Its the source stupid

dorourke07
dorourke07 Posts: 298
edited November 2010 in Electronics
One of the many things I have learned on this forum is the importance of the each piece of the chain. I added a new SACD/CD player a few weeks ago as my next step and have really enjoyed the improvements in the overall tightness, clarity and soundstage. One of the best improvements I have made with my system. With a quality amp and great speakers I was feeding them junk with an old bagain cd player. I was not getting the best out what I had. I am currently connecting the player through an hdmi cable but I think I might be missing an opportunity by not using the analog outputs, not sure what processing is being done or if I am using the best options. More testing to do.

To cut it short, speakers are fun to buy but don't sell yourself short on the original source when you are looking to upgrade. The ipod has taken a backseat, quality cables are in place and well good beer always helps. Happy upgrades!
Mains - LSi9's
Center - LSiC
Surround - pair of TL3's
Amplification - Parasound 2125
AVR - Onkyo 706
CD/SACD - Onkyo DV-SP506
SUB - MartinLogan Abyss
55" Panasonic Viera TC-P55GT30 3D
Bluray - DMP-BDT310 Panasonic
Post edited by dorourke07 on
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Comments

  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,077
    edited November 2010
    Congrats, another bump in SQ will come with a seperate tubed pre. Enjoy the tunes.
    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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  • Jetmaker737
    Jetmaker737 Posts: 1,124
    edited November 2010
    You should absolutely try analog outs from your source with Direct or Pure Audio mode on your AVR. I realized a significant improvement through my Onkyo 805 that way even when my Oppo was my CD source.
    SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|REL T/9X SE Sub
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,623
    edited November 2010
    Sometimes it's appropriate to just congratulate someone on their findings instead of immediately telling them to do something else.........
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • Jetmaker737
    Jetmaker737 Posts: 1,124
    edited November 2010
    brettw22 wrote: »
    Sometimes it's appropriate to just congratulate someone on their findings instead of immediately telling them to do something else.........

    OK :rolleyes:, but if you actually read the OP you'd see that he was curious about using analog out of his player.
    SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|REL T/9X SE Sub
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,944
    edited November 2010
    Its the source stupid

    Yep, I've been saying that for years.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • BorisBoris
    BorisBoris Posts: 23
    edited November 2010
    Pure Direct Mode + 320kb audio is awesome.. I have it streaming from iTunes using a 40foot optical cable
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  • LessisNevermore
    LessisNevermore Posts: 1,519
    edited November 2010
    BorisBoris wrote: »
    Pure Direct Mode + 320kb audio is awesome.. I have it streaming from iTunes using a 40foot optical cable

    Just imagine how good it would sound without squashing the hell out of it!

    :wink:
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited November 2010
    dorourke07 wrote: »
    ...but I think I might be missing an opportunity by not using the analog outputs...

    That's gonna come down to which component has a better DAC, the SACD player or the AVR. I don't have experience with your particular equipment, so I don't know which is better for you.

    You may be able to run digital and analog out of the SACD player simultaneously to different inputs on the AVR, in which case you could A/B between the two at the push of a button.

    Congrats!:smile:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited November 2010
    LessisNevermore wrote: »
    Just imagine how good it would sound without squashing the hell out of it!

    :wink:

    +1,000,000:smile:
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • Jetmaker737
    Jetmaker737 Posts: 1,124
    edited November 2010
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    You may be able to run digital and analog out of the SACD player simultaneously to different inputs on the AVR, in which case you could A/B between the two at the push of a button.

    Yes, that can be done... a quick and easy way to see which sounds best.
    SystemLuxman L-590AXII Integrated Amplifier|KEF Reference 1 Loudspeakers|PS Audio Directream Jr|Sansui TU-9900 Tuner|TEAC A-6100 RtR|REL T/9X SE Sub
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  • BorisBoris
    BorisBoris Posts: 23
    edited November 2010
    I wish iTunes played stuff like FLAC and other lossless codecs.. gotta use a different player for those and I'm just too lazy to get it all working at the moment, haha.

    Does anyone have a recommendation for a good player?
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  • dorourke07
    dorourke07 Posts: 298
    edited November 2010
    I'll try hooking up both this week and diving deeper into the CD's menu. Appreciate all the suggestions.
    Mains - LSi9's
    Center - LSiC
    Surround - pair of TL3's
    Amplification - Parasound 2125
    AVR - Onkyo 706
    CD/SACD - Onkyo DV-SP506
    SUB - MartinLogan Abyss
    55" Panasonic Viera TC-P55GT30 3D
    Bluray - DMP-BDT310 Panasonic
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited November 2010
    BorisBoris wrote: »
    I wish iTunes played stuff like FLAC and other lossless codecs.. gotta use a different player for those and I'm just too lazy to get it all working at the moment, haha.

    Does anyone have a recommendation for a good player?

    I hate iTunes.

    Foobar2000: it's customizable, light-weight, versatile, and free!:smile:

    http://www.foobar2000.org/download
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,985
    edited November 2010
    F1nut wrote: »
    Yep, I've been saying that for years.

    It's not really that complicated, is it? The source. The name itself should tell you it's relativity to the whole audio equation.
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • BorisBoris
    BorisBoris Posts: 23
    edited November 2010
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    I hate iTunes.

    Foobar2000: it's customizable, light-weight, versatile, and free!:smile:

    http://www.foobar2000.org/download

    Thanks for that, actually just downloaded Foobar...

    Grabbing some FLAC music now.. can't wait to play it, got this new Denon 1910 and it's been mind blowing so far! :)
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited November 2010
    BorisBoris wrote: »
    Thanks for that, actually just downloaded Foobar...

    Grabbing some FLAC music now.. can't wait to play it, got this new Denon 1910 and it's been mind blowing so far! :)

    Glad you're enjoying it! Welcome to Club Polk, btw...:smile: prepare to spend some:wink: money.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • BorisBoris
    BorisBoris Posts: 23
    edited November 2010
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    Glad you're enjoying it! Welcome to Club Polk, btw...:smile: prepare to spend some:wink: money.


    Haha.. you are telling me, already picked up a CS2 and a set of M30s (Space restrictions or I would have went for something a bit bigger..):redface: and let's not forget the Denon 1910 as well!

    Using these Sony SB-1000s for my surround speakers in my 7.1 setup.. seem to be doing a good job so far for what I spent on them ($50 a pair), how important are rear surround speakers really?
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  • bigdude
    bigdude Posts: 10
    edited November 2010
    Any good rec's on a Foobar alternative for Mac users?

    I am using VLC currently to play FLAC files.
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  • dudeinaroom
    dudeinaroom Posts: 3,609
    edited November 2010
    You could download aiff files, I believe those are supposed to be loss-less. I know apple has a loss-less format, if not 2.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,944
    edited November 2010
    RuSsMaN wrote: »
    It's not really that complicated, is it? The source. The name itself should tell you it's relativity to the whole audio equation.

    You'd think so wouldn't you Russ, but it seems that even in this very thread some are not getting that.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,077
    edited November 2010
    Not just this thread Jess, but you see it all over the board. In my opinion, there is no substitute for build quality. I could never understand the people who buy the 99 dollar special cdp from wallmart then complain the speakers don't sound good, and trash the brand of speakers verbally on the internet. Club Polk has been very educational for alot of new members, I only wish we could make the search feature more user friendly and visable. Eh...such is life.
    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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  • dorourke07
    dorourke07 Posts: 298
    edited November 2010
    "Source" as a term, is not even in the vocabulary of most people buying audio equipment. People look at ipods compressing music like winzip compressing a word document, nothing lost. Pick up a circular with black friday deals and you can find a thousand watt HT for $300 bucks. Most people think since it has a thousand watts it must rock. Before I started getting more serious on my audio, I never heard "source" from Best Buy or Crutchfield or any other large retailer. It's only been here and now at the small local shop that it comes up. I actually think I have saved money by not overspending on mismatch gear. This is a great resource.
    Mains - LSi9's
    Center - LSiC
    Surround - pair of TL3's
    Amplification - Parasound 2125
    AVR - Onkyo 706
    CD/SACD - Onkyo DV-SP506
    SUB - MartinLogan Abyss
    55" Panasonic Viera TC-P55GT30 3D
    Bluray - DMP-BDT310 Panasonic
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,250
    edited November 2010
    dorourke07 wrote: »
    "Source" as a term, is not even in the vocabulary of most people buying audio equipment.

    I guess it is time to start talking of "sinks". :rolleyes:
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • dorourke07
    dorourke07 Posts: 298
    edited November 2010
    BlueFox wrote: »
    I guess it is time to start talking of "sinks". :rolleyes:

    well crap....what does that mean????:confused:
    Mains - LSi9's
    Center - LSiC
    Surround - pair of TL3's
    Amplification - Parasound 2125
    AVR - Onkyo 706
    CD/SACD - Onkyo DV-SP506
    SUB - MartinLogan Abyss
    55" Panasonic Viera TC-P55GT30 3D
    Bluray - DMP-BDT310 Panasonic
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