Pro vs. Consumer Equipment

David, I'm at a loss to explain it -- I can get to the thread, but perhaps because I responded to it. I copied the thread address I gave you to the Address line in the internet bar and got there right away. I then searched under the name of the thread -- What's the best amp you know of -- and got there. Since you already tried the address, can you get there via the search routine?

It's gone. They gave me some lame excuse for removing it. Sean all i can say is that you should audition the amp. As far as the DIO, I don't know your' likes or dislikes or if you ever heard the unit, but it murdered my former Sony SCD-1. And all the other high end gear I compared it to: Linn CD12, Accuphase DP100/DP101 combo, Elgar gear. There were a lot more comparisons, but I think that the gear I listed above sums up that I have been exposed to some of the so-called best high-end gear around.

Best regards,
d911

WE also compared it to the $23K pacific microsonics pro dac. The dio literally destroyed it. Price does not always dictate performance. Also, generalizations about bias points and the such are of little interest to me unless I am in my lab designing gear. If something sounds great, it sounds great. I have yet to look at an oscope see a reading and go aha!!! great sound right before my eyes. I guess I am saying is the ear tells all. Give it a listen.

Don

Don, I have avoided contributing to this, but I had a ART Di/O, purchased new and modified by friends of Paul and Brian Weitzel because of threads like this.

I must agree with Sean, the ART is NOTHING great. I preferred my stock Sony 9000, and three of my friends who took it home for trial all thought it was just "OK."

Based on the hype that proceeded this DAC, I worked with it for two months, trying every footer, digital cable and power supply I could get my hands on. The end result was only adequate performance and not even to be discussed with high end players.

I admit I fell for the hype, hoping for something for nothing. I admit I made a mistake and sold it (cheap) to a buyer with full disclosure. It was a learning experience but not one that tempted me to prolong the fable of it's "superior" performance.

I must admit that I also had one(and only one) experience with the Art DIO, and came away less than impressed. Public Enemy's "Don't Believe The Hype" would have been appropriate source material.

Like I said, my experience was a single event. So, factor that into the equation. But, combining what both Albert and Sean have put forth, I am beginning to feel more comfortable in my initial analysis.

My object was to try to see if I could pair the Art with my Music Hall MMF25, building the sleeper digital combo for under $1K. No, it did not provide that. In fact, the MMF25 is running on its own now. Why? Because it just sounded better that way to me at the time. I didn't feel the investment, albeit small, was warranted.

In the end, I purchased a Sony SCD-C333ES player, and am more than happy with it. I give that machine my recommendation. I feel happier with my purchase of this player than I believe I would be now had I went with the Art. No, it isn't the finest at detail, speed, or resolution. But, I prefer it to most under $750 players, which definitely drive me away with thin, antiseptic, lightweight sound. And, despite the barren desert of software, I find SACD to be to my liking, even if I do feel vinyl is still the superior sonic format.

I am still holding out on judgement of the Art amplifier. But, I have to say that the component will need to be looked at with an even hand.

Let's not build another audiophile bubble.