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Apple TV sound quality as a transport

I recently switched from a DVD Changer into a Channel Island DAC to an Apple TV into the same DAC. I was under the impression that the DAC was ultimately responsible for the sound but I swear it actually sounds better. The only change other than the Apple TV is the switch from coaxial from the DVD to optical from the ATV. Is it possible that the ATV sounds better than my DVD changer as a transport?
macallan7
kbarkamian
647 posts
 
Farjamed,

Are you using the original ATV or the current one? My gen 1 ATV outputs at 44.1. I know this because my previous Theta DAC wouldn't decode 48, according to Theta's tech.

The current ATV reportedly outputs everything at 48. I haven't heard it in a system outside the Apple store, so I can't realistically comment on it's sound quality.
farjamed
33 posts
 
KBarkamiam, I am using the current apple tv.
magfan
1,583 posts
 
Far,
I can vouch for jitter being destructive. My AirportExpress has such a high jitter signal that my DAC.....a Cambridge Audio CA840 (redbook player w/dac inputs) sometimes looses lock. And makes an awful noise in the process.

Is the ATV better? Is it internally clocked? The AE is not, being an asynchronous device.
farjamed
33 posts
 
Not sure about the jitter... Never had a problem my dac (Bryton bda-1) losing the lock.
macallan7 OP
70 posts
 
I recently upgraded from ATV1 to the current ATV3 and I swear it sounds better into my Channel Island's VDA-2 Dac. Is this possibly because of the 16/48 upconversion? Placebo effect? Alcohol?
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