Did he put it there to drive me nuts? On some songs, turning on the phase button sounds better, other songs worse, and others no difference. And the differences between all 3 are extremely subtle. Maybe a slightly wider stage, maybe a little more bass...or the inverse. Or nothing.
I am running a Benchmark DAC1 via balanced outs to the balanced ins on the Capri preamp, and balanced outs from the Capri to the balanced ins of my Rowland 102 amp.
I have read that Rowland uses the "old" method of balancing...whatever that means. I have also read that the Benchmark DAC1 is not "differentially" balanced.
I have no idea what any of this means. But I do find it somewhat irksome that pressing the phase button is so unpredictable.
Could anyone please explain briefly, in Best Buy terms, what all this means, and if the Benchmark is in fact playing nicely with my Rowland gear? The sound is pretty phoenomenal regardless. I'm more curious than concerned. In my crazy brain, seeing the orange light on the phase button makes me feel like I'm not listening to the sound in the purest form, like seeing a bass/treble knob not zeroed.
Thanks Macrojack, I grew a long time ago, but I understand you attraction to the Capri/102. I've got the Continuum 500 and I'm adding the phono stage on Monday. It's an incredible amp.
Hi Rkny, my current hi-fi setup is like this: Mac Pro -> Benchmark DAC1 -> Rowland 102 amp. I am now considering whether should I buy the Capri preamp. As you have the similar setup with mine, I would like to seek your opinion on whether the Capri preamp do a difference on sound performance in such equipment setup?
Yes, that would be useful to know, does the Capri improve the SQ when added vs. the Benchmark straight into the 102? Since the Benchmark is one of the better DACs you'll mainly be gaining from the Capris superior attenuator.
Generally, running the digital volumes with no attenuation and then using the pre to attenuate will give the best results, but that obviously can vary depending on the relative quality of the volume controls involved.
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