My first post on the forum, so a bit nervous! Not really! Having spent the last 3 years building a 4 box CH digital front end, I would concur with Roy’s article. Getting a C1+D1 is a no brainer, especially with the HD-Link. The next step is most difficult but I went with the T1 first as I am a big chamber music person and the T1 was a joy. The T1 brought out the subtleties of the notes, phrasing and timing and those things are important for chamber music. It was then followed with the X1 and the transformation was wowed. Space, depth, blackness were transformed to produce a great midrange.
The D1 is a great transport, it has literally obliterated everything streaming (via Ehernet) had thrown at it over the last 3 years.
Brahmsian, First, thank you for your support of CH Precision digital products. I too have a 4-box digital front-end, agree with Roy Gregory's review and thought I would share the following. For the past year I have been experimenting with improving the quality of streaming QoBuz to match the presentation of my D1 transport. I've been experimenting so that we can demonstrate our products with improved streaming performance at our dealers, when we hold dealer events, and at audio shows (here's hoping we are able to do these again soon). While I can't say that I have succeeded in matching or surpassing the presentation of our D1, I can say that I have been able to get really close. Note: there is a WBF thread on this topic. I've implemented four things that have helped close the gap:
1. Changed my cable modem to a Broadcom processor based (Forum thread here on this too). This did not improve sound quality as much as it did improve performance of Roon/QoBuz album art loading and selection start
2. Used high performance ethernet cables for data path from data switch to C1, computing device running Roon Core to data switch, data switch to router. Connectivity: ISP->Cable modem->Router/WAP->data switch(1)->data switch(2). C1 connects to data switch(1). Everything else to data switch(2).
3. Optically isolating these two data switches from one another
4. Replaced "wall wart" switching power supplies with linear power supplies on data switches, router.
I'm happy to answer any questions you may have if you drop me a private email. Thanks again. Oh, I'm a BIG Brahms fan especially his orchestral works. Love the piano sonatas too. Enjoy!