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Transport for PS Audio PW DAC

Hi all, a few months back I decided it was time to upgrade my digital system... ended up buying a PWD to replace my Exemplar-Denon 2900. To be honest, it wasn't a huge change but I kept the PWD because it also helped out with the sound of my DirecTV and PS3.

Since I was wasting the great tubed analog output of the Exemplar, I sold it and bought an Oppo BDP-93 to serve as a true universal transport. Unfortunately it sounds a lot worse in this role than the Exemplar (it does, however, destroy my PS3 for blu-ray picture quality).

Anyway, I'm considering finding another player to use as a CD transport... I've thought about just buying an unmodified Denon 3910 (available for $150-200) and also the old Pioneer Elite PD-65 which is somewhat famous for it's transport abilities(also available under $300). Any other suggestions in this price range for a pure transport to pair with the DAC?

Thanks for the input... it's appreciated.
128x128cal3713
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cal3713 OP
1,421 posts
 
After mulling over a lot of options, I ended up buying a 2010 MacMini with a built in optical drive (the newest ones need an attached USB drive) for $500. I figure that setting the mediaplayer's options to include a very long buffer will get me some of the benefits of the PS audio transport. And if I set it to autoplay, I think I can use it as a dedicated player without having to turn on a screen. Added benefits are the ability to also use it a media server and remotely controlling it so we can choose music from another room.

I really decided to go this route after using my girlfriend's old macbook to play a couple disks (on the PW Dac) and felt that that was at least the equal of my older Exemplar/Denon. It certainly killed both the Oppo and my PS3 as transports. For the sake of documentation/education, I will report back when I get it next week... even if this is a dead thread.
cal3713's avatar
cal3713 OP
1,421 posts
 
Just an update for those who find this thread in the future... I also don't really like the MacMini as a transport (or as a hard-drive based music server) with the PW Dac. I feel that it performs quite a bit worse than my Lenovo X201 as a USB source and my girlfriend's MacBook as a CD transport. I guess there's a reason it's less than 1/2 the price of either of those. In any case, the transport troubles eventually convinced me to try out the PW Dac Mark II upgrade. I'll find out in a week or two whether the asynchronous USB and digital lens features really do reduce the impact of transport quality. I still miss my old Exemplar every time I try to listen to a disk.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
IMO, you are confusing the USB interface performance with the computer. Mac Mini is a fine source device if used with a good async USB interface. Newer ones are better, and always try all of the USB ports. They do vary in performance.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
cal3713's avatar
cal3713 OP
1,421 posts
 
I guess my post did perhaps give that impression, but I've actually used all three of the Mini's output options and didn't really like any of them (hence saying I don't like it generally as a transport). I've tried the USB output, the optical output, and used an HDMI de-embedder with a coax output... all feeding my PW DAC. I know there are issues with each of these connection methods, but I didn't like any of them. The USB on my other computers was better and the optical was no-better than optical out of a PS3 (not a real good comparison because cables weren't matched, but still).

In any case, hopefully the new asynchronous USB interface on the Mark II will address these issues.
cal3713's avatar
cal3713 OP
1,421 posts
 
Well, that did it. Only one day of burn-in, but wow, that's the best music I've ever heard out of the system... stayed up all night listening. The Mark II upgrade completely changes the nature of the PW DAC, the imaging is just spectacular.

And for those using a mini in the future, here are a couple links to cd speed limiting software. If you're playing a disk directly instead of ripping, it's a necessity to keep the mini quiet.

Mac Side: http://discrotate.sourceforge.net/
Windows Side: http://cdslow.webhost.ru/en/cdslow/index.html

I think I view the Mark II upgrade as mandatory if you're going with the PW DAC.
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