If you are going to a DAC, there should be absolutely no difference. The bitstream either puts out should be EXACTLY the same as the original CD. In this case, the DAC determines the sound quality.
There is a difference in the sound between a CD track played in my Marantz CD5001 (as a transport) and the corresponding AIFF file played in iTunes on my iMac, both played through the same DAC, using an Inday Digital Audio Switcher to select the digital source. I can't say which is more accurate, but the files from the iMac seem more detailed and also brighter (overly).
I was hoping that the SB or some other (not terribly expensive) component would provide better sound than my CDP or my computer.
Henry,
When you come over, we can do a test with my SB I use in the HT system. I have the stock wall wart and an elpac PS modified by Wayne at Bolder Cable. We can send the digital out of the SB into the Modwright TP and listen to it with both ways. Putting aside which is preferred, I am confident you will hear a difference.
George
I didn't get to listen to any Salk speakers when I visited George this afternoon because he is renovating his home theater (which has five SongTowers), but I had an opportunity to listen to George's main system which uses a Modwright TP.
Although I didn't listen to any Salk speakers, without any doubt, if we had played my HT2-TL speakers in George's room, the speakers would have played much better in George's room than in my room. George has a large dedicated space that is fully treated with an array of Real Trap diffusors, absorption panels, and bass traps. Regarding electronics, George has two Atma-Sphere amps (MA-1, I believe), a Plinius M8 preamp, and the Modwright Transporter. George's speakers are the excellent Vandy 5A.
The detail is amazing. The bass is very deep and very flat. The realism of instruments is extraordinary. The depth of the soundstage, in George's dedicated listening room, is incredible (drums were easily 15 feet back). In the first track that we listened to, with which I am very familiar, there was a reverberation in the vocals that I did not even know existed. In George's room, with his electronics, my HT2-TL would have reproduced the reverberation. I generally think of tube amps producing a softer sound than solid state amps, and while that might be true, the Atma-Sphere amps were not lacking in their ability to reproduce musical detail. Neither was the tube output from the Modwright Transporter. This is a system that is very detailed but would never be fatiguing. I could have listened for hours. (George has a really great chair, too.)
George was an excellent and knowledgeable host, and he explained the Transporter's operation. George also played some hi-rez tracks through the TP. Comparing the tracks, I thought that the bass in the redbook track was not as flat as with the hi-rez track. George thought, with the particular track that we compared, the mid-range had better definition with the hi-rez track. Both the redbook and hi-rez track sounded great.
This was a great way to spend a couple of hours on a Wednesday afternoon. After my visit, listening through George's Modwright TP, and with my limited experience with music that was ripped to my computer and with music played on my CDP (both through the same AVA DAC), I believe that server-based systems are a better choice.
George, thank you for the invitation and for your hospitality.
