Elicit R - transparency

[stevebrock]

I have been using my Rega DAC a lot in last few weeks (was without broadband for 2 months and was in process of ripping to a Mac Mini, so I held off so I could access Gracenote DB)

When I got my Elicit I couldnt play any digital only Vinyl.

I think the Elicit is really showing up the bad recordings - mostly recent stuff from the last 10 years .

I guess this is a charactertisitc of the amp (which I like) as the majority of my vinyl sounds extremely good - this is why I refuse to invest heavily in a CD/DAC etc.

At the minute I am using ATV3 into a Rega DAC as my Mac Mini has died - the more i listen to digital files through the ATV3 the worse a lot sound so I am not sure what route to take now.

Apollo R ? Another Mac Mini ?

Discuss?

PS I know I should of kept my Apollo R

 

[stevienut]

Im having same problem, listening to cd quality is way behind Hd music the Elicit R is just so revelling and ads nothing to whats been played,i upgraded from Mira 3 and Maia 3 and had chance to compare and Elicit R was better no doubt i then changed speakers from quad 21l2 to kef R500 great upgrade with rega new duet speaker cable,i have noticed my HD music sounds wonderful but some of my cds sound very bad i stream all music from nas to oppo 103 connected by HDMI and coaxial to Nad m51 dac give Elicit good quality and you will be rewarded, i hope Hd music takes off next year where we can get all music high res if we want,if not im going back to vinyl i bought couple of new pure audio discs and very impressed,lets hope it takes of

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Im having same problem, listening to cd quality is way behind Hd music the Elicit R is just so revelling and ads nothing to whats been played,i upgraded from Mira 3 and Maia 3 and had chance to compare and Elicit R was better no doubt i then changed speakers from quad 21l2 to kef R500 great upgrade with rega new duet speaker cable,i have noticed my HD music sounds wonderful but some of my cds sound very bad i stream all music from nas to oppo 103 connected by HDMI and coaxial to Nad m51 dac give Elicit good quality and you will be rewarded, i hope Hd music takes off next year where we can get all music high res if we want,if not im going back to vinyl i bought couple of new pure audio discs and very impressed,lets hope it takes of

your DAC is on my radar to a home demo if i can get my hand on one... It is your first dac? What you had before? And how do yo discribe his soud...?

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I didn't like the Elicit R presentation, i had it in my home for a demo for 2/3 days and took it back to my Rega Dealer.

And that fact was independent from source, even with my RP3 i found it too bright, my Dyns are more open that Rega speaker so you have that to level things up a bit.

Speaker cables can tame things a bit i've tryed QED XT400 with the Elicit R and just got things worse, and with my Supra classic(100% cooper) was a bit better.

IMO Rega DAC has one very good input and that is the USB, right now i've in home demo a Naim V1 DAC and and compared with Rega usb input is not night and day diference, but if i compare it with the coax or optical inputs, oh boy Rega DAC just fade away.

I know Naim V1 DAC cost more that the double of Rega's, but if I compared with his usb input the diferences are not that big, really.

Try to tune up a bit your system, try new speaker cables or use only the usb input in your dac... Babby steps this time Steve...

 

[stevebrock]

Cool - another Elicit R owner!

Vinyl is superb IMO with the Elicit, it just grartes how bad some cds sound!

I know the Elciit does not add anything to the presentation, thats why I had to get a warmer cartridge (Nagaoka), the Elicit is a keeper so I will have to fine tune my digital set up to get it sounding as good as it possibly can for Red Book CD - no easy feat.

Vinyl is my main source though, but sometimes I haven't the time to play vinyl - streaming is convenient when I am working from home and I want some background music or when firends come for dinner etc.

 

[stevienut]

I love M51 but its my first dac had rega apollo before that,i bought based on reviews alone but very happy and ive had it over a year with no thoughts of upgrade,this dac is truly something special and i cant think of any areas which is lacking,the sound is analog its a detail miner but does not emphasize any part there is no hardness or digital sound,the HDMI conection is a master stroke and sounds as good as all other conections im not very good at discribing sound but would say the reviews i read are acurate the ausies have a good owners thread which was were i first read about it after John Darco reviewed and liked it.

 

[CnoEvil]

At the minute I am using ATV3 into a Rega DAC as my Mac Mini has died - the more i listen to digital files through the ATV3 the worse a lot sound so I am not sure what route to take now.

Apollo R ? Another Mac Mini ?

Discuss?

You could try a Linn Sneaky DS.

 

[stevebrock]

At the minute I am using ATV3 into a Rega DAC as my Mac Mini has died - the more i listen to digital files through the ATV3 the worse a lot sound so I am not sure what route to take now.

Apollo R ? Another Mac Mini ?

Discuss?

You could try a Linn Sneaky DS.

What would this give me?

 

[CnoEvil]

What would this give me?

Possibly what you are looking for.....a detailed, but less edgy and more musical sound. IMO. The Linn DS range is one of the more analogue sounding of the digital sources out there. Don't take my word for it though.

 

[stevebrock]

What would this give me?

Possibly what you are looking for.....a detailed, but less edgy and more musical sound. IMO. The Linn DS range is one of the more analogue sounding of the digital sources out there. Don't take my word for it though.

i think the ATV3 up sampling to 48k is the problem?

Or are you saying the Linn DS is more musical than the Rega DAC

 

[floyd droid]

You could try a Linn Sneaky DS.

What would this give me?

A ruddy great hole in your TT upgrade fund.

 

[CnoEvil]

i think the ATV3 up sampling to 48k is the problem?

Or are you saying the Linn DS is more musical than the Rega DAC

I prefer the Sneaky to the Rega DAC, but that is irrelevant, in as much as that it's what you think, that counts,

You asked for ideas, and I gave you my suggestion.

 

[plastic penguin]

Very, very similar to the Leema - ruthless when it comes to bad recordings. The rough edges can be smoothed out but doubt whether you can eradicate them. Mine has been inproved by the Naim but still has a slight urge to go mechanical.

 

[drummerman]

I have to say I wouldn't like a system which only makes the highest quality of recordings sound bearable.

I know that means that it probably isn't as 'revealing' as could be that is fine with me. I'd rather compromise (a little at least) across the spectrum and enjoy most of what I put on but that's just me.

regards

 

[stevebrock]

I have to say I wouldn't like a system which only makes the highest quality of recordings sound bearable.

I know that means that it probably isn't as 'revealing' as could be that is fine with me. I'd rather compromise (a little at least) across the spectrum and enjoy most of what I put on but that's just me.

regards

I think the ATV3 is thge culprit, im going to borrow an Apollo R run it through my Rega DAC and then I can do some A/B comparisons instantly.

When I plug my MacBook Pro in via optical its better than the ATV3

I knew the Elicit R was revelaing, and in all honesty the bad CDs will probably sound more than ok to a lot of people, but I want it as best as possible.

 

[CnoEvil]

I think the ATV3 is thge culprit, im going to borrow an Apollo R run it through my Rega DAC and then I can do some A/B comparisons instantly.

When I plug my MacBook Pro in via optical its better than the ATV3

I suspect you may well hear a good improvement.....here's hoping.

 

[stevebrock]

I think the ATV3 is thge culprit, im going to borrow an Apollo R run it through my Rega DAC and then I can do some A/B comparisons instantly.

When I plug my MacBook Pro in via optical its better than the ATV3

I suspect you may well hear a good improvement.....here's hoping.

I dare say a Satiurn R would be the answer to all my prayers.........I might just have a listen to one when I drop some cables off at Cymbiosis.

(just being curious)

 

[plastic penguin]

I think the ATV3 is thge culprit, im going to borrow an Apollo R run it through my Rega DAC and then I can do some A/B comparisons instantly.

When I plug my MacBook Pro in via optical its better than the ATV3

I suspect you may well hear a good improvement.....here's hoping.

I dare say a Satiurn R would be the answer to all my prayers.........I might just have a listen to one when I drop some cables off at Cymbiosis.

(just being curious)

Any analogue or semi-ananlogue source will be the best option. Go for a s/hand Naim CD5i-2... not sure why you're so allergic to the idea.

 

[stevebrock]

Im not allergic to it PP, but you know what it would be interesting to listen to one with the Elicit

 

[plastic penguin]

Im not allergic to it PP, but you know what it would be interesting to listen to one with the Elicit

Well go and listen to one... Naim and Rega is allegedly great match together. I can't confirm that one way or the other as I've not heard the two. DO NOT compare it to the Unitis. I'm sure the Unitis are very good, but I'll be surprised if you didn't find the CD5i-2 far more musical.

 

[stevebrock]

yep a lot of peeps on Naim forum mix Rega & Naim, a CD5i-2 on the bay as we speak 3 months old!

Gonna see how an Apollo R stacks up with the DAC & Elicit

One thought is probably I am preferring the vinyl sound so much more

 

[cse]

I have to say I wouldn't like a system which only makes the highest quality of recordings sound bearable.

I know that means that it probably isn't as 'revealing' as could be that is fine with me. I'd rather compromise (a little at least) across the spectrum and enjoy most of what I put on but that's just me.

regards

Totally agree. That's why I downgraded from to a Densen CD420 to a Marantz Pearl Lite SACD. Now I listen to all of my collection without fatigue instead of just the CD's that sound exceptional.

 

[plastic penguin]

yep a lot of peeps on Naim forum mix Rega & Naim, a CD5i-2 on the bay as we speak 3 months old!

Gonna see how an Apollo R stacks up with the DAC & Elicit

One thought is probably I am preferring the vinyl sound so much more

Thought you'd sold the Apollo-R? if the Naim is only 3-months old don't hang around. You won't lose any (much) money.

 

[stevebrock]

PP, I sold the Apollo R long before I got the Elicit, so I just want to borrow one to see how it stacks up against the Elicit!

 

[plastic penguin]

PP, I sold the Apollo R long before I got the Elicit, so I just want to borrow one to see how it stacks up against the Elicit!

Stick a Rega badge on the Naim and you'll be fine. :rockout: