Ron's Speaker, Turntable, Power and Room Treatment Upgrades

[rando]

I have discovered that with the iPad-as-streamer system I am using presently there is some noise glitchy-ness audible through the speakers when playing with the iPad. No like-y that!

Also, after a week of listening, I think I am hearing — and this is totally speculative — some kind of digital sameness or homogenization across recordings. Perhaps this is because the current iPad set-up is imparting — or importing — some kind of noise?

I think everyone here would be surprised if you weren't hearing this.

Speaking in very low level generalizations. iPhone have a bias towards music playback separate from voice calling. iPad are media oriented - watching movies and tv shows - and graphically oriented to make the most of web content.

How is this gradated approach going over on your other site?

 

[Gregadd]

Albright guys I think we can do a little better than Rons warning stick.

 

[Ron Resnick]

This thing looks like it was in a time capsule!

 

[Ron Resnick]

It’s pretty wild to have sound quality jump by material increments. Going back to CD, now, has ameliorated, I think, much of the digital homogenization I was hearing from the iPad as streamer.

 

[PeterA]

It’s pretty wild to have sound quality jump by material increments. Going back to CD, now, has ameliorated, I think, most of the digital homogenization I was hearing from the iPad as streamer.

Video for confirmation?

 

[Ron Resnick]

Video for confirmation?

It’s still digital, so you won’t like it.

 

[Gregadd]

Ron, I know it is silly question. Why do your speakers appear to be mounted backwards?

 

[Ron Resnick]

Why do your speakers appear to be mounted backwards?

I am afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about. Magnepans are dipole speakers. The subwoofers are firing forward.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I agree with the consensus view that, all else being equal, it is easier to get good digital sound from CD than it is to get good digital sound from streaming.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

I agree with the consensus view that, all else being equal, it is easier to get good digital sound from CD than it is to get good digital sound from streaming.

who's consensus view?

i'd agree it's easier to throw down any CD player and plug it in compared to setting up a streaming process. but beyond that it's not anything clear. and hirez streaming has advantages over CD's above the modest level. and mostly the recording is key, with streaming offering infinitely more of them. new music = streaming. CD = past.

nothing consensus about it.

if you have 25 or 50 or 100 CD's, and that is your musical world. then sadly i agree with you.

 

[dminches]

I agree with the consensus view that, all else being equal, it is easier to get good digital sound from CD than it is to get good digital sound from streaming.

Ron, does “easier” mean “less expensive?”

 

[Gregadd]

I am afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about. Magnepans are dipole speakers. The subwoofers are firing forward.

Ok I put my glasses on. I thought the speaker was one piece with the panel mounted on the front. I see the speakers is seated atop the woofer. I told you it was a silly question.

I agree with the consensus view that, all else being equal, [emphasis supplied]it is easier to get good digital sound from CD than it is to get good digital sound from streaming.

Pioneer Elite vs Lampizator Baltic 3. You might want to reserve that opinion.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Ok I put my glasses on. I thought the speaker was one piece with the panel mounted on the front. I see the speakers is seated atop the woofer. I told you it was a silly question.

Pioneer Elite vs Lampizator Baltic 3. You might want to reserve that opinion.

I don’t understand, Greg. I’m sure the Pioneer as transport going into the Baltic 3 will sound better than the Pioneer as CD player by itself, no?

 

[Ron Resnick]

i'd agree it's easier to throw down any CD player and plug it in compared to setting up a streaming process.

That’s all I’m saying. That is what the evidence here indicates.

Your construction is narrower and more accurate.

 

[Elliot G.]

who's consensus view?

i'd agree it's easier to throw down any CD player and plug it in compared to setting up a streaming process. but beyond that it's not anything clear. and hirez streaming has advantages over CD's above the modest level. and mostly the recording is key, with streaming offering infinitely more of them. new music = streaming. CD = past.

nothing consensus about it.

if you have 25 or 50 or 100 CD's, and that is your musical world. then sadly i agree with you.

Agreed! What consensus is that? is this the consensus of those who havent tried or tried with something like a laptop?
Wait I tried a turntable it sucked I guess all turntables suck LOL

 

[Gregadd]

I don’t understand, Greg. I’m sure the Pioneer as transport going into the Baltic 3 will sound better than the Pioneer as CD player by itself, no?

The answer to your question is yes.
I assume you would be streaming from the streamer you just ordered. That shows the pitfall of making an assumption. I further assume you have three options.
1. The Pioneer Elite as a standalone unit.
2. The Pioneer/Baltic combo
3.Innous Pulse mini/Baltic
A further assumption. It will be 1& 2 vs 3.
I predict 3 will be the winner.
I have previously stated the Pioneer Elite may be limited by the quality of available software. Another assumption.
BTW for $99 I want that cd player.

 

[microstrip]

I agree with the consensus view that, all else being equal, it is easier to get good digital sound from CD than it is to get good digital sound from streaming.

Are you going to redefine "consensus" as being the "point of view of a few WBF members "?

In this hobby (high end stereo audio) nothing is equal - it is why some people consider it the hobby of the small differences.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Are you going to redefine "consensus" as being the "point of view of a few WBF members "?

I thought it is a consensus that

CD transport —> DAC

is easier than

wi-fi - ethernet - switch - streamer/GUI —> DAC

Sorry if I was incorrect.

 

[microstrip]

I thought it is a consensus that

CD player —> DAC

is easier than

wi-fi - ethernet - switch - streamer/GUI —> DAC

Sorry if I was incorrect.

I helped a friend setting a Blue Sound node streamer (around $500) with my KSL DAC in his system a few days ago. We connected a RJ45 cable to his house net and SPDIF between the streamer and the DAC. Five minutes work and IMHO, a better sound than the already very good ARC CD8.

 

[PeterA]

I thought it is a consensus that

CD transport —> DAC

is easier than

wi-fi - ethernet - switch - streamer/GUI —> DAC

Sorry if I was incorrect.

Ron, I took your post to be in that it sounded better, not that it was easier. Some of my Boston area friends prefer the sound of physical CDs to streaming in their systems. At least they did a couple years ago when I last talked to them about it. You can discuss with Ack and Al M.