Yes, all these HDCD are playable on standard players. There are “peak extension” options in HDCD that are often not activated–these I think can make a bit of a difference on a player that will decode them. But I had an NAD player that was fully HDCD capable. . . I really didn’t notice a significant difference than with other players.
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Its less than 1/3 the cost of a decent power cable.
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I have the Jay’s Audio CDT2-MK3 connected to a PS Audio DirectStream DAC for about 6 months now. It sounds really great in most cases, but I came across a problem about which I informed both PS Audio and Jay’s Audio two weeks ago, but unfortunately I’m still waiting for a reply. I’d like to know if other users have had the same experiences as me:
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When I connect both machines via I2S it sounds great. However, CDs with pre-emphasis are not detected as such and for obvious reasons the sound is not very good. This of course is a minor problem since there are very few CDs which use pre-emphasis.
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When I connect them via XLR (AES/EBU) or RCA (S/PDIF) the pre-emphasis flag on the DirecStream is ALWAYS on. This is also clearly audible and does not sound very good with CDs that don’t use pre-emphasis - which are almost all CDs you can buy today.
I would like to know if this will be taken care of in a future update? Maybe with an option to deactivate the pre-emphasis detection completely?
Odd.
I suspect this is an issue with the Jay’s and the DS is merely responding to what it is receiving.
I do not recall having heard of this issue before however.
Please let us know what you learn.
It’s very odd you haven’t heard back from Alvin. He is usually very quick to respond. Unless it is Chinese New Year which I fear it is. That is a month long celebration that seems to stop China almost completely.
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Hi Martin,
My experience is the same as yours, please see my recent post linked below with more info. Ted provided a detailed technical response.
I ended up using I2S connection between Jay’s CDT and PS Audio DAC, and most of my cds sound great - except those that I believe were badly recorded.
I wonder how do you find out that a CD has preemphasis if it is not identified correctly by your system.
Maxim
Hi Maxim,
Thank you for the link.
Regarding CDs with pre-emphasis, there are various lists like this one around: Pre-emphasis (release list) - cdHistory
These lists are of course never complete but I think it is also clearly audible when a CD uses pre-emphasis and isn’t decoded properly.
It’s also interesting that you get the pre-emphasis flag with Roon and 44.1 files through USB. I’m going to test that next. I haven’t come across that problem yet using the LAN connection of the Bridge II.
Had some of this in the “Upgrade” thread, but this salon seems more topical.
I’ve had my CD2-MK3 for a few days now. Been running it continuously, even when the amp is off. Burn-in and all that.
Using a Denafrips Pontus II DAC, which I kind of thought would be a perfect match, same Vinshine Audio people, and the Pontus is listed in the Jay’s manual as i2s-compatible, copacetic and all that.
I cycled through the different i2s combinations on the Pontus, as the default setting was jarring, horrible static. A couple of the settings seem to work better, but I’m not feeling like it’s quite “right”. Or I’m not confident of my own ability to discern which is the “right” setting. (I like when things are “right.”)
The i2s cable is one of those Pangea SE things. Not very expensive.
I also tried the AES/EBU cable I’d been using with my Pi + Pi2AES streamer. I think that sounds better. No idea if it’s measurably better, but we all have feelings, right? I think the AES output feels less digital. Smoother. Not like it’s “veiled” (to use a well-worn word), but less fatiguing, maybe. I hate trying to compare these things.
Ya think that Pangea cable is just not up to the task of the Jay’s? Or maybe the i2s connection is super dependent on just the right cable? I don’t want to get into a crazy i2s cable rabbit hole, frankly.
It’s not an esoteric audiophile system in a listening room. It’s a living room. Luxman L509X into Harbeth 30.2 XD’s.
The Pontus has a second AES input, so I can go that route, and I really don’t think I’d be missing anything. But AES cables can be a rabbit hole, too!
I may be putting up a RAL HDMI and/or WWPS7 HDMI for sale as I have no use for them, PM me if interested.
danke! I see the ads… If I get the bug to do it, I’ll ping you!
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Email Alvin, he will tell you exactly what to do.
Unless it is Chinese New Year.
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yah, basically their advice was to try different pin combinations/configs until it sounded good.
It’s not the Jay’s, I don’t think. Going i2s out of the Pi, with that same cable, I get the same thing. I think it sounds good, but I think I like the sound of the AES/EBU connection better.
So, it’s either a factor of the cable, or the DAC. Still confused why the default DAC’s i2s setting isn’t the RIGHT one. (When that’s what the manual says it should be.)
If it’s the cable, I need to think about how much I want to sink into high-dollar HDMI wire.
or I just go AES/EBU and learn to stop worrying and love the bomb.
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I used AES/EBU myself.
But not the P brand, ewe!
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haha, yeah, i had that one in the bin. It actually works really well from my other Pi to a Topping D70.
Anyhoo… Time to go AES/EBU cable shopping!
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Try to find a used Shunyata Sigma, Gen 1. You should be able to find one cheap. I’d bring you my own but its at Paul172s house. I do have an excellent AES/EBU cable laying here I could part with for $700. Audio Art, maybe 20 hours on it. You could try before you buy.
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Or get a PSA DS DAC. The combo of the Jay’s to the PS Audio DAC is sublime in my system. I did spend what I consider some “stupid” money on cables recently but it sounded great before that too. My HDMI cable between the Jay’s and DS DAC is an AQ Thunderbird which at $750 makes my family and friends shake their heads (not in Al’s league though). And just replaced some key balanced ICs with AQ Yukons at ~$500 a pair (also ouch). My mindset is such that I like to “eliminate” sources of error and can’t always detect the “holy cow” effect each time I replace something subtle like cables. And, don’t get me started on the subject of “burn-in” on cables or gear. My educated guess is that’s psycho-acoustics and confirmation bias but who knows.
Ramble and Rant Over and Out,
Kurt
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haha, no.
Nothing against this component, but I’ve no interest in chasing more dragons.
Just a good AES/EBU cable, that’s it.
Then I’m done.
I swear.
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Dipping toes into nicer AES/EBU cables.
Found a Purist Audio Genesis on USAM, and it was reasonable, and it arrived yesterday, and I’m giving it a try.
It sounds muuuuuuch better than the I2S connection. Less harsh. Full-bodied and crisp all at the same time. Pick your favorite grape.
Yes, I know that P-word cable was blasphemous, but I don’t know that I can blame the cable. (That same cable sounds just fine with a different DAC.)
Someday I’ll try a billion-dollar cable in there, and see, but for now, this sounds good.
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I was listening to the Jay’s on my system today. I first had the Shunyata Sigma AES Gen 1 plugged into my DSD Sr. the sound was good. Here is where the haters are going to hate.
Next up was the Audioquest dragon HDMI into I2S. Without a doubt the Dragon is the winner! The sound on my set up the I2S with Dragon had better dynamics and sounds more musical.
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