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Post by Loop 7 on Aug 3, 2015 15:38:06 GMT -5
After a great deal of comparative listening between my Mac Mini (SSD) dedicated music server running Amarra/iTunes and my loyal Pioneer DVD/CD/SACD player, I removed the optical player from my system. I held on to optical because the physical act of loading and listening to CDs allowed me to reminisce about my college days where I began my immersion into music and audio. Both the music server and the CD player were connected to a Peachtree or Schiit DAC but the CD source lacked a lot of the human, liquid quality I've learned to love from computer audio which is probably due to Amarra. I realize I could explore another CD player but even when I borrowed an Oppo BDP-103 and ran it through the DACs, it still didn't appeal to me as much as iTunes with Amarra. Like so many, I have a huge closet full of CDs and I still buy CDs on a regular basis and ripping them before storing them and I don't see that changing.  |
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Post by brutiarti on Aug 3, 2015 15:44:18 GMT -5
I will try an oppo bdp-105 as cd player and upgrade the pre to an xsp-1 or similar, then you can get rid of your cd collection if you don't find it appealing  |
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Post by Gary Cook on Aug 3, 2015 15:51:34 GMT -5
If you don't like the sound of the Sabre DAC implementation in the 105 then you really should try an ERC-3. Before getting mine I was contemplating not having a CD player, but the super sound quality from the ERC-3 killed that idea. Analogue output from the ERC-3 to a USP-1 and a pair of XPA-1L's is the best stereo 2.1 music I've ever had, and I've had a lot over the years. Any decent CD collection deserves a great CD player.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by teaman on Aug 3, 2015 16:12:04 GMT -5
I agree with Gary, if you have not heard the ERC-3.....you should. My ERC-3's are all connected to XDA-2's via Canare AES/EBU cable and the sound is better than with any previous player I have heard. I am a big fan of the ERC-2 as well but the ERC-3 has a more defined sound and it seems like a wider dynamic range. My advice, try it on a trial basis even, worse case scenario you ship it back. Every day I am a little bit giddy waking up and throwing in some fantastic blend of CD music on the ERC-3. This player is outstanding and you may discover a whole other worldly experience for you and your disc collection!
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Post by wilburthegoose on Aug 3, 2015 18:29:37 GMT -5
teaman - how do you compare the ERC-3 to FLAC sent to a high quality DAC like the XMC-1?
Personally, I found the FLAC --> XMC-1 better sounding than the Oppo BDP-93 --> HDMI --> XMC-1
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 3, 2015 18:41:15 GMT -5
In the system of the garbulky - The Stealth DC-1 sounds amazing. In the system of Boomzilla - the Oppo 105 sounds amazing (but NOT the Stealth DC-1) DACs DO sound differently. Software and file encoding DO change the sound. You definitely have more flexibility in a computer based audio server (you can change encoding, software, and DAC) unlike a CD-player where you get no options on any. What sounds better on one system sounds worse on another. Therefore, experiment liberally - And when you find a sound that sounds like real music to you - QUIT! The last is the hardest... Boomzilla |
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Post by Gary Cook on Aug 3, 2015 18:49:09 GMT -5
You definitely have more flexibility in a computer based audio server (you can change encoding, software, and DAC) unlike a CD-player where you get no options on any. Slight correction, there are DAC options. For example I've used my ERC-3 analogue output via its internal DAC, with digital output via the DAC in an XDA-2, with a UCA202 DAC, with a Denon 3808 DAC and with the DAC in a UMC-200. Shortly I will try it again with the DAC in a Big Ego. I have also compared it with the DAC in an Oppo 103 and an Oppo 105. Of all of those the internal DAC in the ERC-3 sounds best to me. Of course it's possible it's not just the DAC implementation itself, but they way it interacts with the rest of the ERC-36 internals. Cheers Gary |
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Post by brutiarti on Aug 3, 2015 18:54:55 GMT -5
You definitely have more flexibility in a computer based audio server (you can change encoding, software, and DAC) unlike a CD-player where you get no options on any. Slight correction, there are DAC options. For example I've used my ERC-3 analogue output via its internal DAC, with digital output via the DAC in an XDA-2, with a UCA202 DAC, with a Denon 3808 DAC and with the DAC in a UMC-200. Shortly I will try it again with the DAC in a Big Ego. I have also compared it with the DAC in an Oppo 103 and an Oppo 105. Of all of those the internal DAC in the ERC-3 sounds best to me. Of course it's possible it's not just the DAC implementation itself, but they way it interacts with the rest of the ERC-36 internals. Cheers Gary I dont think that you can use the ego with the erc-3, unless i'm missing something, cause i will like to try a transport with my big ego |
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Post by restless on Aug 3, 2015 18:57:57 GMT -5
I have a ERC-3 connected to a XSP-1 --> XPA-1's, and I prefer that combination over the OPPO-93 playing SSD FLAC music --> XMC-1 --> XSP-1 --> XPA-1 --> Mag 1.7i . (same copy of music, both are CD quality, one a rip from the CD, and the other the CD playing via the ERC-3). I prefer that same ERC-3 over tracks I have downloaded from HDTracks.
I also have the SSD(FLAC) --> OPPO 93 --> XDA-2 --> XMC-1 L/R channels --> XSP-1 --> XPA-1 --> Mag 1.7i.
For two channel, I prefer the ERC-3 playing CD (Difference in the quality of CD can be noticed).
I have also run the OPPO 93 Analog 7-CH to the XMC-1, and I prefer the OPPO 93 digital --> XDA-2 --> XMC-1 onwards. So, I disconnected the 7-CH snake between the pair. It was less of a mess just to run HDMI or OPTICAL directly to the XMC-1 for sound (I have one station for HDMI listening (BLU ray and SACD), and one for Optical connections).
Hope that all makes sense, but you should try the ERC-3 and see how it works in your systems. My ERC-3 is XLR connected to the XSP-1, and is excellent for 2.1 channel.
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,230 
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Post by novisnick on Aug 3, 2015 19:12:27 GMT -5
In the system of the garbulky - The Stealth DC-1 sounds amazing. In the system of Boomzilla - the Oppo 105 sounds amazing (but NOT the Stealth DC-1) DACs DO sound differently. Software and file encoding DO change the sound. You definitely have more flexibility in a computer based audio server (you can change encoding, software, and DAC) unlike a CD-player where you get no options on any. What sounds better on one system sounds worse on another. Therefore, experiment liberally - And when you find a sound that sounds like real music to you - QUIT! The last is the hardest... Boomzilla Quit?,,,,,Quit?,,,,,somebody help me!!! My dear friend boomzilla has lost his senses!!! Hurry please!!!  |
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Post by Gary Cook on Aug 3, 2015 19:18:23 GMT -5
Slight correction, there are DAC options. For example I've used my ERC-3 analogue output via its internal DAC, with digital output via the DAC in an XDA-2, with a UCA202 DAC, with a Denon 3808 DAC and with the DAC in a UMC-200. Shortly I will try it again with the DAC in a Big Ego. I have also compared it with the DAC in an Oppo 103 and an Oppo 105. Of all of those the internal DAC in the ERC-3 sounds best to me. Of course it's possible it's not just the DAC implementation itself, but they way it interacts with the rest of the ERC-36 internals. I dont think that you can use the ego with the erc-3, unless i'm missing something, cause i will like to try a transport with my big ego I have an spdif to USB converter. Cheers Gary |
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Post by brutiarti on Aug 3, 2015 20:05:24 GMT -5
Gary, do you have a link for that product? |
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Post by Gary Cook on Aug 3, 2015 22:55:42 GMT -5
Gary, do you have a link for that product? The one I have is an old pro unit (Mutec), it does both SPDIF to USB and USB to SPDIF. I have seen an inexpensive HiFimeDIY that does both directions, they usually include a DAC but have USB output as well. These days the answer is probably an external sound card. Cheers Gary |
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Post by chaosrv on Aug 4, 2015 11:19:49 GMT -5
The one I have is an old pro unit (Mutec), it does both SPDIF to USB and USB to SPDIF. I have seen an inexpensive HiFimeDIY that does both directions, they usually include a DAC but have USB output as well. These days the answer is probably an external sound card. Cheers Gary Gary, since the Big Ego will draw its power from the USB input, does your converter provide enough "juice" for the job? |
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Post by garbulky on Aug 4, 2015 11:50:43 GMT -5
You definitely have more flexibility in a computer based audio server (you can change encoding, software, and DAC) unlike a CD-player where you get no options on any. Slight correction, there are DAC options. For example I've used my ERC-3 analogue output via its internal DAC, with digital output via the DAC in an XDA-2, with a UCA202 DAC, with a Denon 3808 DAC and with the DAC in a UMC-200. Shortly I will try it again with the DAC in a Big Ego. I have also compared it with the DAC in an Oppo 103 and an Oppo 105. Of all of those the internal DAC in the ERC-3 sounds best to me. Of course it's possible it's not just the DAC implementation itself, but they way it interacts with the rest of the ERC-36 internals. Cheers Gary Hi there, how did you get the UCA 202 to work with it? |
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Post by audiobill on Aug 4, 2015 12:01:38 GMT -5
CDs are so.....last century!
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Post by Bonzo on Aug 4, 2015 13:02:51 GMT -5
CDs are so.....last century! Nah, that would be vinyl. CD's would be more like so last decade. Maybe one of these days I'll find the time to go through the huge hassle of switching over to digital for my rack, but it won't be real soon I can say that much. I will also say that I'm waiting on the Oppo-125 4K player, and then I'll probably be done with disc players. |
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Post by GreenKiwi on Aug 4, 2015 13:43:22 GMT -5
Loop 7 congrats on the switch! I switched and have never looked back. I'd even accept a slight performance degradation in return for the vastly improved usability. (not that I have had an issue with that. I find there is little to no performance difference.)
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Post by Loop 7 on Aug 4, 2015 13:51:16 GMT -5
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Post by Gary Cook on Aug 4, 2015 15:24:10 GMT -5
Gary, since the Big Ego will draw its power from the USB input, does your converter provide enough "juice" for the job? I don't have the Big Egos yet, so I guess I'll have to suck it and see. The Mutec has its own power source, plugged into 110/240 volts, so it should be OK. Cheers Gary |
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