My question regarding the Bridge II is how does it affect the sound when I am using the I2S or the USB inputs. As I mentioned, I use the Bridge only when I want to listen to a streamed MQA file.
The quad files I have bern playing are through the I2S input. But if I decide to use the dedicated server with Roon, it lets only 128 files.
Maryland, about 20 miles NE of Baltimore, but Iām a UNC grad from wayyyyy back when.
for me, it was the first wife to go.
That appears to be a limitation of the Bridge.
You are right! That was written somhere here and even explained bey Ted, if I remember correctly. Leave in a blank card. It might result in a slightly better sound. I do it myself.
You mention a blank card. How can that be done?
Three choices:
Listening to a recording of Anton Brucknerās motets: Kammerchor Stuttgard conducted by Frieder Bernius. This is a 44.1kHz/16bit recording made in 1991. I have the cd and the ripped recording. Before Sunlight it sounded very good, almost excellent. Tonight my jaw dropped. The definition and presence of each individual voice, the air, the reverb of the recording venue, which sounded around me, not just in front. Voices sounded like humans were there, not a recording. If this dacās successor is really better I will buy it.
I vote for format with FAT32 and put all the files directly to the root. That worked for me like charm.
Donāt forget to turn OFF DS and turn it back on after update. Before turning back ON, remove the SD cardā¦ once updated you donāt need the SD card.
This Sunlight with quad rate DSD is something else. I got a bunch of new quad rate DSD files and along with my brother, we did a bunch of comparisons against the lower rate versions, and it wasnāt much of a comparison. This quad rate is more detailed, focused, and rich full bodied sound, that rival my vinyl system, but with even more defined images. Before, I mentioned that those Japanese MQA discs were very impressive, well, quad rate DSD trounced MQA, not even close.
While my brother was here, I wanted him to hear turning the volume on the DS at 92 sounded better, and no doubt about it. He heard the same I heard. 92 is clearer and more solid sounding in my system with my Esoteric C-02 preamp. He also tried it in his system with his Conrad Johnson Gat preamp and his results a little different. He says 92 was a little smoother and 100 was sharper images. He left it at 92 because he prefers a warmer sound. So the sound depends on what preamp you partner your DS with.
Finally dialed my DIY OBās in today and the verdict is straight out into the room (no toe in). Anyway, Sunlight sounds great and of course Iām not gonna waste my time comparing it to Windom (no point really).
The big expansive soundstage of the OBās with a Phantom Center thatās not nearly as narrow as Iāve experienced with the Gammut of Consumer Speaker Boxes that have passed through my rig in the last year. Kick Drums & Snare hits are smack dab in the middle and I have Bass down to 30Hz thanks to the Dual 12" high Qts Woofers (1.27) in the H-Frame lower section of the āstructureā.
The lack of noise is eerie at times only because Iād never listened for it in Windom but am now taking notice due to the other posts here.
Actually, you do need the SD card inserted if you use the Bridge/Bridge II and want to see album art.
I use a tool named āSD Card Formatterā on my Mac and chose āoverwriteā. That makes me sure, that the card ist really empty. The tool is available for Windows as well.
A brandnew card will do it as well.
Listen to BUMP CITY by Tower of Power. On Sunlight it absolutely blew me away. So real!
How do they compare ?
Upgraded on Thursday. Initially not that impressive - yes little louder/disjoint. But after around 24 hrs of playing it straight. Fabulous sound.
Plying it with NDX 2 as streamer in SPDIF and DMP at i2s. DMP sounds the best. But Quboz streaming through NDX 2 is pretty good too (I am yet to take Bridge 2 out - but the ethernet cable is disconnected from DS).
The highlight of the observations -
Reduce nose floor surely when not playing anything and increasing the volume in my preamp (McIntosh c2300, 2xMC275 in balanced input).
Overall more balanced sound. With Naim NDX 2 little bass heavy - I kind of like it. Kind of best of both world of Naimās PRAT with DSās analog feel.
The Vocals are at their best.
Regards,
Sourav
Too early to say.
Unfortunately, I have not been able to listen nearly as much as I would like. Iāve compared both settings and it is not clear to me that the volume setting at 92 sounds better than 100. At the moment my preference is at 100. I will continue to compare and evaluate as I get a chance to listen. Iāll get back to you when I make a final determination. I suspect this will be a result of individual preferences and the make up of oneās system. In audio there are so many variables that will influence the outcome. I think though, that if there is a standard that should be a guide to setting up ones system, it would be to lower the noise floor or to increase S/N ratios. I like that Ted focuses on this. In my years of audio experience, Iāve found that S/N ratios along with timing and phase coherence is such a vital part in getting a sound that is more realistic.
A post was merged into an existing topic: A Good DAC For Mediocre Recordings?
Listening to my Vinyl Rip (96/24) of MFSL Trilogy and itās mind boggling. I have never heard this kind of clarity and detail from my Vinyl rips since I did them 13 years ago. My OBās still need a lot of tweaking as Iām finding out but in general, I know the Sunlight improvements are definitely.
āSpinningā my Vinyl rips today (and few SACDās in between). Not missing the 256fs capability. For those who can, enjoy !