Did a little bit of experimenting with playing tracks off a USB stick, sounded equally good although didn't do any direct A/B comparisons with the NAS.
When Rufus is here tomorrow we'll look at this a bit more closely.
I did go back to A+/AIR though... and went backwards and forwards a few times.
AIR is excellent, no doubt about it. But the totaldac is bringing something extra, I'm convinced of this. The timbre of instruments seem a bit more real/live and there is a quietness (ultra black backgrounds)to the presentation which encourages the micro dynamics. It shouts a bit less at you and draws you in a bit more. I suppose the tones just feel right. The positioning of instruments seems more resolved too. There is some additional definition too, in surprising places.
Anyway I could go on and on. It's terribly subjective I know and for many AIR will be perfect, and for good reason! I thought it was pretty excellent coming from the MiND. I just think the totaldac is doing something else and it's rather special.
Guillaume
(29-Aug-2014, 19:38)GuillaumeB Wrote: [ -> ]Did a little bit of experimenting with playing tracks off a USB stick, sounded equally good although didn't do any direct A/B comparisons with the NAS.
When Rufus is here tomorrow we'll look at this a bit more closely.
I did go back to A+/AIR though... and went backwards and forwards a few times.
AIR is excellent, no doubt about it. But the totaldac is bringing something extra, I'm convinced of this. The timbre of instruments seem a bit more real/live and there is a quietness (ultra black backgrounds)to the presentation which encourages the micro dynamics. It shouts a bit less at you and draws you in a bit more. I suppose the tones just feel right. The positioning of instruments seems more resolved too. There is some additional definition too, in surprising places.
Anyway I could go on and on. It's terribly subjective I know and for many AIR will be perfect, and for good reason! I thought it was pretty excellent coming from the MiND. I just think the totaldac is doing something else and it's rather special.
Guillaume
Boys and their toys
btw : Are there any woman on this forum ? I thought there was a gender-gap in IT, but based on observations in this forum, HiFi is obviously worse.
On a serious note : I would really appreciate it if you could compare the sound of dedicated off-the-shelf PC/Jriver config with the Aries and the Totaldac Server.
Jriver on Mac is not so good unfortunately...
(30-Aug-2014, 06:51)Kunter Wrote: [ -> ]Jriver on Mac is not so good unfortunately...
Agreed. Don't go there: a world of pain awaits.
(30-Aug-2014, 08:01)Jwg1749 Wrote: [ -> ] (30-Aug-2014, 06:51)Kunter Wrote: [ -> ]Jriver on Mac is not so good unfortunately...
Agreed. Don't go there: a world of pain awaits.
Ok won't! Thanks for the tip.
Guillaume
Guillaume,
Will you try the DAC of Total DAC as well? May be the Integral?
Kunter
(30-Aug-2014, 10:45)Kunter Wrote: [ -> ]Guillaume,
Will you try the DAC of Total DAC as well? May be the Integral?
Kunter
Not planning to to be honest Kunter! Kinda defeats the object using an external DAC although I do appreciate the fact that the ADC in the Devialet is extremely transparent. I used to run my Linn KDS in this way but in the end sold it to fund my ongoing audiophilia...
Guillaume
Playing this album through the d1 server:
[
attachment=134]
I've left the music playing constantly since last night and I could swear that the sound has improved! There is a sweetness to the vocals and the soundstage just feels so expansive and full-bodied... there are some extra layers in there too. The separation between vocals and instruments is so good, it's very easy to follow individual strands of music. It used to sound a bit muddied before on some of the tracks. Don't get me wrong it always sounded good... but just not this good!
Or maybe I'd just forgotten how good the d1 server was!
It's going to be
very very hard disconnecting it and replacing it with the ARIES for a few days.
Guillaume
Here's a close up picture I just took of the d1... enjoy!
Guillaume
[
attachment=135]