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    How Good a CD Transport is Required to Sound Better than Streaming?

    ugh! I hit send too fast! You preferred the CD player into the DAC! I meant (B)!
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    How Good a CD Transport is Required to Sound Better than Streaming?

    btw, +1 on the Wadia!
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    How Good a CD Transport is Required to Sound Better than Streaming?

    Ron, You probably do not recall but you listened to an A|B as follows. A: dCS Vivaldi Apex streaming Qobuz B: Mark Levinson 390S as transport -> dCS Vivaldi Apex dac You preferred (A). Strongly.
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    Whole Home Audio

    I am endeavoring to setup a decent whole-home system. My primary system (MSB Select->Boulder 3010->Boulder 3060->Wilson Alexx) won't work in this home. The whole home has in-ceiling speakers and is currently run by Control4 amps. I am contemplating the Marantz separates (AV10/AMP10) to...
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    My Pachanko Server is here. A bargain at 16k Euros?!

    I listened to most of the top streamers. In the end, I felt that the Pachanko was right there. It had just a touch of warmth to it that ultimately made me decide on it.
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    My Pachanko Server is here. A bargain at 16k Euros?!

    I considered many of the usual suspects. In the end I decided to give the Pachanko a try. I could not be happier. Paired with the MSB Select/Director it brings just the right amount of body and warmth to the party. On a side note: when I bought the Director I was told that part of its...
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    Pachanko Constellation Masterpiece initial thoughts...

    none at all
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    Pachanko Constellation Masterpiece initial thoughts...

    So, I ordered a Constellation Masterpiece. I was initially a bit anxious because I had read a post about delays in production. But, Chan (the Principal at Pachanko), was great. He was incredibly communicative and I received the unit exactly when he said it would arrive. The build quality...
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    My Pachanko Server is here. A bargain at 16k Euros?!

    it is a bit of head scratcher for me. I just auditioned a pile of top line dacs and I don't think any of them made the difference that switching from my Roon Nuc to the Pachanko Masterpiece has. It has brought warmth, density, texture and a relaxed-ness to my system that I love! I do also...
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    My Pachanko Server is here. A bargain at 16k Euros?!

    First Report: 10 minutes of listening. OMG. It. is. so. much. better. than Roon Nuc! Density. Texture. Wow. Grist to follow!
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    My Pachanko Server is here. A bargain at 16k Euros?!

    Mine arrived today. I have not yet had time to listen to it or even set it up. Will report once I have done so.
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    Various DAC Audition Impressions

    That is very kind of you Steve - thank you. I very much appreciated the discussion and your guidance. Thinking on it brings a smile...when I first asked you guys what you thought you replied, "The system has great bass and great potential!" Then, after some time and feeling more comfortable...
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    Various DAC Audition Impressions

    I am not. I don't have anymore information than you do. I am basing this on pictures and articles!
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    Various DAC Audition Impressions

    fair point
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    Various DAC Audition Impressions

    yes
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    Various DAC Audition Impressions

    I am looking forward to having Steve and Ron over to listen when it arrives. They can they augment and hopefully share some of the blow back!
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    Various DAC Audition Impressions

    I have purchased a Director but they are not yet shipping.
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    Various DAC Audition Impressions

    Transparent XL clock and Transparent ethernet
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    Various DAC Audition Impressions

    The Apex depends so so much on the upsampling scheme, filter and map settings I learned. If any one are out of whack it becomes clinical. This gets somewhat further compounded by the UX on the dCS. You are only able to set filter settings for a format when that format is present.
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    Various DAC Audition Impressions

    I did not mean that everyone who doesn't love the Wadax is a hater. Sorry if I implied such. I was referring to the various threads I have read that I feel bash the Wadax. Your notes and preferences, Marty, are quite balanced. And I generally value your notes very much.
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    Various DAC Audition Impressions

    The Horizon somewhat haunts me. That first night it sounded absolutely incredible. The sound stage and holographic imaging was amazing. The decay was as real as I have ever heard. I worry that I reacted too quickly. To my defense it started with a tube that went bad which had me maybe a bit...
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    Various DAC Audition Impressions

    As many of you know, I set out to audition a number of the leading DACs in my system with the goal of identifying the ideal fit for my ears. Below is a bit of a stream of consciousness summary of how it all sounded and went for me. But, first please let me outline a few parameters and...
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    My Pachanko Server is here. A bargain at 16k Euros?!

    that's concerning! I ordered one about a month ago and I was told 6-8 weeks
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    What SPECIFICALLY is better or different about the Wadax Design? How do these design choices manifest in better sound?

    I plan to write-up my thoughts on all the dacs I auditioned sometime this week. That said, each dac was auditioned and compared to a Vivaldi Apex. As such, I never heard the Wadax directly A|B'd to the Horizon.
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    What SPECIFICALLY is better or different about the Wadax Design? How do these design choices manifest in better sound?

    Apologies! I just noticed that I wrote about myself in the third person :rolleyes:
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    What SPECIFICALLY is better or different about the Wadax Design? How do these design choices manifest in better sound?

    The Wadax is incredibly linear and smooth without any discernible loss of detail (to my ears). It also has great cohesion of various instruments without ever sounding muddled. That's not to say the Vivaldi Apex is not these things - I just felt the Wadax did them moreso to the enjoyment of...
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    What SPECIFICALLY is better or different about the Wadax Design? How do these design choices manifest in better sound?

    Some opinions and thoughts as I read this thread... I find it somewhat odd when people talk about a dac sounding "...exactly like tape..," or ",...very close to vinyl..." We talk about dacs as all sounding very different and compare them to the singular sound of a turntable or reel-to-reel as...
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    Fiber vs. Ethernet sonic differences

    I have the Finisar FTLF1321P1BTL. For me it is accurate and sterile. I have been listening to the Star Tech Cisco SFP-10G-LR Compatible SFP+ Module - 10GBASE-LR - 10GbE SMF. It is basically a Cisco clone that costs $300 vs the Cisco at $1,500 per module. I am actually liking it a bit more...
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    Fiber vs. Ethernet sonic differences

    First, a quick summary of my pipeline from the router to the dac. Router (1Gb fiber into house) -> cat 6 -> Ethernet surge protector -> Cisco Catalyst 250 switch -> SFP+ (more on this later) -> Cisco Catalyst 250 switch -> Ethernet -> Transparent XL Power Conditioner -> Transparent Ethernet ->...
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    Lampizator Horizon v. dCS Vivaldi Apex Listening Comparison

    I do plan to post my impressions from the various dacs I have auditioned soon. That said, I am also trying to be mindful that the various auditions... 1) each dac has been compared against the dCS Vivaldi Apex and none have been compared directly to one another 2) have been done in the same...

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