2. digital
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How to get into high end digital? (Feeding a DAC)

I am looking primarily at the Schitt Yggdrasil or the Topping D90.
  • How does one feed those?
  • I am assuming any sort of CD transport would output the bit stream?
  • or… they get saved to file and played from some media player into the DACs.

Some example of what is commonly done would be great.

The system currently consists of:
  • TT —> Audio Research PH2
  • An old Nakamichi 5 disk CD player
  • TV
  • Audible Illusions line stage (New tunes on the way, but it still sound OK to me with the old tube in it)
  • Prima Luna (with GoldenLion and TS KT-120 one the way… and I might I’ll get the VTL mono blocks 100w/ch serviced)
  • Vandy 2C and Vandy sub

I also have a Home Theatre pre, which is Roon capable, on the way… So that maybe does some of this for me as well? 

But to be totally honest, the digital side is a bit of mystery to me.
I have always thought we plug in a CD player and the signal comes out. (Maybe with some nuance in DACs, clock jitter, and filtering to separate the higher end from the lower end products.)
128x128holmz
hysteve
71 posts
 
I must beg to disagree with any reclocking naysayers. thought I had a decent sound until I tried a USB reclocker. Specifically, the Innuos Phoenix. Didn’t want to lay out over 3 grand wo trying first. So, I borrowed one and what a difference it made! Better vocals and sound stage. It took the edge off the highs for a smoother sound. They say that each upgrade is a small step towards better sound. Well, the Phoenix is a broad jump in my digital system. Go listen to one for yourself.
ajcrocker1
31 posts
 
Fiber optic provides complete isolation from the noise in the power supply of the sending unit.  Coax does not.  Galvanic and isolation transformers still pass noise through the ground.  Wireworld makes nice fiber optic cables made from glass.  Although I also have others from Amazon.  
For a transport I have a Rega, Woo Audio, and Marantz.  The Rega sounds a bit thin compared to the other 2.

For streaming I use Qobuz for my IPad into an Upsampling DAC.
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
I’m a tried a d true AQ guy. I do use two top end Wireworld for Ethernet though. 
russbutton's avatar
russbutton
410 posts
 
Forget all that stuff.  Pitch it all out and get a set of the Dutch & Dutch 8c.    Not only are these loudspeakers amplified, they have built-in DAC and DSP EQ.  All you need are them and a digital source like a laptop, an iPad or even just your cell phone with Roon.

When you set them up, you tune them for your room and you're done.   They have some of the best imaging I've ever heard, at any price.  Truly uncanny.

Now there's no screwing around with matching components, cables (you get to eliminate speaker cables!), changing out tubes...    One stop shopping for the very, VERY best audio you'll ever hear.

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