Ref7 is is not a 5+ figure Dac, 5+ figure Dacs are made for serious audio not computers and toys from a computer peripheral company. How many 5+ figure Dacs have USB?
Audio-GD Reference 7 - the new flagship DAC
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haloxt
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Audio-gd used to have just coaxial/bnc input on most of their gear, and they used to refuse to add optical in the ref 1 because a digital switch would degrade the sound, and eventually they made a way to have more inputs without sound degradation (expensive as you can see in ref 7.1 multiple input prices 
). I believe Kingwa personally prefers it to other transmission types, other inputs were put in to satisfy customers. If Kingwa was king he would make all of us spin cd's and use bnc, lol.
). I believe Kingwa personally prefers it to other transmission types, other inputs were put in to satisfy customers. If Kingwa was king he would make all of us spin cd's and use bnc, lol.
IPodPJ
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Some do, some don't. That is because some companies still don't take USB seriously, whereas AES/EBU being a studio standard is taken very seriously. Are you now suggesting Audio-gd makes toys? Your level of silliness is going off the charts.
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Audio-gd used to have just coaxial/bnc input on most of their gear, and they used to refuse to add optical in the ref 1 because a digital switch would degrade the sound, and eventually they made a way to have more inputs without sound degradation (expensive as you can see in ref 7.1 multiple input prices
How many people today actually buy CDs vs. digital downloads? Spinning CDs is a thing of the past and is on its way out. It would be a poor business model if that's all his DACs were capable of working with. Obviously Kingwa realizes that the future of high-end audio lies in computers and media streamers and not a spinning disc.
haloxt
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I know less people are spinning discs, but I believe Kingwa thinks it sounds better than most computer transports, and only has these devices with usb and optical to cater to customers. If Kingwa had a programmer to help him make a hard drive based music server, I'm sure he would make one as overbuilt as the cd7fv, and like the cd7fv it would only have coaxial/bnc .
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axw
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I am not really sure what you mean by "these days" - is the world withdrawing from AES/EBU?
In my rig I use AES/EBU signal from M2Tech Evo. Short search indicates that AES seems indeed superior than SPDIF - for example because the stronger signal is less prone to distortion. So I would opt not to get rid of it from AGD hardware.
Parafeed
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I think that particular insult was hurled at your Transporter (Logitech). Ho hum.
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Name just ONE [5 figure] $10,000+ Dac that has USB input???
Toys are from computer peripheral companies, reading comprehension is essential for written dialog. Logitech is a computer peripheral company is it not???? Squeeze toys are not true audiophile gear, they are toys that have been retrofitted for sudo serious audio [ie internet radio and such]. Computers and toys are not on the same level as $10K Dacs which is why you will likely be hard pressed to find a 10k dac made to work with toys and computers.
You would be a lot better off buying a real front end vs. upgrading to the Ref7.1. Seriously just about any CPD can beat the best Squeeze box or computer. Take vrln's lead and step up your game.
AES/EBU si the only balanced digital input is it not? And if so what are the benefits?
Bottom line. computers are no match for true CD-Transports. Computers are lousy, noisy, and pollute the whole electrical circuit. No computer fitted with a sound-card using AES/EBU is on the same level as a CD-Transport. So computers as a source for AES is a joke.
Next you have niche market products made my [other] companies, I have yet to hear one beat a real Audiophile CD-Transport costing 1K or more.
There are no other digital front ends available besides the aforementioned.
The only legitimate product for a digital front end with AES/EBU is the CD-Transport....all others seek to be as good but most all fail miserably. USB is made for printers, keyboards and mice not for use in million dollar recording studios with $10,000 Dacs.
basically if you have a computer your sound can only get as good as ....So-So which is why people spend years and thousands of dollars trying to make it more than it can be but are never successful, hence the endless buying trying to get and audio nirvana that will never be.
In the mean time you guys can continue weird sessions of dialog.
Next you have niche market products made my [other] companies, I have yet to hear one beat a real Audiophile CD-Transport costing 1K or more.
There are no other digital front ends available besides the aforementioned.
The only legitimate product for a digital front end with AES/EBU is the CD-Transport....all others seek to be as good but most all fail miserably. USB is made for printers, keyboards and mice not for use in million dollar recording studios with $10,000 Dacs.
basically if you have a computer your sound can only get as good as ....So-So which is why people spend years and thousands of dollars trying to make it more than it can be but are never successful, hence the endless buying trying to get and audio nirvana that will never be.
In the mean time you guys can continue weird sessions of dialog.
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No real benefits at all, no evidence it sound better than 75ohm bnc and it can not be run for distances like bnc can either.
There is a reason why its rare to find digital front ends with AES/EBU....even AGD's own top end Transport does not have AES/EBU. And there is one thing ANYONE with a AGD product will tell you, is that Kingwa is ALL about good sound. If he thought AES/EBU was better sounding than bnc you had better believe it would be on the product.
IPodPJ
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The Transporter was designed by Slim Devices and later bought out by Logitech, Einstein. My unit has been fully modded with Audio-gd clocks and power supply, an R-core and more, and mates extremely well with the Ref7 -- I'm betting just as good if not better than the CD7. The DAC and analog outputs on the unit have been disabled and only the DSP portion along with the digital inputs/outputs has power going to it.
And in response to the rest of your questions -- will this shut you up, Einstein?
http://www.stereophile.com/content/weiss-man-202-music-archive-network-player
- $10 - 15K, check
- serious audio gear, check
- made to work with computers, check
- usb input, check
- aes/ebu input, check
Wavlength also has USB DACs that cost over $10K.
If I remember correctly Kingwa said once that in his experience AES measures worse than BNC, which is why he doesn´t feel it´s very important. And yes, I know some manufactures say the exact opposite. Who knows...
computerparts
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You won't know for sure until you compare. I'm sure your unit is good for what it is but I have a feeling the CD7 is in another league.
Parafeed
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You really are a plonker. 'Nuff said!
IPodPJ
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I really don't think so because the DSP module in the RE7 seems to be the limiting factor in the potential of the unit, so I assume the same could be true with the CD7. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have one on hand to compare. I would have agreed with your comment before I modded the Transporter, but it's a different beast afterwards. It's surely the best transport I've yet heard, and because the Audio-gd parts are so inexpensive and really perform well, it's not a very expensive modification to do.
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