Peachtree DAC-ITx

tonyb

I should elaborate some....

A receiver with preouts....connected to the Jolida and then out to the amp. In HT mode, the front left and right signal just simply passes thru the jolida from the receiver onto the amp. In 2 channel mode, your sources are connected to the jolida and you don't even use the receiver for anything. That's the benefit of HT pass thru and a receiver with preouts.

halo

tonyb wrote: »

I should elaborate some....

A receiver with preouts....connected to the Jolida and then out to the amp. In HT mode, the front left and right signal just simply passes thru the jolida from the receiver onto the amp. In 2 channel mode, your sources are connected to the jolida and you don't even use the receiver for anything. That's the benefit of HT pass thru and a receiver with preouts.

So, in either scenario, the signal from the source, be it a receiver, a CDP, or a PC, is going through the Jolida and on to the McCormack. ?

tonyb

halo wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

I should elaborate some....

A receiver with preouts....connected to the Jolida and then out to the amp. In HT mode, the front left and right signal just simply passes thru the jolida from the receiver onto the amp. In 2 channel mode, your sources are connected to the jolida and you don't even use the receiver for anything. That's the benefit of HT pass thru and a receiver with preouts.

So, in either scenario, the signal from the source, be it a receiver, a CDP, or a PC, is going through the Jolida and on to the McCormack. ?

Yes, but the Jolida will not influence the sound when using the HT pass thru. The amp will, and you might be pretty darn happy about that.

halo

Ok. Is the Jolida powered ON when it is in bypass or does the signal go through with the Jolida in STANDBY?

And Thank you @DSkip & @tonyb

ROHfan

DSkip wrote: »

The lack of preouts prevents you from using the bypass. Sorry bud.

I would just be using the coax input. The HDMI from the Oppo would still go to the receiver.

tonyb

halo wrote: »

Ok. Is the Jolida powered ON when it is in bypass or does the signal go through with the Jolida in STANDBY?

And Thank you @DSkip & @tonyb

Should go thru in standby, but check the manual as some pieces are different. Some don't even have to be on at all.

tonyb

Dang Skip, we have to work on our timing. lol

ROHfan

I will be coming into a few bucks in the future so the P5 will have to wait until then. So it's down to the Peachtree, the Cambridge DAC Majic or the Teac UD301.

ROHfan

I will definitely be looking for the P5 going into next year. Thanks again for the advice.

halo

Thank you gentlemen.

I have analog out on my TV so, theoretically, I could run all the digital components to the TV (it's just the BDP and the ROKU using HDMI as the TV is getting channels from an OTA) directly and then out to the Denon through Zone 2 or I can swap out the Denon for the Marantz with its FR + FL pre outs. The Pioneer only has component video outputs but the Denon up converts the video, whereas the Marantz does not. I doubt I'll be watching a lot of DVDs int Pioneer as the Panasonic BDP can do that.

halo

ROHfan wrote: »

I will definitely be looking for the P5 going into next year. Thanks again for the advice.

I know that it can be difficult to wait for what you want so, hopefully, you'll be able to purchase a pre-owned DAC that you'll be able to recoup your expenditure when you're ready to move on to the P5. If you buy it new, you're guaranteed to take loss on it.

Check out USAudioMart & Audiogon for pre-owned gear. If you're diligent at checking the listings, you may find something really nice at a major discount.

In addition to your current candidates, there's also the Micromega - MyDAC (Black or White). It's available on Amazon and it got a very good review from the Absolute Sound.

tonyb

halo wrote: »

Thank you gentlemen.

I have analog out on my TV so, theoretically, I could run all the digital components to the TV (it's just the BDP and the ROKU using HDMI as the TV is getting channels from an OTA) directly and then out to the Denon through Zone 2 or I can swap out the Denon for the Marantz with its FR + FL pre outs. The Pioneer only has component video outputs but the Denon up converts the video, whereas the Marantz does not. I doubt I'll be watching a lot of DVDs int Pioneer as the Panasonic BDP can do that.

You could, but imho that's a terrible idea. TV's are not the greatest for processing audio signals. Plus you'd lose the better surround formats on the BDP.

halo

tonyb wrote: »

You could, but imho that's a terrible idea. TV's are not the greatest for processing audio signals. Plus you'd lose the better surround formats on the BDP.

I had to do it that way when I had the HK AVR 340 because it didn't have HDMI inputs.

Also, if im using the HT bypass, I'm running the HT in 2-channel through the main speakers with the McCormack so I'm not taking advantage of the better surround formats on the BDP anyway.

I do have the analog outs in the BDP & DVD running directly into the Denon and the video from the DVD goes through the Denon to the TV (upconverts)

I have the video and audio going from the Denon to the TV as well. So, only the audio and video from the coax cable is going into the TV with the audio output through the analog outs on one input of the Denon and the optical out of the TV to a different input on the Denon.

It should be ok?

tonyb

halo wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

You could, but imho that's a terrible idea. TV's are not the greatest for processing audio signals. Plus you'd lose the better surround formats on the BDP.

I had to do it that way when I had the HK AVR 340 because it didn't have HDMI inputs.

Also, if im using the HT bypass, I'm running the HT in 2-channel through the main speakers with the McCormack so I'm not taking advantage of the better surround formats on the BDP anyway.

I do have the analog outs in the BDP & DVD running directly into the Denon and the video from the DVD goes through the Denon to the TV (upconverts)

I have the video and audio going from the Denon to the TV as well. So, only the audio and video from the coax cable is going into the TV with the audio output through the analog outs on one input of the Denon and the optical out of the TV to a different input on the Denon.

It should be ok?

No, when you use the HT bypass, only the front left and right signal go thru that piece, the other channels, center/surrounds go thru the receiver, you don't lose anything on playing a movie. You actually gain by being able to use the amp for the front 2 speakers.

halo

Oh, well, that's what I was asking DSkip as I was referring to a mismatch in the sound quality of the speakers powered by the Denon vs those powered by the McCormack

ROHfan

I'm awaiting delivery on the Teac UD-301. Damn good reviews on that thing. Should get it tonight, along with another Audioquest IC. If I don't like it, back it goes and the quest continues.

halo

Good luck! I'm eager to hear your impressions (good or not so good)

ROHfan

halo wrote: »

Good luck! I'm eager to hear your impressions (good or not so good)

Well, I got it hooked up and swapped out my remaining ICs for the Audioquests and fired her up. I was really digging the sound for the short time I listened. Bass was very full, a little boomy, but not too much. Gone was the harshness of the digital music and detail was through the roof.

I have an input selector set up so that I can switch it between the HT rig and just the 2ch equipment, completely bypassing the Pio. So when I switched back to listen to how the DAC compared with the Pio via HDMI using "Pure Direct," I was amazed at how little the sound changed. Granted, I didn't get a chance to do some real critical listening as the girl was doing homework, but I couldn't believe how pleasing the sound from the PIO was. How was this? Before, the pio sounded dull and very warm. Now, there was detail and presence, and an "excitement" to the music. Why?

Then I remembered...

I had switched all my IC's out for the Audioquest IC's before the audition. Could it be that...cables...matter?

halo

That's very interesting indeed.

I actually had the opposite happen in my most recent experience.

I will have to start a thread about it.

kharp1

Reading through this thread I don't think I saw where you were using the Oppo's DAC. I think I would try using the Oppo dac and bypass the Pioneer by using analog IC's for connection. I would tend to believe that the Oppo has a better DAC than the Pioneer. Just a thought.

ROHfan

kharp1 wrote: »

Reading through this thread I don't think I saw where you were using the Oppo's DAC. I think I would try using the Oppo dac and bypass the Pioneer by using analog IC's for connection. I would tend to believe that the Oppo has a better DAC than the Pioneer. Just a thought.

I did that already. Very shrill, fatiguing and way too bright. Pio's DAC is much warmer. This all surprised me, as well.