[SENOR4Q]

I guess I have two questions. I would really like to keep my computer as my source for most of the logical reasons one could think of, versatility and all that stuff. So my question are: how much does a transport matter when one uses a DAC? Also, I was looking into agetting a modded ART Di/O from Boldercables but if anyone knows of a better DAC for the money feel free to tell me.

 

[lini]

Well, a good stand-alone transport will be more solid and better optimised for low jitter. But you could at least compensate the latter by using a reclocking dac for the computer - the Benchmark DAC1 should be one of these, iirc.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[Wodgy]

Quote:

Originally posted by lini But you could at least compensate the latter by using a reclocking dac for the computer

Very good suggestion. It's also worth mentioning that asynchronous upsamplers automatically reclock digital signals, so upsampling=reclocking. I would recommend an upsampling DAC if you're using your computer as a source. (On the other hand, if you can't afford one, things can still sound good. My current DAC doesn't upsample and it sounds very decent using my laptop as a source.)

 

[MagusG]

I also plan on using my computer as a source for a while.
I am getting a Di/o fairly soon, and I plan on having it modded by bolder. As for jitter reduction. I plan on getting a Monarcy Audio DIP which, if I am not mistaken has a superclock in it. It has optical and coax inputs and coax/ AES/EBU outputs. I will probabaly initially use the coax in on it, but I plan on getting a souncard with optical out, such as the Delta Dio 2496 or the Terratec EWX 2496. Using the optical out will get rid of that dirty computer ground. I think all of this in combination with lossless formats should make for a very kick ass computer rig. Thats all for now.
-Brent

P.S. I also PLAN on taking measures to quiet my computer case as much as possible, such as: papst fans, isolating fans and drives from the chassis, passive cooling on the videocard/northbridge, as well as noise dampening. I really dont wanna go watercooling though.

 

[lan]

For any transport, jitter is a concern but with a DAC with any form of jitter attenuation, it's not really a major factor. Even without that, DACs can still sound good. I have the MENSA DI/O and it sounds great. I preferred it to the Benchmark DAC1 I heard at the last NYC meet.

For soundcards, they're not all the same. I like the sound of the digital out on M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 better than Revo. I also like the fact that the AP24/96 can use an external clock which makes it sound better.

 

[elrod-tom]

A good stand-alone transport will be much more stable than your common or garden variety CD-Rom drive. That will give some benefit. I've also heard that one can expect significantly more trouble with EMF interference with a computer as a source.

 

[Solude]

Using the Revo as a transport without a Monarchy DIP would be bad. The Revo and other soundcards have very low data jitter, but extremely high electrical jitter. If the Revo had optical out it wouldn't matter but it only has coax.

Sad but true, the Revo makes a poor transport but a Monarchy DIP will correct the electrical problem making it a great one. Well a DIP makes pretty much any transport great but that's another thread

I thought of this when i was considering a new source cause I really really didn't want to lose the click and play function of the PC but after digging through some data I noticed coax digital from PCs is the ultimate sin

Do a search on Stereophile for soundcards to see it for yourself, nasty stuff I tell you.

 

[pbirkett]

Solude, are you saying that optical is a better digital connection for a computer?

 

[kuma]

Quote:

Originally posted by SENOR4Q I guess I have two questions. I would really like to keep my computer as my source for most of the logical reasons one could think of, versatility and all that stuff. So my question are: how much does a transport matter when one uses a DAC? Also, I was looking into agetting a modded ART Di/O from Boldercables but if anyone knows of a better DAC for the money feel free to tell me.

Transports do matter somewhat. but, I am not complaning when I use my Yamaha CD burner with DAC2 over stand alone cd player.

Upsampling DAC is currently very popular, but, I got to play around with a filterless DAC and thought this is a good one.
• ack!dac

I prefer this DAC over Channel Island DAC with PS.

 

[Gallaine]

Quote:

Originally posted by kuma Upsampling DAC is currently very popular, but, I got to play around with a filterless DAC and thought this is a good one. • ack!dac I prefer this DAC over Channel Island DAC with PS.

Kuma,

That is an interesting looking DAC. Have you compared it to anything other than the Channel Island DAC?

 

[kuma]

Quote:

Originally posted by Gallaine That is an interesting looking DAC. Have you compared it to anything other than the Channel Island DAC?

MF XDAC and Bel Canto DAC2 were the only other DACs I had at that time.

Interesting contrast between all these upsampling DACs/CD players and a filterless one.
Most upsampling DAC whether 24/96 or 24/192, they all seem to add depth and air in high frequency while the filterless DAC had a better grip in midbass and pace overall.

Altho, soundstage freaks are not going to be impressed with ack!dac, it preserved spirit of the music better than any other entry-level upsampling DACs I have heard.

 

[Solude]

Quote:

Originally posted by pbirkett Solude, are you saying that optical is a better digital connection for a computer?

On a PC yes, otherwise usually not. Reason is the optical isn't electrical and all of the noise stays off the line. In the Stereophile review if memory serves the optical measured ~220ps jitter while the coax came in with a whooping ~2400ps all of it electrical and not data jitter. If you use the newer Monarchy DIPs either is fine, heck with those even a PCDP makes a good transport since really the DIP is the transport.