Highest Possible Sound Quality from iTunes - Printable Version +- Devialet Chat (https://devialetchat.com) +-- Forum: Devialet Chat (https://devialetchat.com/Forum-Devialet-Chat) +--- Forum: Streaming (https://devialetchat.com/Forum-Streaming) +--- Thread: Highest Possible Sound Quality from iTunes (/Thread-Highest-Possible-Sound-Quality-from-iTunes) |
RE: Highest Possible Sound Quality from iTunes - GuillaumeB - 05-Apr-2016 (05-Apr-2016, 15:07)Hifi_swlon Wrote:(05-Apr-2016, 14:07)Confused Wrote: Well I am planning to listen to a few options - X100 vs CAD CAT vs N1Z vs N1ZH vs N10 anyone ..... I think getting some idea of the SQ deltas with this kind of kit will help my thought process. (I'll need to be in OAC's good books to get though this lot!!) Some interesting points there around CD v streaming. Allow me to digress... many audiophiles simply do not think that streaming sounds as good as CDs, and it seems as though high-end CD players have enjoyed a bit of a renaissance lately. I've always found this a bit odd, all the more so since I bought Linn's whole rationale for streamers being better than CD players back in 2007 (remember the CD player is dead headline!), almost 10 years ago. It's like I couldn't imagine myself playing CDs, for all the reasons you have noted above and more! And yet... the last few times I have listened to CDs on some high-end systems including a Meridian 808 and a top of the range Metronome Technologies Kalista I have been seriously impressed by the detail and musicality of the sound. There is a syrupiness and fluidity to the sound that just seems to be lacking with (high-end) streamers. I've discussed this with many dealers and distributors and yes there is a bit of a consensus here... It's almost like a bit of a repeat of the CD v tape/vinyl arguments we had before. On paper streaming should be the most elegant and effective system (no moving parts, lasers etc), yet in practice we seemingly run into millions of issues, witness the zillions of threads from networks to formats. There are just so many variables compared to CD replay, many of which are out of our control or are items we did not realise could possibly impact on the sound. I do believe the gap is closing, or at least I convince myself that it has! I am actually thinking about borrowing a really good CD transport and testing this for myself. I firmly believe that these all-in-one boxes (and I don't own one by the way!) are the latest development in bridging this gap, for the simple reason that every element: 1) storage, 2) network, 3) renderer and 4) control are optimised in such a way that the DAC is presented with something that is very low in jitter and is noise-free. If you think about it, much in the same way as a CD player! Guillaume RE: Highest Possible Sound Quality from iTunes - Confused - 05-Apr-2016 Some interesting posts! Plus even as OP I don't mind that some of this has gone off topic, I am currently finding that if I try to think clearly about music server options and related topics, iTunes, Roon, Microrendu, modded computers, reclockers etc, my brain goes rapidly off topic also. A few thoughts: Re Guillaume's comment on CAD CAT pricing "Just checked with Jon: £6300 for 1TB model and £6800 for 2TB... That's squarely in N1Z territory...." This is clearly a statement of fact! All I can say is that maybe the CAD CAT sounds as good as an N1Z, maybe it does not. So clearly a careful audition is required here, but it also occurs to me that the CAD CAT is a minimum of £2800 more than the N1H, that could be stiff opposition in the SQ stakes I suspect. Then we have Hifi_Swlon comment: "of all your demo options, only one will allow you to use iTunes?". This is also very true! And not only that, I am not sure that running iTunes on a Windows 8 based CAD CAT is a good idea with respect to sound quality. Using PC / iTunes / AIR is a clear SQ deficit to the same with Roon or JRiver. So the CAD CAT option would be a 6K spend that you then knobble with iTunes, not a good idea. But this is where Roon offers a nice solution. One thing Roon does very well is pick up iTunes playlists. So you can spend a bit of time in iTunes setting up whatever playlists you desire. Once done, you have the CAD CAT running full Roon, pretty interface, nice app, lyrics and other fluff AND decent SQ. The same of course would be true of anything that becomes Roon compatible, it's interesting to see the Antipodes now offers Roon, I wonder how many more will follow soon? I think if I could get top SQ and Roon that I'd be happy. Plus, although I do have a few gripes with Roon currently, it is still being developed, so a case of good now, and who knows how good in the future. (Typing this I've just remembered the TotalDac is 'Roon ready', but just as an 'end point' I'm guessing?) As for CD players, an interesting topic, but here my mind is crystal clear. I do actually have a half decent CD player looking pretty in my rack, and it has not been used for a very long time. I can recall the days of hunting endlessly for the one CD that has to be played now (where is the ###### thing!!), mornings after a great evening, with 27 CD empty cases lying around, but only 25 CD's. Finding a much loved CD, opening the case, nothing in it, I could go on, but you get the point. One thing I am most definitely not going to do is go all in and buy an expensive CD player. It has to be said though, the options here are endless. My brain is now thinking get a Melco N1A. It offers almost all of the SQ you could get anywhere at a very reasonable price, sit back and enjoy while the world of music servers develops at 100mph. The other thought in my brain now is that I need to audition a few things to sharpen up my understanding of the performance per £ available currently.... Oh, and then there's that Microrendu widget...... RE: Highest Possible Sound Quality from iTunes - mobaer - 05-Apr-2016 (05-Apr-2016, 13:48)mobaer Wrote:(04-Apr-2016, 18:00)Confused Wrote: Also, it occurs to me that a simple solution would be to use a Mac of some sort, maybe with SSD, linear PSU, then USB to a Mutec MC3+USB, XLR to the Devialet. I'm sure this would work (although F1eng had issues with a Mac + Mutec combo), but I am not sure if it would match a Melco or similar. (does anyone know how good the SQ might be with this set up?) Hi Confused, sorry for having interfered your discussion RE: Highest Possible Sound Quality from iTunes - GuillaumeB - 05-Apr-2016 Hey Confused... does your CD player have a digital out? Guillaume RE: Highest Possible Sound Quality from iTunes - Confused - 05-Apr-2016 (05-Apr-2016, 18:24)GuillaumeB Wrote: Hey Confused... does your CD player have a digital out? Indeed it does. It also occurs to me that I've never tried it with my baby reclocker (W4S remedy, not a Mutec) RE: Highest Possible Sound Quality from iTunes - GuillaumeB - 05-Apr-2016 (05-Apr-2016, 19:12)Confused Wrote:(05-Apr-2016, 18:24)GuillaumeB Wrote: Hey Confused... does your CD player have a digital out? Right.... Pls try without reclocker first! This should be really interesting! I am going to carry out a similar experiment when I get my hands on a transport. By the way, I am not for one minute suggesting to anyone to go back to CDs... There is no way I am. This is just a SQ experiment. Guillaume RE: Highest Possible Sound Quality from iTunes - Confused - 05-Apr-2016 Oh, and @mobaer - interfering? Yours was the second most sensible post of the lot! RE: Highest Possible Sound Quality from iTunes - Hifi_swlon - 06-Apr-2016 (05-Apr-2016, 18:16)Confused Wrote: (Typing this I've just remembered the TotalDac is 'Roon ready', but just as an 'end point' I'm guessing?) TotalDAC not there yet FYI. (asterisks on the RoonReady page = undergoing certification) What would you 'drive' the Melco with front-end wise out of interest? Or maybe its SQ is so good (feedback definitely suggest this) the iTunes/Roon/other debate would be less important, you might just forget about it! (05-Apr-2016, 18:16)Confused Wrote: Oh, and then there's that Microrendu widget...… Well, there is that too! But then no iTunes there either. And it might be rubbish for all we know - but it sounds like there will be at least some less biased reports coming in pretty soon. Maybe the Melco is the place to start - if you like how it sounds and you can live with a control Ap, then you're set. They've said they're looking at RoonReady so at least there's a hint of hope for the future if you wanted to go back to Roon. But then N1A or N1ZH!? Or maybe at the end of April you'll have the option of a new streaming board for you expert(s)…. RE: Highest Possible Sound Quality from iTunes - oxfordaudio - 06-Apr-2016 At the risk of opening a can of worms, why don't we have a Devialetchat Streamer/Server/Computer day at Oxford Audio? Both Jon and I used to swear by AIR (We used to demo the Devialet amps with nothing more than a stock Mac mini and an Ipad at one point!) but have gradually drifted towards the Aurender and Melco options for out of the shop listening. Not too long ago I had a very interesting day out with Guillaume, Rufus and Nick comparing the basic Aurender, Melco and a Macbook through a USB reclocking device. The most interesting part of the day for me was how inconclusive it was! I think it would be a good opportunity for anyone "on the fence" to have a listen and a play with most of the available options to see what works for them. I will try and have as comprehensive as possible a list of kit which will include: CAD Cat Melco Range Aurender Range Stock PC/Mac I will liaise with both Guillaume and Confused to get a date in the Calendar. If anyone is interested in popping along, would they mind emailing me (shop@oxfordaudio.co.uk) so that I can get an idea of numbers. It should be an interesting day for anyone who would like to come along. The main system will of course emulate Confused's so will also be an opportunity for anyone curious to listen to the tremendous Kef Blades. If you haven't met Jon or I before, this isn't a high pressure sales event and we would love to meet some new Devialet owners. We're both Devialet owners ourselves and we're always keen to see if there are any ways that we aren't aware of to make the most out of our own systems! Hope to see you all soon Alasdair RE: Highest Possible Sound Quality from iTunes - thumb5 - 06-Apr-2016 Alasdair, that sounds like a very interesting day. I would like to attend, dates permitting (and will e-mail you). |