mdalton
Responses from mdalton
| dCS Bartok Apex vs McIntosh DA2 - Trouble Hearing the Difference @jastralfu pretty sure my theory is right (it’s the DAC spec). look at Mcintosh-provided specs on MA252, which doesn’t have a DAC. There, for “SNR -Power Amp Input” they show an “N/A”. Regardless, you don’t really need - or want - to reconcil... | |
| dCS Bartok Apex vs McIntosh DA2 - Trouble Hearing the Difference @jastralfu here’s a link that gives some insight into the testing regime at HiFi News: PM bio | |
| dCS Bartok Apex vs McIntosh DA2 - Trouble Hearing the Difference Paul Miller of HiFi News is one of the most respected people in the industry. Has been doing measurements on gear on his custom modified test equipment for years. His stuff is by far the most reliable and consistent in my experience. You should... | |
| dCS Bartok Apex vs McIntosh DA2 - Trouble Hearing the Difference @jastralfu lab reports section, reads wtd S/N ratio (DAC/Amp, 0dBW) 111.0dB / 87.4dB | |
| dCS Bartok Apex vs McIntosh DA2 - Trouble Hearing the Difference If you think about signal-to-noise ratio as a proxy for how resolving a piece of equipment is - recognizing that this may be an oversimplification, but useful nonetheless - then the attached HiFi News review might provide insight: McIntosh MA 950... | |
| Start with Upgrade to DAC? @soix so that’s “no capeesh”? | |
| Start with Upgrade to DAC? @soix Hey, I missed you too. Per Depeche Mode, just can’t get enough. But seriously, ascribing improved sound of streaming with the Neo to features that are only in the circuit if you’re using the DAC would be like me saying the Rothwell Rialt... | |
| Start with Upgrade to DAC? @stevebohnii oh man that’s alot of ad copy! Look, don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of iFi, their price-to-performance is top notch. But they too are guilty of hyperbole. Regarding some of your points: - the XMOS 16x in the Neo is not for th... | |
| Start with Upgrade to DAC? @stevebohnii ??? You have essentially the same streamer as the OP - it’s just yours, the IFi Neo, combines a DAC with the streamer, while his, the iFi Zen, does not. Apparently, in your system, you bypass the internal dac in your streamer, whic... | |
| Step Up Transformers….Are they Worth the Trouble? @rauliruegas ? Didn’t realize we were in a competition, lol! But if so, I’m sticking with Andrew Rothwell’s view - choose whichever you like best. They each have their advantages (and disadvantages). | |
| Step Up Transformers….Are they Worth the Trouble? @lalitk Happy to share whatever modicum of knowledge I have. Regarding adjectives, don’t you think life would be dull without them? “My wife is so beautiful.” “This scotch has just the right amount of peatiness and smoke.” “That sunset has... | |
| Step Up Transformers….Are they Worth the Trouble? @terry9 Interesting. The price of 2 1931s go from $500 to $2000 when you go from copper to silver. Do you have any experience of just listening to that difference? | |
| Step Up Transformers….Are they Worth the Trouble? @lalitk You have inspired me to finally pull the trigger on a new SUT for my Koetsu - have been Hamlet-ing the decision for almost a year and a half now. So thank you. I went with the Swissonor, will report back. Re SUT vs. active stage, I ha... | |
| Garrard 301 - Project Don’t think mine has a fuse. Starting to feel gypped. lol! Pix look great! | |
| Start with Upgrade to DAC? see recent thread IMHO, you will not hear a difference in sound from a $1500 streamer vs. what you already have (or even vs. a $6500 streamer). Think about what a streamer is: a relatively low-powered computer that moves data packets from a sour... |