Were those guys recording in the '70's? In any case, my tastes were probably formed by not much later than '75.
How Much Hi-Res do you actually listen to/own compared to Redbook?
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Were those guys recording in the '70's? In any case, my tastes were probably formed by not much later than '75.
I find that for me, there are intangibles that come with listening to cd and vinyl. I love the physical relationship of holding, cleaning and the ritual of putting a cd into the transport, or dropping the record on the platter, all in anticipation of the first note. And gazing over the album cover art also. What comes to mind first is Cat Stevens, and specifically "Tea For The Tillerman". Or that soul album (sorry I forgot the name) with a picture of Vincent van Gogh's black birds over a fields. How about Marvin Gay's awesome cover art of himself on "What's Going On" and "Let's Get It On". Classic, timeless and just looking at them gives me goosebumps.
My Meridian 808.3 has arrived just a few hours ago today! My dealer has installed it and I'm letting it cook for several days before I do any serious listening. That's why I'm not starting a new thread yet. However, what I can say is that even when it's cold out of the box, I'm hearing things I wasn't aware of from my favourite CDs. I also put on a CD where the recording and mastering was quite poor resulting in a lot of digital artifacts e.g. high frequency vocals is very harsh causing my ears to run for cover. Now on the 808.3, this shortcoming has been significantly ameliorated. These are my initial observations.
Ahhhh....congrats! I will say that while [some] digital will smooth things over too much just to ameliorate problems...i have found that the best digital (i cannot say i truly know vinyl or tape) actually brings out the musical element in most any CD...even if your audiophile-self knows its not the best recording/mastering, you hear the music. And that is a BIG difference. I am not sure how that happens, but i hear it on my Zanden in a way i have not heard from many newer, sota digital equipment.
Having heard the 808.2 and spoken with 'trusted ears' i know who have spent a lot more time with this series of CD players, i think i know what you are experiencing, JTein...nice one!!!
Pls post more!!!
Most probably!
It's a day old now and I can already hear so much deeper into the music. Immensely satisfying...
In many ways, I think apodizing or minimum phase circuits are a major breakthrough in digital audio.
There is a small movement with ultra high end DACs to non-upsampling with NOS chips. Just like with master recording. it is the implementation that is very important, and not so much with what is new. I am all for advancing tech., but the CD format has not reached it's peak from a technological standpoint, IMHO. New super chips and higher resolution are good because they offer the consumer options, and not because it is "better". Go out and listen to a Concert Fidelity DAC, or AN DAC or Danish Audio Design Refernce Tube DAC. All are state of the and non-upconverting, non-upsampling but the Danish Design can accept 24/192 and keep it native. To each his own Grandpa always said. And I listen to hi-res maybe 2 hours a week because when I listen to CDs on my Wadia, I don't even think, I just enjoy.
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Hi MarinJim,
Very interesting observations. BFlowers actually opened a new post about his observations at CES regarding many of the SOTA latest-chip DACS vs 2 NOS DACs. He also added that he had spent time in a controlled environment comparing hi-res to CD and these latest upsampling/latest-tech DACs and felt compelled to at least open the post saying he was most impressed with the NOS DACs. I have found only one DAC that i am tempted to consider 'above' my existing Zanden DAC...and over the last few months have been leaning strongly in favor of keeping my Zanden DAC and finding a second-hand Zanden Transport to go with it. And just being done until i am satisfied there is a big collection of hi-res music and a marked difference in the 'implementation' as you call it.
I think your last sentence applies in my case as well...with Zanden, i just listen to my music. I channel-flip with the other SOTA DACs i have auditioned.
Very interesting observations. BFlowers actually opened a new post about his observations at CES regarding many of the SOTA latest-chip DACS vs 2 NOS DACs. He also added that he had spent time in a controlled environment comparing hi-res to CD and these latest upsampling/latest-tech DACs and felt compelled to at least open the post saying he was most impressed with the NOS DACs. I have found only one DAC that i am tempted to consider 'above' my existing Zanden DAC...and over the last few months have been leaning strongly in favor of keeping my Zanden DAC and finding a second-hand Zanden Transport to go with it. And just being done until i am satisfied there is a big collection of hi-res music and a marked difference in the 'implementation' as you call it.
I think your last sentence applies in my case as well...with Zanden, i just listen to my music. I channel-flip with the other SOTA DACs i have auditioned.
^ I learned my lesson with the very excellent Burmester 089. Now this is my own very personable bias in that I sold my 089 and bought a hybrid tube Concert Fidelity CF-080 preamp and a GNSC modded Wadia S7i. I needed to have tubes in my system (Burmester 911 MK3 amp) and for me that has to start with the preamp. And the Wadia S7i added a little more tightened mid-bass punch, as well as more transparency. As an example, on the CD soundtrack of "Oh Brother Where Art Thou", the first track can really show the differences between sources.
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