[nightvoyager]

Anyone know anything on the VDA-2's jitter performance? Does the VDA-2 employ any kind of reclocking stage, or does it let the CS8416 handle it? And how does it handle recieving data compared to the VDA-1?.......Dusty??

Thanks everyone!

Brett

[CIAudio]

VDA•1 & VDA•2 depend on the upstream clock as I'm not a believer of asynchronous re-clocking.
Both models use a low jitter input receiver (VDA-1=Burr Brown DIR1701, VDA-2=CS8416).

IMO clock jitter is pretty much a non-issue with most current-day players.

[socrates63]

IMO clock jitter is pretty much a non-issue with most current-day players.

Dusty, does your statement also apply to universals like the Oppo?

[CIAudio]

Yes, the Oppo players work very well as a transport.

[AK]

is difference clearly audible between oppo's default output and vda 2 ?
i am asking, because i had really hard time distinguishing sound from
default output of cheap sony cd player and high quality dac. the difference
was there, but very subtle, and only if i remained in "sweet spot" and put
all my attention to every little detail of music. or maybe it was there beacause i
wanted to hear it... or maybe that cd player isn't that cheap after all
i tried portable player and built in cd-rom dac with my system,
those sound really audibly horrible.
for someone like me probably doesn't make sence to buy very high end dac.
i like to turn music up and do things around the house.

[AK]

i don't remember players model number, it's $99 player from best buy and vda-1.
rest of the system is amc 1100 preamp, harman kardon pa 2000 amp and athena 2.2 floorstanding speakers.

[JLM]

AK,

Seems to me some folks are more sensitive to certain forms of distortion while others are more sensitive to different forms of distortion.  JMO, but that at least partially would explain why some audiophiles are speaker guys, or tubeheads, or intolerant of digital sources.

The differences in sensitivity is probably due in part to what you've been exposed to.  For instance, I'm a speaker guy and prefer single driver speakers due to the incoherency I hear in multiple driver designs.  For me, I need to directly A/B digital sources to appreciate the differences, but speakers I remember for years.

[SatoriGFX]

Just out of curiosity, I tried out the VDA-2 with an old Sony X779ES player...this player actually sounds more veiled to me with the VDA-2 than without, yet the VDA-2 with my RME DIGI 96/8 PAD is crystal clear.

I also listened to the X779 through it's variable outputs, and it also sounds clearer that way. Is something just not "gelling" with the Sony's digital output and the VDA-2, or are these just the symptoms of a failing old CDP?

Are you using coax or toslink?  If coax, what brand/model and what length is it (many people swear by a coax of at least 1.5 meters)?  If toslink, are you using plastic or glass (even cheap glass ones are very good and better than most plastic ones).

[slbenz]

is difference clearly audible between oppo's default output and vda 2 ?
i am asking, because i had really hard time distinguishing sound from
default output of cheap sony cd player and high quality dac. the difference
was there, but very subtle, and only if i remained in "sweet spot" and put
all my attention to every little detail of music. or maybe it was there beacause i
wanted to hear it... or maybe that cd player isn't that cheap after all
i tried portable player and built in cd-rom dac with my system,
those sound really audibly horrible.
for someone like me probably doesn't make sence to buy very high end dac.
i like to turn music up and do things around the house.

Currently own an Oppo 970 connected to a Channel Islands Audio VDA-2 and VAC-1.  When I was using a Parasound AVC-1800 HT preamp that used 24 bit and according to Parasound, 48kHz DACs, the sound with the CIA raised the sound quality of the Oppo moderately.  I say moderately because once I changed the Parasound to an Outlaw Audio Model 990 HT preamp that uses 24 bit 192kHz DACs, the sound difference was much larger.  Without the CIA connected, the stock Oppo sounds congested, flat and compressed.  The CIA combo really opens up the soundstage, adds body and greatly widens the soundstage.  Even working around the house, you can clearly hear the difference.  So if your receiver or preamp can take full advantage of the DACs within the CIA, I believe you will clearly hear a positive difference over a stock Oppo.  Hope this helps.

Slbenz

[denjo]

Hi Slbenz

The Oppo 970 has deservedly been well reviewed. If you use it as a standalone CD transport, did you programme the DVD player for "digital out" only, thereby bypassing the analog circuitry of the player? If you did, I bet the sound through the VDA-2 DAC should go up by several notches!

Best Regards
Dennis

[slbenz]

Hi Slbenz

The Oppo 970 has deservedly been well reviewed. If you use it as a standalone CD transport, did you programme the DVD player for "digital out" only, thereby bypassing the analog circuitry of the player? If you did, I bet the sound through the VDA-2 DAC should go up by several notches!

Best Regards
Dennis

Dennis,

I believe I have my Oppo 970 set up as you say for digital out only and bypassing the analog circuit.  I am using a Synergistic Research coax cable connecting the Oppo to the CIA combo and have the Oppo SPDIF output set to RAW and at 192kHz.  I have also tried shutting off the video circuit that the Oppo let's you do but I do not hear any difference whether it is on or off.  There is definitely a very big difference in sound comparing the CIA combo vs. the stock Oppo.   

Slbenz