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"Old" vs. "new" digital equipment

Some recent posts about how far digital has come have got me thinking. I have a Theta DS Pro Gen III dac fed by a CEC TL5100Z as a transport. (The rest of the system is ARC LS2B Mk II into ARC VT-100 Mk II into Vandy 3a Sigs and 2WQ sub.)

I wonder what improvements I might hear if I were to go to a newer dac or newer cdp. In my current system, I hear grain when I listen to massed strings, some congestion on orchestral peaks, but otherwise most generally like what I hear.

Would newer digital stuff mitigate or eliminate these issues?

If I were to upgrade, where might I head next?

More generally, can anyone characterize the differences between my "old" Theta and newer digital equipment?

TIA.

David
bikecommuter

Showing 1 response by cibr

cibr
11 posts
 
“OLD” vs “NEW and “LOW” vs “HIGH”
Here’s a point of view from a low end user.
System:
YBA Lecteur CD 3 Alpha (old but a bit high)
Minimax tube pre-amp
Exposure SS amp
Nordost SPM interconnect and speaker cables

When I trying to get a new CDP to feel the different between “old” vs “new” and “SS” vs “tube” technology, I got myself a MHZS 66 Chinese tube CDP (new but a bit low). Why chose MHZS*, it’s almost in same price range with old YBA for tube CDP. *3 difficult setting for up-sampling.

The new MHZS 66, gave me a very bright, detail and clear sound image during entire classical orchestral. Not just strings, everything is so clear divided--left and right, front and back. But, to me, it’s too detail and clear and doesn’t have the tube’s warmness. I lost the feeling to enjoy this new CDP. Maybe lost the feeling of the analog sounding?

So I got no choice to switch back to my YBA. It’s an old school CDP. Not as clear divided out the mass strings that you were talking about, but its warm and bit more analog sounding.

To me, vintage or “old” is always better then “new”

So......I decided to audition my first LP. It’s a very basic turntable, plug and play.
Music Hall MMF 2 (new and low), Marantz 2010B (old and low) and Nordost Red Dawn II speaker cables (mid)
I love it so much and I haven’t turn on my YBA for a period of time.

Enjoy the music
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