So what are the 'best' portable sources anyway?

[qusp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jian /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, this is kinda armature. All I can say is that this is not that simple as to zip a file.The lossless files are no way close to the original cds (not cdrs). This involves tones of factors, like jitters, time shifts, minor errors. To make this simple, ripping files from a mac sys, or from xp, or from safe mode xp, or vista etc using different ripping softwares through different qualities of cd writers results in totally different wav files, just try it and you will know. And your source of flac or ape or apple lossless or whatever are all wav. the original sin of the problem might go back to the very stranded of audio cd format. And this is why CDRs can never match CDs and CDs can never match their master samples.

LOL ^^ this is just too funny; jitter in ripping a CD; LOL. even funnier is this whole mac lossless sounds different to the same file compressed to flac on a PC, man youve been hanging out on forums for too long.

and to the OP, the best sounding portable transports/dacs see sig
vv

plus I plan to add a korg MR-1 shortly and that should give them both a run for their money. this new thingo (technical term) from head-direct looks interesting, but i'm actually decided i'm not that big a fan of the OPA627 and I already have a fantastic amp. if it beats the MR-1, I might be interested; but it would have to slaughter it to sway me from what I already have

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jian /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, this is kinda armature. All I can say is that this is not that simple as to zip a file.The lossless files are no way close to the original cds (not cdrs). This involves tones of factors, like jitters, time shifts, minor errors. To make this simple, ripping files from a mac sys, or from xp, or from safe mode xp, or vista etc using different ripping softwares through different qualities of cd writers results in totally different wav files, just try it and you will know. And your source of flac or ape or apple lossless or whatever are all wav. the original sin of the problem might go back to the very stranded of audio cd format. And this is why CDRs can never match CDs and CDs can never match their master samples.

Here, have one (or a handful).

 

[KONAKONA]

This calls for a 'hahahahaha oh wow'

In any case, that's good to hear about the optical outs and what not. I know my way around EAC so all of my CD rips are good. My C64 with the CD to floppy conversion gets some jitter problems, but I don't use it anymore.

Ahem. Anyway, guess I'll be saving up for a iriver then. Hopefully I'll be buying a D10 soon, so the iriver will go on the list after that.

I thought I was gonna have to start lugging around all of my CDs too, phew!

 

[Punnisher]

Quote:

Originally Posted by KONAKONA /img/forum/go_quote.gif This calls for a 'hahahahaha oh wow' In any case, that's good to hear about the optical outs and what not. I know my way around EAC so all of my CD rips are good. My C64 with the CD to floppy conversion gets some jitter problems, but I don't use it anymore. Ahem. Anyway, guess I'll be saving up for a iriver then. Hopefully I'll be buying a D10 soon, so the iriver will go on the list after that. I thought I was gonna have to start lugging around all of my CDs too, phew!

You may want to get the iriver first. At least keep an eye out at all times for a good deal on a 120/140.

 

[KONAKONA]

Already have a optical on my computer, plan on using that and the line out of my cowon till I save some more up.

 

[raymondu999]

I've heard that the iRiver H120/140 feeding optical-out through to a DAC and amp can better an RWA iMod doing the same through the LOD. Can anyone spare their thoughts on the matter?

 

[wolfen68]

Theoretically, the H1xx to an external DAC should be better than an Imod since you have all the advantages of an external DAC with all of its improved components. If someone comparing were to like the Imod better...you would have to try the H1xx again with another DAC. The improvements possible are endless since you can always keep upgrading the DAC as improved ones hit the market. With an Imod, what you got...is what you got.

With that said, I have seen one or two opinions here where someone liked an Imod better than a H1xx/DAC combination. However, I think that was with a MicroDAC and nowadays we have the D10.

 

[raymondu999]

I have a friend with the combo of H120 + Sysoptic optical cable + iBasso D10, and he claims that it sounds better than the iMod + iBasso D10. So this is entirely plausible?

 

[wolfen68]

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymondu999 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have a friend with the combo of H120 + Sysoptic optical cable + iBasso D10, and he claims that it sounds better than the iMod + iBasso D10. So this is entirely plausible?

Sure it's plausible, he can claim anything he wants

Kidding aside, IMO...yes it is absolutely plausible since the imod is unable to make use of the stellar DAC in the D10.

 

[netion]

A laptop with a good soundcard.

 

[Nagasaki_Kid]

Gigabeat F or X with I2s to an external dac since i2s is lower jitter than optical. Of course this requires some diy.
At least I think the gigabeat has I2S pins in the dock out. But this is just theory

 

[raymondu999]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfen68 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Sure it's plausible, he can claim anything he wants Kidding aside, IMO...yes it is absolutely plausible since the imod is unable to make use of the stellar DAC in the D10.

So AFAIK it's something like this?

iMod + D10 = iMod's HDD + iMod's WM8721 DAC + D10's amp
iRiver + D10 = iRiver's HDD + D10's WM8740 DAC + D10's amp.

 

[ericj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nagasaki_Kid /img/forum/go_quote.gif Gigabeat F or X with I2s to an external dac since i2s is lower jitter than optical. Of course this requires some diy. At least I think the gigabeat has I2S pins in the dock out. But this is just theory

It's not that i2s has "lower jitter" it's that the i2s signal lines include the clock.

And yeah, the F (and probably X) allegedly exposes the i2s signal on the dock connector, but if anyone has actually used it for anything they sure kept it a secret.

 

[qusp]

yeah that 'info' has been in the landscape for some time now and nobody has done anything about it. sounds like a mirage to me.

 

[vYu223]

So... is anybody besides qusp going to say anything about the "HifiMAN HM-801" from head-direct?

I noticed that there's no mention of digital audio output. Only input... I also noticed that it only accepts SD card memory (as a "last ditch" or "just in case"), which isn't a lot of space for music... This brings me to believe that one is supposed to have a separate source to feed the digital information into the "HifiMAN HM-801" So, I'm guessing that this device is primarily a portable DAC?