A $42,000 transport.
- Thread starter KeithR
- Start date
Hehe. Very true
(I have to admit, the last few discussions on this topic have made me change perspective -- again.)
Although I fully agree with you on the sound quality of DXD, I disagree in "OTOH if one is seriously into classical" argument. The past existence and current offer of quality music classical is largely in CD - HiRez has just a nice niche of music, but an extremely limited range and very repetitive. I read several classical music magazines and I can not buy all the new tittles that tempt me every month - I would not even have the time to listen to them!
IMHO if someone is seriously into classical music probably he will be listening most of the time to redbook.
But IMHO ripping SACD can not be considered as easy and accessible.
Micro, I respectfully disagree. There is a large number of smaller and larger companies that bring out an impressive number of high res files every month. To name just a few: think of large labels like Deutsche Grammophon and Decca. And what about Chandos and smaller Dutch labels like Channel Classics, Pentatone and Challenge Classics? If you for example look only at the latter lable, you will find a great variety of recordings, including vocal and non vocal music dating from (many) centuries ago.
And if you want you can include for example famous Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, RCA and EMI (opera and non opera) recordings from the fifties, sixties and seventies that are (re)released in high res format (mostly 24/96).
I surely do not have the time to listen to all the new downloads that come out every month!
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This is what I love about my system. Except for r2r, I get to choose the music I like in the format I think is best. It gives me a incredible range for my library of tunes. If I didn't own a transport, I'd be tickled pink at the sound of high res files via my Vivaldi DAC/UPS/CLK. I have some high res files, mostly classical, in DSD2 or DXD, not available on SACD, that just sound fantastic.
I'll add smaller labels like Eudora and 2L to your list...
Your system is a great line up of some of the best high-end has to offer; would love to hear the DCS current full stack and that whole collection of gear, cables and speakers together!
Agree with you, Jfrech. Still own and really love my (refurbisched and four box) Zanden combination. But I also really love - for example - my dsd 256 and dxd files from Challenge Classics.
For me, streaming will only become an active purchase decision if
1- I can find an option that gets close, matches or exceeds my current analogue and digital
SGM w Dac8 or Formula fits the bill here
2- I can get past my genuine and deeply held aversion to all things non physical media
Again, ongoing experience at Blue58 w SGM is filling me more and more w confidence
3- and most critically, if it will truly get me connected to a world of music I would struggle with buying physical media the time honoured way
For me, I have zero interest in cottage industry Hi Rez titles, like I have no interest in commercial R2R titles, audiophile recordings bore me stupid
No more an interest in getting me the classical world in general on a Tidal sub at instant top notch quality, plus newer music and the broad range of Golden Age titles
This is indeed my big dilemma in upgrading, put the money towards a new tt, amps or speakers
Or into a move that at a stroke expands my musical horizons
1- I can find an option that gets close, matches or exceeds my current analogue and digital
SGM w Dac8 or Formula fits the bill here
2- I can get past my genuine and deeply held aversion to all things non physical media
Again, ongoing experience at Blue58 w SGM is filling me more and more w confidence
3- and most critically, if it will truly get me connected to a world of music I would struggle with buying physical media the time honoured way
For me, I have zero interest in cottage industry Hi Rez titles, like I have no interest in commercial R2R titles, audiophile recordings bore me stupid
No more an interest in getting me the classical world in general on a Tidal sub at instant top notch quality, plus newer music and the broad range of Golden Age titles
This is indeed my big dilemma in upgrading, put the money towards a new tt, amps or speakers
Or into a move that at a stroke expands my musical horizons
Likewise a fan of Zanden! Thinking about your Zanden ugrades/mods, I am tempted to speak with Audiocom who is based here in the UK and does a lot of DAC modd'ing. I think it would be easier than having to ship overseas.
Fair enough Lloyd. But beware that the (unique) character of your Zanden combo will remain intact!
I did listen to the original Reference in-store, and I thought it was exceptional. I have not heard the Ref2, though I intend to borrow one at some point. From a technical standpoint, it shines.
Please note Mike was addressing DXD files. Unfortunately it is always the same type of limited repertoire from small HiRez labels. And, owning more than one thousand of great classic LPs, at this point I agree with the vinyl fans - no 24/96 file approaches an original LP of the famous recordings of fifties, sixties and seventies. And probably we will never have access to DXD transcriptions of these great recordings, the labels do not want to give access to such ultimate quality files, they are their gold egg hen ...
Why just picking from a few small lakes when you can pick from all the ocean? Yesterday I had a great time listening to Villa Lobos. Very soon I will probably listen to some Berlioz, I have read an article about his music recently - and I do not want to listen to Symphonie Fantastique again ...
Lloyd,
Please do not do it if you can not listen to it in your system with time before doing it! You have a great combo, if you want to listen to DSD get a Lampizator ...
Metronome made several changes in their DACs, upgrading from C2A to the C8 and C8+ that can play Hirez and DSD. I still prefer the old C2A for CD playing. The C8 has better bass control - you can choose from SS or tune output - but the Kalista or Calypso with the C2A is more "natural" .
As mentioned before, have a good look at the spirit of turtle website. You will not only find the usual repertoire in state of the art dxd quality ...
Lloyd,
Please do not do it if you can not listen to it in your system with time before doing it! You have a great combo, if you want to listen to DSD get a Lampizator ...
Metronome made several changes in their DACs, upgrading from C2A to the C8 and C8+ that can play Hirez and DSD. I still prefer the old C2A for CD playing. The C8 has better bass control - you can choose from SS or tune output - but the Kalista or Calypso with the C2A is more "natural" .
Hi Micro...thank you. Audiocrack has clearly said the same. I have no real desire for a different format...but I also know that over time, minor adjustments can improve sound (they can also worsen it). Even Zanden have (very rarely) upgraded products, and that includes a handful of 4-box digital units which (legend has it) had an upgraded clock installed by Zanden. That is really my main focus...to find out what clock that might have been and see if i can get that done.
Lloyd,
Please do not do it if you can not listen to it in your system with time before doing it! You have a great combo, if you want to listen to DSD get a Lampizator ...
Metronome made several changes in their DACs, upgrading from C2A to the C8 and C8+ that can play Hirez and DSD. I still prefer the old C2A for CD playing. The C8 has better bass control - you can choose from SS or tune output - but the Kalista or Calypso with the C2A is more "natural" .
We compared the C2A, Vitus dac ( not the top one, can't recall model, R something), and Lampi. The C2A waa much better than the Vitus, and Lampi waa better than the c2a. The owner's preference too.
Anyway, since you mentioned natural, this guy owned the c2a, which I had heard 2 years before at his. He bought the Vitus on impulse and invited me over for a listen (lives local). Told me it was more detailed. When I went over, I asked him, which was more liquid? He said, metronome. Which was more full bodied? He said, metronome. Which had more natural tone? He said, metronome. I said, so why don't you put it back in and verify it? He did, and next day sold off the Vitus at a small loss. Just that it was a case study on how people buy on impulse and even try to justify it though they can hear better. The Vitus dac, btw, had nothing in common with their power amp sound. And his integrated at the time was the RIA non class A Vitus, which again is nowhere as good as the class A Vitus
Again, I'm reading all these rationalizations why people stick to 16/44, and I don't get it. Even from a purely musical appreciation standpoint, it doesn't make sense to me. Why wouldn't you want to explore hi-res, even if it's "the same old repertoire"? It doesn't make sense to me. Specially in the classical domain, where most of the hi-res is actually good and proper, unlike some of the early stuff put out in rock/jazz, that were proven to be fraudulent upsampling...
Isn't this supposed to be "what's best"? Well, that particular Mahler 6 might sound "best" on hi-res/DSD. So why are you denying yourself the experience/pleasure of that? In the name of what?
It's not that there aren't DACs out there, at all price points, that will do 16/44 just as good as hi-res, so again, it's not like you're sacrificing your collection of CDs in favor of a handful of hi-res files...
It simply does not compute
Isn't this supposed to be "what's best"? Well, that particular Mahler 6 might sound "best" on hi-res/DSD. So why are you denying yourself the experience/pleasure of that? In the name of what?
It's not that there aren't DACs out there, at all price points, that will do 16/44 just as good as hi-res, so again, it's not like you're sacrificing your collection of CDs in favor of a handful of hi-res files...
It simply does not compute
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