to further carify - the dcc2 only decodes 2 channel dsd, the dac6 decodes 6.
the ONLY differences between the dac6 and the dac6e is that the dac6e has balanced and unbalanced outputs (the dac6 only has 1 set of balanced outputs) and the dac6 was rack-mountable and the dac6e isn't. |
dammit - i've been trying not to chime in on this thread, but here i go.
it's no secret that i feel that these shootouts are generally worthless and that mob mentality it strongly at play in these sessions. i've stated it elsewhere, made my points, and still feel that way.
the reason i'm posting now is because i do feel that alex is being attacked a bit here. i don't know alex like the other modders might, but let me state for the record my experiences with him:
he's answered every single one of my emails to him, which i'd gladly post here. all of my questions have been general information-type emails concerning my busted EMM Labs modified SACD-1000. yes, he's tried to pitch me on his stuff, but i can *not* blame him. he's a businessman and he's taking time out from his schedule to answer my idiotic questions, so i fully expect him to recommend his stuff. the professionalism he's shown in helping me with my problems has been fantastic.
while we're on the SACD-1000, let's not forget that it was alex who was first able to isolate and repair the defective parts. he worked with Andreas from EMMLabs and a guy with philips, if i understand it correctly to get the problem solved. granted, this was in his best interest because he can charge epople to fix them, but the fact remains that even after philips stopped supporting their own product, he continued to work on them.
lastly, i feel i should divulge that i have just entered into a business deal with him, at full price i might add - to repair and mod my meitnerized SACD-1000 that has a faulty MACE chip. were it not for his dilligence, i'd not e able to enjoy my EMM gear without shelling out the 7k for a CDSD.
i haven't heard his mods and i don't imagine i will hear any of his modded players for a long while, as i don't know anybody in san antonio with one - but i think that if he's gonna get accused and trashed in this thread, i should at least point out my experiences with him.
i'm not implying that he's a saint or that we need to start erecting statues, but i do feel that these attacks are unfair.
and before anybody asks - this is completely unsolicited, blah, blah, blah. i do value my integrity (because god knows i'm short on dignity) and a quick search of my posts i would hope would show this.
also, i feel i should add that when i first started having problems with my phillips, i sent emails out to all of the popular modders on this board. not all of them even bothered to reply, including one who i have seen attack alex on other boards.
i may not know much about modding, but i do understand customer service, being a business owner myself.
again, bottom line: don't believe what you see, hear, read, etc - figure it out for yourself. it's the only way you can be sure.
end rant. |
frankg - thanks, i'm looking forward to it, but i'm sincerely hoping that it doesn't alter the sound too much, because i've never been so happy with a source in my life! i can't imagine the mods making too much of a difference since he's only touching the transport, though, and not the dac.
ahh - i can't wait to be able to play avalon in multichannel again! |
also, frankg - did your fixed sacd-1000s stay fixed? |
brainwater - just checked out your system and all the pics and i have a question:
can i move in? pretty please? you won't even notice i'm there, i swear. i'll even bring my own equipment so you'll have another system to mess around with.
seriously, dude - your house and yard are gorgeous! |
yeah, that's the word i got from alex, too.
although, it would be greatly appreciated if all of you would refrain from ordering anything from alex until he's shipped my (hopefully repaired) meitner sacd1000 back to me. i'd hate for him to be too distracted.
;-p |
i know it's all relative, but i think that aside from my feeling that shootouts with multiple people accomplish nothing, (because of human nature, one person inevitably assumes the alpha role and the others become very influenced by his opinion, etc), at least you can have a drink or two to lighten the atmosphere of (hopefully) good company.
we're not trying to cure cancer here, folks! have some fun and enjoy the music. (alcohol helps immensely in that regard) |
yargh! this is a moderated board. none of we posters have mod responsibilities. audiogon has their own moderators. let allow *them* to do their job. |
geez - and people were accusing *ME* of trying to degenerate this thread into a name-calling hatefest. anybody know the story of king lear?
:-)
but seriously - there's no pride at stake here, folks! who cares if somebody doesn't like your player? if you like it, that's all that matters! and how can you expect anybody else to be able to judge what yours sounds like unless there's an extended session? did *you* know the full sound of your player after an hour? two hours? i don't know how much time 711 and avguru spent together playing their players, but i promise you it wasn't enough to get a feel for either person's player. this is also why i feel that the shootout is a bad idea. not only are people making hurried judgements about high-end cd-players, which are devices where subtleties are what makes the difference, but we're getting a bunch of people together who are welling with pride over their purchases and this is just the potential start of MANY feuds to come!
tvad is absolutely right in his assesments, IMHO and i'm glad to see that i'm not the only one who feels that way.
and, to AVGURU and 711 specifically: there is a huge, huge world out there. that you two don't like eachother or eachother's set-ups doesn't mean a damn thing in the scheme of things. remember, this hobby is supposed to be fun and to be about music, not equipment. the equipment is merely a means to an end. and that end is very, very individualistic, which means that your end won't suit everybody. hence, your systems will not suit more than just *one* other person around here.
so, stop and ask yourself: why does it offend you that he insulted your cd-player? he's not killing your dog, burning down your house, stealing candy from your child, embezzling money from your college fund, slapping your mother, or pouring sugar into your gas tank. he's expressing an opinion. and you know how much value his opinion has? as much as you allow it to have. no more, no less.
remember: opinions are like assholes - everybody has one, and they all stink.
now lighten up folks! have your little shootout and have fun doing it, just don't accept the results for any more than they are. keep the atmosphere relaxed and ENJOY THE GODDAMN MUSIC!
although, at this point y'all might want something a bit stronger than beer or wine to relax the mood. ;-) |
i didn't read alex's post as being sarcastic at all. keep in mind that i have been known to be notoriously stupid, though. |
i don't see why anybody feels insulted. if they'd had my cd player there and trashed it, i sure wouldn't give a damn. think of it like this - who has to listen to the damn thing - you or them? if you're happy with it, what else matters?
beyond that, do any of you actually feel that there's *ANY* validity to this supposed shootout? do you *know* these people? what reason do we have to trust their ears? (and please, i'm not trying to insult anybody at the shootout - you shouldn't trust my ears any more than i should trust yours) and who honestly believes you can achieve definitive understanding of a player's attributes, even with amazing aural abilities, after hearing but a few tracks played on it?
even the magazine reviewers live with a piece of equipment for a few weeks to a month before they write their review. and even then, how can you make a judgement based on one opinion?
and alex is right - can't stand the "fact," audiogirl? the fact that you can seriously take any of this as "fact" is disturbing.
once again, folks - keep this fun and keep ego out of it. make your own decisions and take everybody else's opinion with a grain of salt. (especially mine - as i stated earlier, i'm notoriously stupid)
the only valid view is your own. |
"Let me put it another way: If someone said here is a check for $7000, you can purchase just one of these players and if money is left over you must return it, I would pick the Modwright 9000ES."
so, you can make a definitive statement like that, without hesitation, after listening to the player for such a short period of time? you really think that you fully know all the nuances of that player well enough after, what, 1 hour MAX of listening to it in an unfamiliar system? beyond that, you're so sure that you understand and know all the nuances of all the *other* cd players there, played in an unfamiliar system, after only having heard a few test tracks on them?
remarkable. |
guido - i'll say that auditioning at a store is just as poor of a guide. i stand by the fact that you have to listen to something for a long period of time, in a system you know to really offer a definitive opinion on the matter. and i post this because i want readers of the shootout results to keep perspective of this. there has been some megalomaniacal sentiment concerning some involved with the shootout, who believe that the results are somehow infallible and universally true. i am just trying to balance it out and hopefully help people keep perspective.
luckily for me when i buy new gear, i know my audio dealer's system very well because he's a friend. so i can spend as long as i like listening to it. and, like he always says "you're not gonna hurt *my* feelings if you don't like it."
and the best part is that he means it. i've told him when i wasn't as fond of something, and he really doesn't get upset. he doesn't want to sell you something you don't like. so, it's completely no-pressure.
the other option, and the one i utilise the most is to buy used. when you buy used, you can hear a lot of equipment, keep it in your system, and sell it for what you bought it for. (more or less) the only thing you're out is shipping costs. |
guido - sarcasm aside, these aren't certainties - that's part of my whole point. i'm not trying to be condescending or rude. like i said, this is merely my opinion and you can take it or leave it. that's all. i have no problem if you disagree or find my suggestions impractical. i respect the opinions of those in the shootout and every other poster here, whether or not i agree.
like i said, i'm just posting because i felt the particular viewpoint *i* have wasn't being expressed, and i wanted it to be. so those who read this thread have more options of viewpoint. more options is generally a good thing, no?
so, i do apologize if i come off as condescending. i truly don't mean to. and i don't necessarily feel that the way i do things is any better than anyone else's in an absolute sense. it's just better for *me*. whatever works for you is cool.
take care, |
brian - *extra* sharp cheddar.
i chose it 7.3 times out of 10 in an ABX double-blind comparison with kraft singles.
(tongue firmly pressed against cheek)
:^) |
argh! more shootouts! noooooooo!
wait - will there be beer? can i come?
(grabs a bottle of hooch and a plane ticket) |
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ well said, boa! |
