I have a friend who is looking to purchase some dCS equipment. He is set on getting the entire dCS stack. Not sure if it is the Vivaldi or Pagnini. Although he has converted his library to digital (Meridian Sooloos) he believes he gets the best sound via a Transport. Now I know this is very subjective on does it sound better and if so what is the price of it. Like him I have converted all of my music over to digital. I converted it mostly for convenience and access to my entire collection. I have downloaded some HiRez files but I have no desire to repurchase my music in HiRez format if it becomes available. To me converting from disc to digital files was like going from non-remote control preamps to preamps with remotes. I personally would not buy a non-remote controlled preamp but that is just me. Are people going back or staying with transports?
I saw Michael Fremer interview on the Newport show where he mentioned AQ wireless/ethernet cable demo. Ethernet cable connected to router is much much superior to wireless. AQ entry level much superior to common Costco ethernet cable. CAN'T hear differences between AQ entry level and AQ expensive ethernet cable.
My Audioquest Vodka ethernet cable shipped today. Should be interesting wknd.
LEts put it this way, I would not want to be in the CD transport business unless I was perhaps DCS or similar company whose business is built around proprietary SOTA digital technology that someone might still be willing to pay for.
There will be always a few audiophiles who want to spend much money and exactly for those are the Transports. I never listened to a digital combo which wasn't beaten by a single box Player, expensive digital is burning money. More and more realize that.
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