SOLD
Empirical Audio's original Freeway USB-spdif converter. Their current version costs $650. This is possibly the best price-to-performance transport in the world at my asking price of SOLD shipped CONUS. No paypal fee with non-credit card paypal (otherwise add 3%).
I directly compared this Freeway to Empirical's Offramp ($1000), and while Offramp had sharper imaging, I felt the Freeway was actually warmer and richer "analogue" sounding. Both outperform many traditional $1500-$2500 CD transports. Comes with firmware CDR, USB cable, and Empirical Audio's special-order power supply.
In the second photo, note the extra opening. With something like forceps, you can reach inside and plug in 1/8" headphone plugs into the jack mounted on the circuit board. Normally, Empirical Audio disables the stock 1/8" headphone output of M-Audio Transit board; however, I special-ordered further mods to the headphone jack (Black Gate caps installed) and to leave the 1/8" jack intact. With a good power supply and these headphone jack mods, the headphone output sounds very good, clear and smooth. A nice option for portable use when you don't want to drag around a DAC.
Empirical Audio's original Freeway USB-spdif converter. Their current version costs $650. This is possibly the best price-to-performance transport in the world at my asking price of SOLD shipped CONUS. No paypal fee with non-credit card paypal (otherwise add 3%).
I directly compared this Freeway to Empirical's Offramp ($1000), and while Offramp had sharper imaging, I felt the Freeway was actually warmer and richer "analogue" sounding. Both outperform many traditional $1500-$2500 CD transports. Comes with firmware CDR, USB cable, and Empirical Audio's special-order power supply.
In the second photo, note the extra opening. With something like forceps, you can reach inside and plug in 1/8" headphone plugs into the jack mounted on the circuit board. Normally, Empirical Audio disables the stock 1/8" headphone output of M-Audio Transit board; however, I special-ordered further mods to the headphone jack (Black Gate caps installed) and to leave the 1/8" jack intact. With a good power supply and these headphone jack mods, the headphone output sounds very good, clear and smooth. A nice option for portable use when you don't want to drag around a DAC.
