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Network Players and External DACs

I recently purchased an Audio Research CD3 player, and it blows
away both my Cambridge Audio CXC CD Transport running through
a Cambridge Audio CXN Network Player, and a Rega Apollo.

My Cambridge Audio CXN is used primarily for playing digital FLAC
files, but these days my new Audio Research CD Player sounds
much better playing the CD version of an album than the
Cambridge CXN playing the FLAC rip.

If I were to purchase an Audio Research DAC and use the digital
output of the Cambridge CXN to drive the external DAC would
my FLAC files sound better?

A second option would be to just purchase a better network
player I guess, but I like the Cambridge CXN.

If I'm correct the DAC in the Cambridge would be avoided and
the digital signal would be sent to the external DAC instead.

Both the Cambridge and Rega Apollo use a Wolfram chip.
I think this is what I'd like to avoid.

I don't know what chip is used in the Audio Research for the
digital to audio conversions, but it is miles ahead of the Wolfram
used in both the Cambridge CXN and Rega Apollo.

Another thing I've noticed is that Hi-Res albums downloaded
from HD Tracks sound no different to my ears than the FLAC
rip of the same Red Book CD when played on the Cambridge.

For what it's worth I store my FLAC files on a Toshiba SSD
with USB 3.1 interface as the input source for the Cambridge
instead of running over my network's UPnP or DNLA servers.

  -gb-
128x128gregorybraun
11 responses Add your response
2psyop's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
2psyop
1,572 posts
 
I have never heard of a wolfram DAC chip. Really the only way to know if one DAC is better than another is to try it and let your own ears be the judge. If you have a Rega Apollo and bought the Audio Research CD player you could buy whatever configuration you want.... and experiment. BTW it is not just a DAC chip, it matters how it is engineered with the rest of the component. I would think the ARC DAC would improve your setup if you like the sound of the ARC CD player.
Some people like FLAC files, some MQA others DSD, etc. Let your ears determine this....
gregorybraun's avatar
gregorybraun OP
24 posts
 
Psy op

Sorry that’s Wolfson, not Wolfram.

-gb-
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Depends on the jitter from the digital output of the CXN network player.  The good news is that it will probably outperform even your transport if you add a Synchro-Mesh reclocker to it.  Here is the jitter from a Sonos network player before and after the Synchro-Mesh:

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=154310.0

Actually, recent improvements to the Synchro-Mesh have reduced the jitter to 8psec at the end of a 4-foot Standard BNC cable across a 75 ohm terminator.  Good luck finding ANY transport that delivers that.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Another thing I've noticed is that Hi-Res albums downloaded
from HD Tracks sound no different to my ears than the FLAC
rip of the same Red Book CD when played on the Cambridge.

Whether you hear this difference will be function of the resolution and noise-floor of your system and how good a job of acoustic treatment and setup you did with your speakers.

BTW, I never download FLAC files from HDTracks, only wav.  They sound better.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,138 posts
 
The Cambridge is average at best ,a whole lot more went into the AR dac it should be much more refined.
The dac chip he is referring to is s Wolfson dac chip and it for sure not Wolfsons best. In my Lumin player there is a pair of Wolfsons best dacs and it sounds very natural, analog in many ways 
Plenty of excellent reviews on the D-1 ,and as good as those reviews are 
A great linear  power supply can  transform most any digital product I spent $1,000 on the latest power supply from Mojo audio  the Illiminati-2
From  A very good  $2k plAyer to now a digital player that can compete with very good digital 3x it's cost. It is all about implementation 
And how good the parts quality are down stream. the lumin has closely matched quality parts throughout ,that is why the D-1 leaves
Open the option for much better outboard seperate power supplies.
cheapbob
50 posts
 
I am using a Raspberry pi for my network transport and Schiit external DACs.
acepilot71's avatar
acepilot71
41 posts
 
@cheapbob do you mind to share the details on your Raspbery Pi solution? Link may be...
cheapbob
50 posts
 
"@cheapbob do you mind to share the details on your Raspberry Pi solution?"

No problem. I am using two Raspberry Pi computers as end-points to my LAN. The main system gets the signal from my 7Tb server, into the Allo DigiOne which outputs a bit-perfect data stream via Digital Coaxial to the Schiit Modi Multibit DAC. This unit is powered by the iFi Audio iPower 5v PSU. (The best $49 spent on the Affordable Audiophile Reference system)

The second system uses the Raspberry Pi, again being fed the data via Ethernet, and converted to an Audio signal with the Allo Boss DAC.

In either application, the exposure to RF noise is limited.

 I am using a complete set of HFC Magnetic Adapters on the coaxial, and both ends of the RCA interconnects to my receiver. 

No USB equals, no USB noise.

https://www.facebook.com/AffordableAudiophile



gregorybraun's avatar
gregorybraun OP
24 posts
 
Thanks Steve N. (AudioEngr)

I tried ripping some Red Book CD (.cda) files to .wav using JRiver's Media Center v24. When compared to .flac and .wma (lossless) files I find the .wav format files to be slightly better.

I have over 1500 CDs that have been ripped from Red Book CDs as .wma files. These .wma files have then been converted to .flac format using JRiver Media Center v24.

If I convert the .flac file to a .wav format using JRiver will the resulting .wav files be essentially the same as if I had ripped the .cda file from the Red Book CD in the first place?

The reason I ask is because I'd like to avoid having to re-rip 1500+ Red Book CDs again. It would be much easier to just do a mass conversion of .flac to .wav format using JRiver.

Should I use the original .wma file, or the converted .wma to .flac files to generate .wav format files?

The reason I have both .wma and .flac format files is because before I purchased a network player for my HiFi I ripped everything to .wma because my Mazda Infotainment system only supported .wma and not .flac. When I bought digital gear for my home HiFi it wanted .flac and wouldn't read .wma so I used JRiver to do a mass conversion of all my .wma files to .flac format.

With hindsight I can see now that I would have been better off if I had originally ripped everything to .wav format to begin with. Oh well, we live and learn.

Thanks in advance
  -gb-

eagledriver_22's avatar
eagledriver_22
81 posts
 

Hi gregorybrown

You very probably have closed this matter since a long time. However, I like to comment as follows:

If I convert the .flac file to a .wav format using JRiver will the resulting .wav files be essentially the same as if I had ripped the .cda file from the Red Book CD in the first place?

YES, if the wma files are lossless (not only essentially, but equally)

 

Should I use the original .wma file, or the converted .wma to .flac files to generate .wav format files?

If the original wma file is indeed lossless, it doesn't matter, Basically, the same digital information on both formats.

BDW, I did a mass conversion from flac to wav a couple of days ago (to fill a USB stick with music). I am very impressed with the sound quality (USB stick into the Marantz SA8005 and from there to the integrated amp).

 

Best regards

 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,924 posts
 

@gregorybraun that’s an awesome cd player! Going with ARC DAC is a good approach. Or if you can find a used ARC CD6 it features usb input so you can run your streamer or laptop directly into it. 

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