Topic: Alternative transports to USB/PC or 'Spinning a disc'? (Read 7865 times)

Anaxilus · « **Reply #120 on:** August 16, 2015, 04:41:54 PM »

Quote from: lmswjm on August 16, 2015, 04:23:07 PM

Antelope Audio's 10M Rubidium

Maybe this is for the DAC thread? $:-\$

If it's not better than this thing, I likely won't be too impressed. Heard it two years ago and my socks stayed on. I love surprises though. The DAC world seems to be full of them atm.

This one needed upsampling to sound inoffensive...

BassDigger · « **Reply #121 on:** August 16, 2015, 05:18:05 PM »

Quote from: frenchbat on August 16, 2015, 03:48:14 PM

It seems like it is, from the website : "WordClock Output: The QA661 is including the low-jitter wordclock output for direct synchronizing external d/a converters.

You might want to look at this thread for dacs with a worldclock input : http://www.computeraudiophile.com/f6-dac-digital-analog-conversion/list-dacs-w-word-clock-input-and-audio-engineering-society-aes-world-wide-professional-society-devoted-audio-technology-3728/

This good article on jitter, states that it was used in some proprietary solutions, without saying which :
http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/diginterf2_e.html

So you do have a QA550 ? How does it fare compared to other transports ?

Thanks for the info and links.

Yeah, I use a QA550. I'm sorry, but I can't say how it compares to anything. (Trying not to go into my life story-) this is my one and only rig; it was made at my request and shipped out to me, as better solution to a cd player (plus my cd collection) or pc audio into a dac.

What I can tell you, is that the guy who put it together thought that it was better than using spdif pc audio (my second option; the first was fetching my cd collection and modding a player); when he tested it, he said that it had no obvious trait; it just allowed the characteristics of the dac to show. I trusted his opinion then, and still do now.

Coming from using vintage R-2R cd players, in a reasonable system, with some half decent kit speakers, I've certainly not been disappointed with using the qa550, connected to my 'fancy' dac. I'd much rather have the qa660, just for the ease of use. But soundwise, the qa550 performs just fine.

Previous research led me to believe that a standard qa550 is about the equivalent of a modern $2k cd transport. Mine has had a few mods. So my guess is that, with the I2S connection, it's about the equivalent of a $3-4k transport. Not as good as a modded vintage transport, or something proper high end. But tidy enough.

One day, I'll be able to make some comparisons, for myself. But for now, i'm asking 'the community' for their impressions and thoughts, as these alternative transports seem to have been overlooked by many.

frenchbat · « **Reply #122 on:** August 16, 2015, 06:23:22 PM »

Quote from: BassDigger on August 16, 2015, 05:18:05 PM

Thanks for the info and links.

Yeah, I use a QA550. I'm sorry, but I can't say how it compares to anything. (Trying not to go into my life story-) this is my one and only rig; it was made at my request and shipped out to me, as better solution to a cd player (plus my cd collection) or pc audio into a dac.

What I can tell you, is that the guy who put it together thought that it was better than using spdif pc audio (my second option; the first was fetching my cd collection and modding a player); when he tested it, he said that it had no obvious trait; it just allowed the characteristics of the dac to show. I trusted his opinion then, and still do now.

Coming from using vintage R-2R cd players, in a reasonable system, with some half decent kit speakers, I've certainly not been disappointed with using the qa550, connected to my 'fancy' dac. I'd much rather have the qa660, just for the ease of use. But soundwise, the qa550 performs just fine.

Previous research led me to believe that a standard qa550 is about the equivalent of a modern $2k cd transport. Mine has had a few mods. So my guess is that, with the I2S connection, it's about the equivalent of a $3-4k transport. Not as good as a modded vintage transport, or something proper high end. But tidy enough.

One day, I'll be able to make some comparisons, for myself. But for now, i'm asking 'the community' for their impressions and thoughts, as these alternative transports seem to have been overlooked by many.

What's your dac again ?

lmswjm · « **Reply #123 on:** August 16, 2015, 06:59:06 PM »

@Anax

I know their converters are mediocre at best. I was thinking in terms of reclocking a source to which they have a better reputation for.

I have read two general opinions regarding this: From those who haven't heard it say it shouldn't matter theoretically. Those that have heard it say it makes a significant audible improvement. I've wondered if the latter opinion was financially incentivized TBH.

I just thought it would be interesting to listen to their Platinum DAC with and without the added 10M clock.

DaveBSC · « **Reply #124 on:** August 16, 2015, 07:38:47 PM »

Quote from: Thad E Ginathom on August 16, 2015, 07:30:40 AM

The future should be ethernet.

It won't be... or, rather, it might well be, but some ghastly-high-cost audio-filed version catering to 'phool neuroses.

It's an interesting debate. A lot of the network streamers/renderers aren't that great, but it's still a fairly new category, and I think it will take some time to develop more. Compare the state of USB inputs on DACs today for example to the horrible sounding early USB inputs based on the TI PCM270x chip.

On the other hand, Naim's NDS/555 PS stack sounds fantastic, but the price is up there with the flagship MSB stuff. In terms of value for dollar combined with ease of use, I think the headless Linux box is still hard to beat. The basic components can be put together for a few hundred dollars, and you can add the JCAT card and a twin rail linear power supply for another $1000-1500 or so, depending on the power supply. That box should be able to take out a similarly priced network streamer like the Auralic Aries.

The real advantage to network streamers is when you have a huge music collection, over 4TB. A NAS is just better at handling that amount of storage.

DaveBSC · « **Reply #125 on:** August 16, 2015, 07:43:37 PM »

Short of the Hugo, the Antelope Zodiac is one of the most overrated, overhyped, POS DACs ever released. Pass on everything that company does.

Thad E Ginathom · « **Reply #126 on:** August 16, 2015, 08:48:37 PM »

Quote from: DaveBSC on August 16, 2015, 07:38:47 PM

The real advantage to network streamers is when you have a huge music collection, over 4TB. A NAS is just better at handling that amount of storage.

I was thinking about the task of simply getting data from one end of a cable to another. Ethernet is awfully good at that, and with adapters on just about every pc out there, the parts are surely cheap?

To be honest, it is a long, long time since I had to open a book on this stuff, and I am not actually sure if, when I say "ethernet" I shouldn't actually say, "tcp/ip." tcp/ip is the protocol, ethernet is just one physical method of carrying it, right? (ouch, those brain cells of mine need a shot of WD40)*. So... wifi. (oxygen-free rooms, of course)

*Err... levels... Nope. That brain cell is dead. Probably time I googled networking primer again, which is what I always advise other people who want to know about this stuff to do.

Lojay · « **Reply #127 on:** August 17, 2015, 12:05:02 AM »

I use the SoTM SMS1000d, which uses AES outputs. Much better than going from my mobo USB to the MSB Analog. Anyone know what's the AES output on the device? I hope it's not some off the shelf PCIe.

DaveBSC · « **Reply #128 on:** August 17, 2015, 01:32:47 AM »

Quote from: Lojay on August 17, 2015, 12:05:02 AM

I use the SoTM SMS1000d, which uses AES outputs. Much better than going from my mobo USB to the MSB Analog. Anyone know what's the AES output on the device? I hope it's not some off the shelf PCIe.

The SMS-1000d is a custom built Atom powered VortexBox. The USB version uses their USB output card. I'm not sure where the conventional digital output comes from. I know Bryston uses or at least used a modified ESI Juli@ sound card, but I don't know if anybody has ever documented where SoTM got their card. I suppose it's possible that they made it themselves.

Anaxilus · « **Reply #129 on:** August 17, 2015, 03:51:35 AM »

Quote from: lmswjm on August 16, 2015, 06:59:06 PM

@Anax

I know their converters are mediocre at best. I was thinking in terms of reclocking a source to which they have a better reputation for.

I have read two general opinions regarding this: From those who haven't heard it say it shouldn't matter theoretically. Those that have heard it say it makes a significant audible improvement. I've wondered if the latter opinion was financially incentivized TBH.

I just thought it would be interesting to listen to their Platinum DAC with and without the added 10M clock.

Interesting. Can you copy this over to the Big Sound thread for me? Thx!

Author Topic: Alternative transports to USB/PC or 'Spinning a disc'? (Read 7865 times)

Anaxilus

Re: Alternative transports to USB/PC or 'Spinning a disc'?

BassDigger

Re: Alternative transports to USB/PC or 'Spinning a disc'?

frenchbat

Re: Alternative transports to USB/PC or 'Spinning a disc'?

lmswjm

Re: Alternative transports to USB/PC or 'Spinning a disc'?

DaveBSC

Re: Alternative transports to USB/PC or 'Spinning a disc'?

DaveBSC

Re: Alternative transports to USB/PC or 'Spinning a disc'?

Thad E Ginathom

Re: Alternative transports to USB/PC or 'Spinning a disc'?

Lojay

Re: Alternative transports to USB/PC or 'Spinning a disc'?

DaveBSC

Re: Alternative transports to USB/PC or 'Spinning a disc'?

Anaxilus

Re: Alternative transports to USB/PC or 'Spinning a disc'?

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Author Topic: Alternative transports to USB/PC or 'Spinning a disc'? (Read 7865 times)