Yes, that is what i meant...ie, you get a blu-ray transport (Oppo) and try to play an SACD and output to an Esoteric DAC.
i am not too up on the whole hi-res thing...can you play blu-ray music and output to a different brand DAC?
The very best DACs today...
- Thread starter j.phelan
- Start date
Yes, that is what i meant...ie, you get a blu-ray transport (Oppo) and try to play an SACD and output to an Esoteric DAC.
i am not too up on the whole hi-res thing...can you play blu-ray music and output to a different brand DAC?
I am not posting about my favorite Metronome C2A because, as in the case of the Zanden, you need to own the matching Metronome CD transport to get the best from it. As, only for question of music preferences, I do not care about SACD and HiRez and stick with the spinning plastic format I am very happy with it.
Good point, Micro...the Zanden is a nice DAC with other sources, but magic with its own transport.
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
Both the Playback Designs MPS-5, EMM Labs CDSD/SE and others can do this.
Ripping SACD's the Right Way
New guy here, but have been an avid reader.
I currently have the Totaldac D1 Twelve in for eval, and I find this DAC to be quite extraordinary. I own the Totaldac Monobloc's, and before the Twelve, I have never heard a better DAC. System and taste dependent, one could go either way with these fine products though.
Both these DAC's are pretty special with regard to stage depth, width, tone density, transparency, and image focus. They do this very easily. What sets them apart from other DAC's I have tried is stage height, dynamics, delineation, and speed. Play a well recorded populated classic ensemble, and all the instruments are there for you to enjoy, as a group of individuals. Never smeared. The magic is that they do this and remain natural with no artifacts. If all in the system is correct, you cannot tell where the speakers are.
The Twelve is really made to use with a very high quality preamp, or amplifier direct with plenty of gain. It does not have the drive the Monobloc's have, but with the right preamp, or higher gain amplifier, it is spooky good and just so natural sounding. It captures better the sound of the instruments vs it's close brother, the Monobloc.
The Monobloc has better bass control and is the more lively performer. To put simply, the Monobloc's are "plugged in" and the Twelve's are "un-plugged" and more intimate. In a big high powered system, the Monobloc may be the better match, giving the grander illusion of the live performance. In an ultra transparent system, with the finest speakers, and tube gear, the Twelve must be heard to be believed.
I should also plug the Totaldac Server here as well. Vincent really has the software down now, and it is quite a remarkable source. I come from custom built linear powered PC's and MAC's, very well tuned and optimized, with any of the playback software you can imagine. The Totaldac Server is better than all of the other digital sources I have tried.
I have tried MANY digital products, and none really have touched the Totaldac. Don't want to bash brands, but I will say that none of the products I have tried are cheap, and all are very well regarded. The Totaldac's sound closer to real than any of them I have tried. Just trying to give perspective, so I hope I am not rambling too much.
Regards
Paul
I currently have the Totaldac D1 Twelve in for eval, and I find this DAC to be quite extraordinary. I own the Totaldac Monobloc's, and before the Twelve, I have never heard a better DAC. System and taste dependent, one could go either way with these fine products though.
Both these DAC's are pretty special with regard to stage depth, width, tone density, transparency, and image focus. They do this very easily. What sets them apart from other DAC's I have tried is stage height, dynamics, delineation, and speed. Play a well recorded populated classic ensemble, and all the instruments are there for you to enjoy, as a group of individuals. Never smeared. The magic is that they do this and remain natural with no artifacts. If all in the system is correct, you cannot tell where the speakers are.
The Twelve is really made to use with a very high quality preamp, or amplifier direct with plenty of gain. It does not have the drive the Monobloc's have, but with the right preamp, or higher gain amplifier, it is spooky good and just so natural sounding. It captures better the sound of the instruments vs it's close brother, the Monobloc.
The Monobloc has better bass control and is the more lively performer. To put simply, the Monobloc's are "plugged in" and the Twelve's are "un-plugged" and more intimate. In a big high powered system, the Monobloc may be the better match, giving the grander illusion of the live performance. In an ultra transparent system, with the finest speakers, and tube gear, the Twelve must be heard to be believed.
I should also plug the Totaldac Server here as well. Vincent really has the software down now, and it is quite a remarkable source. I come from custom built linear powered PC's and MAC's, very well tuned and optimized, with any of the playback software you can imagine. The Totaldac Server is better than all of the other digital sources I have tried.
I have tried MANY digital products, and none really have touched the Totaldac. Don't want to bash brands, but I will say that none of the products I have tried are cheap, and all are very well regarded. The Totaldac's sound closer to real than any of them I have tried. Just trying to give perspective, so I hope I am not rambling too much.
Regards
Paul
I don't think you can do that with BD either, although you can rip it, just like SACD.
BTW, there is a new option for ripping SACD on the horizon, for which crowd funding is being sought on the CA forum.
Hi Al, didn't understand. Are you saying that with your CAPS server into the Lampi 7 you are getting better than MSB UMT into MSB dac?
Bruce,
Just to satisfy my curiosity - what is the price of the Sonoma Workstation needed to rip the SACD's using the Playback player?
Yes. But I am also saying this.
Using the umt plus with its own 6k psu plus the umt plus is about 12k. And it does not do DSd 128 only 64.
But using it as a source transport it is no better than my caps at about 3K . Now the caps has digital filters that can tailor the sound from soft to hard . From micro details to back a bit easy listening. And it plays any format available with jriver 20.
Now doing the same with two dacs in direct comparison the lampi wins in several areas.
As the msb does have more micro details on low passages and does maintain a little better in loud complex.
Weather its from my caps or the umt plus.
The price is just not worth the very small details . Add to this the lampi can roll tubes it's just not fair to the msb.
The lampi is just more musical overall. Now this is using either my caps or the umt plus as a server Transport.
Using the umt plus with its own 6k psu plus the umt plus is about 12k. And it does not do DSd 128 only 64.
But using it as a source transport it is no better than my caps at about 3K . Now the caps has digital filters that can tailor the sound from soft to hard . From micro details to back a bit easy listening. And it plays any format available with jriver 20.
Now doing the same with two dacs in direct comparison the lampi wins in several areas.
As the msb does have more micro details on low passages and does maintain a little better in loud complex.
Weather its from my caps or the umt plus.
The price is just not worth the very small details . Add to this the lampi can roll tubes it's just not fair to the msb.
The lampi is just more musical overall. Now this is using either my caps or the umt plus as a server Transport.
wow...that is quite cool, as the MSB is pretty serious stuff. I am just curious given my own 5 years worth of constant experimenting with my tubed Zanden digital...does the Lampi respond to tube dampers, isolation at all?
FWIW, in my case, I have Brent Jessie's tube dampers on some, EAT tube damper on the main signal tube (Amperex 7308) and a TON of work on the 'isolation sandwiches' for each of the 4 boxes (ie, isolation underneath and mass damping with HRS/Stillpoints/Artesania on top).
Yes actually... I have heard the D1 Dual.
They are both equally engaging and musical IMO. With the Monobloc, you get a bit better separation, and simply, more of everything. More bass slam, more dynamic contrasting, more depth of stage, more space between artists, etc... Just more
It is really kind of hard to describe, but more fits best I think.
They are both equally engaging and musical IMO. With the Monobloc, you get a bit better separation, and simply, more of everything. More bass slam, more dynamic contrasting, more depth of stage, more space between artists, etc... Just more
It is really kind of hard to describe, but more fits best I think.
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
He
The msb stack has its own dampers. The lampi has nothing. For headphones it's just not needed. Or I have not done so. It could be the loud complex is why it's just behind the msb. I guess I sholud try some kind of dampers.
As I am doing a new office rig a custom rack and dampers will be part. But also some real descerning listen first . And if it yields as so many say it will then I'll do something. I also have a room behind my listen room / home theater setup. So I could put the dac behind it . The rooms are heavily isolated . I'll see. As I can understand the tubes , I cannot understand the devices that are solid state. But as so many claim it's obvious I'll,try it. .a
Al
The msb stack has its own dampers. The lampi has nothing. For headphones it's just not needed. Or I have not done so. It could be the loud complex is why it's just behind the msb. I guess I sholud try some kind of dampers.
As I am doing a new office rig a custom rack and dampers will be part. But also some real descerning listen first . And if it yields as so many say it will then I'll do something. I also have a room behind my listen room / home theater setup. So I could put the dac behind it . The rooms are heavily isolated . I'll see. As I can understand the tubes , I cannot understand the devices that are solid state. But as so many claim it's obvious I'll,try it. .a
Al
Totaldac D1 Dual + Reclocker and do not forget the D1 USB cable/adapter.
Nothing to say more...most realistic digital equipments I ever heard.
Nothing to say more...most realistic digital equipments I ever heard.
It is the superbness of the Lampi power supply that really sets it apart. Not sure if any other brand can touch that...and I have heard many of the big brands, TotalDac, MSB, Trinity, Zanden, Chord, PSA, PSD, EMM, CH, Lindemann, Devialet, Bricasti, etc. The size of the Big7 chassis says it all ...it is huge and its mainly power supply.
The other thing about the Big7 as AL said is the versatilty of tubes it can take. There are like 12 classes of rectifiers allowed (5u4g, 5AR, 5r4, U52, GZ34 and 37, 5Y3, 5v4g, 274b, 422a and type 80 and 83 with adapters). Then for output tubes, it can take, 2a3,6a3 (and 6b4g with adapters), 45 globes and ST, 101d globes and ST, VT 52, 300b 5v, 300b 2.5v....with different brands sounding quite different to each other!
Quite fun and maddening if you dont take your time and do it systematically. You basically can completely change the presenatation at will and to satisfy the mood of the moment. With rectis, you can even roll on the fly!
The Aries Cerat Kassandra dac is visually and sonically a beast.
This device uses 24 AD1865N-K DACs - 18bit R2R converter (one of the very best) : 12 converters per channel. Paralleling converters is said to improve the total SNR thus linearity and channel separation.
It's indeed the best sounding DAC I know and visually impressive !
My 2 cents...
This device uses 24 AD1865N-K DACs - 18bit R2R converter (one of the very best) : 12 converters per channel. Paralleling converters is said to improve the total SNR thus linearity and channel separation.
It's indeed the best sounding DAC I know and visually impressive !
My 2 cents...
Intriguing comments about PSUs and concurs with my own limited experiences with the PSU of the Zanden.
i am amazed sometimes to say that isolation, grounding, emi/rfi shielding and NOS tubes...all had the BIGGEST effect on the DAC PSU vs any of those same changes to the rest of the 3 boxes...even more so than the DAC box itself. The DAC itself was next most improved...then the Transport PSU...and then the Transport itself.
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