There is a pretty wide range in variability between CD players and DACs. At the outputs you can have spec'ed lows of 1v to highs of 6v. This alone can change the gain staging of the entire system. One need not be broken to sound different. Given a particular system one would sound less wrong or more right depending on one's point of view. This without even going into discussions about things like filter implementation,architecture, etc.
Of course not. As different as a Martin Logan from a Klipschorn? As different, in general, as speakers? That this is even worth discussing says more about the resilience of audiophile mythology than it does about sources. That it is possible, even in the most radical cases, for source and preamp compatibility to be so variable...challenges the meaning of "broken."
Of course not. As different as a Martin Logan from a Klipschorn? As different, in general, as speakers? That this is even worth discussing says more about the resilience of audiophile mythology than it does about sources. That it is possible, even in the most radical cases, for source and preamp compatibility to be so variable...challenges the meaning of "broken."
It is all a question of what you are considering as main criteria to estimate the difference - the perceived subjective sound quality or the measured physical and electrical parameters.
BTW, knowledge of mythology is of great importance in life, it why Virgil's Aeneid is still thought at schools. Unfortunately audiophile mythology is not as structured as the Greek mythology, it will be of little help here.
Different enough to make you think you aren't listening to the same system yes. Once upon a time I had a Playstation 1, a Toshiba DVD player and a dedicated Marantz CD player going through the same HT system. Totally different, none "broken". No need for blind tests there but I bet a few people would be pretty unsure if you did blindfold them and didn't say what you were switching. Now a dipole planar and old school horns are as pretty far apart as you can get. In a normal room that is. In an anechoic chamber playing non-demanding fare, I'm not so sure.
It is all a question of what you are considering as main criteria to estimate the difference - the perceived subjective sound quality or the measured physical and electrical parameters.
BTW, knowledge of mythology is of great importance in life, it why Virgil's Aeneid is still thought at schools. Unfortunately audiophile mythology is not as structured as the Greek mythology, it will be of little help here.
Sorry, I was unclear. I did not mean to lend any literary weight or imply any historical significance by the use of the word "Mythology." And I think all we're really talking about here is listening. By the numbers, there's really nothing to talk about.
I think the question should be ?
What should you buy first and spent the most $$$ on ,.... easy speakers of course !!
I d be still a happy camper running a cheap amp /cd player on Kharma exquisite , Wilson maxx or X 2/ XLF , Q7 and Avalon isis
So, we have an underpowered amp that is operating with pure distortion and a CD player ( I'm thinking your typical Costco piece) driving a pair of Kharma Exquiste's....OR we have a UHA deck or a TechDas and a pair of Lamm's or Darts driving a pair of cheap Pioneer speakers.I know which i would rather hear.
Davey , there are 200/300 watt per channel cheap amps that can drive those speakers relatively good imo. , secondly I use a Philips 200 euro cd/blu ray player and I am happy , maybe I am deaf .
I also have a SME 20/3A and a couple of HQ tapemachines .
A +- 60.000 plus (retail) loudspeakerset is now being put in a CAD program and is being made , but even then still ,when its finished I have no real plans to buy a more expensive CD player .
I will invest more in tape however , as I feel that has ultimately more satisfying capabilities
So, we have an underpowered amp that is operating with pure distortion and a CD player ( I'm thinking your typical Costco piece) driving a pair of Kharma Exquiste's....OR we have a UHA deck or a TechDas and a pair of Lamm's or Darts driving a pair of cheap Pioneer speakers.I know which i would rather hear.
Actually they are not the only one's. I am enjoying some B&W 686's right now in A HT system and they are not much more than the Pioneer's; I like them a little more than the Pioneers.
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