How good of a DAC is the Logitech Transporter

Audiogalore Quote: "I guess my dilemma is that I do not have balance inputs on my Melos 333 line pre-amp. and I know there will be some degradation taking balance out of the Transporter directly to my Power amp. I believe this month Absolute made mention of same."

Yeah, I'm still here!

You don't have a dilemma. I believe that the Absolute Sound Article that you are referring to was talking about using the Analog Outputs of the Transporter, (either balanced analog out or unbalanced analog out) which implies that you will be using the Internal DAC of the Transporter and therefore, if you were to go directly into a power amplifier, then you would be forced to use the digital volume of the Transporter which can trump bits and cause a loss of resolution.

From what I gathered from you, this is not what you will be doing. You will be using the 75ohm SPDIF Digital Outputs of the Transporter to your external Tri-Vista DAC, then to your Melos 333 Preamp using your analog RCA Cables. So, you will be able to put the digital volume all the way up on the Transporter (so not to lose any bits of resolution) then you will be using the Analog Volume Control on your Melos Preamp. You will not be losing anything except the difference between a 110 ohm digital cable (because your DAC doesn't support this) and a 75 ohm digital cable, as well as the difference between a fully balanced Preamp/Amp setup, but you don't have that now, so you won't lose anything.

I was using a 110 ohm AES/EBU Digital Balanced Out Cable (which is a single Digital Cable) from the Transporter to my external DAC, not a Balanced XLR Analog out. The digital cable that you will be using is a single 75 ohm Digital SPDIF Cable.

Does that make sense?

Rich

Thank you for the correction, I some how lost track of myself and started to thinking about the internal DAC and got ahead of myself. I really meant to to say the digital output of the transporter. Rich I have been doing this wacy hobby too long approx. 35 year it known as a "senior moment". You are correct the downside of the TRI-VISTA it as minimum inputs/outputs, oh well that is the Brits for you!

Of metrics that can be measured, the Transporter outperforms the DAC1. For example, it has a lower noise floor.

I own the Transporter, a ML390S, a Proceed CDP and a Weiss Medea. Firstly, please ignore the Stereophile review, I found it wholey inaccurate and overstated the analogue capabilities of the Transporter. Anyone with a "normal" hifi system I'm sure will be delighted. It is certainly a sonic match for a dedicated CD player in the same price range. As a system combune it with active speakers (eg Meridian) and you'll be impressed. The ML390S (£6K) is an extremely well and accurately reviewed CD player / DAC pre. When fed via the XLR digital output from the Transporter, the ML390S DAC section reveals a greater ambient detail, a naturalness that bridges the realism barriers to that special emotional connection... The Weiss Medea (£10K) via a ML XLR digital cable is an upgrade of about the same proportions albeit with the usual diminishing returns... The rest of the system is Graaf OTL's with Feastrex wide range speakers, all linked with top end Nordost, very revealing but hugely satisfying. I would avoid any mods to the digital section of the Transporter, (ala Fleebay) it already measures very well. I'd maybe conceed to the Bybee inline filters... DPAWS

I have been fact finding all inputs from this thread and have purchased a transporter to replace my Squeeze box 3 as my music server source.

Okay, I have a few things to share regarding external DACs. I have tried now 3 DACs in my present setup. The Tri-Vista 21, Bel Canto DAC 3 and the Benchmark DAC 1.

The Tri- Vista 21 is the most Dynamic with the biggest sound stage.

The Bel-Canto separation and placement of the music was the most accurate.

The benchmark was analytical and thin.

The Transporter stand alone as a DAC was quite impressive and low noise the sound signature was not as warm as the Tri-Vista 21 tube DAC, but certainly a even match to the Bel Canto and certainly out performed the Benchmark.

With the proper setup Transporter and 100% fixed digital volume in order not to lose any bit resolution, a neutral to warm interconnect cables and a analog pre-amp, a pre-amp with some tubes more preferred. I found the analog output stage of the transporter pretty darn close that rivals any other sweet spot audiophile critical listening source.

Enjoy music!