Digital.

I think we all know by now what this section is for.
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Ali Tait
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#31 Re: Digital.

Post by Ali Tait »

Max N wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 10:12 pm I have started a free trial of roon - just getting everything up and running at the moment.
I had a 2012 Mac mini that wasn't being used, so I've upgraded that with an SSD and a clean install of macOS, and am using that as the roon core.
So far so good, it has been pleasantly straight forward.
One question - is anyone streaming MQA from TIDAL? How does it sound?
I have the facility with my Mytek dac and Roon/Tidal. Don’t think it brings anything to the party imo. How the album was recorded and mastered or remixed has far more impact. Nick’s made the point before that it’s a solution looking for a problem, and he’s right methinks.
JohnG
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#32 Re: Digital.

Post by JohnG »

Response for Greg
For all the extra special demands, the Vinyl replay will demand on a user both in £££'s and ritual, the end product is really more than satisfactory when the set up comes together offering a indelible experience.

My simplistic digital set up, is the storage of numerous FLAC Files on the Laptop, that I listen to through the VLC App (set to PDP on Audio) > (set to random tracks) > Sky Box > TV ( I Think ?) > Cheapo Denon SS Amp into Tannoy speakers. This works out as a large storage of Digital Media available to be used as background music heard throughout the house, when sitting in front of the speakers it is a good value for money replay.
My more of a HiFi digital set up, is a PS Audio Perfect Wave CDT played through a Valve DAC.
I become sold on this idea, following a trip to a Yorkshire HiFi Club Meeting.
These two work in a not so common synergy and have got my ear, I can get very lost in the performances on offer.
Just to upset it all a bit, a Deal from Home HiFi Dealer, who is about 15 miles from my home, has the Jay's Audio CDT's in stock.
I'll be there on a Winters day having a comparison :lol:
Cressy Snr
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#33 Re: Digital.

Post by Cressy Snr »

I use a £149, AppleTV4 and Apple Music streaming services at 24/256Kb/s AAC.

The AppleTV feeds HDMI to the telly, then the audio is split off within the TV and goes from said TV, via optical cable to my Musical Fidelity M1 DAC, at a fixed, un-movable, 24 bit 48KHz, regardless of what the source numbers were.
The, by now unrecognisable, jittery mess, then gets re-clocked and upsampled to 24/192KHz, within the M1 DAC, again, whether I like it or not.

For the rare occasions I play CDs, I have a 1992, Sony CDP-XB930 QS CD player, with a broken power switch.

I used to use iTunes on my 2014 Mac Mini via its optical output into the M1 DAC. I had all sorts of things messing with the digits, supposedly to provide enhancements to the sound, but I can’t be arsed these days and besides, my budget is not what it was.

Digital is our general-purpose, utility listening option. The AppleTV/Apple Music platform TBH, provides everything I need. I rarely listen to digital seriously. I’m almost never in full-attention, listening mode with it, preferring instead to just enjoy the music, and am not prepared, neither can I afford to throw any more than £9.99 a month at it.

For serious, higher quality sound, where you sit down and pay proper attention, I use vinyl.
My God! Did I really just say that? Times have certainly changed round my house. :shock: :lol:
Sgt. Baker started talkin’ with a Bullhorn in his hand.
JohnG
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#34 Re: Digital.

Post by JohnG »

As there are contributions that lean towards playing digital recordings through a audio visual set up.
I will inform that the two Apps I have used to good effect on the Laptop, with SQ being the priority is 5K Player, this makes the laptop sound much improved.
VLC Media Player is not as resolving in the SQ department, or it wasn't when I last compared the two App's.
To date, I have not successfully been able to use 5K Player through the Amp and Speakers, I give up on trying to suss out the interface.
VLC Media Player has excellent interfaces, it just about decodes all that it is presented with, offers a good quality playback, and allows for unlimited hours of random selection replays.
It would be of interest to hear a view on the rendition of these free App's compared to a subscription version.
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Ray P
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#35 Re: Digital.

Post by Ray P »

JohnG wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 12:13 pm ...played through a Valve DAC.
A valve DAC or a conventional DAC with a valve output stage - they're not the same thing.
Sorry, I couldn't resist!
Ant
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#36 Re: Digital.

Post by Ant »

When I was using my 2011 mac mini for this I had it running into a Beresford tc7510 dac via optical and it was fine.
I tried another program called vox that I think sounded abit better than vanilla iTunes to play it, but I've no idea why. I dont have any subscription services
Now it's used via an(other) sb3 with a second sb3 upstairs that my daughter uses every now and again. The mac runs lms for it. on the rare occasion that it does get used, it sounds alright, perfectly acceptable. and I dont know what I've done with the Beresford dac...... Must have a look for it.
The wife has practically worn out my at150sa cart on the jvc deck, I'll have to see if I can get her to start using the sb3 again, thats why I got another one in the first place
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JohnG
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#37 Re: Digital.

Post by JohnG »

Hello Ray
It is the model I took to Owston, but time and non Coax Output CDP's on the day did not let it get a audition.
I will come better prepared for 2020.
As for the design of the device, it has a Valve Regulated Power Supply, as well as a Valve Output Stage, It is based on the
TDA 1541, there is another DIP Chip that I have been supplied what I believe is a modified chip, I have exchanged the two supplied Chips, and the modified one has a substantial improvement on the SQ.
I took this device to a Tube Rolling session with E88CC's being made available, we started with the designers chosen brands then onto Tesla, Mullards, Amperex 6922, Siemens&Halske (1962 Holy Grail's).
The Siemens were Jaw Dropping Good, then the Modded Chip was added with the Siemens, and the whole thing went off to a new dimension.
I can only find the Siemens for Stupid Money on the Web, which is a little bit frustrating.
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Greg
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#38 Re: Digital.

Post by Greg »

Correction to my earlier post. Qobuz is £300pa paying monthly, but I got it for £250 as a one off payment. This is for their premium hi-res service. There are cheaper options. When I started streaming, I used raspberry Pi initially and improved performance with an upgraded output board into my upgraded Beresford Caiman MkII dac. Now I have dispensed with the RPi and I use the Beresford only as a headphone amp when watching TV late at night after the Mrs has gone to bed. Now my amplification is a Devialet 250 Pro Core Infinity, I have a built in dac and streaming board, so my personal library is stored on a nuc. Signal path is nuc to modem to sonicTransporter to Devialet via a switch, all by ethernet, although wi-fi is available. Obviously files directly streamed from Qobuz go straight from the modem through the sonicTransporter.

Like Steve, my most serious listening is reserved for vinyl, but streamed music is very good and also satisfyingly listenable. I love streaming Radio Paradise with flac (lossless) quality, so much so I send them a monthly contribution.

I’m more than happy with my system at the moment and don’t anticipate any changes for the foreseeable future. Best sound I’ve had ever be it streamed music or vinyl. I can’t see me making any changes, unless I got lucky and could pick up another Devialet 250 for a nice price as doubling them up to make a Devialet 1000 really is, for me, the ultimate option. If I did, sacrilegiously, I probably would dispense with Nick’s phono stage as the Devialet has one inbuilt and with two amps, it sounds really dynamic and quiet enough hiss wise (hiss on the single amp being my reason for buying the LDA in the first place).
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Ray P
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#39 Re: Digital.

Post by Ray P »

JohnG wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 6:44 pm It is based on the TDA 1541,
So not a valve DAC then...
Sorry, I couldn't resist!
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pre65
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#40 Re: Digital.

Post by pre65 »

Ray P wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 8:18 pm
JohnG wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 6:44 pm It is based on the TDA 1541,
So not a valve DAC then...
Picking nits ? :lol:
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Ray P
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#41 Re: Digital.

Post by Ray P »

pre65 wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 8:22 pm
Ray P wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 8:18 pm
JohnG wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 6:44 pm It is based on the TDA 1541,
So not a valve DAC then...
Picking nits ? :lol:
Not at all, just being accurate.
Sorry, I couldn't resist!
Max N
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#42 Re: Digital.

Post by Max N »

Greg wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 10:42 pm I had a Tidal account. I didn’t like MQA. My observation was that the overall sound was disjointed and un-natural. I have abandoned Tidal for Qobuz which specialises in hi res recordings. Everything was much better sound wise after I made the switch. Qobuz has a smaller library but overall I think it is better. Having said that, I’m running through Roon for facilitation. Have to say, I’ll not be changing. I’ve bought lifetime membership to Roon and will happily pay the £350 annual fee to Qobuz when it comes around. Streaming an external catalogue offers so much opportunity to discover new music, or simply enables you to facilitate and play when a mate mentions a track you don’t hold in your library.

Having said all that, all I’m listening to at the moment is vinyl. With a Hana ML cartridge, an Audiomods Series 6 carbon fibre arm on my Denon DP-80 direct drive into an LDA (Nick Gorham) MCJ3 Hybrid Valve Phono Stage, the sound enjoyment is well better than anything streamed, and that opinion is shared by all my local group of mates who meet up for listening sessions.
Thanks Greg, that's pretty clear then :D
I'll give Qobuz a trial
I'm really pleased to hear that you're enjoying your vinyl setup so much. Your old setup sounded really good to me all those years ago, so your current gear must be very special. I hear nothing but good things about Nick's MCJ3.
Max N
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#43 Re: Digital.

Post by Max N »

Ali Tait wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 9:49 am
Max N wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 10:12 pm I have started a free trial of roon - just getting everything up and running at the moment.
I had a 2012 Mac mini that wasn't being used, so I've upgraded that with an SSD and a clean install of macOS, and am using that as the roon core.
So far so good, it has been pleasantly straight forward.
One question - is anyone streaming MQA from TIDAL? How does it sound?
I have the facility with my Mytek dac and Roon/Tidal. Don’t think it brings anything to the party imo. How the album was recorded and mastered or remixed has far more impact. Nick’s made the point before that it’s a solution looking for a problem, and he’s right methinks.
Thanks Ali. I must admit I didn't really see the point of it.....
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pre65
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#44 Re: Digital.

Post by pre65 »

Ray P wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 8:27 pm
pre65 wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 8:22 pm
Ray P wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 8:18 pm

So not a valve DAC then...
Picking nits ? :lol:
Not at all, just being accurate.
Just out of interest Ray, is there a valve DAC without any DAC chips ?
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

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G-Popz THE easy listening connoisseur. (Philip)
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Ray P
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#45 Re: Digital.

Post by Ray P »

pre65 wrote: Sat Sep 14, 2019 9:11 pm Just out of interest Ray, is there a valve DAC without any DAC chips ?
Being a pedant, of course, if it has DAC chips it wouldn't be a valve DAC would it.

I know of one valve DAC but there may be others.

There are also decoders that use silicon but not in the shape of an integrated DAC chip, for example my DSD decoder;

http://www.audio-talk.co.uk/phpBB3/view ... =11&t=7195
Sorry, I couldn't resist!
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