Hi All,
The DAC has a separate power supply. Shouldn't that play a role in isolation? The supplied USB cable is also shielded.
David |
Hi All,
Just to clarify. Wavelength Audio makes several different USB DACs, designed to take the feed from a hard drive via a USB cable. The Cosecant is the middle range DAC and the Crimson is higher up the food chain. We weren't using an Ipod. We were using an Imac computer running I-tunes as the archival/control software. Regular Redbook CD's were burned to the HD of the I mac computer via Apple Lossless, a rippping scheme designed to preserve all the information on the CD. The computer was acting as the transport for the DAC. The output of the DAC was then run into the preamp, exactly as you would a regular CD player.
As to the sound, if you think that it was euphonic, take it up with Gordan Rankin, the designer. I only know that I really liked it. I've had the SCD-1, the Accuphase DP-85, the EMM Labs DAC6/CDSD (not sig) and the Esoteric X-01 Limited, so i have a fair idea of what I like and dislike.
David |
No, you understood me the first time. There is still a place for CD's and CD players. But when hard-drive playback is this good, and this conveient, Cd's are on their way out. The only thing missing now is high resolution downloads, then CD's will be no longer. The issue of how much I liked the sound, euphonic or not , is secondary to the utter convenience of this setup. The excellent sonics of this source, to my ears, is icing on the cake. If it had only been as good, I still would have made this post.
David |
I heard the system at Mick's store. In fact, I just sold him all my LP's. We listened to the system for quite a while, Mick myself, and 2 of his friends. We were all blown away.
David |
Yes, I had a nice collection. But, life being what it is, i never listened to them. I know that Mick will enjoy them far more than I will.
David |
Gordan Rankin recommends having 2 firewire hard-drives, with one acting as backup. The control can also be with a remote that comes with the Mac mini, or Imac, if you use one of those as your control computer. Itunes can act as your archival/control software. It will organize your CD's, and fetch album art automatically. As to the sonics, I will know more in a week or two.
David |
As the original poster, I would like to chime in. There have been some pitfalls, but overall, I could never go back to spinning discs. The convenience factor is unbelievable. I've had to work on system synergy issues, the same as if i had swapped any new components in, but it sounds great. With all due respect to Alex of APL, without some type of digital input as the PRIMARY interface, he's manufacturing a doorstop. A very high functioning one, perhaps, but a doorstop just the same.
David |
HI,
My point is not actually about APL. By all accounts it's a killer product. and I hope that one day I'm lucky enough to hear one. If you read my post carefully, I said that soon the "primary input" will be digital, not a CD. I think that all the effort placed into it's transport mechanism will be a waste. Of course I know that CD's will be with us for a long time. After all, look at how many there are around. However, given how good my system sounds, along with the fact that I never have to get up out of the chair, I think that I may turn into a doorstop.
David |
Hi Alex,
I would like to hear one. Any in Chicago? As to the technical aspects of computer power supplies, I'm in complete ignorance. I've been down the SACD road, having had 4 differnet players along the way (eg. EMM Labs, Esoteric), and I think, unfortunately , that it's a dead end. It did sound superior to my earss, but there's just not enough of the music that I like to make that a selling point. I am intrigued by the fact that your DAC can accept Hi-res off of a hard drive. The DAC that I'm using, a Wavelength Audio Crimson, can accept up to 96 (?),but I don't have any music that is encoded that way. It would bve great to be able to archive and play higher resolution music.
David |
Hi Psacanli,
Cost and convenience are certainly factors. I recently parted out a very decent analog setup, and sold 1000 records, Bcause I NEVER LISTENED TO THEM. As good as it was, I work crazy hours and have 5 kids at home, so settling in for a couple of hours of listening for myself, and occasionally my wife is difficult. Now, all I do is wake up the Mac, pick an album, or a song, and it goes. And it sounds great. What more can I ask? The Wavelength DACs, I happen to own the Crimson, are great.
David |
Oh, I couldn't agree more. I've had some well-regarded CD players and DAC combos, Sony SCD-1, Accuphase DP-85, EMM Labs CDSD and DAC6e combo and an Esoteric X-01 Limited. To my ears, the Wavelength Crimson is superior in terms of tonality, imaging, etc. The only one that has it beat in any category was the Esoteric in terms of bass weight. I'm working on my system synergy, and soon even that will be surpassed. Throw in the convenience of computer -based playback, and I still submit, "game over."
David
David |
Hi Psacanli,
"Dave, Honestly, you sound like a marketing rep"
That was kind of an annoying post. Sounds like you are questioning my integrity. I happen to be an orthopedic surgeon who likes audio. I do really like the Wavelength Audio approach, and for now, am very happy. As always, that can change :).
David |
