I already had one. With a fiber LAN I didn’t feel like I needed it anymore. The Bridge II is quite adequate once you get rid of all the noise. And the oR also benefitted greatly from the fiber LAN.
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Just my $.02 regarding AIFF v FLAC… I dl’d both the QoBuz AIFF 96/24 and FLAC 96/24 of a recent purchase to a USB flash drive. Played the USB directly to Oppo UDP-205 > DS DAC > BHK preamp. Listening both through speakers and headphones, I could not tell any difference. Could be my ears, or for those that hear a difference, might that be the playback method which is traveling through a streamer or PC? Btw, the DS DAC correctly identified both the AIFF and FLAC files as 96/24.
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I just compared Art Blakey (United) Flac vs AIFF and it’s the same results as I heard with my previous comparisons with other music. The AIFF is much better. The FLAC is slightly more washed out. The AIFF is more rich, better decay, and more air. The Flat sounds like some information is missing. Maybe my Esoteric streamer is not reproducing FLAC too good.
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Well that settles it then.
New topic.
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Re: AIFF v FLAC
Does decoding FLAC require more computational power?
I ask because if both lossless, then something must account for the reports above.
Me too I’m interested to the comparison. When downloaded AIFF files from Qobuz I found an excellent quality.
I have no idea why, but I prefer AIFF downloads more than other formats. Even though they have the same resolutions, and all come from the same sources.
Didn’t mean to bring up a dead subject, but it’s been awhile, and I just purchased a AIFF 24bit 192k of “Unity” because I love this album, and to see if it’s any better than the FLAC version I already have. The FLAC version actually sounded marvelous, but boy, this AIFF version is a big difference! More presence, more air, more separation, more everything. Since I upgraded a bunch of digital gear, especially the MK2 DAC, small differences are amplified, now I can really hear them easily. If you have all your files in FLAC 24bit 192, and if you have a highly resolving system, try the same recording in AIFF or WAV 24bit 192k and see what I am talking about. Wow, this AIFF version is a mind blower!
I am not sure I hear a huge difference but you convinced me long ago to choose AIFF over FLAC.
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I haven’t did a comparison for a long time and this one actually surprised me. This one I definitly can tell in a blind test. The air, separation, and clarity is so obvious with AIFF.
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I am not converting FLAC files to AIFF, but when I buy or RIP CDs it is my choice. I have been re-ripping many CDs to do this. Having 45 TBs of storage helps.
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@ugdalf , which version is that Marantz player of yours? How does the Project transport compare? Thanks!
I previously had the KI Ruby which is a good device. But the RS2T brings more life to the sound. Switching between the two always made quite obvious it sounds better
The Project has a display you can read from distance. Reading a disc is much faster and it runs more silent while playing.
The Ruby on the other hand has a better remote and can play SACD.
I can easily recommend the Project.
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shout out for streaming here
streaming is so good now that it is about as good if not often better (via high res files)
practicality rules…access to most that has been recorded in seconds from the listening chair and unlimited-duration music play
Those are definitely the key selling points. As long as they’re keeping the subscription affordable.
I remembered even with MK1, I prefered AIFF ripping of my CDs. I will try another comparason with MK2 to see if there is more difference between the FLAC and AIFF. Thanks!
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In my system the pendulum has swung back to streaming. Received my Eversolo A-6 Master Edition this week and, with a few tweaks, it’s absolutely feeding a superior flow of 1 and 0s than my dvd player. Just compared the Fareed Haque CD Deja Vu with the CD quality stream on Qobuz and there is no question.
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I have not turned on my PST after Lumin U2 arrival. I want to break it in and be familar with the SQ first before I compare them more seriously.
But if memory serves me right, I do not think PST playing SACD could compete with the SQ I am hearing lately from U2.
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I’m experiencing a seismic shift in my opinion on streaming.
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