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People buying Transports again?

I have a friend who is looking to purchase some dCS equipment. He is set on getting the entire dCS stack. Not sure if it is the Vivaldi or Pagnini. Although he has converted his library to digital (Meridian Sooloos) he believes he gets the best sound via a Transport. Now I know this is very subjective on does it sound better and if so what is the price of it. Like him I have converted all of my music over to digital. I converted it mostly for convenience and access to my entire collection. I have downloaded some HiRez files but I have no desire to repurchase my music in HiRez format if it becomes available. To me converting from disc to digital files was like going from non-remote control preamps to preamps with remotes. I personally would not buy a non-remote controlled preamp but that is just me. Are people going back or staying with transports?
heavenlyaudio

Showing 3 responses by knghifi

knghifi
1,668 posts
 
Not me. I might get a Oppo BDP-105 w/EVS or MW mod for my SACD and BluRay collection and DSD with new firmware.

There are several things I've done improved computer audio.

1. Connect DAC and laptop to router via ethernet cable. A HUGE improvement over wireless.
2. Bought a new laptop with more memory (16G) and faster CPU.
3. Avoid installing software that runs as services so it doesn't startup when computer starts up.
4. copy all music from external drive to laptop hard drive.

Next thing I'm trying is roll ethernet cables.
knghifi
1,668 posts
 
I saw Michael Fremer interview on the Newport show where he mentioned AQ wireless/ethernet cable demo. Ethernet cable connected to router is much much superior to wireless. AQ entry level much superior to common Costco ethernet cable. CAN'T hear differences between AQ entry level and AQ expensive ethernet cable.

My Audioquest Vodka ethernet cable shipped today. Should be interesting wknd.
knghifi
1,668 posts
 
I work with computers all day and the last thing I want to do is worry about high availability and disaster recovery for my music library. Long live the CD player :)
I had an external USB drive died but luckily it was backed up. Since you work with computers, you probably know there are auto backups. If manual, just select, copy and paste ... not too difficult.

Basically the digital players are small audio optimized computers selling for a lot more than a personal computer.
Agree! DAC is just a computer converting a file of 1's and 0's to an analog signal. The only requirement is getting the data in memory so the cpu can process it. If buffer is big enough (ideally the whole disc), how the data get in the buffer is not important IMO.

I am confused with digital music. If you can get hi res formats, why do some people say redbook cd is still better?
the keyword is EXECUTION! Tiger Woods with just a putter will kick my butt with the latest and best equipment.

Ethernet is all about the data packets and making sure they get to where they are destined. I would not spend more then 10 or 20 bucks on a shielded CAT6 cable for a digital rig.
Why does digital and analog cables sound different?
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