Cary Ph302 vs Oppo Sonica DAC

JuanR
JuanR Posts: 718
in 2 Channel Audio
Analog vs Digital...Round 1

tonight I decided to have a little shootout between:


Analog:
Joule Electra 150 preamp (non phono version - not the one I bought from @erniejade ...one he almost threw in the garbage..LOL J/K)
Cary PH302 phono (not 302Mkii) with Tungsol 6SU7GTY tubes and Mullard 5AR4 (Telefunken print)
Original Fleetwood Mac Vinyl
Rogue Audio 90 Amp
Tyler Acoustics Bookshelves
Onkyo CP-1050 turntable
Dynavector 10x5 cartridge

VS

Digital:
Joule Electra 150 preamp (non phono version - not erniejade old one)
Oppo Sonica Dac
Tidal Masters Fleetwood Mac
Rogue Audio 90 Amp
Tyler Acoustics Bookshelves


Both sound GREAT!...BUT the clear winner in my opinion was.... BY SEVERAL Furlongs!
...
...
...
ANALOG!
...
...
...
Much more depth! Super sweet Stevie Nicks tones tingling my ears...I love this sound, and I don't even have my favorite turntable/cartridge combo hooked up to it yet.

Don't get me wrong, the Tidal Master version does sound very good, but the Analog version in my case beats it! Only problem is Analog version is hard to fit on my backpack for traveling...

Digital version can be played on my I-phone/headphones for easy traveling....

at home the choice is easy if I have the Vinyl...

Juan

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Comments

  • txcoastal1
    txcoastal1 Posts: 13,285
    Sounds like you had a fun time, I like those kind of days when you just get things right
    2-channel: Modwright KWI-200 Integrated, Dynaudio C1-II Signatures
    Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
    Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
    Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC

    erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
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  • mikeyb128
    mikeyb128 Posts: 2,885
    I've been having some drinks with friends today. As usual the tidal comes out with the tablet. After most people left and danger is low, I bust out Pink Floyd's division bell on vinyl. My buddy is absolutely floored by the sound difference. It sounded good before with digital, but even better with vinyl. The sound is full, fat, and juicy. Huge soundstage, and depth. This is from a moderate setup. My DAC is worth more than the whole investment in my anolog rig. :sunglasses:
    2 channel:
    Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
    Theater:
    Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.

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  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,086
    mikeyb128 wrote: »
    I've been having some drinks with friends today. As usual the tidal comes out with the tablet. After most people left and danger is low, I bust out Pink Floyd's division bell on vinyl. My buddy is absolutely floored by the sound difference. It sounded good before with digital, but even better with vinyl. The sound is full, fat, and juicy. Huge soundstage, and depth. This is from a moderate setup. My DAC is worth more than the whole investment in my anolog rig. :sunglasses:

    How exactly are you playing Tidal?
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    The LP will beat tidal even master series. Try an uncompressed WAV instead. I have the sacd or Rumors. Its darn close to the LP but the LP still has a bit of an edge to it.

    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • mikeyb128
    mikeyb128 Posts: 2,885
    Nightfall wrote: »
    mikeyb128 wrote: »
    I've been having some drinks with friends today. As usual the tidal comes out with the tablet. After most people left and danger is low, I bust out Pink Floyd's division bell on vinyl. My buddy is absolutely floored by the sound difference. It sounded good before with digital, but even better with vinyl. The sound is full, fat, and juicy. Huge soundstage, and depth. This is from a moderate setup. My DAC is worth more than the whole investment in my anolog rig. :sunglasses:

    How exactly are you playing Tidal?

    Auralic Aries Mini -> benchmark DAC 2L via USB.
    2 channel:
    Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
    Theater:
    Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.

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