- Joined
- Apr 12, 2004
- Posts
- 8,216
- Likes
- 817
I figure I should throw you guys a bone instead of keeping everything to myself.
As it turns out, incidentally my CD-based system almost exactly approximates the electronics of the Pico: the Arcam FMJ CD33 (CD player) has a quartet of Wolfson WM8740 DACs per channel and upsamples to 24/192 (beyond the 24/96 rate of the Pico) using the same ASRC, the Analog Devices AD1896. From the analog outputs are my VH Audio Spectrum Ag interconnects, going into the HeadAmp AE-2, which from all accounts has near the same amplification stage of the Pico, including the AD8397 op-amp. (And then my Signal Cable Silver Res Reference power cord on the CDP.)
So essentially the Pico is basically the core of my CD-based system, which of course means I have the rare opportunity to find out how CD compares to lossless digital.
I've ripped a few of my reference CD tracks to FLAC with Foobar2000 for playback. Headphones being used are my SAA Equinox-recabled K701.
The results when comparing the same track on the Pico in its FLAC format versus being played back on my CD system aren't surprising at all. The sound through the Pico is nearly identical to the CD-based system in every aspect of sound quality. I repeat though: nearly identical. They are not the same and the CD system sounds noticeably better in various aspects. For some people these differences might be subtle but I find them not that subtle, I was able to discern the differences on my first listen and repeated listens confirmed them even more.
The Pico is also completely silent at all volume levels when at rest, when using my Klipsch IMAGE, which also arrived yesterday.
In other words, the Pico sounds a lot like my Arcam/AE-2 combo and indeed gets very close. The price difference between these systems? The Pico w/ DAC is $500. The Arcam/AE-2 combo is $2,800. Take from that what you will.
This is all I'll write about the Pico for now, I will not be writing any actual sonic impressions until my full review on StereoMojo.
As it turns out, incidentally my CD-based system almost exactly approximates the electronics of the Pico: the Arcam FMJ CD33 (CD player) has a quartet of Wolfson WM8740 DACs per channel and upsamples to 24/192 (beyond the 24/96 rate of the Pico) using the same ASRC, the Analog Devices AD1896. From the analog outputs are my VH Audio Spectrum Ag interconnects, going into the HeadAmp AE-2, which from all accounts has near the same amplification stage of the Pico, including the AD8397 op-amp. (And then my Signal Cable Silver Res Reference power cord on the CDP.)
So essentially the Pico is basically the core of my CD-based system, which of course means I have the rare opportunity to find out how CD compares to lossless digital.
I've ripped a few of my reference CD tracks to FLAC with Foobar2000 for playback. Headphones being used are my SAA Equinox-recabled K701.
The results when comparing the same track on the Pico in its FLAC format versus being played back on my CD system aren't surprising at all. The sound through the Pico is nearly identical to the CD-based system in every aspect of sound quality. I repeat though: nearly identical. They are not the same and the CD system sounds noticeably better in various aspects. For some people these differences might be subtle but I find them not that subtle, I was able to discern the differences on my first listen and repeated listens confirmed them even more.
The Pico is also completely silent at all volume levels when at rest, when using my Klipsch IMAGE, which also arrived yesterday.
In other words, the Pico sounds a lot like my Arcam/AE-2 combo and indeed gets very close. The price difference between these systems? The Pico w/ DAC is $500. The Arcam/AE-2 combo is $2,800. Take from that what you will.
This is all I'll write about the Pico for now, I will not be writing any actual sonic impressions until my full review on StereoMojo.
