[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: power supply: can it really make a difference?
abdomen Wrote: Sean Adams has done some lab work. http://www.seanadams.com/smps_vs_linear/ Actually those numbers were looking strictly at DAC performance WRT to the noise floor and THD+N measurements. The conclusion being that you CAN improve performance at the DAC with better _local_ regulation (Walt-Jung / ALWSR mods) but swapping the external power supply (which goes though a few stages of internal step-up, filtering, and then linear regulation before reaching the DAC) is pointless IMHO. Jitter is a different story (as it does not involve the isolating multiplier/linear-reg stages that the DAC uses) and I shared some measurements on this a while back: http://tinyurl.com/etl3t Unforunately my equipment at the time couldn't say much beyond yes there's a difference - a slight change in the shape of the histogram. I have a new high-end LeCroy scope on order, and am hoping to make some more accurate and detailed measurements soon. On a slight tangent if you happen to be poking around my seldom-updated web site you may notice that every once in a while I update the quote at the top of the page depending on whatever I happen to be thinking about at that moment. The most recent is from Freud, who lambasted his peers as being a shining example of the repugnance to learning anything new, which is characteristic of men of science. It has certainly been an ear-opener for me to discover what some trained listeners can detect... If better sound is your goal, keep an open mind, and by no means take any suggestion at face value! -- seanadams seanadams's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21556 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: AB Testing Support
I was actually interested in peoples experiences of AB blind testing of PC SB3 vs reasonably serious CD players, rather than kicking off a discussion over my choice of format. As it happens, the time difference between creating WAV and FLAC files is quite significant in my experience. Multiplied by 2000 CD, that's a good chunk of my time I'd prefer not to spend sat at my PC when the extra storage cost so little. -- hifisteve hifisteve's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4227 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21545 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: AB Testing Support
Ok -- I'm just curious how you plan to handle the tagging issue. Will you just always use browse music folder? I've never heard the details of how someone would keep their collection in WAV, so I'm curious to know how it will work without having any metadata tags to use for navigation. On 2/28/06, hifisteve [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:I was actually interested in peoples experiences of AB blind testing of PC SB3 vs reasonably serious CD players, rather than kicking off adiscussion over my choice of format.As it happens, the time difference between creating WAV and FLAC filesis quite significant in my experience. Multiplied by 2000 CD, that's a good chunk of my time I'd prefer not to spend sat at my PC when theextra storage cost so little.--hifistevehifisteve's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4227View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21545 ___audiophiles mailing listaudiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: AB Testing Support
hifisteve wrote: As it happens, the time difference between creating WAV and FLAC files is quite significant in my experience. Multiplied by 2000 CD, that's a good chunk of my time I'd prefer not to spend sat at my PC when the extra storage cost so little. You may be able to get the advantages of FLAC without spending any more time than you would on WAV. EAC can be configured to rip and compress to FLAC in one step. On my machine (Athlon XP 2400) the compression process only lags a few seconds behind the rip. Other folks are using a batch process that compresses overnight. ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: AB Testing Support
Funny you should say that because I had the same thought. All the WAV files I ripped using iTunes are fully accessible via my SB using the normal browse and search functions and as far as I can see they carry all the usual track info. I'm not particularly knowledgeable but I'm presuming that tagging adds data to the music file itself. If WAV files don't support this then I'm guessing that either iTunes or SB is able to allow the same level of search features just by using the file/path structure, as I've not used the browser music folder option. -- hifisteve hifisteve's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4227 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21545 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Linear Power Supply DIY Weekend Project
crooner Wrote: Skunk: have you measured the voltage on yours? Mine while hot enough to fry bacon, keeps the voltage steady as a rock with minimal variation. It never fluctuates from 5.02 volts! The power one 5-3 has adjustable dc out of +-5%. There's a little pot for adjusting it. That particular model also has overvoltage protection pre-installed and set to 6.4v, for more peace of mind. You'll want to measure at your barrel connector, to make sure you have it wired right, and to account for loss in your cable. + is the center of the connector, so stick the red probe in there and the black to the sleeve, and make sure it's not -5v. The 5-3 has an optional feature for remote sensing of the load, but I haven't researched using it. Best of luck. I think you'll be very happy with it, especially for the price ;-) -- Skunk Skunk's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2685 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21505 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: SB is killing the SACD format! ;)
Horizons Wrote: I have heard good things about the Shek DAC. How does it sound? Well, I've posted this story in another thread, but I got the DAC about a month ago, and then promptly fried the voltage regulators by mistakenly reversing polarity with an external power supply. Miraculously, in my opinion, Derek switched out the regulators, and it is now being shipped back. He's not even charging me for parts or labor, just the $9.00 shipping! Anyway, I will post my opinions of it when it arrives later in the week. I also recently purchased a Parasound A23 amp on audiogon, so that should be arriving too. I've got a lot of listening to do! -- ezkcdude ezkcdude's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2545 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21542 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Linear Power Supply DIY Weekend Project
Skunk, Nice job on the case. Jetlag and I have the same PS from power one you have. I have a case as well but haven't yet assembled the rig. I'm thinking of bolting the side of the PS to the side of the case.(instead of resting it on the bottom via the 4 feet) The side holes on the PS are actually threaded, and I have screws that match. My thougt is that a tight coupling there will transfer heat to the case and use it as a heat sink. I'm wondering if I need to use some of that CPU paste I have to make the heat transfer better. -Dan -- dwc dwc's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1892 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21505 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Linear Power Supply DIY Weekend Project
dwc Wrote: I'm wondering if I need to use some of that CPU paste I have to make the heat transfer better. -Dan Thanks Dan. I don't think on metal to metal it's *as* important as silicon to metal. I took the heat sinks off the regulators on my PC switching supply, and there's a pad between, to help transfer heat. That being said I don't see how it could hurt either. Probably the thermal paste at compUSA would work, but here I'm guessing again. EDIT: You know, on second thought, the two screw holes you reference are parallel to each other. As tight as you might get them, there is still the possibility it's cocked very slightly against the side. The thermal paste might help fill the gap there, and gaps in the metal surface itself. Mine is bolted to the bottom, and the copper gets pulled against the supply very tightly when the cover is screwed on. While it seemed a very good connection at first, I'm thinking microscopically it's not. PS. does yours run warm or pretty cool? -- Skunk Skunk's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2685 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21505 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: AB Testing Support
Steve, I recommend you rip to flac with EAC and flac.exe. You can always go back to wav format, but once you're in wav you can't go forward to flac as you've lost the tags. I think it's best to keep the metadata with the audio file, as opposed to relying on any separate database. Many of us have friends who have trashed or otherwise screwed up their itunes databases. I can't imagine the pain of having 2000 cd's worth of wav files orphaned if something were to happen to the lone databse with all the tag info. If you have 2k CD's then you only want to have to do this once. Take the extra time and go all the way to flac. -Dan -- dwc dwc's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1892 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21545 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: power supply: can it really make a difference?
Skunk Wrote: Was jitter even thought of as something to be designed around, before everyone started telling you how good the SB sounded, or did you get lucky to some extent? No, SB2 was specifically designed for high clock precision and low jitter, and we took into account all the feedback we'd received over the years from audiophiles. Less-than-perfect clocking was one of the niggles that people had with SB1, so we wanted to address it. There are many ways to produce a clock: 1) Use an integrated AC97 (pc audio) chipset with it's own crystal attached. good: inexpensive, bad: poor DAC quality and can't do both 44.1 and 48 khz without resampling. Motherboards, sound cards, and tubular music players generally use these chips because they are extremely cheap. 2) Use a programmable PLL to generate the desired clock. (a PLL is a device that can be used, among other things, to convert one clock frequency to another). SLIMP3 and Squeezebox1 used a DSP chip from Micronas, which had this this hardware built-in to the chip. A single crystal oscillator was used to genereate the CPU clock as well as the audio clocks. You can also get PLL chips that can be configured to produce different frequencies. advantage: much flexibility to generate all sorts of clocks disadvantage: generally can't hit the target frequency very precisely unless it's a convenient multiple of the master clock, also jitter can be much higher than a simple crystal osciallator. 3) Use a separate crystal oscillator for each sample rate (or multiple of the sample rate) that you want to produce. This is what SB2 and SB3 use - there are two separate crystals running at 44.1 x 256 = 11.2896MHz and 48 x 256 = 12.2880 MHz. A 74hcu04 drives the crystals and sends the clock to the logic circuits which generrate the DAC and s/pdif interfaces. Advantage: highest precision and lowest jitter Disadvantage: higher cost and can't generate arbitrary clock frequencies Maintaining clock integrity through the logic, all the way from the osciallator to the s/pdif or DAC output is important too. Here we use a Xilinx CPLD implementing our own s/pdif transmitter design. I won't discuss how it works except that it is designed for minimal clock distortion. I have since tested several mods including reclocking the signal outside the xilinx with a discrete flip-flop and found that there was not significant room for improvement in the output clocking, but we may learn more once I get my hadns on some fancier test equipment. :) -- seanadams seanadams's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21556 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: SB is killing the SACD format! ;)
ezkcdude Wrote: Well, I've posted this story in another thread, but I got the DAC about a month ago, and then promptly fried the voltage regulators by mistakenly reversing polarity with an external power supply. Miraculously, in my opinion, Derek switched out the regulators, and it is now being shipped back. He's not even charging me for parts or labor, just the $9.00 shipping! Anyway, I will post my opinions of it when it arrives later in the week. I also recently purchased a Parasound A23 amp on audiogon, so that should be arriving too. I've got a lot of listening to do! LOL I did the same thing to my Monica dac with a 12V battery. Accidentally swapped the + and - leads and SMOKE! Usually this just takes out a regulator and/or resistor. Parasound amps are great, I still use the HCA-1000A to drive my Maggie 1.6QRs. No need to upgrade. -- Horizons Horizons's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2576 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21542 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: SB-3 and external DAC
gobikey Wrote: to anyone interested, i ordered a MHDTLabs Paradisea last friday the 24th, and it's here! i'll write a review of what i *hear* when i get to hook it up. i also received my bluejeans digital cable today. woo! ___ krell kav-400xi integrated amp vienna acoustics 'beethoven' speakers * sb3 * audioquest diamondback interconnects diy acoustic room treatment flac with accuraterip ___ How does it sound? I'm interested in either the Paradisea or the Renaissance II from MHDTlabs to work in conjunction with the SB3. -- rajacat rajacat's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4156 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=17948 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Linear Power Supply DIY Weekend Project
I was also debating whether to sacrifice the supplied switcher supply for the cord or get a new one. I figured, why not use the original cord. Less hassle. I can always resolder it to the switcher, but I don't think that's ever gonna happen :-) As for my little space heater it's making my SB3 sound better than ever. Buttery smooth in the mids with great dynamic contrasts. I hope the Power One gives me comparable performance with much better thermal behavior... -- crooner Squeezebox 3 with DIY Linear Power Supply Lite Audio DAC60 tube DAC Pioneer SX-1980 Vandersteen 2Ce Signature Vandersteen 2W crooner's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3379 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21505 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: power supply: can it really make a difference?
Very impressive Sean. I am also in awe with the SB3's superlative performance. Listening to familiar music and it's like falling in love with it all over gain. Recordings that used to be flat and lifeless now come to life. The SB3 fully realizes the potential of digital as a music encoding format. With CDs you had several advantages but the format was still a disc like the LP record that preceeded it. The SB3 certainly frees you from such constraints. I'd venture to say it's the greatest single audio product of the past 20 years. It's rare to have a product that combines utmost flexibility and convenience and also superb sound quality. The SB3 does that. Hats off to you and the Slim Devices team! -- crooner Squeezebox 3 with DIY Linear Power Supply Lite Audio DAC60 tube DAC Pioneer SX-1980 Vandersteen 2Ce Signature Vandersteen 2W crooner's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3379 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21556 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: SB is killing the SACD format! ;)
Yeah, shame about SACD, but it was always going going to have a short shelf life. To me HDCD (*** acronyms, have I got that right?) sounds the same... and SB supports it. Mind you I have a grand total of three HDCD disks... probably all that were ever made (joke alert) even my favourite artists (Can) chose SACD over HDCD...the bastards. :-( -- ModelCitizen ModelCitizen's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=446 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21542 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: SB-3 and external DAC
rajacat Wrote: How does it sound? I'm interested in either the Paradisea or the Renaissance II from MHDTlabs to work in conjunction with the SB3. Raja, just to be thorough, you may want to look at Derek Shek's NOS DAC on eBay. I bought one recently (you can search the other threads). Derek is great to deal with. When I first got the DAC, I accidentally fried it, trying to upgrade the power supply. I sent it back to him (Hong Kong!), and he was able to fix it. He didn't even charge me for it (except the shipping). I will be getting it later this week and setting it up with my new amp that's coming too. If you want to wait a week or so, I'll post my opinions about it. A few others that haunt this forum also have the Shek DAC. -- ezkcdude ezkcdude's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2545 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=17948 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Apple iPod HI-FI No Threat to SB!
I wonder if Apple settled the lawsuit by the former Beatles and widows... -- crooner Squeezebox 3 with DIY Linear Power Supply Lite Audio DAC60 tube DAC Pioneer SX-1980 Vandersteen 2Ce Signature Vandersteen 2W crooner's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3379 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21595 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Apple iPod HI-FI No Threat to SB!
Think iPod a la Bose Wave. -- konut konut's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1596 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21595 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: SB is killing the SACD format! ;)
crooner Wrote: It won't decode it. However, since the SB3 has bit perfect digital outs, the HDCD information should be preserved for processing by a capable DAC. Mine doesn't do HDCD unfortunately, but I believe it has been sucessfully done by several folks. Oh.. Yes, of course. (I believe most modern transports are bit perfect.) -- P Floding P Floding's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2932 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21542 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Apple iPod HI-FI No Threat to SB!
ezkcdude Wrote: In fact, I'm not really sure what Apple is thinking with this. Responing to market demand no doubt. I know a couple of people who bought iPods simply because of the available boombox type docking stations (they use the iPod on the road and at home) and since Apple have such strong brand loyalty, it makes sense for them to have their own. The fact that there are many of them out there already means that there is a market for them, surely? My wife would use a boombox for my iPod, but for me the price of the Apple unit is a bit steep. -- CardinalFang You're only young once, but you can be immature forever... CardinalFang's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=962 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21595 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: SPDIF question - error correction and interconnect quality
Andrew L. Weekes Wrote: It represents an impedance discontinuty that will give rise to reflections that are serious enough to impact the performance of SPDIF. It's specific location is largely irrelevant here - a mismatch is a mismatch is a mismatch.The closer the impedance anomaly is to the transmitter or receiver, the closer the reflection is to the incident edge. In a 100ns pulse, a reflection at a 1ns delay may not even be picked up, but a reflection at a 50ns delay would probably cause problems. -- John Stimson John Stimson's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=218 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21415 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: SB-3 and external DAC
ezkcdude Wrote: Raja, just to be thorough, you may want to look at Derek Shek's NOS DAC on eBay. I bought one recently (you can search the other threads). Derek is great to deal with. When I first got the DAC, I accidentally fried it, trying to upgrade the power supply. I sent it back to him (Hong Kong!), and he was able to fix it. He didn't even charge me for it (except the shipping). I will be getting it later this week and setting it up with my new amp that's coming too. If you want to wait a week or so, I'll post my opinions about it. A few others that haunt this forum also have the Shek DAC. I couldn't find Derek's store on EBAY. Please provide a link. -- rajacat rajacat's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4156 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=17948 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Some Interesting Classical Discs
Well I read the reviews on the first three, and apparently they're _all_ essential. :) -- dwc dwc's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1892 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21522 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Some Interesting Classical Discs
dwc Wrote: Well I read the reviews on the first three, and apparently they're _all_ essential. :) Ha. I stopped after three or four too, and planned to buy as many as I could afford because the reviews were *glowing*. The only 4star rating (most were 5/5) I saw was for the fact that the sacd layer was stereo only. That doesn't bother me a bit, and I'm thinking may even be better than surround sacd if the engineers didn't rely on 7 speakers, and actually focused on a two channel mix. Now I just need to make friends with a costco member. Thanks for the tip Jon! -- Skunk Skunk's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2685 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21522 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: SPDIF question - error correction and interconnect quality
Ask any comedian. Timing is EVERYTHING! -- konut konut's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1596 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21415 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: SB-3 and external DAC
Here's a pic next to my SB3. It really is just a black box, but that's kind of the charm, I think. +---+ |Filename: black_box.jpg| |Download: http://forums.slimdevices.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=964| +---+ -- ezkcdude ezkcdude's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2545 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=17948 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: SB-3 and external DAC
I could not hear any tangible difference between the analog outputs of the SB3 and running coaxial cable into the digital input on my Proton (privately labeled as Dynaco) 5.1 home theater integrated amp. It wasn't a terribly expensive amplifier - I bought it on Ebay at a closeout price over 3 years ago. Two weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to upgrade to a McIntosh MX-132 preamp/tuner. I've A/B'd the same source material numerous times, using the McIntosh decoders and the SB3s analog output. My conclusions? The SB3 sounds good. The McIntosh DAC sounds decidedly different, and in my opinion, better. Using the Mac's DAC, there's more space around instruments, a sense of ambience, is the best I can describe it. It's easy to hear - an opening of the sound stage. Also, strings and piano music sound less strained, sweeter and less harsh. Everything sounds more musical. Even on 128 kbps internet radio streams. I made sure that loudness, and tone controls were defeated for the test, so that I was making an equal comparison. I was pleasantly surprised - I honestly thought I wouldn't hear any difference and went into the comparison very skeptical. -- Cleve Two-channel system; McIntosh MC2205 amplifier McIntosh MAC4100 receiver Klipsch CF-4 speakers Denon DR-M3 Cassette Deck Cleve's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2048 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=17948 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: SPDIF question - error correction and interconnect quality
ezkcdude Wrote: I have a hard time believing our ears can detect picosecond jitter when it's modulated by the DAC to produce distortion components in the audible spectrum, why not? -- dorkus dorkus's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3373 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21415 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: SPDIF question - error correction and interconnect quality
Patrick Dixon Wrote: But the pulse width is not that important in an S/PDIF connection, it's the transitions that are. Reflections / impedance mismatches are rarely serious enough to cause actual data corruption (in S/PDIF), but they can affect the timing information contained in the rising and falling edges.If the reflection occurs close enough to the source or receiver, it can blend into the transition. Switching isn't instantaneous, and SPDIF isn't that high in frequency. The timing of a reflection can determine whether you see blurring of the edge/jitter in the clock, or visible artifacts/bit errors. -- John Stimson John Stimson's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=218 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21415 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: piano solos
One of the greatest piano solo recordings - Rosalyn Tureck playing the Goldberg Variations. http://www.vaimusic.com/CD/1029_1142-2.shtml Here's a review from JS Bach.org: These performances, recorded at William F. Buckley's estate on Long Island, were originally released on Albany Records. There is nobody quite like her, Richard Dyer wrote of Tureck. A scholar as well as a performer, Tureck herself notes that My studies of the dances of the 17th and 18th centuries reveal the little-recognized fact that Bach composed his dance movements with meticulous exactitude according to the specific steps and metre of each dance form, that is much more precisely than an overlay of general rhythm, character, and mood, though these are also achieved with unerring aesthetic sense and beauty. As for unerring aesthetic sense and beauty, Tureck might have been describing her own playing as well. These live peformances, before a small and appreciative audience are lovely. I agree... the sonics are absolutely fantastic. The recording is far more intimate than Gould, Perahia, Brendel, Richter or Serkin. Of course it was recorded in someone's home -- fezco fezco's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3855 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=20611 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: SPDIF question - error correction and interconnect quality
Hi Guys I thought if the reflections was close to the rx end, it could blur the transition. If it was far enough away to look like a discrete event, it was not likely to cause any harm. I have seen this as an argument to use a long digital cable, so any reflections are the tx end won't cause any degradation. Randy -- randytsuch randytsuch's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3783 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21415 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Apple iPod HI-FI No Threat to SB!
He has achieved success by entering the audio arena instead of concetrating his efforts into positioning the Macintosh as the world personal computer standard. In a sense he conceded defeat to his archrival Bill Gates... -- crooner Squeezebox 3 with DIY Linear Power Supply Lite Audio DAC60 tube DAC Pioneer SX-1980 Vandersteen 2Ce Signature Vandersteen 2W crooner's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3379 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21595 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: Apple iPod HI-FI No Threat to SB!
crooner Wrote: He has achieved success by entering the audio arena instead of concetrating his efforts into positioning the Macintosh as the world personal computer standard. In a sense he conceded defeat to his archrival Bill Gates... I'm sure Slim wouldn't mind a slice of that defeat...:-) Neither would I. Why are people so negative about companies that have achieved runaway success? It doesn't mean that their products are worse or that they are corrupt in any way. Would you call Slim's successful business a defeat if Roku or Sonus sold more? What if they had achieved their aims? To be successful, you don't need to have the highest volumes, just be profitable and have a future. I'm sure Bill Gates envies the product loyalty and respect that Jobs has, plus the fact that Microsoft have tried to own the home entertainment market for a few years now and not had the sort of success that Apple have. Pick your battlegrounds well, as they say. Paul -- CardinalFang You're only young once, but you can be immature forever... CardinalFang's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=962 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21595 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
