What did you do to your stereo rig today?

15758606263196

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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 13,047
    There's just too many variables. I didn't particularly care for the sound of the ESS DAC inside the HINT 6 as I felt that it was inferior through my PMC speakers versus the dual Wolfson DACs inside the CXN V2. When I compared them on the Polk 703s, the difference was much less dramatic and the HINT 6 DAC was much more listenable.

    On the NewClassic 200 that I'm currently evaluating, I am unable to reliably distinguish between it's internal Burr-Brown DAC and the CXN V2's DAC(s) while using the Elac speakers. I need to do further testing with the PMC speakers to see if they reveal a gap between their performance.

    So basically what I am trying to explain is that system synergy comes into play heavily with a DAC's performance, and it's extraordinarly difficult to make a statement like "X company's DACs are better than X company's DACs."
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,537
    System synergy and personal preference will determine how good a dac is; price, flowery speech, or mass hype don't. These points can sometimes point you in the right direction, but they aren't the sole qualifier.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 26,222
    edited November 2019
    How a dac chip is used in the circuit can have a bearing on how it sounds as well. In the past I've heard folks speak of such and such chip they disliked in xx dac but in xxxx dac that same chip was glorious. I've read this time and time again over the years whether it's Burr-Brown, Wolfson, Cirrus or ESS Saber.

  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,084
    edited November 2019
    I bet the majority of the sound of a DAC is the analog output stage and power supply quality and not the chip or FPGA used.
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited November 2019
    sbb2112 wrote: »
    Ordered one of these guys.Rythmik F15xz8242w0rmrx.jpg

    I think you'll be happy with your new Rythmik. I have a pair of F8's and I couldn't be more pleased with their tone.

  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Josh I agree,
    Has to pay a huge part.
  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,117
    sbb2112 wrote: »
    Ordered one of these guys . .

    Rythmik F15

    You’ll be smiling from ear to ear for a month
    Congratulations
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
  • sbb2112 wrote: »
    Ordered one of these guys.Rythmik F15xz8242w0rmrx.jpg

    I keep telling myself I don't have room for a sub but if I were to submit, that one would be an excellent choice. Enjoy.
    All tube designed Hello Kitty boom box
    Invisible aluminum wireless Phazer speaker wire
    Free Spirit Teleport Preamp (Literally brings the artists into your living room)
    1.44 JW Flux Capacitor Mono Amps
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Congrats on a beautiful musical sub!
  • CH46E
    CH46E Posts: 3,595
    I simply listened to mine.
  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 941
    Playing musical chairs with some gear in systems. I took the Sonic Euphoria pre out of the main system and paired it with a pair of Ampzilla 2000 amps out of the home theater system to drive the Quad 2905's. The better 200 watt mono blocks have more than enough power for the Quads, so the passive pre works fine.

    I then took the Sumo Athena pre from the Quad system and put it with the 845 tube amps driving my DIY horns. The active pre drives the amps harder and gets me better bass.

    I also took the D-class from the Quad system and put them in the home theater system to drive the Jubilee bass bins. The amps work well for bass duty.
  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    Upgraded to roon 1.7
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,537
    edited November 2019
    Received the new Benchmark DAC2 DX. It came with the new slimmer remote---very nice. Got the XLR output pads set (10db option) to match my Parasound A21 input sensitivity, for maximum SNR. Love it. Dead quiet. The volume control is more predictable and sensitive, and led's flash as you adjust gain; this is different from the DAC2L.
    Post edited by steveinaz on
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
  • joecoulson
    joecoulson Posts: 4,943
    Congrats Steve!
  • agfrost
    agfrost Posts: 2,436
    sbb2112 wrote: »
    Ordered one of these guys.Rythmik F15xz8242w0rmrx.jpg

    I think you'll be happy with your new Rythmik. I have a pair of F8's and I couldn't be more pleased with their tone.

    I've got a single F8 and fantasize about adding a 2nd...
    Jay
    SDA 2BTL * McCormack DNA 0.5 amp * Oppo BDP-93 * Modded Adcom GDA-600 DAC * Rythmik F8 (x2)
    Micro Seiki DQ-50 * Hagerman Cornet 2 Phono * A hodgepodge of cabling * Belkin PF60
    Preamp rotation: Krell KSL (SCompRacer recapped) * Manley Shrimp * PS Audio 5.0
  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,590
    I have 2 F-25's flanking my mains and I am done. I will never need more bass or more accurate bass. I'm simply done.

    Tom
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    steveinaz wrote: »
    Received the new Benchmark DAC2 DX. It came with the new slimmer remote---very nice. Got the XLR output pads set (10db option) to match my Parasound A21 input sensitivity, for maximum SNR. Love it. Dead quiet. The volume control is more predictable and sensitive, and led's flash as you adjust gain; this is different from the DAC2L.

    Did I miss it or have you posted some pics? :smile:
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    agfrost wrote: »
    sbb2112 wrote: »
    Ordered one of these guys.Rythmik F15xz8242w0rmrx.jpg

    I think you'll be happy with your new Rythmik. I have a pair of F8's and I couldn't be more pleased with their tone.

    I've got a single F8 and fantasize about adding a 2nd...

    Only one way to turn a Fantasy into a Reality, as far as Subwoofers go anyway :D

  • Officially got the SDAs put away. Took out the drivers, loctite around the magnet, sealed em back up and stored them away for what will most likely be a couple of years. :(

    I am still rocking out to these Advents though so at least I have something.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
  • sbb2112
    sbb2112 Posts: 134
    treitz3 wrote: »
    I have 2 F-25's flanking my mains and I am done. I will never need more bass or more accurate bass. I'm simply done.

    Tom

    I spent a couple hours listening last night and realized what a difference it makes. I put the PSW650 back in to listen to a couple of the same selections. Silly me..
    Main System
    Marantz AV8802A PrePro
    Marantz MM7025 Amp rear surrounds
    McIntosh MC7205 Amp center, ceiling and mid surrounds
    McIntosh MC300 Amp front mains
    Oppo 203 Bluray
    Polk SDA-SRS with VR3 monastery crossovers
    Polk FX1000 Mid surrounds
    Klipsch RP-440C Center channel
    Klipsch RP-15M Rear surrounds
    SVS prime elevation ceiling surrounds
    Rythmik F15HP sub
    Samsung 8500 curved screen 65" LED 4K
    Mac Mini Server

    Office System
    Musical Fidelity M6s dac/preamp
    Oppo 103D Bluray
    Polk SDA-SRS 2
    Parasound HCA-1500A
    Polk PSW 650 sub
    Microrendu
    Roku Ultra
    Mac Mini Server
  • Nightfall
    Nightfall Posts: 10,084
    Officially got the SDAs put away, stored them away for what will most likely be a couple of years. :(

    How come?
    afterburnt wrote: »
    They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.

    Village Idiot of Club Polk
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 26,222
    New Baby coming listening now bedroom IIRC.
  • GlennDog
    GlennDog Posts: 3,117
    Andy at VTS sent these this week . . . Roll’n all Raytheon into the Cary

    iv3lhamnf6xc.jpeg
    AC Regenerator PS Audio PerfectWave Power Plant 10
    Source Lumin U1 Mini into Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC
    Pre Cary SLP-05
    Power Rogue M180 Dark monos
    Mains Salk HT2-TL
    Rythmik F12
  • pitdogg2 wrote: »
    New Baby coming listening now bedroom IIRC.

    Yup
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
  • audioluvr
    audioluvr Posts: 5,737
    Came back from Cabo to one of my amps acting up so pulled them out and dropped them off with Rolland at Hi-Tech Audio for a refresh. Now I have to wait... So I currently don't have an amp or pre or money.
    Gustard X26 Pro DAC
    Belles 21A Pre modded with Mundorf Supreme caps
    B&K M200 Sonata monoblocks refreshed and upgraded
    Polk SDA 1C's modded / 1000Va Dreadnaught
    Wireworld Silver Eclipse IC's and speaker cables
    Harman Kardon T65C w/Grado Gold. (Don't laugh. It sounds great!)


    There is about a 5% genetic difference between apes and men …but that difference is the difference between throwing your own poo when you are annoyed …and Einstein, Shakespeare and Miss January. by Dr. Sardonicus
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,112
    You positioned those JBL alot differently than I would have... interesting, why did you do bass drivers on the inside?
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,112
    Hmm, yeah I would have put the mid/tweet on the inside
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,112
    Right, I've never experimented with speakers with that baffle layout but that's how I always figured I would place them
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.