I wanted to use the S/PDIF method to connect the two as it is a, the simplest and b, hopefully the purest method of hooking the source to the pre-amp (although I stand to be corrected).
It doesn't matter how well you clock the data from the disc and assemble it into the correct format to transmit it out the SPDIF interface, you will have an embedded clock that must be re-created by various means to take care of the D to A process in another external circuit. Errors will be present in this re-created clock no matter what method is used unless you connect a second cable between the transport and DAC with the original clock. This would work beautifully, but the fact is, if you put all this in a single box, we call it a CD player?
The pristine analog out of that CD player requires a proper analog path to the power amp, and you have purchased that path with the BP25. Why not take advantage of it..
brucek
Hi brucek,
I'm not sure of the ethics of resurrecting a thread after all this time, but I felt I needed to let you know my recent findings.
I received my BP25 back from my dealer last week after having the mute/normal switch replaced and the DAC checked under warranty. While I was at the dealer, I asked if he had a pair of balanced cables that I could loan for a week. Well, he lent me a pair of Atlas Mountain Snow 1 metre cables.
Firstly, what a relief to get the pre-amp back. You really find out what you are missing when you have to go without the decent quality reproduction in music you are used to for a while.
Secondly, I initially put the system back together how I had originally set it up with the S/PDIF from the CDP feeding the DAC input on the BP25. I listened for a while then installed the balanced cables between the two.
Obviously there was a jump in volume with the balanced cables. However, when I compared like for like volume settings (as close as I could get without a dB meter) balanced compared with S/PDIF produced a significantly wider and fuller soundstage. With S/PDIF, the music is all there but appears more focused centrally between the speakers. With balanced, as well as the soundstage appearing to extend well past the outer edges of the speakers, what is interesting is the whole effect is more "musical" and "warmer". The detail is there in abundance and I now understand what is meant by the quiet passages in music seeming "inky black", I am assuming this is the lower noise floor of balanced cables.
So getting to the point of my post, you were correct about using a proper analog path but in my system it means using the balanced connections. So to get the best out of my system, I now have to start saving for balanced cables to go between the CDP and pre-amp also "Y" balanced cables to go between the pre-amp outputs and my bi-amped power amps!!!(only one left and right balanced output on the BP25)
So thanks for your advice, it's taken me a while but I eventually understand what you meant.
I will still use the S/PDIF for my Squeezebox SB3 as the digital output is far superior than the analog.
Using balanced cables has also eliminated the dropouts so I assume there is a mismatch on the S/PDIF between the G08 and the BP25 probably due to the lack of a separate word clock connection.
Regards,
Barry.B