Transport - Does it matter?

jaxwired
jaxwired Posts: 201
edited February 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
I'd like to hear from everyone regarding the CD transport used to feed an outboard DAC. Do they make a difference even though it's all digital before the DAC? Surely error correction and read accuracy are factors. Do transports sound different or identical?
2 Channel
NAD C545 -> Benchmark DAC1 -> Bryston BP6 -> Bryston 4B SST2 -> Dynaudio Contour S1.4
Post edited by jaxwired on
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  • LuSh
    LuSh Posts: 887
    edited November 2009
    Different. Try using a few...the naysayers will say digital it digital...it's not. They'll spend two hours formulating essay's and pasting links when they could have heard the differences themselves in half the time they spent typing.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited November 2009
    I thought we covered this in another thread. Anyway,like anything else,quality of the transport moves up with higher quality gear. Keeping in mind of coarse that alot of manufacturers use the same transport or the same handfull of higher end ones.Given a mass marketed piece in the lower to mid price range,I would have to say probably not. If they didn't make a difference,there wouldn't be a market for stand alone transports.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited November 2009
    Transports make a Big Difference, I used a Cd player as a Transport with my
    Theta Pro Prime II dac. The Cd player sounded very good, but when I got a Theta
    Data Basic Transport it was a difference. The Theta Transport was much more Detailed
    with great bass! Every Transport you use will sound different.
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited November 2009
    transports do make a difference.. just like cables.. (runs and hides) ;)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited November 2009
    danger boy wrote: »
    transports do make a difference.. just like cables.. (runs and hides) ;)

    chicken ****!!:p:)
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • bikerboy
    bikerboy Posts: 1,211
    edited November 2009
    A digital transport upgrade is like a tt upgrade. One part in a chain. Some people might not hear much difference. To me it makes a cd sound a step closer to the sound of vinyl.
    Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 w/ Pioneer 42" plazma-> Polk LSiM 703 w/Tivo, Marantz tuner, BRPTT: Nothingham Spacedeck-> Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm-> Soundsmith DL 103R-> SUT->Bottlehead ErosDigital: I3 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192-> i3 PC server
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited November 2009
    jaxwired wrote: »
    Do transports sound different ....?
    They can,a big factor is the jitter reduction capabilities of the DAC it's feeding.This is because it is the relative jitter levels that are the biggest contributor to SQ differences between different dac/transport combo's.

    For instance if a DAC incorporates a sample rate converter(upsampler)it reclocks the data so any jitter resulting from the interface with the transport will be greatly reduced.Therefore even transports that have higher levels of jitter will be more or less corrected for by the DAC so differences between them should be markedly reduced.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited November 2009
    GV#27 wrote: »
    the relative jitter levels that are the biggest contributor to SQ differences between different transports
    fixed
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • lakesailor
    lakesailor Posts: 319
    edited November 2009
    From my own experimentation the DAC makes a far more significant upgrade to a system than the transport will. That is not say that a good transport will not outperform a lesser one; only that I suggest you invest in a good DAC first; transport second.
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited November 2009
    lakesailor wrote: »
    From my own experimentation the DAC makes a far more significant upgrade to a system than the transport will.
    Absolutely, and even more specifically the quality of the power supplies and analog stages of the DAC differentiate the good from the excellent IMO.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited November 2009
    In my experience, transports can sound different.

    To clear up the "error correction" myth. There are 2 types of error correction; successful and unsuccessful. You only hear the unsuccessful in the form of a skip or drop-out. Succcessful error correction has absolutely no by products.
    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
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited November 2009
    Yes, went from PS3 to Rotel CDP using PS Audio DAC on both and Rotel slayed the PS3.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited November 2009
    I went from an adcom CDP to a theta transport.The theta is much better.Night and day difference.
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
    Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
    Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
    Harman Kardon T-55c TT
    DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
    4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
    DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
    Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited November 2009
    fbm211 wrote: »
    I went from an adcom CDP to a theta transport.The theta is much better.Night and day difference.

    Likewise. I tried a lot of CD players as transports. When I hook up my Theta the sound is better. The DAC is an audionote Kit1.2. I have another transport (forget the name of it :o) and it sounds better than the cd players used as transports but not quite as good as the Theta. Certainly a certain transport makes a difference.
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited November 2009
    fbm211 wrote: »
    I went from an adcom CDP to a theta transport.The theta is much better.Night and day difference.

    Theta Transports are very Good!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited November 2009
    danz1906 wrote: »
    Theta Transports are very Good!
    Theta,Wadia,CAL and Esoteric all made some excellent transports,but the new generation of transports look to be alot more fun.:) http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/wireless_music_systems/devices/5745&cl=us,en
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited November 2009
    GV#27 wrote: »
    Theta,Wadia,CAL and Esoteric all made some excellent transports,but the new generation of transports look to be alot more fun.:) http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/wireless_music_systems/devices/5745&cl=us,en

    Yes, the future is here;)
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • jaxwired
    jaxwired Posts: 201
    edited November 2009
    Well, everyone seems to think transport do in fact matter so....
    I'm thinking about switching out my NAD C545 to a Rega Apollo just for transport use. Opinions welcome. Or, if you have a better idea, love to hear it. Thx!
    2 Channel
    NAD C545 -> Benchmark DAC1 -> Bryston BP6 -> Bryston 4B SST2 -> Dynaudio Contour S1.4
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited November 2009
    Do you have a DAC? The adcom GDA-600 is a giant killer if you can find one
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
    Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
    Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
    Harman Kardon T-55c TT
    DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
    4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
    DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
    Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited November 2009
    I don`t know if this helps, but since I have been going down pretty much the same road with my CDP upgrade, I was turned onto the Bryston DAC.

    I, for one reason or another, have been getting into Bryston gear, and with having no experience with this brand, have found this....

    http://bryston.com/bcd1_r.html

    it kind of explains alot...

    I also was lookingh at this....

    http://bryston.com/bda1_m.html

    the read on the CDP leads me towards the CDP, but the external DAC is still an option at this point, but as the title reads.....does the transport make a difference, and what should I use with this DAC ?

    After reading the CDP page, I am convinced that the transport does matter....almost as much as the DAC does

    I could be misguided....wouldn`t be the first time



    or the last !!
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • jaxwired
    jaxwired Posts: 201
    edited November 2009
    fbm211 wrote: »
    Do you have a DAC? The adcom GDA-600 is a giant killer if you can find one

    I have a benchmark DAC1 that I purchased new only 2 months ago. I'm very happy with it and I don't have plans to change the DAC right now. I am considering changing the CDP I use as a transport to feed my DAC.
    2 Channel
    NAD C545 -> Benchmark DAC1 -> Bryston BP6 -> Bryston 4B SST2 -> Dynaudio Contour S1.4
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  • jaxwired
    jaxwired Posts: 201
    edited November 2009
    beardog03 wrote: »
    I don`t know if this helps, but since I have been going down pretty much the same road with my CDP upgrade, I was turned onto the Bryston DAC.

    I've read alot abou the Bryston CDP and DAC. I know they are very respected and get great reviews. If I wasn't happy with the benchmark, Bryston would be at the top of my list.

    If I was going to buy a Bryston, I think I'd go for the BCD-1 and sell my current CDP and DAC. But as it stands, I'm going to stick with the benchmark for now and am just considering a transport change.

    I only listen to CDs right now. I do not listen to any streamed, iPod, or computer based music at this time.
    2 Channel
    NAD C545 -> Benchmark DAC1 -> Bryston BP6 -> Bryston 4B SST2 -> Dynaudio Contour S1.4
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited November 2009
    jaxwired wrote: »

    If I was going to buy a Bryston, I think I'd go for the BCD-1 and sell my current CDP and DAC. But as it stands, I'm going to stick with the benchmark for now and am just considering a transport change.

    QUOTE]

    Agreed....I am seriously lookimg at the BCD-1 instead of going DAC/Transport


    I am still doing my homework, as I won`t be able to upgrade for a long while !
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • Ranger0912
    Ranger0912 Posts: 50
    edited February 2010
    A lot depends on your downstream electronics. I'm delighted with my PS Audio Digital Link III but was hard pressed to identify a noticeable sonic difference before upgrading to my current amp.
    McIntosh MA-7000 Integrated
    Cambridge Audio Azur 840C CD
    B&W 805s
    Logitech Transporter Wireless Link
    Mac Mini Music Server
    Furman Elite Power Conditioning
    Signal Cable, Magic Power Cables
    Signal Cable, Silver Resolution Balanced Interconnects
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  • MANSKITO
    MANSKITO Posts: 295
    edited February 2010
    All Digital transports are the same, all cables are the same, 50% of the products they try and sell you are snake oil. And Emotiva amps are the best amps EVER. : P



    Jk If they make a difference is not really in question, the question is how MUCH of a difference they make. I would say if you already have the best of the rest and some spare cash then try it out. If not then your best off with speaker, DAC or AMP/pre-amp upgrades.

    But for your gear I would say maybe listen to some new speakers, your gear seems I don't know that much about gear that is that High end, but it seems fine. That is if you want a large delta change. But if your happy with your current sound and what to maybe tweak it a little then try a transport or cable upgrade or something of that nature.
    Monitor 60s, CS10 front
    Monitor 40s, back
    PSW10:(

    H/k AVR 325
    Sansui Tape Deck
    Pioneer PD-5010 CD player

    Sennheiser HD 650s :D
    Maverick Audio Tube Magic D1 DAC

    AMD Phenom II 940 @ 3.8 prime stabel
    4 gigs 1066, cas 5
    XFX 4890 1gig
    Seagate 1tb 7200.12
    Creative X-fI Titanium Fatal1ty
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited February 2010
    The simple answer is check out the overall WEIGHT of a unit with a GOOD transport in it? does it weight 12 lbs or less like most mid-fi DVD/CD players? NO!

    Are manufacturers who design jitter resistant--vibration resistant heavy weight transports crazy? No!

    Listen to a few and you will hear a 'difference'!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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