2. digital
  3. 1161103016

Harsh Transport

In a second system I have a Denon dm380 cd changer as a transport with a Bel Canto 2 dac doing the D A duties. Lately the music has been sounding harsh and dull at certain points. High frequencies especially are starting to sound really strained. Is it the Denon? I'd like to keep a changer in this system. Are there better changers to use as a transport. This set up sounded very good for a long time,then all of a sudden this. Wire I'm using is Shuntata Aries rca's and Stereovox digital. This does not happen with any other disk players I have. Thanks for the help.
coach-duplicate-0
coach-duplicate-0 OP
27 posts
 
Audphile 1 thanks for the feedback. I have since taken the Stereovox cable out of the mix and put it somewhere else. I replaced it with a digital cable I had laying around from Signal Cable. It really smoothed things out. The Stereovox seems to be a tad bright in system. But like I said ,I do want to keep a changer in the rack. Any Ideas on that?
ehart
215 posts
 
If I was in the market for a changer right now, I'd consider a music server like the Olive Musica, which is a drop-in replacement for a changer. Here and at AudioCircle there are some comments from users who have attached external DACs and been happy with the result (I think there's even discussion somewhere of the Bel Canto specifically).

I have a Musica, but have not yet gone to an external DAC (hopefully next year!).

Cordially,

Eric
sbrtoy
122 posts
 
In my recent experience, hard drive based audio seems far superior to any low to moderately priced transport. I have yet to be able to test against a really high end dedicated transport, but how many people are interested in spending $5000+ for a unit without a DAC when you can get a Mac Mini for $600?

The sound from my pc is much more liquid and realistic, and lacks much of the edge I am used to with digital. Plus if you are a changer fan for convenience, a pc allows you unlimited access to your music without ever getting out of your chair.

Just my 2 cents.
coach-duplicate-0 OP
27 posts
 
Well Guy's it would seem that my problem with the sound of my CDP was the fault of one of my son's.(Both grown men). The youngest one brought one of his girls over to watch dads HT. While showing off to said strumpet he went into the on screen menu and started messing around (Anthem avm30)He dumped a lot of extra signal into the cd inputs causing the distortion. He changed a few other things too. Everything is back to what it should be, but he has been banned from the Home Theater room. His mom thinks I'm being to rough on her little darling. Kid's, geez.
ehart
215 posts
 
Funny! We were all set to help you replace it -- which shows that if you go to a surgeon, they're going to recommend surgery.
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