estreeter
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2009
- Posts
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What Hi-Fi put 3 music lovers in a room last year and played the same selections (mainly classical) through 3 separate rigs into the same DAC:
1. ipod+ND-S1 Onkyo transport
2. CDP
3. Computer hard disk
Without wanting to get bogged down in the specifics of the kit involved, all 3 rated the ipod-based rig as their least preferred, one opted for the CDP and the other two were most impressed with the computer transport. Probably a bit convenient when it supported WHFs earlier contention that the ND-S1 wasnt on a par with an entry-level CDP, but I was surprised by the extent to which each of the test subjects reported major differences between the 3 rigs. Same DAC, presumably the same cables etc.
The debate over jitter levels, RFI and DBT wont go away anytime soon, but i'd definitely like to be part of such a panel, preferably with music more in line with my own preferences.
1. ipod+ND-S1 Onkyo transport
2. CDP
3. Computer hard disk
Without wanting to get bogged down in the specifics of the kit involved, all 3 rated the ipod-based rig as their least preferred, one opted for the CDP and the other two were most impressed with the computer transport. Probably a bit convenient when it supported WHFs earlier contention that the ND-S1 wasnt on a par with an entry-level CDP, but I was surprised by the extent to which each of the test subjects reported major differences between the 3 rigs. Same DAC, presumably the same cables etc.
The debate over jitter levels, RFI and DBT wont go away anytime soon, but i'd definitely like to be part of such a panel, preferably with music more in line with my own preferences.