Pandora

[mgbpuff]

I listen to Pandora One a lot. The method I use is Apple Touch > Cambridge iD100 Digital iPod Dock > Emotiva XDA-1 > Emotiva XSP-1 > Emotiva XPA-1s > Magnaplanar 3.6s and Emotiva Ultra 12 Subs. This really sounds good, so good that I seldom use the Emotiva ERC-2 or the Roku M2000 that feeds up to 24bit/48khz files from Windows Media library stored on my laptop. Streaming is via Linksys WRT310N wireless router.

[flamingeye]

I use MOG they claim to output at CD quality and to my ears they sound damn close way better SQ then Pandora IMHO , but it's $9.00 a month but to me well worth it

[pallpoul]

Aug 17, 2013 12:44:25 GMT -5 flamingeye said:

I use MOG they claim to output at CD quality and to my ears they sound damn close way better SQ then Pandora IMHO , but it's $9.00 a month but to me well worth it

I agree, MOG, has the best sound quality.

[Flunk]

I listen to Spotify pemium, 320kbps, 15$/month in Sweden. Think it cheaper in the US. Have done some comparison with CD before and could't here any big differences, perhaps it would be possible now with a better equipment. Think i will rip some of my CDs and do just that. Don't have a CD-player anymore. 

Waiting for Wimp HiFi which will be lossless, it is in Beta mode now. 

[emovac]

Aug 16, 2013 22:53:18 GMT -5 novisnick said:

;)I'll try that rite now, Thanks So you think the Oppo DAC is better then the Yamaha?

They are both darn good. The Sabre is "probably better?" But I doubt I could tell them apart. My W4S DAC and Oppo use the Sabre, and Yamaha 3010 AVR uses the 1796 Burr Brown. Yamaha is coming out with a prepro which is using the Sabre. Both are great DACs.

[KeithL]

Sabre DACs have a distinct "sound" (the difference is subtle but easily recognizable); some folks like them and others don't (I'm one of the ones that rather likes them).

However, don't fall into the trap of assuming that the DAC (chip) is the only, or even major, determinant of how a DAC (the audio device) will sound. There is a whole lot more involved. Sabre has done a great job of marketing the idea that ANY DAC with their chip in it will sound good (their chip is sort of pricey, and actually costs a few dollars more than most others, so they have a good reason to want to convince manufacturers that it's worth the extra bucks). The low-end Sabre chip (used by the AQ DragonFly and many other USB-powered DACs) also has some features that make it very convenient to use when designing a USB-powered device. (It generates a split +/- supply for the output stage internally, which saves a bunch of parts, but ONLY matters for a USB-powered device).

The fact is that a Sabre DAC can sound very good, or pretty bad; like with any other chip, it depends on how good the design and circuitry AROUND it are. Other than for a very few low end chips, MOST DAC chips on the market today can sound very very good if the supporting circuitry is well designed - or very bad if not. You really need to compare products on their individual merits; don't assume that ANY DAC will sound good (or bad) because it uses a certain DAC chip.

Aug 19, 2013 2:05:45 GMT -5 emovac said:

Aug 16, 2013 22:53:18 GMT -5 novisnick said:

;)I'll try that rite now, Thanks So you think the Oppo DAC is better then the Yamaha?

They are both darn good. The Sabre is "probably better?" But I doubt I could tell them apart. My W4S DAC and Oppo use the Sabre, and Yamaha 3010 AVR uses the 1796 Burr Brown. Yamaha is coming out with a prepro which is using the Sabre. Both are great DACs.