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CD transport vs streamer?

I am presently using a squeezebox unmodded and streaming via ethernet (not wi fi) uncompressed files from a Mac. I am feeding this into my Weiss Medea DAC (tried both Toslink and coaxial). However, comparing it to using my Jason transport, the sound is significantly worse. eg in Jazz at the Pawnshop, I can hear the liveness of the recording, on the streamed music it sounds like it was recorded in an anechoic chamber. Same when i stream from my apple TV via toslink.

Has anyone found a way of streaming that actually can outdo a high end CD player?
jglim
richlane
167 posts
 

Thanks for the explanation!

Rich
jglim OP
16 posts
 
Thanks guys. I will certainly try recording in FLAC and then compare the difference. Hope to have some time this weekend to do it and will feedback. I suppose if there is an improvement, then FLAC with a transporter may even be better.

I have an alternative as Weiss may be working on an upgrade to the Medea which allows direct firewire from a MAC into the DAC. But there is no timeline for this upgrade yet!

Thanks again.
richlane
167 posts
 
Jglim Quote:"Has anyone here tried sticking an Apple Mac using the optical miniplug output straight into the DAC? Wondering if this more direct connection would outperform streaming."

Yes, I have the optical output on the MacPro plugged directly into the Benchmark DAC1 and then into a pair of Audioengine A5 Speakers and it does sound better than the Squeezebox plugged directly into the DAC1. Both tests were done using Apple Lossless Files.

The Optical Digital out from the MAC directly to the DAC1 had; better resolution, sense of space, improved tonality, greater inflections in the Vocals, better PRAT, and a more 3D soundstage.

The Squeezebox received its signal via a wired ethernet cable, then it was connected to the DAC1 using the same cheapo, Optical Monster Cable, feeding the DAC1. The volumes were matched by ear and not by using a meter, which I couldn't find. Anyway, the sound from the Squeezebox revealed; less resolution, less transparency, the soundstage sounded flatter, compressed and more homogenized, and the music was less involving which I will refer to as less PRAT.

iTunes doesn't support FLAC. You will need to find a new media player for the MAC, a plugin-in, or a FLAC file converter.

Rich
mr_bill
347 posts
 
Richlane,
If I smell what you're cooking, you are saying that the SB3 (or Duet) as a transport only, does not match the performance of the Transporter used as a transport only. Given that both of these are used only as transports into a dac and not using their analog outputs.
Do you find a substantial difference in using the Transporter or Mac mini as a pure transport versus using the SB3 (or Duet)?
BB
richlane
167 posts
 

Bingo! Dinners Ready!

That's exactly what I'm talking about.

Check out my first posting in this thread which is the 8th listing from the top.

Then check out this thread:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1246278090&openflup&14&4#14

Rich
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