[Juju-Xipho]

I finally got my initial set-up working after moving to the US earlier this year.  My former 6 box Cyrus units have been relaced by a SP2 and a 4BSST2, which are hooked up to my Kef Reference 205/2s.  At the moment I amusing an airport express linked in the Opt1 of the SP2 and controlled by an ipad.  My mac mini is connected to another system in the house.

My initial auditioning of the new set-up left me a little deflated.  This is either I have forgoted what my old system sounded like, or maybe there is a way of setting this systemup more ideally.  At now volume levels (above 18 on the display) it sounds OK, but as soon as I move it to 17 and below it starts to get very muddy and unresolved.  This is where I would like your ideas before I go splashing some more cash that my not help the situation.

Questions:
How good is the dac in the SP2? (My former Cyrus Dac-XP had DSP Cyrrus Logic CS8416 / Upsampler Burr-Brown SRC4192 / DAC 2x Burr-Brown PCM1792 (mono mode) inside)
Would connecting a source directly rather than using Airport Express through optical help the resolution?
What impact do the gain switches have on the back of the 4B?

Currently, I am using only a 2 channel set-up until I get another three channel amp to drive my Kef dipoles and Cyrus Centre.  I will only use 2 channels for music, and 5 or 5.1 for TV/Movies.

Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

Regards,
Scott

[srb]

Scott,
 
I don't know how good the DAC in the SP2 is compared to what you used previously, but my guess is that the Airport Express could be the weak link in your fairly capable system.  I have three Airport Express around the house, but use them for less critical listening than the main system.
 
The main system uses coaxial S/PDIF from computer soundcard into the DAC.  I did compare the optical from the Airport Express and did not think it sounded as good.  The Airport Express is generally considered to be a higher jitter optical source than that from the Mac Mini, and that's what I speculated might be responsible for the loss in focus and clarity.  I didn't have any additional distortion, but the loss in detail was analagous to a camera lens just slightly out of focus and may be what you're also referring to as "muddiness".  I think it becomes easier to hear a loss of resolution as the volume increases.
 
For a little time spent but no monetary investment, it might be a worthwile test to try the mini directly connected to the SP2 to see if you can hear a difference.
 
If it turns out the Airport Express is the limiting factor in your setup, I'm not sure what the best wireless alternatives would be.  The Squeezebox Touch is no longer available new from Logitech, and the Bryston BDP-1 player (with separate outboard Ethernet > WiFi adapter) would be a serious monetary investment.  A second Mac Mini run headless connected directly to the SP2 may also be a viable less expensive option.
 
Steve

[Juju-Xipho]

Steve, thanks for the reply.  Your feedback was in-line with my own thoughts and the uncertainty surrounding on the airport express as a viable input source.  This is the first time I have used one for music, and my intenstion was to get another mac mini for my bryston set-up, but I was very keen to check out my new components with my speakers and cables first (I have been without decent sounding music for 10 months).  I have a macbook lying around so I will try that first.

As for the SP2, are there any considerations for set-up for 2 channel music.  The one thing I have notices is when I turn it on it always goes to bypass mode and I have to chick onto stereo to activate the music.  Is this normal or have I missed something?

[srb]

The one thing I have notices is when I turn it on it always goes to bypass mode and I have to chick onto stereo to activate the music.  Is this normal or have I missed something?

You should be able to save the default parameters for each input.  Per page 10 of the SP2 Owner's Manual:
 
The SP2 will remember different mode settings for each source.  Every time a source is engaged it will recall the following settings:

● Digital Status
● Listening Mode (Surround, THX, Stereo, Mono)
● Surround Mode
● Bypass Status
● Sub-Woofer level
● Rear Channel Levels
● Back Channel Levels
● Speaker Configuration
● EX Control
● ES Control

To save these settings, make the preferable mode changes and adjustments per source, then press the SAVE button on the SP2 remote control before switching to another input.
 
 
Steve

[Mag]

When I demo-ed the Sp2 at the Dealer I wasn't overly impressed with its on board dac, but I purchased it anyway knowing that I had the BDA-1 at home.

With the BDA-1 using only the analog section, bypassing the DSP, the sound was on another level that I hadn't heard before.

I find optimal performance with stereo bypass, balanced cables. Both my laptop and Sony player sound excellent, the Sony being warmer in sound.

[Juju-Xipho]

thanks for the feedback.  I connected a dvd player through digital coaxial to the SP2 and the difference was huge!!  The SP2/4B SST2 combination is now sounding fantastic to my ears.  Still have more work to do with set-up and input components, but I can really say already that I am extremely happy with the ways things are sounding.  At the end of the day, it's all about the music!!