(26-Jul-2019, 04:11)chungjh Wrote: I need some advice on D220 pro vs D440 pro. I listen only to digital music (Tidal) from my old mac laptop to USB to D220 pro to Dynaudio confidence C1 bookshelf speakers (4 ohms impedance) (in a very small room 10 ft x 11 ft x 8 ft high).
I also suggest you try using AIR / UPNP / Roon over WiFi as the input. Make sure to *disconnect* the USB cable from the Devialet when testing, as you don't want the electrical noise from USB to affect the Devialet.
In my experience, the USB input is the poorest sounding one, and the AIR / streaming input on the Core Infinity Devialets sounds very good if not the best.
XLR (AES) input does not sound better than AIR / streaming, unless you have a really really good USB converter or transport. I was previously using a Singxer SU-1 with Uptone LPS 1.2 supercapacitors, and it did not sound better than AIR / streaming unless I also carefully tweaked the USB connection chain from my PC.
Recently upgraded my USB converter to the Singxer SU-6, and now using XLR (AES) does sound better than AIR / streaming. But it is still very close.
By sounding better I mean: more detail and texture, more open and airy, more soundstage dimensionality.
Devialet 1000 Pro CI - AQ Diamond AES RCA-XLR Link
PC - ifi iDefender+ - FIBBR Alpha Optical USB + "Studer 900" LPS - Singxer SU-6 - AQ Diamond AES
PSB Imagine T3 - AQ William Tell Zero / Tornado / DBS Level-X - PliXir Balanced AC
