I have listened to my files vs. Tidal files and I find there is a difference. Can't beat the selection -- I agree. And I do use HD Tidal.
What do you think about music centers such as Audirvana and others? |
Audirvana is quite good....and simple which is worth a lot. There is also an ios app you can use to control Audirvana via a iPad or iPhone.
Regarding servers, the Aurenders are supposed to be great, but in terms of value, although they are optimized for audio, you are essentially buying a computer. You also need another "real" computer to interface with the Aurender and rip your CD's to etc.. Plus you may need a NAS to actually store your music on.
I am using a Mac Mini as a server. It is connected to an external hard drive via firewire. The mini has a solid state drive and is optimized for audio, and runs Audirvana. It also has a CD drive so you can directly rip your cd's to a digital library (the Aurender products don't.) A monitor is needed for initial setup, but after that you can run the mini and Audirvana headless via an iPad on your wifi network. Super convenient, and you can put together a nice server for about $1200. From the server you would use USB into your dac just like you are doing from your laptop.
As with everything audio, I'm sure there is some sonic benefit from using a dedicated product like Aurender, but the sound coming from an optimized mac mini is great.....plus, it is something you can work on and modify yourself. |
I very much like the idea of a mac mini to the DAC and an ipad to navigate. That sounds optimum to me. I will look into it. If I have any questions, I will get back to you on this. Thanks. E |
Hello all! I am very happy so far with my new amp and I just found an add on Audiogon that I want to run by you for a preamp. I was going to wait, and still might, but when something comes along it is good to check it out. What do you think about this with the 625 S2? Good? Not good? Keep looking? Buy it?
The ad says: A Sonic Masterpiece! -- Lamm LP2.1 Deluxe Phono Preamp -- One Demo Unit Available - Mint Condition, $6995
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No, that's for turntables, but you are moving in the right direction. |
Generally speaking, when having digital based transistor system you don't want pure silver cables. They will give you speed and resolution but often not full bodied sound. In most cases well done copper or silver/copper alloy will be overall better. Even in my analogue based transistor system with warm sounding speakers I use both pure silver and alloy interconnects, silver speaker cables. It is not that simple. There are also cables made of copper/silver/gold alloys, and Echole even uses some palladium. Think of it as putting different sets of strings on an acoustic guitar, you tune and then fine tune. |
To recap,
Mac with iTunes > long usb cable > Aeris dac > AQ Wel > JR 625S > Wilson Sabrinas.
System doubles for TV audio with TV in between speakers.
A few points :-
1: CD ripping with iTunes - lossy or lossless compression - AIFF/ALAC or just MP3?
2. TV in between speakers - ? interference from EMR, RFI
- ? interference with soundstage
3. JR 625S - v. expensive amps, still on demo at home or fully paid for?
4. AQ Wel - ? forgotten
5. Now looking at preamp despite good sound direct from dac to amps which are not well burned in yet
6. Aeris dac and Wilson Sabrinas - bought or gifted? broken in? separate components that came without amps?
7. Devialet - expensive but...not working?
Very puzzling......
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Not really puzzling. A little chaotic but it's controlled chaos.
Women are not men. Let us pray for that in Old Persian. |
Jon - what's so puzzling?
rinpoche indicated earlier that she purchased the amps and that they were dealer demos.
What difference does it make how she got the dac and speakers - she's had them and said she likes them
She already said that she wasn't in a position to rearrange her room; a lot of us have to live with constraints on maximizing listening experience
She said that she had been offered a cable to trade the Devialet for , apparently it works
Throughout the thread rinpoche has said she was considering a preamp
but was looking for opinions on whether to stay with DAC or insert one. She indicated she probably wait a year on the preamp. People are entitled to change their minds if they think they see value, does she need someone else's permission?
Inna , time to give the male female nonesense a break . |
Time for you to stay quiet, facten. |
Let's not make this a gender issue, when it is all about preamps. Also, my purchases have been very clear and so have my goals. Not that I need approval here. I need(ed) suggestions and recommendations. Many of which have been very good and I have taken to heart.
The preamp has always been part of the vision for the overall system. That is not the issue. I have listened to the system (as I wrote) and, to my ears, it sounds complete with a preamp.
Where the individual parts come from is also not an issue that you 'all need to be concerned with, but just so you have it straight the speakers, DAC, and amp are broken in (just not all by me).
The Devialet has nothing to do with this. Nor does the USB? And yes, HD files on itunes — So, let's move on and maintain the kindness and civility we have maintained for 10 pages. I was just running by an ad for a preamp I noticed. All the best, R |
Hi Rinpoche,
What you would want would be a "line stage" preamp. The Lamm LP2.1 is a "phono stage" preamp, which as Inna indicated would be used in conjunction with a turntable, and would require a separate line stage preamp.
Note that as in the case of most phono stages the LP2.1 does not provide a volume control. Also, a phono stage would be severely overloaded by the output of a DAC, which is at a much higher voltage level than the output of a phono cartridge. And it would apply frequency response equalization that is only appropriate for the output of a phono cartridge.
Finally, you would want to choose a preamp providing balanced inputs and outputs, on XLR connectors, as well as unbalanced inputs and outputs on RCA connectors.
Best regards,
-- Al
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inna " Time for you to stay quiet, facten." I don't think so!
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As you wish, I am a tolerable man.
Rinpoche, I think you should slow down, get that cable that you bought, listen for couple of months and then move on to linestage tube preamplifiers while being prepared to replace all the cables in your system when you choose one. Being prepared doesn't mean that you will have to but you might have to. Inserting tube preamp in the chain is not a straightforward thing. There are issues of electrical compatibility, connectors etc. That's in addition and before musical desirability. And it will not be inexpensive. Some of us spend years to build a system, especially those who don't have tens of thousands of dollars to throw around. And tube preamps have tubes, different tubes give different nuances of sound, it all should be tuned in any particular system. And if you want to save a few hundred dollars and not buy better tubes, forget about tube equipment, it is not for you then. I suggest you stop spending thousands on cables unless and until you must. This time may come when you have chosen your tube preamp. Try to be a good student, all right? |
I think this thread has served its purpose. Thank you all very much. I wish you all the best. I am grateful to you and your excellent suggestions. May you all be well and happy.
R |
Oh, forgot to mention. Your computer could benefit from good power conditioner, not sure about the dac - after all it's Rowland. Also, usb cable from computer to dac matters too. I heard that better Audioquests are pretty good, so should be Purist Audio of course if he makes them. I don't use computer in my system, no first hand knowledge. And the final thing you might eventually want to do, after everything else is in place, are power cords for all components. They don't have to be very expensive, but probably at least $300-$500 for each depending on length. |
And this purpose remains unclear. As a philosopher, I am sure you understand it. Good luck with your audio quests. |
Thanks. I appreciate all the fine suggestions. I have one crystal cable power cord from the old set up. And a Transparent usb that seems fine. Otherwise, all is well.
I must say I don't philosophize about equipment but equipment enables me to philosophize, if that makes sense.
best wishes to all of you, R |
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Hi rinpoche;
I was reading this thread initially about sabrina cause i own it then i realised we have the same system.
dev200+sabrina; and i m looking to jump to arc 75gsi; i wanted to ask you how is your journey so far with vac?
havn t you missed dev200? |
Hello -- again,
Someone wrote to ask me how everything has worked out. Well, I got rid of my Devialet and purchased Jeff Rowland 625S amp + Corus to go with the Wilson Sabrina's. I love it. I just added the JR PSU and I am hoping this will provide the warmth that I am looking for. So far, so good -- but I am only at the beginning of the break-in time. All is well here and we are really loving it. Sounds fabulous. Brings out the best of all worlds. I hope this answers your question. There is no way the Devialet can compare, though it is an amazing machine for the price and for what it does -- pretty much everything. But the JR is incredible overall and I am so happy I listened to my own ears plus some practical advice from my dealer and friends (Guido included). Who knows, if I found a used VAC one day I might add it in from time to time. But for every day and all uses, JR is the man.
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In terms of ARC, I don't know -- it just didn't touch me the way that the JR did. It was lovely and I even paired an ARC preamp with the JR amp -- so nice -- but overall I went with the Corus. The VAC was also gorgeous. I am just not sure that for all uses a tube amp is the way for me to go. The 625 does not need a preamp. It sounds amazing just with the Aeris in my opinion. BUT, I wanted the fullness that I think a preamp brings to the system. I was fortunate to receive one as a gift so that was a no-brainer for me. Still, I think I would have gone that route anyway. I stack the 625 and Corus so space is not an issue. Not saying this is a good thing to do, but it is better than not having them -- if I had more space and longer cables I might spread things out a bit more, but I don't. It also has to look good. So, whatever one you decide on is the right one for you. In this line up you can't make a wrong choice (in my opinion). Also, you might start with the Aeris and 625S -- then when your listening plateaus -- add in the Corus (or tube amp). I find the PSU is going to be a welcome addition to this set up.
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By the way, I should clarify that it is the Jeff Rowland 625 S amp that I am referring to.
all the best! Rinpoche |
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@rinpoche You are in for a great treat--the Aeris+Corus+PSU combo is very good at the beginning and superb after the burn in is completed. I run my combo with JR M925s and couldn't be happier with the results.
Enjoy!
Al |
Thank you Al. That is so sweet. I am very happy. And I feel very fortunate to even be having this conversation. I look forward to finding that sweet listening experience. Wow M925S !!! You must have quite a room. |
I have VAC Phi 200s and it literally takes me five minutes and no techie equipment to bias them. Just adjisting an easily accessible screw for each tube and watching for an led to light up. Really simple. Output tubes cost about $40 each and should last at least 2000 hours. You can start listening immediately after turning it on, and takes 10-15 minutes to really warm up. I have utmost confidence in the reliability of these amps, more so than ARC or others. And a Kevin Hayes is a true, patient gentleman. My 2 cents!
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Hello -- From everything I have heard I agree with you. I have never had a tube amp. I initially went out looking for one. I loved the VAC. It was gorgeous. But it is also hooked into my TV. I was just nervous to have a tube amp. It was a personal thing. But I hear you. You make it sound easy. As a woman, it is also about not having to think about it. Even a screw for each tube -- I would have to learn how to do that. I mean, of course I could. But ... maybe as a second amp for deep listening. I just haven't found the need yet. I am very happy with the JR set up. But maybe one day. It is an adventure for sure. |
