I recently got my D-Premier upgraded and even having now more options to connect my D250 to a Macbook pro I find the best sound quality I can get is through my antique Meridian 208 used as a CD transport connected via SPDIF coaxial. The best sound I got from my computer is via AIR/ ethernet direct. Additionally I am using an Astell&Kern AK120 DAP via optical which works after the upgrade (=downgrade) only up to 96/24 and has a similar resolution as ethernet/AIR albeit a different (more emphasis on highs) sound signature.
I consider the difference between my CD transport and any other digital source I tried not marginal. Better resolution, dynamics, decay, more resolved highs and lows, better soundstage and definition of individual players and so on - in short it sounds much more like music I can emotionally connect to.
Could you edit the poll to add the option: "they all sound the same"?
Matt
(12-Aug-2014, 00:01)Music or sound Wrote: [ -> ]I recently got my D-Premier upgraded and even having now more options to connect my D250 to a Macbook pro I find the best sound quality I can get is through my antique Meridian 208 used as a CD transport connected via SPDIF coaxial. The best sound I got from my computer is via AIR/ ethernet direct. Additionally I am using an Astell&Kern AK120 DAP via optical which works after the upgrade (=downgrade) only up to 96/24 and has a similar resolution as ethernet/AIR albeit a different (more emphasis on highs) sound signature.
I consider the difference between my CD transport and any other digital source I tried not marginal. Better resolution, dynamics, decay, more resolved highs and lows, better soundstage and definition of individual players and so on - in short it sounds much more like music I can emotionally connect to.
Hi there! We did already attempt a similar survey, though granted not quite as comprehensive as yours:
http://devialetchat.com/Thread-Which-str...est-to-you
Interesting comments re CD transport. Have many others on here tried this?
Guillaume
I prefer my CD transport as a source to any other method I have tried.
(12-Aug-2014, 11:16)GuillaumeB Wrote: [ -> ]Interesting comments re CD transport. Have many others on here tried this?
Guillaume
I have a pretty decent CD player connected to the Devialet via SPDIF. It get's used occasionally, I have never tried a back to back test vs Ethernet, although this would be easy to do by playing the same music by Ethernet / WASAPI and CD and switching between the two. Safe to say that both CD and Ethernet quality are very good, there can't be too much between them.
I use the CD player occasionally, if I have a new or borrowed disc, or if I happen to have the disc to hand and can't be bothered to turn the PC on, it just plain easier. Plus the CD player has an "old school" late 90's vintage green LED display, this alone makes the music sound better. (In my head at least, but I do like green LED's, and no "white noise horror" either)
I'll try the back to back test sometime and report back.....
I have both a CD player connected via Atlas Mavros SPDIF and wired ethernet access to my listening room, with an ethernet switch in the room. Initially I used bog-standard ethernet cables and FLAC files and preferred the CD. I converted my music files to WAV and replaced the cable from the switch to the Devialet with an Audioquest Vodka. I now prefer the ethernet. Theoretically replacing that cable shouldn't make any difference, but it seemed to for me. I didn't try the FLAC/Vodka combination.
(12-Aug-2014, 10:42)Jwg1749 Wrote: [ -> ]Could you edit the poll to add the option: "they all sound the same"?
Matt
I could edit my post but I can't figure out how to add an option.
(12-Aug-2014, 16:40)smokejumper Wrote: [ -> ]I have both a CD player connected via Atlas Mavros SPDIF and wired ethernet access to my listening room, with an ethernet switch in the room. Initially I used bog-standard ethernet cables and FLAC files and preferred the CD. I converted my music files to WAV and replaced the cable from the switch to the Devialet with an Audioquest Vodka. I now prefer the ethernet. Theoretically replacing that cable shouldn't make any difference, but it seemed to for me. I didn't try the FLAC/Vodka combination.
smokejumper
Try the Diamond...
And place your files (wav) on either ram disk or an external SSD/thumb drive/SD Card before playback...
There will simply be no going back...
Cheers.
In the interests of democracy I added a 'they all sound the same' option. Voting for this does rather depend on the voter having heard all the options though...!
In the polling alternatives one VERY GOOD setup is missing. That's Computer(Mac) via Firewire-Weiss INT203-AES/EBU cable-Devialet. I use this and sometimes AIR ethernet with extremely good results. It's definitely better than the USB connection, which is a standard that was never optimized for audio, while Firewire and AES/EBU were designed for media. From the very beginning Devialet also mentioned this setup as the preferable one.
For switching the Weiss INT203 to the native sample rate I use Pure Music 2.0.2, DSP disabled, gapless playback, memory play.
The INT203's price tag is low compared to Devialet's, so I don't quite understand the fuss about USB.