Did u check to see if the XLR output is 110 ohm AES ? I'm curious.
The Perfectwave transport is a brilliant design.
The Perfectwave transport is a brilliant design.
Compatibility question regarding a Chord 2Qute and a PS Audio Perfectwave Transport
After much deliberation I've decided on a 2Qute DAC and have located a used one in good shape.
My transport is a PS Audio Perfectwave memory player. I didn't think much about the compatibility of these two units until just now, when I'm about to buy the 2Qute.
....Here's the issue:
The PS Audio transport output options are (in order of quality according to the company), I2S, S/PDIF via balanced XLR, Coax via RCA and the optical.
The 2Qute's inputs options are: USB, BNC Coax and TOSLink optical.
Here's my question: From my reading it seems the 2Qute does much better with a USB input (the only input that's galvanically isolated). Some go so far as to say if they had to use only the coax input on the 2Qute, they wouldn't want this DAC.
While separately the PS Audio transport and 2Qute are great, combining them forces you to use the coax connections which, on both units, are sub optimal.
....So you have two units that are pretty decent on their own and them combine them and have to use the least SQ optimal output/input.
Am I looking at this correctly?
Is this combination self defeating?
Kind of bummed as I was getting myself pretty sold on the 2Qute.
Thanks.
--My speakers, amp and preamp are Magnepan 1.7's, Butler TDB 2250 and a Modwright.
My transport is a PS Audio Perfectwave memory player. I didn't think much about the compatibility of these two units until just now, when I'm about to buy the 2Qute.
....Here's the issue:
The PS Audio transport output options are (in order of quality according to the company), I2S, S/PDIF via balanced XLR, Coax via RCA and the optical.
The 2Qute's inputs options are: USB, BNC Coax and TOSLink optical.
Here's my question: From my reading it seems the 2Qute does much better with a USB input (the only input that's galvanically isolated). Some go so far as to say if they had to use only the coax input on the 2Qute, they wouldn't want this DAC.
While separately the PS Audio transport and 2Qute are great, combining them forces you to use the coax connections which, on both units, are sub optimal.
....So you have two units that are pretty decent on their own and them combine them and have to use the least SQ optimal output/input.
Am I looking at this correctly?
Is this combination self defeating?
Kind of bummed as I was getting myself pretty sold on the 2Qute.
Thanks.
--My speakers, amp and preamp are Magnepan 1.7's, Butler TDB 2250 and a Modwright.
Showing 6 responses by lowrider57
The typical digital XLR output is AES standard...110 ohms. Are you sure that the output is XLR/spdif? Usually a XLR AES transformer is used to convert AES to spdif coax. But if your output is truly a balanced XLR spdif, then call PS audio or Google XLR to BNC 75 ohm adapters or cables. The great thing about your setup is that the PS transport samples the CD to an internal buffer and then outputs it. The Chord DAC also samples the incoming data to a buffer and then reclocks it. That's why I think coax will work just fine. |
as I interpret various statements in the manual for the PWT its XLR output appears to simply be balanced AES/EBU, presumably 110 ohms.Andrew, I agree with Al’s statement that the XLR output is the typical AES/EBU 110 ohm signal used in digital devices. If you want to experiment with sound quality, you can use the AES/EBU output with a passive transformer which will convert the 110 ohm signal to coax’s impedance of 75 ohms. The Canare transformer has received good user reviews... https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=406162&gclid=CjwKEAjw19vABRCY2YmkpO2...= I believe you will find the coax hook-up to the Chord to provide excellent sound as I did, especially since the PS transport is outputting a bit-perfect signal. As mentioned, the cable you choose is important. That could be a potential weak link in the system, not the coax input/output. |
andrew, much of my knowledge of digital cables was learned from Almarg and others on the forum. My background is in the analogue world of broadcast and studio recording. So digital came later. It is a trial and error process, so buy from companies that offer a return policy. I agree with Al's statement regarding the construction of Anticables. We need to hear from a user's experience with them. My first coax cable was a 1.5m Mogami for $30, not great, but it got my kit up and running. |