Disclaimer: I am proud owner of Musica pristina server and immensely happy with its sound quality (way better then my Esoteric K-01) and service as well
Still, I disagree with esteem member "Musicapristina" regarding his position that ONLY your ear is final judge and therefore there is no need to talk and look at hardware/software specs etc.
There are hundreds of amplifiers, for example, for sale. If I am after amplifieer - how will I choose which to listen so my ears will be the final judge????
Its not possible practically.
So, I rely on a few sources: a) review of the reviewer whose previous reviews I found to be credible, b) reviews on-line by my peers, amp owners - I can see the systems matching etc. Again, I try to listen to these members who already proved to me that they know what they are talking about - too many deaf people (including reviewers) talk about music here. Finally, specs! Yes, specs. From 1960's its is fashion to say something bad about specs and at that time it was true - there was no correlation between specs and sound iality. We simply did not understood which specs are important and what their importance is.
Today, good specs indicate on the POTENTIAL of the equipment. For example, if BW = 300 kHz then I know its fast and therefore if not screwed, music will be not sluggish (but it may, if screwed). So, potential is there but reality must be examined i.e. heard. If, on other hand, BW = 20 kHz then I know (know!!!!) that this equipment CANNOT play fast and therefore I will not even bother to check it.
Same with servers - the main reason why I went to Musica Pristina was their published spec of power supply: ultra low rip and no other server manufacturer publish this spec. For me its very important spec saying that power supplies POTENTIALLY (only potentially) are very stable, will not produce ripping artifact associated with ear-piercing odd order of harmonic distortions. There were a few more good specs indicating POTENTIALLY excellent server.
I took it for 30 days home trial and...fall in love with it. THE END!
Rafael
Still, I disagree with esteem member "Musicapristina" regarding his position that ONLY your ear is final judge and therefore there is no need to talk and look at hardware/software specs etc.
There are hundreds of amplifiers, for example, for sale. If I am after amplifieer - how will I choose which to listen so my ears will be the final judge????
Its not possible practically.
So, I rely on a few sources: a) review of the reviewer whose previous reviews I found to be credible, b) reviews on-line by my peers, amp owners - I can see the systems matching etc. Again, I try to listen to these members who already proved to me that they know what they are talking about - too many deaf people (including reviewers) talk about music here. Finally, specs! Yes, specs. From 1960's its is fashion to say something bad about specs and at that time it was true - there was no correlation between specs and sound iality. We simply did not understood which specs are important and what their importance is.
Today, good specs indicate on the POTENTIAL of the equipment. For example, if BW = 300 kHz then I know its fast and therefore if not screwed, music will be not sluggish (but it may, if screwed). So, potential is there but reality must be examined i.e. heard. If, on other hand, BW = 20 kHz then I know (know!!!!) that this equipment CANNOT play fast and therefore I will not even bother to check it.
Same with servers - the main reason why I went to Musica Pristina was their published spec of power supply: ultra low rip and no other server manufacturer publish this spec. For me its very important spec saying that power supplies POTENTIALLY (only potentially) are very stable, will not produce ripping artifact associated with ear-piercing odd order of harmonic distortions. There were a few more good specs indicating POTENTIALLY excellent server.
I took it for 30 days home trial and...fall in love with it. THE END!
Rafael