Computer transport, the right way

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#42
I was just about to reply. 😉

I'm not sure the MSB Platinum is the best DAC for the money right now. In fact, the Apogee Mini-DAC may be a better performer. If I were you, I'd just buy the Apogee. It's an excellent DAC, and it has a firewire input. You could save a lot of money by going with it. That DAC is often compared to the Benchmark DAC1, usually favorably (albeit by a small margin). If you want that last bit of performance, however, The Bel Canto DAC3 is probably the way to go right now. Stereophile said it was the best measuring DAC they'd ever tested, for a retail of $2500. You can find it for a little over $2K new, but I'm waiting for a used one to pop up for around $1500, as I've seen a few times in the past. I've heard that they're going to update it to accept up to 96 KHz via USB, but it currently accepts 48 KHz at 24 bit through its USB input, and anything up to 24/192 via s/pdif. Its jitter performance via USB is fantastic with a 24 bit signal via USB, but only decent with a 16 bit signal. Both bit depths have excellent jitter performance with s/pdif, and jitter performance is independent of your source, because it uses asynchronous resampling. , as does the Apogee. They're both virtually immune to source jitter. I called Bel Canto about their redesigning the DAC3's USB input to accept a 96 KHz signal, and they told me that the interface will be something like an external box that can be used with the current DAC3, if you were looking to buy right now. Check the Stereophile review, here:

http://stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/1107bc/

and their review of the MSB Platinum, 2003

http://www.stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/799/

You might just want to skip to the measurements. It should be fairly obvious which one is the better DAC
 
#43
steaxauce said:
I was just about to reply. 😉

I'm not sure the MSB Platinum is the best DAC for the money right now. In fact, the Apogee Mini-DAC may be a better performer. If I were you, I'd just buy the Apogee. Check the Stereophile review, here:

http://stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/1107bc/

and their review of the MSB Platinum, 2003

http://www.stereophile.com/digitalprocessors/799/

You might just want to skip to the measurements. It should be fairly obvious which one is the better DAC
Click to expand...

Actually the MSB DAC i was referring to is NOT that old model that was reviewed on Stereophile, (or the even older dac III reviewed in 2000) but this one:

http://www.msbtech.com/products/dac3.php
Look at some of the specs:

Dynamic Range: 136 dB A Measured
Noise Floor: <-145 dB
THD+N: .002
Signal to Noise Ratio: 140 dB

It's a true 24 bit ladder. Besides the specs (excellent) and the price (high), I have no idea how it really does sound 🙂

PS: the apogee is not compatible with Windows and btw i dont think it's so great.
 
#44
Ah, my mistake. Looks like a nice upgrade, but I still don't know if it'll be better than the Bel Canto. Its dynamic range, noise floor and snr ratio are very good, but its THD+N is several times that of the Bel Canto (%0.0005). I could stand to read a little about interpreting spec sheets, though. If you're interested there's a dealer demo MSB Platinum for sale, here:

http://www.audioxsell.com/classified/459045/MSB-Technology-Platinum-Dac-III.htm

Are you sure the mini-DAC firewire isn't Windows compatible? I thought that was just the Duet and Ensemble. If you're right, that's good to know. I was thinking about buying one. I won't be considering the MSB Platinum anytime soon just because of the price. My setup is just going to be a home audio rig, for playing my keyboard and for listening to music. I'd put that money towards a real acoustic piano before I'd spend it on the MSB.
 
#45
steaxauce said:
Ah, my mistake. Looks like a nice upgrade, but I still don't know if it'll be better than the Bel Canto. Its dynamic range, noise floor and snr ratio are very good, but its THD+N is several times that of the Bel Canto (%0.0005). I could stand to read a little about interpreting spec sheets, though. If you're interested there's a dealer demo MSB Platinum for sale, here:

http://www.audioxsell.com/classified/459045/MSB-Technology-Platinum-Dac-III.htm

Are you sure the mini-DAC firewire isn't Windows compatible? I thought that was just the Duet and Ensemble. If you're right, that's good to know. I was thinking about buying one. I won't be considering the MSB Platinum anytime soon just because of the price. My setup is just going to be a home audio rig, for playing my keyboard and for listening to music. I'd put that money towards a real acoustic piano before I'd spend it on the MSB.
Click to expand...

The distorsion doesnt really mean how a component may sound (take tubes for instance, APL DAC will have a pretty horrible THD).

I think you are right about the mini-DAC. I confused with the Duet. I got pis*ed that they support only mac and therefore I decided to boycott Apogee. People asked for windows support and they replied that its not planned.

I also have other upgrades to do (i'm going to biamplify my speakers), before actually buying an expensive DAC. I want to have my audio setup "perfect" so I can truly compare spinner vs computer transport. I'll probably get a very cheap used DAC (but good sounding), to gets the best from my Teac.

The HTPC isnt ready yet, but its good to plan ahead. Hence this thread.
 
#46
I hate noise and love music, my only choice was to make the computer under my desk noiseless.

The room I am in is very lively/reflective. I can hear any sound no matter where it is in the room.

It is almost impossible to make a computer noiseless. As you make the computer quiet your ears become more sensitive.

Things I have done to make a noiseless computer:
1) Make the computer fanless. To do this I watercool the CPU and Hard Drives. In the past I also watercool the PSU and video card but now I have a fanless PSU and Video card that do not require watercooling.

2) Make the Water Pump noiseless. I took a water pump (the type for outdoor ponds) and sunk it in concrete.

3) Make the hard drives noiseless. I watercooled them and sunk then in concrete too. I use external SATAi connection to the computer.

The best sounding PC player by far XXHighEnd. Operating System is Windows 2008 Server, but VISTA is likely just as good.
 
#48
Hi flshzug,

My Home Theater system... I did put in another room. I put it through the floor into the basement rafters. I didn't have to watercool and go fanless in that situation. I didn't even have to use extension cables.

But my office system I can't do that. I have to live with the computer and it may as well be beside me.

Linux... I have not heard of any good players there. Please let me know if you have something that beats XXHighEnd and I will make the switch.

Cheers,
Brent
 
#51
Hello,

Here is a great book explaining quite a bit (no pun intended) on digital audio.

Digital Audio Explained by Nika Aldrich

http://www.cadenzarecording.com/

I am not connected to the book or website.

I do know Nika from rec audio pro forums and gearslutz forums.

Good read for anyone interested in the fundamentals of digital audio.

Out,

Robert

p.s. I did post this in another thread, but this thread is more recent. I wish I could delete the other post. Sorry about the "cross" posting.
 
#55
I'm reviving my old thread because I have decided that firewire for digital transport is THE way to go (until tried and proved usb3 will be out).

I've restricted my choices between
-RME fireface 400, about €700
-tc konnect 8 about €300

both can output up to 24/192 digital. The RME has tha advantage of a word clock input. I'm trying to justify the price difference for the ff.

It's funny that i found this thread looking for the esoteric d70 dac, which i'm considering (with some mods 😀).
 
#56
Telstar said:
I'm reviving my old thread because I have decided that firewire for digital transport is THE way to go (until tried and proved usb3 will be out).

I've restricted my choices between
-RME fireface 400, about €700
-tc konnect 8 about €300

both can output up to 24/192 digital. The RME has tha advantage of a word clock input. I'm trying to justify the price difference for the ff.
Click to expand...


From the point of view of 24/192 digital playback, there doesn't seem to be much point in choosing the Fireface 800 over the Konnect 8, nevermind the 400.
 
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