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Just curious what the real benefits are of running a low output MC cart vs a high output MC? For example my next phono will be best suited for medium to high output carts unless I used step up transformers. To use an example with the Dynavector 20X. Is there any benefit to getting the .3 mV with SUTs vs the 2.8 mV without any transformer in the signal path? Quirky enough I know I've read that some people prefer the high end SUTs (OOP S&B silver transformers) with normal phono-stages... Just looking to maybe learn a thing or two

The PS Audio PerfectWave DAC is out: PerfectWave DAC : Product Details | PS Audio The DAC is 2995, but PS Audio is offering a trade-in until the end of May. If I understand correctly, send in your DAC and you will receive up to $1000 off (DAC trade-in value appears to be based on MSRP). Brings the unit to $1995. I'm still trying to piece together what exactly this thing does. Is this just a big gizmo, or does it seem like it could be something that sounds good?

Contemplating a source specifically for a SRM-007/Lambda Pro/Sig setup. Looking at the normal suspects - DAC1, DA100 Sig and DA10, which I had previously. Would be used with a computer (with USB & optical) or through a Squeezebox. Haven't used a dedicated CDP for years. Does anyone have suggestions otherwise or comments on that trilogy of choices? Find the Stello interesting, but reports of a darker signature may not make create the best synergy. Anyway appreciative for your advice. May get a chance to try, but looking for longer term impressions, especially with electrostatics. Figure budget $800-1,000. And no that doesn't extend to 'twice that.'

I had occasion to open up my ECD-1 a few nights ago to dim the bright blue LEDs, and I thought I'd take some pictures. I didn't have the proper hex wrenches for the digital section, so the aluminum cover remains in place for now. Should anyone be dying to see it, I'll happily pop it back open. The external hex bolts were a bitch to get off, so I had to dremel two of them into flathead bolts. Having done that, the cover comes off easy now

*Gets straight to the point* https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=226826 Its not a replacement for foobar (only plays one file at time, doesn't support anything besides flac and wav), but I think it actually sounds better. It gobbles up 1gb of my RAM with AWE on though and the file I'm playing is only 300mb~ The main improvement I think I'm hearing is in the soundstage, there seems to be a lot more depth now, and the sounds are nicely spaced out when it sometimes gets a bit cluttered with foobar. This is where I heard about it: http://www.odysseyaudiohk.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1215105279

Anyone have pointers to the differences between AA DACs, particularly the DDE series (1.0, 1.3 is it?, 3.0, etc.) I'd like to pick something up (cheap) with AD1862 DACs and PMD100 that I could play with (ouput stage, etc.).

From every possible review or posts I could find, regarding these two, I think more getting Prima CDP. Seems that M192 having a bit to smooth/laid back kind of sound, which isn't that ideal for music like TRANCE&ROCK, while Prima, even with smooth touch, keeps the dynamics&energy very well. The most 3 genres I listen to it are: JAZZ, ROCK & TRANCE/CLUB, sometimes AMBIENT/LOUNGE About the rest, sonically I mean, they seems to be very close to each other, but once again, from info I could find. About the costs, M192 cost more than Prima, but that's understandable. THX

John Westlake (formerly of Cambridge and Pink Triangle IIRC, though I am not sure of all of his history) posted a link to a DAC that he designed recently using the ESS Sabre DAC as the basis: Signal Path International - Era Speakers & Peachtree Audio - Introducing Nova Reference thread on diyaudio: diyAudio Forums - Da-capo issue (John W?) - Page 16 Might be a good option for those interested in the Sabre but not up to building your own. EDIT: John Westlake seems to know his shit from all I have seen from him on a couple of forums so I would think anything he is involved in would be worth a listen. I have not heard this DAC (and wouldn't be the one to judg…

Just saw this on ebay and wondered if anyone here has heard one? 1 Grado Lab Series Wood Tonearm Transcription Turntable - eBay (item 200282360211 end time Feb-28-09 08:49:43 PST) I've not come across this setup before but looks interesting -- great pics, anyway. Pretty solid-looking deck. k

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/high-end-pc-audio,3733-19.html I'll be in the funny pictures thread.

Just received my Squeezebox Duet that I have been waiting two weeks for. It appears the receiver is DOA. The light on the front doesn't light up. It appears everything on the powersupply side works fine. Guess I have to ship it all back and wait a month for a replacement

While my Marantz has been very enjoyable for the short time I've owned it, I cannot help but wonder what I will move to after I am finished with this unit. Really it comes down to sticking with redbooks and simply moving up to a better cdp (Cambridge 840C, Marantz SA8001 are a few possibilities) or keeping the 5001 as a transport and grabbing a dedicated DAC (CIA VDA2 interests me greatly). The flexibility of a standalone DAC would be nice, but is not totally necessary. Budget will probably be under $1,000. The rig as it sits now is CD5001 > SP MPX3 > JVC DX1000/Denon D2000. All suggestions are appreciated, thanks much.

This may be interesting, thoughts: http://www.psaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/DirectStream-DAC-white-paper.pdf http://www.digitalaudioreview.net/2014/02/ps-audio-to-rescue-pcm-with-directstream-perfectwave-dac/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ps-audio-to-rescue-pcm-with-directstream-perfectwave-dac http://www.monoandstereo.com/2014/02/ps-audio-directstream-dac.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+monoandstereo%2FHOym+%28MONO+AND+STEREO+Ultra+High-End+Audio+Magazine%29

Has anyone heard it? Looks pretty good on paper, but so far, no real word-of-mouth impressions I can find around the net.

Why does the Assemblage dac I just bought say 2.7 on the front faceplate and 2.6 on the back ? Which is it? 2.6 or 2.7 ? I'll use this thread to post impressions later as well ...as soon as I can get a couple power cords from monoprice.

The Denon 3910 has been to APL, Hotrod and now ??. What will the resultant sound be like? Hotrod did the dual dack (per channel) mod as well as the power supply mod. APL did the Multi clock mod and poor audio output mod. And ??? is doing the Audio Output mods as well as possibly re-doing the power supply mods. What will it sound like? Who knows. : : :

Has anyone here ever done his own needle drops? And so, how are the results?

Headamp Pico vs. Headroom Single-Ended Desktop with DAC Surely someone has had the opportunity to do a shoot out between these two, or has heard both and has a firm enough memory to compare them? Though I don't really have a practical use for either of them, these all in one headphone-centric units just fascinate me.

Hi everyone I want to upgrade my current soundcard which is the RME HDSP 9632 for my PC? can you recommend me some brand or cards which are better than mine? thanks

So, tube buffers. I've read numerous opines over the years about how great/bleh tube buffers are and wondered who here has ever played with them and what you think. Are they the shit or is it just a phony way of adding some tube distortion in a way pleasing to some. From what people are reporting it seems like they can make a middling system better but can also mess up a better one. It's all very confusing to my pea-like brain, however it does sound mildly interesting.

Considering how awesome the 2 channel EHHA amp is and how cheap the kits are I have been considering going balanced (if balanced actually sounds better, seems to be differing opines on this) what is a decent balanced USB (pc only) DAC that is cheap as dog poo? The Gamma 2 with mods will do it but we still don't have a price or date on that yet and the Buffalo is over what I can afford. Would a balanced opus with a USB receiver do well enough? I've never heard a balanced rig so I don't know if they're worth the extra or not.

The line out of the motherboard in the desktop is as noisy as anything I have ever heard. It does have an optical out though... Last night I pulled out the bottlehead crack and hd650s and they sounded mighty fine. I loved them with the emotive xda1 and the xda2 is only $219 right now but I don't have the room for it. I haven't kept up with the dac market for the past few years. The PS Audio DL 3 works well with the speakers so I am not inclined to do anything with it but it is already being fed by an Apple TV and only has one optical input. Any suggestions for a dac that has an optical input in a similar budget (if need be I'll try to make room for the xda2 but I'd ra…

I like how the tubes look like they're in those tubes like from Event Horizon or whatnot. Click pic for info link.

Weiss has released a new DAC202 with new D/A not based on the Minerva and integrated headphone amp. $6440 list price.