Slim Devices' Transporter from Logitech

[alexdemaet]

No, Eq'ing is not needed at all; only for music reproduction.
Sordel told me: "I've always regarded EQ'ing as more a hardware fix than a software fix: in the sense that you should EQ for your room and the innate coloration of your sound reproduction equipment, not for the music. EQ'ing the software nearly always does exactly the same as the original mixing process, so that a Dance EQ setting emphasizes the bass frequencies that were already (over-)emphasised by the original production process."

[LeonvB]

I'd try it first before applying an equalizer. IMO a good source going into a pretty neutral amp going to decent phones shouldn't need EQ. Should you feel it does, you've propably chosen the wrong combo. Everyone has different ears and different tastes: you have to pick what sounds right to you. This is what auditioning is for.

2nd: You're talking about emphasizing an (over) emphasized part of the signal. Aren't you afraid you're over-doing it a little? I mean: you're not going to adjust your settings for each and every track. One should be aware of the limitations: it's a reproduction, by definition not the same as a live performance. Sometimes you just have to sit back and enjoy the music.

[alexdemaet]

Originally Posted by LeonvB

No, it wasn't available for a long time in this country so I went for a Stello DA220MKII. But I have the Duet running to my Stello for a few weeks now. It's an excellent combination: it has all the advantages of the TP (network, balanced, etc.), plus the nice remote of the Duet. Only disadvantage is that you have to buy a coax cable.

Please bear in mind the TP's main point of focus seems to be jitter. So while it's an excellent transport and a DAC with high specifications, many are disappointed by the music coming out of the DAC part. The good part of that is that there are many mods that are developed, and there's plenty of room inside the box to place them there. On the other hand it means sinking even more money into it.
So IMO the transporter is meant for just what it's name says: the transport part of an extremely high end setup.

My alac music tracks are stored on my pc hard disk, my pc is connected to a squeezebox duet through ethernet. So to bypass the Duet's dac, I should connect the Stello dac with the Duet through the optical in/out or coax. Right?

[alexdemaet]

I hope I will bypass some built-in dac's by using digital connection?
Would this be the optimal order to connect my audio equipment?

1) Squeezbox Duet (source) (bypass Duet dac),
(1 and 2 are linked to each other via optical cable)
2) preamp HeadRoom Home Balanced (bypass preamp dac),
(2 and 3 are connected with optical cable)
3) Stello MKII dac (finally use the best dac available in my audio inventory)
(3 and 4 are connected to each other via RCA interconnects)
4) amp Red Wine Audio Signature 30.2

[alexdemaet]

I just found out that the HeadRoom (pre)amp has no digital out. So the correct order of connection becomes:
1) Squeezbox Duet (source) (bypass Duet dac),
(1 and 2 are linked to each other via optical cable)
2) Stello MKII dac (finally use the best dac available in my audio inventory)
(2 and 3 are connected via XLR balanced interconnects)
3) preamp HeadRoom Home Balanced (digital stream has been converted to analog by the Stello dac, thus bypassing preamp's dac),
(3 and 4 are connected to each other via RCA interconnects)
4) amp Red Wine Audio Signature 30.2

[LeonvB]

I'd use a good coax cable to connect the Stello to the Duet.
After that, you place your preamp. Here indeed a good XLR cable should be used.
And behind that the power amp. Since the amp isn't balanced, use a very good IC.

P.S. does this mean your Stello has arrived?

[alexdemaet]

No, it hasn't arrived yet. I expect it to arrive this week. I am just trying to find out the best order of connection, so I know how to connect it and where to place it when it arrives.

[alexdemaet]

Originally Posted by LeonvB

I'd use a good coax cable to connect the Stello to the Duet.
After that, you place your preamp. Here indeed a good XLR cable should be used.
And behind that the power amp. Since the amp isn't balanced, use a very good IC.

P.S. does this mean your Stello has arrived?

Would the "Cardas Quadlink 5-c RCA IC" be adequate as a good IC?

[alexdemaet]

(here's another update)
Would you have any suggestions/tips/corrections on the order of connection and how to connect the devices:
1) connecting Squeezebox Duet with Stello DA220 Mk II DAC (I would use digital coaxial to bypass the Duet dac),
2) connecting Stello dac with HeadRoom Balanced Home (pre)amp (I would use Hovland G3 balanced XLR ic's)
3) connecting HeadRoom amp with Red Wine Audio Signature 30.2 (I would use Cardas Quadlink 5c rca ic's)
Would I need a need a high-end digital coaxial cable to connect the Duet with the Stello dac (currently I have a
QED Qunex P75 Coaxial Cable (http://www.play.com/Electronics/Elec...e/Product.html) which is 50 cm in length? Would I need better RCA ic's to connect the HeadRoom amp with
the Signature 30.2 amp (like for example a Cardas Neutral Reference rca)?

[xand1x]

I have a Slim Devices Transporter. Personally, I think it a great source..though I didn't pay $2k for it and doubt that I would..I feel its worth about $1300~ As with any other source system matching is really key and in the end it all comes down to personal taste.