2. digital
  3. 148124-17004

Which transport with my Jay's Audio DAC?

Advice needed.
I currently have a Nuprime CDT 8 feeding a Jay's Audio DAC. The CDT 8 oversamples the  PCM signal incoming to the DAC, and does DSD.
I have followed the discussions of the Jay's Audio CDT2- Mk2 with interest, since it looks to be a transport superior to the Nuprime. However, it does not provide PCM oversampling or DSD; and I think that the Jay's DAC cannot oversample a signal on its own. [Can any DAC?]
The question, then, is which combination is likely to be the better: 1. The Nuprime transport and the Jay's Audio DAC or 2. The Jay's Audio transport and the Jay's Audio DAC? Does the presumed superiority of the Jay's Audio transport more than compensate for the OS-ing capacity of the Nuprime DAC? 
Or perhaps any question of preferring an OS-ing to a NOS-ing transport is simply a matter of taste, and not any sort of objective criterion for making a choice like this?
Any insights will be appreciated.

128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xzimmerma
zimmerma's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
zimmerma OP
102 posts
 
The answer to your question, garrard, was the whole burden of my OP:

To get some evidence-based advice from those with experience of the likely difference in overall signal quality between 1. Using an OS transport of probably lesser quality [the Nuprime] with the Jay's Audio OS-capable DAC or 2.  Using an exclusively NOS  transport of probably greater quality [the Jay's Audio transport] with the Jay's Audio DAC in NOS mode.

I like combination 1.
The question is whether combination 2. would provide a substantially better listening experience.
celander's avatar
celander
1,503 posts
 
Well, I bought the Jay’s Audio CDT2 MK2 transport without having auditioned it. It’s a great addition, replacing my trusty CAL Delta CD transport. 

I think that the Jay’s Audio companion DAC is matched to the form factor of their transports. I would imagine you can’t go wrong with it. 

I decided to go with an Exogal Comet Plus to replace my Theta DSPro Basic IIIa DAC. 
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,902 posts
 
Srajan (@6moons) ran his Jay's Audio DAC with the Jay's CDT MK 2 and found it best with the Is2 (HDMI) connection. Something to consider.
https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/jaysaudio2/

There's a rear shot of the two, connected, on the last page.

All the best,
Nonoise
itzhak1969
515 posts
 
I am a bit suspicious about the Nuprime CDT approach to oversamples the PCM signal incoming to the DAC and I am not sure if it’s not harm the sound, I prefer the native approach of the Jay Audio CDT2 to transfer the signal as is and let your DAC to do its job without any artificial manipulation of the Nuprime transport.
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,902 posts
 
Agreed. It’s like having two clocks and having to work around one of them. The transport should work along the K.I.S.S. approach and do it’s level best to transport, intact, the signal to the DAC and let it do it’s thing.

All the best,
Nonoise
More to discover