@luca.pelliccioli, please advise
you have a MSB DAC and power supply(s)
have you compared a digital audio stream with a turntable stream?
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is anyone here using vinyl playback through an ADC (eg so they can utilise their dac as control/preamp)?
this was of course the psaudio way for a while when NPC was a product and before bhk preamp (and preamps in general) were cool again, but i don’t see anyone promoting it now (in separates at least, i know devialet do it in their all in one gadgets)
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For when record mfrs just can’t get the hole sized correctly.
I use the tapered end of my pen. Works perfectly.
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Hi Akro,
yes, I had some problems last week with my Stellar Phono, as reported here
I finally had the chance to listen to vinyl for a few hours. Comparing the sound between Premier DAC and TT Mediterraneo I have to admit that… vinyl immediately touched my heart. It’s not a matter of quality tough.
When the cartridge gently started to scratch the surface of the record I heard a visceral emotion, along with clicks and pops yes of course, but so engaging. A vivid image was projected on the wall, full of that kind of imperfections that reminded me something REAL and strong and dynamic with a plenty of flavors and colors. Really beautiful. It was my first vinyl experience in my new room after a few months. Amazing.
After a few records I switched to digital music, playing exactly those same albums. It was different but I appreciated more the perfection of the background, the silence and that feeling of pure pristine clean sound coming from the same front wall, those details coming from a wider soundstage, with instruments so easy to locate well separated from each other. Extremely liquid compared to vinyl, therefore so pleasant even if in a different way.
I played digital music for the rest of the night when I went to jazz from rock, don’t ask me why.
Long story short. Vinyl has more fascinating impact, period. Digital is so pleasant (and cozy) that I don’t miss vinyl. That’s the reason why both of them are here to stay in my room, in my life.
I’m not a reviewer, I don’t need critical and analytical listenings to enjoy music. Depending on different mood I’m happy to be able to have the chance to choose what I want, day by day, hour by hour. And it’s an immense privilege, my friends!
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I’ve used the multi faceted Bic pen we used to buy in 7th grade for 19 cents and for over 50 years it works every time and it’s a vintage design that when modded is the greatest and very accurate spitball launching system.
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Good argument. I’m wondering if a analog to digital converter might provide a good quality in my future, to go for a different approach in MSB products. Using the DAC and the Amp without a BHK Pre.
I could have the opportunity in June to test the MSB S202 amp and this route implies a direct connection to the MSB DAC, but I still want to keep my analog rig. The Premier hasn’t a pre module available (unlike more expensive models, not affordable in my case). So I’d need a converter, if it makes sense without degradation of analog sound.
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I got the NPC when it first came out since I was using the DS DAC as a preamp (at Paul’s recommendation) and still wanted to play vinyl. I was happy with the NPC, and it sounded as good as the Audio Research PH-2 I had been using. Then the BHK Pre came out, Paul said it was better, so I got that and discovered the DS was an ok Pre, better than the Audio Research LS-25, but not as good as the BHK. I continued to use the NPC as an analog phono pre since it still sounded good. Then the Stellar Phono came out and it sounded better than the NPC, so the NPC now sits in its box awaiting the day I decide to convert LPs to DSD. Not sure that day will come but you never know.
Overall the NPC is a nice unit, more money will certainly buy you a better analog phono pre, but that’s how things work in audiophile land. I’m not aware of any similar combined analog/digital units, but I haven’t looked for one either.
I think the use of an ADC to eliminate an analog preamp is a valid option, just not the best sounding one. There are plenty of good ADCs in the pro world but you would still need a separate phono pre.
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Curious to know if any members here on the forum ever had the opportunity to test those ADC in their systems. Comparing them and BHK Pre, I mean.
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Thank you Luca, you have saved me $50k (not including buying back all the records I have rid of years ago) to even think of going back to vinyl again. I know the emotional feeling of analog virbration, and I will just have to keep improving my streaming chain to get close to that feeling again. unfortunetly I know discs will not give me that feeling, not even SACD!
You may have saved my marrige too!
I still want to know how you think the Puritan does to your sources. For 1/2 cost of a Dragon, it almost sounds a reasonable upgrade if it improves SQ 
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Thank you for your perspective, Luca. It gives me hope for the digital world after all.
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also @luca.pelliccioli
Indeed a really good ADC is a dear do (read expensive), and if you already have the preamp etc. probably no point, but for those who still do the DAC direct to power amp thing (I do sometimes, but don’t listen to records more than once every year or two) and also for anyone using DSP / digital EQ (which I do) it seems the logical step.
I guess Weiss or (at a lower price point) RME would be the ones to look at 
(although I don’t know if either do Analogue to DSD).
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This week I’m on vacation but last nights I heard my amplification rig fed just by the Puritan and I enjoyed it so much. I hate to compare it to my P15 because I’m really liking both of them, more than straight to the wall for sure. And I want to try the Puritan also feeding my DAC as soon as possible.
Meanwhile… sun, beach and relax (with an iPad ready to check this forum news of course).
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Enjoy the vacation!
You have the Puritan PSM156, right? I will add it to my upgrade list. I have done quite a few upgrades lately (nothing like yours), but my list is as long as last year somehow.
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Thanks, Donald.
Yes the 156 and I’m still waiting the shipment of its Ultimate cable, I also purchased because they recommend it as a further improvement.
To be tested:
- PSM156 between the wall and P15 (didn’t fix the buzz issue) for amplification
- PSM156 between the wall and P20 for all sources and pre
- PSM156 without the P20 for all sources and pre
- PSM156 feeding only the DAC (plugged to a dedicated line I have available)
Depending on results I might purchase a second PSM156, sell the one I already have, sell the P15, sell both the P15 and P20.
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Looking forward to hearing your evaluation, after your vacation of course:+1:
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I haven’t heard the Stellar phono preamp, but is has gained some impressive industry reviews and a lot of positive comment here. An easy recommendation.
Do you have many mono records? If so, I’d be looking at the Parasound JC3+
It has a mono switch which the Stellar lacks.
I replaced my old PS Audio GCPH with the Parasound JC3+ a couple of days ago and the improvement is marked.
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The JC3+ Is a nice phono preamp. I was considering it when I wound up ultimately selecting my XP17.
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looking forward to comparing 2 formats of my favorite Octave Records productions: Say Somethin’ and Temporary Circumstances. These are 2 of my reference dsd albums for SQ assessments. (Temporary Circumstances is from Clandestine Amigo, Jessica Carson’s band. Jessica is director of Octave Records.)
adding to my DSD downloads, my vinyl editions arrive next tuesday
and as a bonus they are Octave’s 2 45-RPM records
and just purchased Octave’s latest dsd download, Lawless
goodie, vinyl day next wednesday
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My testing has continued, and I just posted an update to my comments in this thread here…
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