Have You Heard the Northstar CD Combo?

I've heard the 'cheaper' combo with the Model 192 DAC. I'm not too fond about the transport though - my former PS Audio Lamba 2 SE sounded better with the 192 DAC, so I kept that combo. Since the PS Audio died I had to replace it, and still the Northstar transport didn't cut it. I have now bought a (totally revised) Alchemy Audio transport which allows me to take full advantage of the I2S connection. It's not that the differences are very big, just a sens of being more 'musical'. Off course that's to my ears in my system, so in your case the combo might be the best choice.

I have the 192 combo after having owned the transport for a while and using it with a Monarchy M24 dac. When I bought the 192 dac to go with the transport there was a subtle improvement, but things really got interesting when I started using the I2S interface. I ordered a Revelation Audio Lab I2S cable and never looked back.

Alas though, the 192 transport went on the fritz and so now I eagerly await its return. I didn't realize I would miss digital this much even though in the interim I get to listen to more vinyl.

Slowhand - Welcome to the Northstar club. I think you will be very happy over the long haul too. I have had the 192 Transport and DAC for over a year with I2S Rev Audio Cable and love them. A few months ago modded the DAC at MauiMods and it took it to another level. He also had a Transport mod available and given Satch's noting improvement with a different transport, I might try it.

There are those that dont believe in I2S, but this is what makes this combo so good. Unfortunately, there is a lot of filtering on the I2S interface in order to get it to pass FCC/CISPR emissions testing, so this adds quit a bit of jitter. This is a fairly easy mod to remove these and speed-up the interface, lowering the jitter.

The upsampler chip used to get 24/192 is the best on the market IMO, really great sounding. The transport can even be used in a master-slave fashion with a Pace-Car reclocker to get the jitter really-really low.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

I am using the I2S Rev Audio cable too. The only thing I had lying around for isolation was some Black Diamond cones, but a friend loaned me 2 sets of Symposium roller block Jr.'s. I put one set under the dac (the transport is on top of the dac). WOW! more low mid range and weight to the music. Big improvement over the bdr cones. I plan on putting the other set between the transport and dac tomorrow to see if it gets any better. I am using SRA VR3 bases under my preamp and power amp. What are you guys using under your Northstar's?

Steve, I have a friend that is using a modified Northstar transport into a Tact preamp. Killer sound! He said he would bring the transport over so we can compare my stock to his modded unit. Not sure when he will get over to my house, but I will post our impressions.

What I really love about this player is it's ability to put every instrument in it's own space in the sound field and each instrument is very clear and distinctive (even if it is far back in the mix).