wim saidPaul McGowan saidEmail me directly if you’d like and let’s get you hooked up.
Paul,
I assumed that with “email me” you meant a PM, so I sent you a PM with the latest developments. I hope the PM got sent properly, I wasn’t sure if I did it right.
I’m back to solid-state listening. Driving two two tube amps for four hours creates a rather uncomfortable sauna-like environment in the listening room.
(And I’m in the tropics…)
There is one thing I can state unequivocally from my 4 hour listening session this morning: my over 50-year old McIntosh MC30s sound better than my Bryston. The McIntoshes grab my B&Ws and drive them to perfection, top to bottom. Fantastic control of the bass, and no harshness in the highs, as I have with the Bryston on occasion with some source material.
So far, the Oppo and DS DAC are neck and neck. I’ve thrown a variety of music at both of them and they’ve acquitted themselves well. If I would give an edge to one it would be to the Oppo, solely because I think it’s handling the bass a bit better.
More listening coming but I have to take a break with a cold (non-adult) beverage.
George, which OPPO ? My -95 in my sys is not even close to my DS/Mini. So you are using the OPPO’s DAC and comparing that to the DS ?
rogerdn said George, which OPPO ? My -95 in my sys is not even close to my DS/Mini. So you are using the OPPO's DAC and comparing that to the DS ?Roger, it's the BDP-105. Not having had a 95 (I have a 93 that is in my living room) I can't really compare them. But the 105 is a truly amazing unit. I think anyone who has one on this forum will attest to that.
So far, I have only listened to music on CDs played on the Oppo transport, or or music files from a HD connected directly to the Oppo. Then I A-B using my passive preamp.
Nothing from my Mac yet since I can’t get the BitPerfect test to work.
Interesting George, I never heard the -105 but understand it is much better.
George, maybe you are doing it already, but try switching between bitstream output and PCM output on the Oppo. You can do this in the settings menu. The bitstream output will bypass the Oppo DAC and allow the DS to do it’s magic on whatever the Oppo sends to it (except for DSD - not possible via coax or toslink). Good way to compare the DACs.
Hahha I was just going to post it.
Thats why he hears them the same. I had the oppo 105 for a couple if days it’s nice but a little below the Hugo and the DS is above the Hugo in many ways.
But this is really all objective anyway.
Al
alrainbow said Hahha I was just going to post it. Thats why he hears them the same. I had the oppo 105 for a couple if days it's nice but a little below the Hugo and the DS is above the Hugo in many ways. But this is really all objective anyway.
radioclash said George, maybe you are doing it already, but try switching between bitstream output and PCM output on the Oppo. You can do this in the settings menu. The bitstream output will bypass the Oppo DAC and allow the DS to do it's magic on whatever the Oppo sends to it (except for DSD - not possible via coax or toslink). Good way to compare the DACs.Damn, guys. I wish I would have known that this morning! (Although I had a lot of fun reacquainting myself with some CDs I hadn't heard in a while.) My McIntoshes sounded so damn good this morning I'm actually considering unloading my Bryston. The SQ is so right. so there.
Oh well, I’ll try again tomorrow (or later tonight).
P.S., Al, (1) what is the Hugo? (2) Is that you in the picture?
radioclash said George, maybe you are doing it already, but try switching between bitstream output and PCM output on the Oppo. You can do this in the settings menu. The bitstream output will bypass the Oppo DAC and allow the DS to do it's magic on whatever the Oppo sends to it (except for DSD - not possible via coax or toslink). Good way to compare the DACs.Thanks. When I read the manual it's clear that if you aren't using bitstream the coax output is processed by the speaker setup options which makes sense but isn't intuitively obvious.
Hugo a portible dac by chord. It’s very nice as it is too a FPGA of some type. I use it for mobile with an iPhone 5s. The best I have heard in any portible setup. I use it on the trains. It is better than the oppo 105 by a good margin to my brains and the DS is way above that.
Next no not me he has A beard. But we both have that glowing effect apparently.
Al
I was just reading up on the other Chord products yesterday - apparently they make DACs that could give the DS a run for it’s money, and for under $2000! I might even have given it a try if I didn’t like the DS and PS Audio products so much.
I have 50 hours on my DAC so based upon what I am reading it is not broken in yet so I will wait awhile longer before I post my impressions. The latest topic I have followed is about the bass output of the DSD and let me put in my 2 cents. Recently ,I auditioned Synergistic Research’s CTS speaker cables. I was using their Tungsten at the time which is a really good cable for the bucks. Initially, I liked everything better about the CTS except the bass but after further listening, it dawned on me that the bass was not lacking in the CTS compared to the Tungsten ;it was more accurate with much better definition.
Just finished a round of A/B testing with the wife in the middle, switching the PWDII and DS.
The DS wins handily.
But, we all knew that would the case, right? 
The Girl has now identified and understands ‘the new bass sound’ and all that that means, and she prefers it.
As they say, “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”
Rob I am glad all is well and yes on the second wife and that is a very good rule. Although that was found to be impossible with the first one.
Enjoy
al
lwin1949 said Initially, I liked everything better about the CTS except the bass but after further listening, it dawned on me that the bass was not lacking in the CTS compared to the Tungsten ;it was more accurate with much better definition.I think what we are hearing in the lesser DACs (yes, even the PWD!) is what I would call "bloom" in the bass. As you say, the bass is much more accurate and better defined in the DS.
Ted Smith saidTed & the group,Thanks. When I read the manual it’s clear that if you aren’t using bitstream the coax output is processed by the speaker setup options which makes sense but isn’t intuitively obvious.
I have been unsuccessful in getting the BitPerfect test to work. I use the program ‘Bit Perfect’ with iTunes, configured as shown in the screencaps.
My Mac settings are also shown below.
What am I doing wrong?
I’ll let Ted jump in but from my quick read you need to turn off the SRC (Sample Rate Converter). You don’t want any sample rate conversion. That’ll probably fix it.
Paul McGowan said I'll let Ted jump in but from my quick read you need to turn off the SRC (Sample Rate Converter). You don't want any sample rate conversion. That'll probably fix it.It can't be turned off. But I have four settings to choose from.
Have you tried setting it to “core audio”?
George Moneo saidPaul McGowan said I'll let Ted jump in but from my quick read you need to turn off the SRC (Sample Rate Converter). You don't want any sample rate conversion. That'll probably fix it.It can’t be turned off. But I have four settings to choose from.
When you run the bit perfect test what’s the sample rate and number of bits reported on the DS screen?