I use in the class-d amp a chinese dac with PCM1793.
And In the tube amplifier also but then the PCM1798.
But they are not as good as what I did hear from a dac, with output transformers at the home of a other dutch Diy guy. Transformers are much better in a audio circuit then capacitors. More natural tone more micro-detail.
And In the tube amplifier also but then the PCM1798.
But they are not as good as what I did hear from a dac, with output transformers at the home of a other dutch Diy guy. Transformers are much better in a audio circuit then capacitors. More natural tone more micro-detail.
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I have a sony SACD player had a Denon 3930 SACD player. And a philips DVD recorder. And a marantz CD17.
A low cost chinese dac can sound even better with the right power supply and wiring capacitors and opamps.
I have to try output-transformers in the dac as replacement for opamps and capacitors.
A low cost chinese dac can sound even better with the right power supply and wiring capacitors and opamps.
I have to try output-transformers in the dac as replacement for opamps and capacitors.
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I had an enjoyable moment comparing vinyl to cs on a customer's modest system this week. He is an obsessive lp/cd buyer, and buys/researches the best quality music available, and buys both vinyl and cd of the same recording if he can.
In his small music room, he has B&W 805s, connected via Analysis Plus cables to a Mcintosh MA6300, with a Oppo BDP-105 and a Pro-Ject 2Xperience Classic, Sumiko Blue-Point cartridge via a NAD phono preamp.
He asked me which component he should upgrade next, and I asked him what he listened to more, vinyl or cd, and which one he thought sounded better. He listens about 50/50, and had no firm judgement which sounded better to him, but leaned towards the cd sounding better.
I had him select some favorite albums with vocals and acoustical guitar, that he also had in gold cd...... and cued them up. I switched lps several times, and occasionally pointed out specifics to listen to; "which one sounds like a real guitar"?; which voice sounds more realistic"?; "can you hear the leading pluck on the strings of the bass guitar"? etc, etc.
It was fun to observe his little journey. In the end, on his system, it was clear that the turntable provided the most enjoyable, realistic music of the sources available.
Great fun.
In his small music room, he has B&W 805s, connected via Analysis Plus cables to a Mcintosh MA6300, with a Oppo BDP-105 and a Pro-Ject 2Xperience Classic, Sumiko Blue-Point cartridge via a NAD phono preamp.
He asked me which component he should upgrade next, and I asked him what he listened to more, vinyl or cd, and which one he thought sounded better. He listens about 50/50, and had no firm judgement which sounded better to him, but leaned towards the cd sounding better.
I had him select some favorite albums with vocals and acoustical guitar, that he also had in gold cd...... and cued them up. I switched lps several times, and occasionally pointed out specifics to listen to; "which one sounds like a real guitar"?; which voice sounds more realistic"?; "can you hear the leading pluck on the strings of the bass guitar"? etc, etc.
It was fun to observe his little journey. In the end, on his system, it was clear that the turntable provided the most enjoyable, realistic music of the sources available.
Great fun.
So you go from "vinyl is better than CD" [digital] to the comparison is dependant upon the type of music and recordings.
Well of course it is. Source material is the most important as that is where it starts. There are crap examples in both formats but digital will always blow away analog. Physics dictates this.
The fact that most mastering houses over saturate digital releases due to the loudness wars does not mean that it is not capable of providing superior results.
The dynamic range, noise floor, S/N ratio, resolution, etc... of analog is no match for digital. Digital will always blow away analog when properly implemented.
Interesting. SACD was significantly better than CD, why would you say otherwise?
I did my self several A/B comparison and hands down, SACD was much, much better.
Regarding linear tone arm and 1.2K cart, would you mind explain in detail your set up?
I mean, I don't necessarily disagree with you, but I would like to dig a little bit more on your personal experience!
You had me till there...then you lost me with the last sentence! 😱
I kind of disagree with that as you have to compare proper digital set up with a proper analogue. At high level I would say is that is the other way around...
You had me till there...then you lost me with the last sentence! 😱
I kind of disagree with that as you have to compare proper digital set up with a proper analogue. At high level I would say is that is the other way around...
What is your digital equipment Stefano.
I going to try a shiga clone cd drive, the best digital source I did listen to used one. The owner confirmed me that the drive did just as much as a good DAC. I would say it is not possible but I willing to believe it now I did hear his equipment.
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These digital source are outdated and even back then they were the WORSE sounding.
I had marantz CD 17, 17 mkII, 63 KIS and others. Had the sony for a while.
These things were real crap even back then. Bloated bass, not controlled. Bloody midrange and lack of resolution on the highs.
If you still have those...
Even iPad will sound significantly better nowadays!
These digital source are outdated and even back then they were the WORSE sounding.
I had marantz CD 17, 17 mkII, 63 KIS and others. Had the sony for a while.
These things were real crap even back then. Bloated bass, not controlled. Bloody midrange and lack of resolution on the highs.
If you still have those...
Even iPad will sound significantly better nowadays!
Is your Ipad your digital reference?
I said that already, I don't use digital anymore as at this level makes no more sense anymore.
I used esoteric SACD, audio research, other the the other marantzs listed, marantz sa7.
You think is enough ? 😱
So the Marantz NA-11S1 sound poorer then your record player, Marantz have some tricks to let thier stuff sound a bit wholly because that is what their buyers look for.
you could buy a chineese 24bit dac with usb and optical and coax input and use it as network player, they sound good cost about 100$ not 3500$. And there is no wholly sound.
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Is this not more an issue of personal taste/flavour?
It's like asking someone to explain why they like Marmite and about as productive.
I like vinyl but digital done well usually betters it, especially when listening with headphones.
I don't see much point in transferring digitally recorded music onto vinyl but some excellent analogue recordings still exist and to my ears, they usually sound better played back using an analogue source.
It's like asking someone to explain why they like Marmite and about as productive.
I like vinyl but digital done well usually betters it, especially when listening with headphones.
I don't see much point in transferring digitally recorded music onto vinyl but some excellent analogue recordings still exist and to my ears, they usually sound better played back using an analogue source.
The dCS is behind analog too , i know maybe we should spend more than 100k , to beat analog ..🙂
I asked Sy and got alot of arm wavering , so less go again , explain to me the advantage of digital over analog in relation to noise , dynamic range , Yada, yada, taking into account the avg listening room noise floor is 42-48 db and digital slams the brakes at 0db ..
I asked Sy and got alot of arm wavering , so less go again , explain to me the advantage of digital over analog in relation to noise , dynamic range , Yada, yada, taking into account the avg listening room noise floor is 42-48 db and digital slams the brakes at 0db ..
I am not an exper on recording, so I can't really say anything on the 0dB recording point for digital.
However it is easy to understand, and only takes some listening, to understand the technical basic advance of digital, which are noise floor, distortion, speed accuracy and repeatbility.
I mean vinyl when well implemented mitigates a lot these issues, to a point IMHO, where the ear can't really discriminate on that anymore.
That is when vinyl becomes really engaging.
However it is easy to understand, and only takes some listening, to understand the technical basic advance of digital, which are noise floor, distortion, speed accuracy and repeatbility.
I mean vinyl when well implemented mitigates a lot these issues, to a point IMHO, where the ear can't really discriminate on that anymore.
That is when vinyl becomes really engaging.
Never tried NA-11S1 on my system.
I have also tried sa-17. All the latst generation of digital source from marantzs sounded significantly different from the older ones. The latter has more neutrality and better paece.
this is what one need for a good dac. No filter the transformer is a bandwith filter.
SOWTER DAC I/V TRANSFORMERS
Line Output | Lundahl Transformers
SOWTER DAC I/V TRANSFORMERS
Line Output | Lundahl Transformers
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Nope , you are ......... 🙄
Please answer the question Sy, as it does appear the advantage of digital does get lost in the typical room noise floor..
Please answer the question Sy, as it does appear the advantage of digital does get lost in the typical room noise floor..
You mistake entirely the point of my post. The last sentence is, "Is it a logical impossibility to ask partisans to "prove" they truly can't tell things apart and then asking them to demonstrate which they consistently prefer?"
Tube and vinyl systems often have a warmth and glow that anybody would love.
But can you duplicate that tonal shape with a CD-borne system so nobody can tell the difference.... and if nobody can tell the difference, what is the difference?*
Can you provide iinks to those tests?
Easy to do exercises that kind of look like blind testing but aren't. Toole's great book can help clarify pitfalls, up to a point.
Ben
*not sure I know how to introduce those pops and swooooosh sounds into a CD system for test purposes. But given TerryO's pride in his annual blind testing regime, perhaps they've found a way.
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