification, I would certainly appreciate it. Cheers. Usually integrated refers to a stereo amp with built in preamp for switching sources, volume control, etc. A surround sound receiver OTOH has a processor that decodes the files and amplifies five channels, plus sends an RCA signal to the subwoofer. If you want to use two high quality stereo amps for the fronts and rears, and one mono amp for the center, then you need a pre-pro, or preamp processor, to decode the signal and send the appropriate RCA signals to each amp, and the sub. One that that a lot of people use just for two channel D/A plus HDCD is the Enlightened Audio Designs Theater Master. They look like Rowland equipment, are still serviced by a fellow who's name i forget, and can be had for as little as $1k used. PS keep austin weird! -- Skunk Skunk's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2685 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
Pale Blue Ego;200828 Wrote: Sweet! I used a pair of NADs in bridged mode for many years, a 7155 receiver + 2155 power amp. Unbelievably dynamic! Even at very low volumes I could hear a real difference. I've though of picking up a used 3400 + 2400, but don't really have room for a separate 2-channel system now. I do like the sound very much - dynamic is a good description. The improvement of adding the 2600A to the system and then running the two amps bridged was significant, particularly in the base. I really like it. A 3400 + 2400 setup with a SB3 sitting on top of that stack would be very nice indeed also:) -Ron -- Ron F. *Squeezebox setup:* wireless SB3 - CI Audio VDA.2 DAC + VAC.1 PSU *Main rig:* NAD 7600 + NAD 2600A - Phase Tech PC-6.5 speakers *Headphone rig:* Headroom Max - Sennheiser 650s *Other stuff:* NAD C542 CDP, NAD 6300 Tape, Monster 5100 Power conditioner, Outlaw Audio cables Ron F.'s Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=5616 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
When I first got my SB3, I quickly found it lacking compared to my NAD C542 CD player. It had a noise floor that was obviously higher, and it was not as pleasant to listen to: there was a harshness that caused me to turn it off in favor of the NAD. I bought a CI Audio DAC, and that pulled the SB3+DAC combination to about even with the NAD. I was still not happy as the combination was over $1K, and my CDP was $370:) I began a dialog with the CEO at CI Audio, and several weeks later he did an upgrade to the DAC, replacing the 5V regulator that sits on the DAC's reference voltage pin. When I got my DAC back after the mod - bingo! The SB3+DAC combination sounded better than my NAD CDP:) Now I never turn the CDP on anymore - it sits there collecting dust, poor thing. -Ron -- Ron F. *Squeezebox setup:* wireless SB3 - CI Audio VDA.2 DAC + VAC.1 PSU *Main rig:* NAD 7600 + NAD 2600A - Phase Tech PC-6.5 speakers *Headphone rig:* Headroom Max - Sennheiser 650s *Other stuff:* NAD C542 CDP, NAD 6300 Tape, Monster 5100 Power conditioner, Outlaw Audio cables Ron F.'s Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=5616 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
I also have a CIA DAC plus their power supply. Was the modification you are referring to recent? -- Badwater Badwater's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9920 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
Badwater, The update to the VDA.2 was announced last November. Any units with a serial number prior to DC3645 are eligible for the update, according to what I read on AudioCircle. Modification is free excluding shipping charges. Mine was the first DAC that got upgraded:) -Ron -- Ron F. *Squeezebox setup:* wireless SB3 - CI Audio VDA.2 DAC + VAC.1 PSU *Main rig:* NAD 7600 + NAD 2600A - Phase Tech PC-6.5 speakers *Headphone rig:* Headroom Max - Sennheiser 650s *Other stuff:* NAD C542 CDP, NAD 6300 Tape, Monster 5100 Power conditioner, Outlaw Audio cables Ron F.'s Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=5616 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
Ron, Thanks for the info. My DAC is serial number DC3680. BW -- Badwater Badwater's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9920 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
BW, You are above the threshold, so your DAC comes with the upgrade already installed. I hope you are enjoying your DAC with your SB3 as much as I am enjoying mine. -Ron -- Ron F. *Squeezebox setup:* wireless SB3 - CI Audio VDA.2 DAC + VAC.1 PSU *Main rig:* NAD 7600 + NAD 2600A - Phase Tech PC-6.5 speakers *Headphone rig:* Headroom Max - Sennheiser 650s *Other stuff:* NAD C542 CDP, NAD 6300 Tape, Monster 5100 Power conditioner, Outlaw Audio cables Ron F.'s Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=5616 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
In my humble opinion, derived from owning/auditioning such items, digital sources from £70 DVD players to £400 dedicated CD players sound very similar. That being said, there's something about the SB3 that is much better than my old Arcam Alpha 7SE CD player. When the 7SE was auditioned against it's replacement, the Arcam CD73, the dealer was unable to spot any differences, and reckoned I'd need to spend £1,000 to significantly better it. In my opinion, the SB3 does just that - better soundstage, more detail, a cleaner sound in general. All subjective of course... -- gw43 gw43's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=11327 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
Its a highly subjective question, and I think you will get a range of replies on this one, but I think an unmodified SB2/SB3 comes close to an entry level NAD type CD player. Of course with tweaks and modifications, or with an external DAC, it can end up sounding much better than a far more expensive player. -- Nikhil Nikhil's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=993 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] SB3 is equivalent to which CD Players or DACs?
For those of you who had/have audiophile CD players or DACs, and now using SB3, which of the CD players or DACs is SB equivalent of in terms of sound quality? -- gevorg gevorg's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=11021 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=34233 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
