what's your thought on this scenario:
Macbook playing CD via itune and feeding into devialet using AIR
vs
reference grade CD player via RCA line
Which sounds better? Has anyone tried?
I think you can better copy the disk to your HD and play with Audirvana and Air.
If You really want to play a disk, I would go for the CD player
(26-Mar-2017, 04:22)burgundy Wrote: [ -> ]what's your thought on this scenario:
Macbook playing CD via itune and feeding into devialet using AIR
vs
reference grade CD player via RCA line
Which sounds better? Has anyone tried?
MB (playing ripped CD) iTunes - - > AIR - - > Devialet
The 16-bit/44.1 CD ripped being decoded by Devialet would sound very good
BUT
if you have a Reference grade CDP with excellent D/A within the CDP .. and connected to Devialet with analog Line RCAs, this too will be very good ...
Its now a question of whether the MB/Air/Devialet can connect you emotionally vs. the Ref CDP
===========================================
I tried this and have leaned for the Ref grade CDP connected to the Devialet via s/PDIF RCA &/or AES/EBU XLR .. And when connected to the Devialet via AES/EBU XLR, I found the results stunning !!
So its your call ...
(26-Mar-2017, 14:33)audio_engr Wrote: [ -> ] (26-Mar-2017, 04:22)burgundy Wrote: [ -> ]what's your thought on this scenario:
Macbook playing CD via itune and feeding into devialet using AIR
vs
reference grade CD player via RCA line
Which sounds better? Has anyone tried?
MB (playing ripped CD) iTunes - - > AIR - - > Devialet
The 16-bit/44.1 CD ripped being decoded by Devialet would sound very good
BUT
if you have a Reference grade CDP with excellent D/A within the CDP .. and connected to Devialet with analog Line RCAs, this too will be very good ...
Its now a question of whether the MB/Air/Devialet can connect you emotionally vs. the Ref CDP
===========================================
I tried this and have leaned for the Ref grade CDP connected to the Devialet via s/PDIF RCA &/or AES/EBU XLR .. And when connected to the Devialet via AES/EBU XLR, I found the results stunning !!
So its your call ...
if you connect your CDP to the devialet via s/pdif or aes/ebu, isn't it now that the devialet doing the D/A conversion? then the CDP is just a transport and the internal DAC doesn't matter.
(27-Mar-2017, 03:05)burgundy Wrote: [ -> ] (26-Mar-2017, 14:33)audio_engr Wrote: [ -> ] (26-Mar-2017, 04:22)burgundy Wrote: [ -> ]what's your thought on this scenario:
Macbook playing CD via itune and feeding into devialet using AIR
vs
reference grade CD player via RCA line
Which sounds better? Has anyone tried?
MB (playing ripped CD) iTunes - - > AIR - - > Devialet
The 16-bit/44.1 CD ripped being decoded by Devialet would sound very good
BUT
if you have a Reference grade CDP with excellent D/A within the CDP .. and connected to Devialet with analog Line RCAs, this too will be very good ...
Its now a question of whether the MB/Air/Devialet can connect you emotionally vs. the Ref CDP
===========================================
I tried this and have leaned for the Ref grade CDP connected to the Devialet via s/PDIF RCA &/or AES/EBU XLR .. And when connected to the Devialet via AES/EBU XLR, I found the results stunning !!
So its your call ...
if you connect your CDP to the devialet via s/pdif or aes/ebu, isn't it now that the devialet doing the D/A conversion? then the CDP is just a transport and the internal DAC doesn't matter.
Indeed ! CDP becomes a CD Transport while Devialet does DAC duties .. However a reference quality CD Transport still plays an important role ... please see my signature & you'll see what transport I'm using ..
I've some 3500+ CDs hence I need to do some justice to them.
(27-Mar-2017, 16:22)audio_engr Wrote: [ -> ] (27-Mar-2017, 03:05)burgundy Wrote: [ -> ] (26-Mar-2017, 14:33)audio_engr Wrote: [ -> ]MB (playing ripped CD) iTunes - - > AIR - - > Devialet
The 16-bit/44.1 CD ripped being decoded by Devialet would sound very good
BUT
if you have a Reference grade CDP with excellent D/A within the CDP .. and connected to Devialet with analog Line RCAs, this too will be very good ...
Its now a question of whether the MB/Air/Devialet can connect you emotionally vs. the Ref CDP
===========================================
I tried this and have leaned for the Ref grade CDP connected to the Devialet via s/PDIF RCA &/or AES/EBU XLR .. And when connected to the Devialet via AES/EBU XLR, I found the results stunning !!
So its your call ...
if you connect your CDP to the devialet via s/pdif or aes/ebu, isn't it now that the devialet doing the D/A conversion? then the CDP is just a transport and the internal DAC doesn't matter.
Indeed ! CDP becomes a CD Transport while Devialet does DAC duties .. However a reference quality CD Transport still plays an important role ... please see my signature & you'll see what transport I'm using .. I've some 3500+ CDs hence I need to do some justice to them.
coincidentally i have a metronome CDP also, not your level....just the CD8. Planning to get a coaxial cable to connect to my d200. BTW, does digital cable make a big difference? How do you compare optical vs coaxial? Do you have any recommendations? thanks
(29-Mar-2017, 00:27)burgundy Wrote: [ -> ] (27-Mar-2017, 16:22)audio_engr Wrote: [ -> ] (27-Mar-2017, 03:05)burgundy Wrote: [ -> ]if you connect your CDP to the devialet via s/pdif or aes/ebu, isn't it now that the devialet doing the D/A conversion? then the CDP is just a transport and the internal DAC doesn't matter.
Indeed ! CDP becomes a CD Transport while Devialet does DAC duties .. However a reference quality CD Transport still plays an important role ... please see my signature & you'll see what transport I'm using .. I've some 3500+ CDs hence I need to do some justice to them.
coincidentally i have a metronome CDP also, not your level....just the CD8. Planning to get a coaxial cable to connect to my d200. BTW, does digital cable make a big difference? How do you compare optical vs coaxial? Do you have any recommendations? thanks
digital cable makes a BIG difference ... Forget the Optical (it is Trash !!). Use the RCA Coaxial ... a reasonably good cable for the price would be DH Labs SIlver Sonic D-750 ...
(Greg from DH Labs is extremely nice to help ... you can reach him at dhlabs@silversonic.com ) Factory terminated RCA-RCA for the D-750 are $130 for 1-metre & $170 for 1.5 metre
It is a very valid question. If I put aside convenience, my transport is still neck-and-neck with any streaming I tried.
For now, the best streaming set-up has been HQPlayer to NAA (Hummingboard) with high quality ethernet and USB cables. Better than AIR3.04. Now, my MSB transport through AES/EBU input is still a touch better, even when playing an actual disc (it can also stream DLNA, but it's a pain).
Now, I suspect, that the difference might come from the Devialet's USB vs. AES/EBU input implementation. Devialet still says that the best input is AES/EBU. Next thing I need to try is a USB-AES/EBU converter, like the Mutec which many people use here.
(31-Mar-2017, 09:36)zdenes Wrote: [ -> ]It is a very valid question. If I put aside convenience, my transport is still neck-and-neck with any streaming I tried.
For now, the best streaming set-up has been HQPlayer to NAA (Hummingboard) with high quality ethernet and USB cables. Better than AIR3.04. Now, my MSB transport through AES/EBU input is still a touch better, even when playing an actual disc (it can also stream DLNA, but it's a pain).
Now, I suspect, that the difference might come from the Devialet's USB vs. AES/EBU input implementation. Devialet still says that the best input is AES/EBU. Next thing I need to try is a USB-AES/EBU converter, like the Mutec which many people use here.
Yes, you are correct, the AES/EBU is a better sounding input than the USB. I use a Mutec MC3+USB in between my NAS drive and the Devialet. It is probably the best £800 I've ever spent on Hi-Fi! Unlike when I bought my Mutec, I think they are now being stocked by Audio retailers, so it shouldn't be too hard to arrange an audition. I had to buy "blind" but reviews on here and elsewhere boosted my confidence.
(31-Mar-2017, 11:17)Axel Wrote: [ -> ] (31-Mar-2017, 09:36)zdenes Wrote: [ -> ]It is a very valid question. If I put aside convenience, my transport is still neck-and-neck with any streaming I tried.
For now, the best streaming set-up has been HQPlayer to NAA (Hummingboard) with high quality ethernet and USB cables. Better than AIR3.04. Now, my MSB transport through AES/EBU input is still a touch better, even when playing an actual disc (it can also stream DLNA, but it's a pain).
Now, I suspect, that the difference might come from the Devialet's USB vs. AES/EBU input implementation. Devialet still says that the best input is AES/EBU. Next thing I need to try is a USB-AES/EBU converter, like the Mutec which many people use here.
Yes, you are correct, the AES/EBU is a better sounding input than the USB. I use a Mutec MC3+USB in between my NAS drive and the Devialet. It is probably the best £800 I've ever spent on Hi-Fi! Unlike when I bought my Mutec, I think they are now being stocked by Audio retailers, so it shouldn't be too hard to arrange an audition. I had to buy "blind" but reviews on here and elsewhere boosted my confidence.
I can see that you are using JRiver. That is what I used for several years until about a couple of weeks ago. Then I tried HQPllayer, which is hands down better sounding streaming software even without NAA. You can download the trial version free for two weeks. The user interface is not very advanced to say the least but you can apparently use it as a plug-in with Roon to get a winning combination.
So, is the Mutec still beats the USB input, even on the Pro? I haven't upgraded my D800 yet.