chzplz
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2008
- Posts
- 380
- Likes
- 10
Wow, I thought I was there... great amps, great phones (check my profile, maybe I'm deluding myself, but I'm happy as a canned clam), and feeling on top of the world... until all that great stuff made clear how sorely I need a better source. My Denon DVD-2200 universal player croaked, and I replaced it with a cheapo Oppo universal player while I figure out what to do... and a dirty confession: I spend as much time listening to my stock 6G Ipod through all this other wonderful gear as I do anything else.
So, time to get a source to match the rest of my stuff. But I'll admit it- I don't have the first clue about "modern" stuff like DAC's, soundcards, optical this or Burr-Brown that, and no offense to the well-informed, I really don't want to learn about it. I know I'm leaving myself open to spend a bunch of $$$ and still be unsatisfied, but I've put way too much time into this hobby already and I've got a few other things that keep getting in the way like working, raising some kids, being a good citizen, you know... life.
There are a few things I know I want/don't want from my next purchase:
-Bass. Good bass. I love crisp, tingly highs and lush mids, but if the bass is sloppy, or worse, absent, I can't listen to it.
-I bought into the high-res hype early and heavy... probably 1/4 of my collection is SACD or DVD-A. I'd hate to be unable to play those at their intended bit/sample rates (not that I know what that really means). I'd also REALLY like to be able to rip them so I can make playlists and stop having to swap discs in & out.
-Portability isn't necessary.
-If I sell off the unused stuff in my basement, and some of my Phillies season tickets, I can probably come up with around $1000 or so, with the hope that that'll be the end, not the beginning, of my investment.
Here are some ideas I've had, maybe some kind soul(s) can tell me if they make sense in light of the above:
-Mac mini or Macbook as the "player" (I don't even know what you call it) - but can it record and play back the high-res material?
-Meier StageDac because I appreciate Dr. Meier's good manners and generosity answering questions (this coming from one with 4 Singlepower amps-- customer service goes a long way with me), and because I like the crossfeed on my Opera, and have heard it's way better on the StageDac
-OR Cherry Bomb's Adcom GDA-700 that's for sale -- but does that rule out the high-res material?
-OR a Valabs DAC because it seems everyone thinks they're great, mod-able (I wouldn't be doing the mods but I do have a great tech who could), and they're super cheap (and high res? No idea)
-OR none of the above.
I don't need anything exotic or top-shelf, just something that I can listen to and be simple-minded and happy. I love my current set-up, just feel that I need to close this last loop.
Anyone want to point me in the right direction? Thanks for listening.
Ira
So, time to get a source to match the rest of my stuff. But I'll admit it- I don't have the first clue about "modern" stuff like DAC's, soundcards, optical this or Burr-Brown that, and no offense to the well-informed, I really don't want to learn about it. I know I'm leaving myself open to spend a bunch of $$$ and still be unsatisfied, but I've put way too much time into this hobby already and I've got a few other things that keep getting in the way like working, raising some kids, being a good citizen, you know... life.
There are a few things I know I want/don't want from my next purchase:
-Bass. Good bass. I love crisp, tingly highs and lush mids, but if the bass is sloppy, or worse, absent, I can't listen to it.
-I bought into the high-res hype early and heavy... probably 1/4 of my collection is SACD or DVD-A. I'd hate to be unable to play those at their intended bit/sample rates (not that I know what that really means). I'd also REALLY like to be able to rip them so I can make playlists and stop having to swap discs in & out.
-Portability isn't necessary.
-If I sell off the unused stuff in my basement, and some of my Phillies season tickets, I can probably come up with around $1000 or so, with the hope that that'll be the end, not the beginning, of my investment.
Here are some ideas I've had, maybe some kind soul(s) can tell me if they make sense in light of the above:
-Mac mini or Macbook as the "player" (I don't even know what you call it) - but can it record and play back the high-res material?
-Meier StageDac because I appreciate Dr. Meier's good manners and generosity answering questions (this coming from one with 4 Singlepower amps-- customer service goes a long way with me), and because I like the crossfeed on my Opera, and have heard it's way better on the StageDac
-OR Cherry Bomb's Adcom GDA-700 that's for sale -- but does that rule out the high-res material?
-OR a Valabs DAC because it seems everyone thinks they're great, mod-able (I wouldn't be doing the mods but I do have a great tech who could), and they're super cheap (and high res? No idea)
-OR none of the above.
I don't need anything exotic or top-shelf, just something that I can listen to and be simple-minded and happy. I love my current set-up, just feel that I need to close this last loop.
Anyone want to point me in the right direction? Thanks for listening.
Ira