What are you guys using for digital playback?

nl12048 · « **on:** 28 Feb 2010, 11:22 pm »

Hi guys,

I was wondering if you were still using a cd-player or moving towards newer solutions for digital playback. If newer; what are you using? PC, dedicated highend player, cheap streamer with a external DAC, etc...

I am using a PC with onboard sound since a few months and looking for a Dac now, but I am still working on the software side of things and wondering what can be improved on the hardware side of things.

regards,
Mark

95Dyna · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Feb 2010, 11:40 pm »

I just bought a new Esoteric X-05 last year and will be using it, buying SACDs and CD's into the forseeable future. I am thoroughly enjoying it. SACD's are definitely better than any CD I've heard however the new player has breathed new life into a collection that dates back to the early 80's. I will be buying a new VPI Classic soon and will be resurrecting my vinyl collection several hundred of which I will still listen to. Will also buy new vinyl when something I like is not available as an SACD. Right now I have little interest in downloaded digital music or ripping CD's. Part of the reason is it's not ready for prime time it seems and requires too much tinkering with software and hardware configurations to get it near CD quality. This tinkering is not compatible with my personality and near CD quality is not a goal I aspire to. I'm sure things will improve dramatically over time but there's only so much money, time in the day and space in the rack. Best wishes with your choice of direction. There's no right or wrong just personal preference.

Regards,

Bill

James Tanner · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Feb 2010, 11:55 pm »

Hi nl12048

I have 3 computer based audio systems at this point:

1.MAC Pro Laptop using internal sound card and Itunes with optical and USB out. Capable of 96/24 resolution.

2.Windows XP with MAudio Audiophile 192 sound card and COAX out. Capable of 192/24 resolution.

3.Windows 7 with Lynx 16E sound card with AES EBU out. Capable of 192/24 resolution.

james

Phil A · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Mar 2010, 12:39 am »

I have SACD in 3 of my systems (main, bedroom, basement) and a BDA-1 DAC in the main system and I'm likely to do something with computer based audio down the road (waiting to see the Bryston player which James indicated should be out within a few months).

Phil A · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Mar 2010, 12:42 am »

I also have another DAC as well in the basement system, an old Micromega DuoPro. I have a digital cable sitting around from the main system to the basement and I have PCs galore so I may experiment too.

Stu Pitt · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Mar 2010, 12:55 am »

I use an AppleTV as a music server. Ripped everything in iTunes (Apple Lossless) and stored to an external hard drive. Everything is synched and stored on the AppleTV. I feed the optical out to a Theta Cobalt DAC. I plan on upgrading to a BDA-1 when the funds become available.

The AppleTV makes a very convenient server. I don't think it'll do hi-res though.

WGH · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Mar 2010, 02:53 am »

Quote from: nl12048 on 28 Feb 2010, 11:22 pm

... I am still working on the software side of things ...

I use a Toshiba laptop running Vista with Foobar2000 to stream music via USB to a DAC. The .wav files are on a networked tower computer running XP.
Comparing the two computers - Vista using WASAPI sounds clearer with tighter bass than XP using ASIO.

Wayne

satfrat · « **Reply #7 on:** 1 Mar 2010, 03:10 am »

I'm using a 5 year old HTPC - Windows XP with an Empirical Off-Ramp 3 Transport /Ultraclock 4 & Paul Hynes SR3-12 power supply and a Locus Design Nucleus USB cable. The Off-Ramp 3 digital out is connected to my Sunfire processor via a Crsytal Cable Digit and I'm streaming 24/44.1 NOS with the J.River Media Center player using Asioforall. I don't expect I'll ever upgrade to Hi-Rez myself as I'm very satisfied with my present nonupsampling 44.1 downloaded albums on my hard drives.

Cheers,
Robin

ricko01 · « **Reply #8 on:** 1 Mar 2010, 03:34 am »

- Oracle CD1000 CD transport
- Lexicon RT-20 (for DVD-A/DVD-V/SACD)
- Slimdevices Transporter for CD and hi-rez.

All three are connected into my BDA-1 (but of course SACD is played via the 2 channel analog outs of the RT-20). I use a BP-26 as my pre.

I have burnt all my CD's to hard-disk in uncompressed PCM format (via WAV... yes I know I lose the tags but I aint that interested in sorting my collection in different ways). My theory behind using WAV is that there is no conversion required to get a PCM data stream, which means I am removing one level of software manipulation.

BUT... for serious CD listening I still use the Oracle CD1000 as I still believe/hear the sound of the good old spinning silver disk (at least via the Oracle CD1000) is better than that provided by the Transporter. Because I am using the Transporter purely as a transport (exuse the pun), the preference is based on comparing apples with apples, given all DAC work is being done by the BDA-1.

I have the Transporter connected via AES/EBU as I found this better than BNC and SPDIF over RCA.

Obviously for hi-rez digitally downloaded files, the Transporter is used.

The Transporter is hardwired (no wireless) directly into a dedicated PC whose only software (aside from the windows os) is the the "squeezebox" server that handles the communication with the Transporter. This means that there is no other devices on the network nor any other software to get in the way of the best Transporter reproduction.

peter

werd · « **Reply #9 on:** 1 Mar 2010, 06:41 am »

Lately i have been using my laptop into my BDA1 via usb. From my bda straight into my 14B

Anonamemouse · « **Reply #10 on:** 1 Mar 2010, 11:12 am »

i use my marantz sacd player, the sa 7001 ki.
like with the current flatscreen tv's, anything available on the market now is still not a final development. as long as something new (format, design, storagemedium, etc..) is still released on a weekly basis i don't feel like investing in equipment that is last weeks stuff even before it hits the store, let alone becomes a part of my set...

Crimson · « **Reply #11 on:** 1 Mar 2010, 11:42 am »

Main system has an Apple iMac to a Wavelength Cosecant v3 (USB-24/96), RME FF-400 (FW-24/192), and a Apogee MiniFW (FW-24/192). I use iTunes with Amarra and Pure Vinyl. Music is stored on external FW drives, which also feed an AppleTV and three AExs to other systems in the house. I also have a Sony XA-777ES and an Oppo BDP-83 for SACD which rarely get used.

jimdgoulding · « **Reply #12 on:** 1 Mar 2010, 11:55 am »

Quote from: 95Dyna on 28 Feb 2010, 11:40 pm

I just bought a new Esoteric X-05 last year and will be using it, buying SACDs and CD's into the forseeable future. I am thoroughly enjoying it. SACD's are definitely better than any CD I've heard however the new player has breathed new life into a collection that dates back to the early 80's. I will be buying a new VPI Classic soon and will be resurrecting my vinyl collection several hundred of which I will still listen to. Will also buy new vinyl when something I like is not available as an SACD. Right now I have little interest in downloaded digital music or ripping CD's. Part of the reason is it's not ready for prime time it seems and requires too much tinkering with software and hardware configurations to get it near CD quality. This tinkering is not compatible with my personality and near CD quality is not a goal I aspire to. I'm sure things will improve dramatically over time but there's only so much money, time in the day and space in the rack. Best wishes with your choice of direction. There's no right or wrong just personal preference.

Regards,

Bill

A man after my own heart. I'm probably living in the dark ages. I use a Sony DVD transport to feed an upsampling Bel Canto 1.1 DAC by means of a KCI Pegasus cable. The 1.1 is a factory modified 1 to DAC 2 status. A friend brought over a very expensive EMM DAC and in my system it was more refined sounding but lacked the propulsion I'm used to and like. Maybe hooked on is a more apt way of saying that.

Ron D · « **Reply #13 on:** 1 Mar 2010, 11:40 pm »

Marantz SA-11S2 for SACD and as a transport into a BDA-1. The SA-11S2 has become overkill for SACD only so I am researching less expensive players...

VOLKS · « **Reply #14 on:** 2 Mar 2010, 12:12 am »

I use a BCD-1 for my CD's and a IPOD Classic being connected thru a KRELL K.I.D Dock..........the Krell KID Dock makes a world of Diff.

http://www.krellonline.com/kid.html

mcullinan · « **Reply #15 on:** 2 Mar 2010, 12:20 am »

Quad G5 8 gigs ram -->wifi -->Squeezebox 3 w/CA Audio Power supply --> Signal Cable Silver Ref Digital Cable --> Bryston BDA-1 -->MAC Palladiums --> Supratek Sauvignon pre -->Grover SX --> MAnley Mahi monos -->Reality Cables --> Merlin VSM MXs

Laundrew · « **Reply #16 on:** 2 Mar 2010, 12:24 am »

Quote from: VOLKS on 2 Mar 2010, 12:12 am

I use a BCD-1 for my CD's and a IPOD Classic being connected thru a KRELL K.I.D Dock..........the Krell KID Dock makes a world of Diff.

http://www.krellonline.com/kid.html

Hello VOLKS,

What was the list price on the Krell

Thanks.

Laundrew · « **Reply #17 on:** 2 Mar 2010, 12:26 am »

I use an Esoteric X-05. I do not know if I will be adopting any other digital formats at this time. I like the X-05’s SACD option, however it is difficult at times to find music titles that I enjoy in SACD format. I am looking forward to the addition of a TT in the future.

Be well…

VOLKS · « **Reply #18 on:** 2 Mar 2010, 12:36 am »

Quote from: Laundrew on 2 Mar 2010, 12:24 am

Hello VOLKS,

What was the list price on the Krell

Thanks.

Canadian MSRP is $1799?I think.

Laundrew · « **Reply #19 on:** 2 Mar 2010, 12:43 am »

Quote from: VOLKS on 2 Mar 2010, 12:36 am

Canadian MSRP is $1799?I think.........i paid much less.I work in Audio Sales and pay dealer cost on most(not all) of what i have.

Thank you VOLKS

Be well...