2. digital
  3. 1246323985

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
mr_bill
348 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
richlane
167 posts
 
To answer your direct question Mr_Bill, I didn't feel like unhooking all of the wiring and carrying my MacPro Desktop downstairs to perform the test that you're referring to, because I felt that I wouldn't ever use this large tower Computer in the Living Room anyway. However, through my PC Audio setup, the answer to your question is above in this thread.

For what it's worth, I also compared the MBL 1621A transport to the Logitech Transporter and although the MBL 1621A was clearly better and 10 times the price, it certainly wasn't embarrassing for the Logitech, nor was it worth me getting up off the couch to change songs every few minutes. I would equate the sonic difference to, upgrading your stock power cables to high-end power cables. I should also mention that all Interconnects and Power Cables were Kubala-Sosna Emotions, and the Digital Cable was a K-S Emotion 110 ohm AES/EBU.

Rich
richlane
167 posts
 
To clarify my previous post above:

The Logitech Transporter, was used as a streamer only, and it was compared to the MBL 1621A transport, while they were separately feed into an external MBL 1611F DAC. The MBL Transport won the bout marginally, but the Logitech Transporter went the distance.

Rich
mr_bill
348 posts
 
Great info Rich and I appreciate your sharing.
Sounds to me that the strength of the Transporter is the actual transport portion.
I need a different transport to feed my Theta Gen VIII and am currently using a Duet, but will consider stepping up to the Transporter as my 'transport.'
Thanks Rich.
More to discover