Listening Session - Dacs/CDPs

[tony]

Heard the DCS briefly yesterday when collecting the Lz. Dave was unfortunately playing some think with a harpsichord playing which was very metallic sounding. But Dave's findings are what a lot of people conclude about sources i.e they are all very close.

The usual suspects including myself heard differences between the various dacs on the day but most people where not sitting in the sweet spot Dave spoke about. At the end of the day it is what works for Dave that matters. Good to see Dave and Simon have finally nailed their colours to the CA is irrelevant mast( Can't do smilies on this site)

[Diapason]

Good to see Dave and Simon have finally nailed their colours to the CA is irrelevant mast( Can't do smilies on this site)

LOL, I wouldn't go that far, espcially given that all my spare time at the moment is spent ripping feckin' CDs!!

[DaveF]

Heard the DCS briefly yesterday when collecting the Lz. Dave was unfortunately playing some think with a harpsichord playing which was very metallic sounding.

Yeah that instrument has a very mechanical metallic sound to it anyway so probably not the best demo.

The usual suspects including myself heard differences between the various dacs on the day but most people where not sitting in the sweet spot Dave spoke about. At the end of the day it is what works for Dave that matters.

I too heard the same differences as everybody else on the day. But when I went back to do it on my own, relaxed, and with better level matching, I was a bit frustrated as I then struggled to hear the same differences from that Sat afternoon. I wonder how much group suggestions influence our opinions.

Never said that CA is irrelevant! Very much the way forward but at the moment I can only see that its advantages lie elsewhere.

[tony]

Note smilies remark at the end. The group suggestion quote reminds me of a little fishy quote elsewhere about the tirnahifi belief system.
This could end up being a no holds barred pie fest!

Can't figure it out the Wadia in my place had what I always felt was the richest harmonic texture and depth compared to the CA offerings.
It also had great grip and detail on proceedings. That doesn't seem to be the conclusion in Dave's place.
I have to get the wadia over at some stage to compare it to the LZ as I would be hoping to have reached or breached the SQ of the Wadia. We all have agenda's!!

[Diapason]

Smilies definitely noted!

For my part, I think the Meitner is better than the Wadia, although as usual I just wish we could split the transport and DAC sections of the Wadia for a proper comparison. You see, I actually really WANT something to be better than the Wadia (preferably at around the 500 Euro mark!) and I want computer audio to be better than my player. The only thing is, I want computer audio without the fuss and without the hair-shirt and from what I can tell we're not there yet.

But anyway, we can easily do a Lampi vs Wadia shoot-out some evening, Tony. You also need to pop over to my place, although given my lack of pre, there's probably no point bringing any DACs to that one.

[DaveF]

But anyway, we can easily do a Lampi vs Wadia shoot-out some evening, Tony. You also need to pop over to my place, although given my lack of pre, there's probably no point bringing any DACs to that one.

The Lampi has no volume control so you're gonna need a pre in the loop to do a fair comparison. And that just adds another component into the mix.

[tony]

I know Simon I need to get over just to hear the graaf and speakers anyway.
CA is not complicated you can ignoree the Nigetonepearsekenjk stuff jriver or jplay into a laptop will give you enough.
It is only if you catch the disease you have to worry.

Sure we will have the L7 with preamp fairly soon. We just need a decent club house to hold all these meets.
Pity Ivor didn't have a gigantic unit as it would be nice to have refreshments on tap.

[Diapason]

CA is not complicated you can ignoree the Nigetonepearsekenjk stuff jriver or jplay into a laptop will give you enough.

I'll be using XBMC to play FLAC files into an Arcam rDAC in the short term. We'll see how we get on with that.

Pity Ivor didn't have a gigantic unit

Seems a bit harsh...

[Ivor]

Pity Ivor didn't have a gigantic unit

Seems a bit harsh...[/quote]

Clearly he hasn't read the right toilet walls.

[tony]

Pity Ivor didn't have a gigantic unit

Seems a bit harsh...

Clearly he hasn't read the right toilet walls.[/quote]

I am sure you are gigantic in that department Ivor but happy to leave it at that sighted tests are not required in this case I am happy to go with your subjective beliefs