ModWright Transporter

oops, just found the "next" button on the six moons review - several more pages of good info. Read it here:

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/modwright3/transporter.html

Still, I'd love to hear from anyone here who has been able to audition one. If it does indeed deliver, it looks like I'll be giving up my Sonos network and PS Audio DAC III. Heck, I might even give up my integrated in favor of mono blocs if the volume control doesn't denigrate performance.

Cappuccino, by using an external DAC, are you saying you don't like the ModWright DAC that is part of the Transporter or was that just for A/B comparison?

Also curious if you are using a pre-amp or going straight to your amp and using the volume control on the Transporter.

Thanks for chiming in!

Jamnperry - congratulations, you are the first reviewer I've read that actually compares the mod to the stock. If you would, please come back and write more after you've had time to sit with some of your favorite recordings. I'll be interested especially about your impressions of fatigue after several days with it.

Also, tell us a little about your accompanying equipment if you would. Are you running it with a pre-amp or direct?

Thanks for your input!

Kck, I think you hit the nail on the head. I want to actually hear the differences myself, or at least hear from someone who has. I went to the Slim Devices boards and read enough to see that for many people there wasn't a significant difference between the SqueezeBox 3 and the Transporter - even on a good hi-fi. Which left me wondering if either would be an improvement over my Sonos (which is a little grainy and jittery). On paper, the all-in-one box appeals to me (no transport jitter) and becomes even more appealing if the DAC is nice enough to run other sources through it.

Which all begs the question...how much better (if at all) is the mod versus the standard Transporter?

I agree that not comparing the stock to the mod left the review missing something for me too. For component reviews, comparison to something that is a known is the only way a reader can have a frame of reference. Comparing the Transport to CD players only has so much value since the Transporter is an entirely different animal (file device vs. disk device). Any mod review should ALWAYS be compared to the stock.

For what it's worth, I don't doubt that the Transporter has advantages over the SB3. But for the price, the differences between them seem to be slimmer (no pun intended) than expected. My hope is that the ModWright widens that gap enough to justify the extra coin.

I've used Poikosoft in addition to EAC and find it does a good job as well. The rip speed should be set to automatic and determined by the software based on quality settings.

As for compression, the amount of compression can also affect playback depending on the processor speed of the playback device. The more compressed, the more complex the math to "unzip" the file. Although there is no lossless compression going on, an extreme compression setting can cause the CPU to work harder than necessary. If you find that your system struggles on playback, the good news is you don't have to re-rip the tracks, just run them through a batch converter and re-compress to a different level.

Orjazzm, thanks for heads up on the Sonicflare review, I'll keep my eyes out for it.

I've borrowed a Transporter for the week-end from my local dealer to compare it to my current Sonos/PS Audio DAC combo. I have to say that I am underwhelmed thus far by the stock Transporter. While the sound is more 'analog' and better with listening fatigue than the Sonos combo, it lacks dynamics and presence - at least in what I've listened to so far (Porcupine Tree, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Steely Dan, Dave Brubeck). I ran the Transporter through my PS Audio DAC for awhile and it's closer to the sound I'm looking for but still not there. For my budget, the Transporter is not worth the extra $1650 (the cost difference between the Transporter and the Sonos ZP-80), let alone another $2,000 for what the ModWright "might" bring me. If I try a mod on faith, it will be the $500 Cullen Circuits mod for Sonos.

I still believe in the approach of the Transporter (and Sonos), but it's not there yet. I could be blown away by the ModWright, but hearing is believing and until I can hear it I remain skeptical. Besides, there will likely be many solutions in the coming months to compete on this front. I think most equipment manufacturers see the writing on the wall and are heading that direction. Until I hear something I really like (and can afford), I'll make due with my current setup and wait.