I have an itch

ukcolin99

This Cambridge DAC/PreAmp looks like a deal (No DSD, no worries) http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=CA851D&utm_source=Email+Newsletters&utm_campaign=9d0ebc57a0-Cambridge_DAC_Price_Drop_2_1_20162_1_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2d471df912-9d0ebc57a0-77512397
I was looking at AudioAdvisor site yesterday, a new thread here in 'Digital' highlighted it again (kharp1). I'm thinking it's fate, or the audio gods guiding me.

Question: if I place the Cambridge between the Mac Pro (early 2008) & the P5 will (should) my music sound better, or at least be better in theory? Should I by-pass the P5 & run the Cambridge directly to the A21?
Parasound have not responded to my question "does the P5 have Asynchronous USB audio input?"
Is the DAC in the P5 significantly worse than the Analog Devices 1955 DACs (the Rolls Royce of DACs!) in the Cambridge?
Am I trying too hard to buy something? As always wit & wisdom appreciated & a literary slap in the face possibly needed. You know who you are.

ukcolin99

Oki doki.
I re-read Stereophile.com reviews and extensive measurements for the Parasound P5 & the Cambridge 851D, appears to my mostly ignorant audio eye (ear) they complement each other. P5 rocks the analog, 851D performs better w/digital. Unless someone stops me I'm gonna buy the 851. Help...

tonyb

Rolls Royce of dacs.....lmao. Hardly....but I'm sure it would sound good. Using a dac as a preamp usually doesn't work out for most though some dig it. A separate pre in the chain most the time will sound better than without it.

My question to you is, the P5 comes with a fairly decent dac in it, you think spending 1k more on another dac will give you substantial improvement ? Or is there something not floating your boat with the P5 ?

ukcolin99

Thank you tb. I like the P5, afraid my ears are not tuned to appreciate most performance subtleties, most music sounds good to me, the A21 is effortless when I crank up the volume, the 705's sound great.
I'm thinking asynchronous usb from my Mac into the 851D plus Bluetooth for when friends visit would be improvements...plus I like playing with new toys...

tonyb

I believe the USB input on the P5 is asynchronous, and it does have an input for Ipods and such. Though I believe the USB is limited to 24/96 files.

Personally, I think you'd be better served adding a music server/dac to the mix. That way you just load up an app on your phone and away you go.

Nightfall

soundfreak1

Nightfall wrote: »

My thoughts exactly!

ukcolin99

Thanks tb, all input appreciated (honest). And for the pharmacists in the group, I'm gonna scratch it, not treat it.
I called Parasound they confirmed P5 usb input is not asynchronous.

I need a music server, I nearly pulled the trigger on Bluesound Vault2(which does more) my more-IT-literate-than-me son pointed out iTunes is tried & tested-many music servers use proprietary software that may not be well supported & my entire music collection is already ripped ALAC in iTunes.
Son wanted to play with a Mac Pro (early 2008-bought off eBay $400) and would transition everything for me, it's a cheap solution that works well.

He moved all my iTunes music from my Dell PC & a couple of external drives and my existing iTunes account to the Mac Pro HD. My iPad Mini (Remote App) manages choosing music from the iTunes library, songs play instantly, album art updates instantly, if I pause a song nothing sleeps I can start song immediately next day.

Currently I'm using toslink out of the Mac, intend trying usb once new cable arrives.
The giant aluminum box that is the mac pro could be a con, I like looking at it, no worries.

Enjoying my sounds until beer, wine & meat lures in knowledgeable members and I realize how much better my set up could be...

tonyb

Gotcha, you may get an argument though from some who claim ITunes is inherently flawed for quality audio.

Regardless, if that's the route your taking, any dac will play those lossless files. Apple doesn't do hi-rez files and anything you buy on ITunes is going to be MP3. It's good for CD quality though. I'd get away from the toslink and at least use a digital coax.

You may want to look at a separate hard drive to store higher rez files on. Using ITunes has it's limits. Jriver is way better in that regard and you can also burn your cd's and albums to higher formats before hitting your dac. Most any dac made in the last 5 years will play any of that.

DSD is currently top dog, but you need a medium that can play it if that's your eventual goal. Meaning a dac that can play it and software that can also which ITunes is not one of them. Think about what your goals are, and we'll help you get there.

ukcolin99

Thanks Tony, most of my music is cd's in iTunes ALAC.
I understand everything from traffic noise to my little wine refrigerator, home AC, kitchen fridge, ceiling fan(s), house voltage, stereo components in sleep mode, TV on when I listen to music, component cables, wire rack, windows, walls, carpet, leather sofa(s) and more can affect the sound,
I'm going to maximize what I have, ask for help, ignore some advice, spend money unwisely and enjoy every song...

tonyb

Nuthin' wrong with that. Maximizing what you have or enjoy is what we are all about. To maximize your ITunes library though, a good dac is a necessity imho.....and any dac out there will play cd quality.

Joey_V

My wife's a pharmacist and she says treat the underlying disorder... Preparation H only masks it

lightman1

Play nice Skip.

Funny though

Joey_V

DSkip wrote: »

Joey_V wrote: »

My wife's a pharmacist and she says treat the underlying disorder... Preparation H only masks it

Perhaps she would stop saying that if you didn't act so butthurt all the time.

Hahaha

I could say I hate you right now... But I like you

ukcolin99

Thanks Tony, took me little while. If I keep the P5, I use the P5's DAC.
Itch has gone, at least for this weekend.