Still far from deciding on sources....

Hope I've put this in the correct section.

Right, you all know my kit (see sig). Firstly, the Leema is here to stay, no question.

Earlier in the year I was looking at upgrading all my kit bit at a time: amp followed by speakers and then CDP and turntable. However, a few months ago I met with Gerrardasnails for lunch and heard his set-up. Was I impressed? yes, far better than anticipated. Easy, you might think? wrong; it's further complicated the choices of modern hi-fi.

Since then I've been seriously toying with the idea of chucking my old set-up DVD player, CDP.... apart from SQ there are practical issues why I should embrace the 'Download route'. The most important is I've outgrown our bungalow - wherever you turn there's hi-fi and music everywhere. So before you all nod off I'll give the options:

1) Replace the CDP

2) Replace the DVD for a universal Blu-Ray jobbie and sell the Arcam. This must outgun my 73T in pure SQ terms.

3) Keep the CDP and use it as transport + DAC + other boxes needed for film, TV and radio, and bung the DVD out. This has posed another problem: My Marantz tuner will have to be put out to grass within the next 18 months.

4) If I go the DAC +++ route I have to somehow convince the OH, who is adament she doesn't want the room stuffed full of gizmos and additional boxes.

I roughly know how much I want to spend for option 1, but haven't the faintest idea about the other routes. BTW, I won't be looking until after Xmas.

Any help would be smashing.

Cheers, pp
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
RegaDAC with DVD player as transport.

If you want something a bit more complete and easy to use, the MF Clic streamer thing looks good. Check out Moorgate Acoustics Website forum.

The Audiolab CDQ is DAC, pre and transport so a nice combo unit, not that you need a pre.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Can I suggest a 5th option? I have no source other than the DAC and was just going to buy a Sony Blu Ray player to use with it, so the DAC will serve both mac and Sony.

Unless, of course, the Sony can match the DAC on CDs, but I'm guessing it won't.
 
Grottyash:

Can I suggest a 5th option? I have no source other than the DAC and was just going to buy a Sony Blu Ray player to use with it, so the DAC will serve both mac and Sony.

Unless, of course, the Sony can match the DAC on CDs, but I'm guessing it won't.

The 73T is subtly better than the Sony DVD but not significant. Crikey, it's a real minefield, especially when i lack so much mod-tech savvy.

Using the CDP or DVD as transport, how does it work? Do you disable the CDPs internal workings by adding a digital interconnects?
 
T

the record spot

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Western Digital 1TB External HDD, might have gone up now, but I bought mine for about £65 a couple of months ago. Gives you some options if you want to go via the hard disk music storage route.
 
A

Anonymous

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plastic penguin:Grottyash:
Can I suggest a 5th option? I have no source other than the DAC and was just going to buy a Sony Blu Ray player to use with it, so the DAC will serve both mac and Sony.

Unless, of course, the Sony can match the DAC on CDs, but I'm guessing it won't.

The 73T is subtly better than the Sony DVD but not significant. Crikey, it's a real minefield, especially when i lack so much mod-tech savvy.

Using the CDP or DVD as transport, how does it work? Do you disable the CDPs internal workings by adding a digital interconnects?

Yes, that's how it works. However, my guess is that you could probably get rid of the CD player and use the blu ray or DVD player as transport without any loss of quality.

If you want to try, and have 149? to spare, WHFSAV's recent favourite, the Firestone Spitfire, albeit in its MkII version, is on special.....
 

Gerrardasnails

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Sep 6, 2007
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plastic penguin:
Hope I've put this in the correct section.

Right, you all know my kit (see sig). Firstly, the Leema is here to stay, no question.

Earlier in the year I was looking at upgrading all my kit bit at a time: amp followed by speakers and then CDP and turntable. However, a few months ago I met with Gerrardasnails for lunch and heard his set-up. Was I impressed? yes, far better than anticipated. Easy, you might think? wrong; it's further complicated the choices of modern hi-fi.

Since then I've been seriously toying with the idea of chucking my old set-up DVD player, CDP.... apart from SQ there are practical issues why I should embrace the 'Download route'. The most important is I've outgrown our bungalow - wherever you turn there's hi-fi and music everywhere. So before you all nod off I'll give the options:

1) Replace the CDP

2) Replace the DVD for a universal Blu-Ray jobbie and sell the Arcam. This must outgun my 73T in pure SQ terms.

3) Keep the CDP and use it as transport + DAC + other boxes needed for film, TV and radio, and bung the DVD out. This has posed another problem: My Marantz tuner will have to be put out to grass within the next 18 months.

4) If I go the DAC +++ route I have to somehow convince the OH, who is adament she doesn't want the room stuffed full of gizmos and additional boxes.

I roughly know how much I want to spend for option 1, but haven't the faintest idea about the other routes. BTW, I won't be looking until after Xmas.

Any help would be smashing.

Cheers, pp

I know you've said before that you are a PC novice. However, once you have ripped a few cd's and moved them onto an external drive, it really is easy.

I would sell your cd player and tuner and buy a Western Digital Media player, an external 1TB HDD (£49!!) and a DAC. This was you can play cds from your DVD player through the DAC. Radio from Sky/Freeview through the DAC. Radio from the WD box (internet stations). And best of all, ripped FLAC files through the DAC and not have to have loads of cds around the place. This way, you also reduce the box count/size.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digital-Live-Media-Player/dp/tech-data/B002LZUHMI/ref=de_a_smtd

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digital-Elements-Desktop-External/dp/B002E7HEVU/ref=pd_sim_computers_6

£78 + £49 - cd player - tuner = very little
DAC price? Say £200-£500

All in all, not a huge outlay and you would notice a massive upgrade.
 
JohnDuncan:Cambridge Audio 650BD. Job done.

The reviews and your recommendation confirms what a capable machine 650BD is. However, there's a couple of concerns: Firstly, if it mirrors Cambridge seperates in presentation then it could be a little too bright with the Leema. The other is will it seriously out perform the 73T? The benchmark is the 192, but I won't know for sure until I hear it. Definitely a serious option though.

Cheers for that....
 

Andrew Everard

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igglebert:RegaDAC with DVD player as transport.

If you want something a bit more complete and easy to use, the MF Clic streamer thing looks good. Check out Moorgate Acoustics Website forum.

The Audiolab CDQ is DAC, pre and transport so a nice combo unit, not that you need a pre.

Would that be three product suggestions, none of which you have heard and at least two of which don't actually exist yet?
 
Gerrardasnails:plastic penguin:

Hope I've put this in the correct section.

Right, you all know my kit (see sig). Firstly, the Leema is here to stay, no question.

Earlier in the year I was looking at upgrading all my kit bit at a time: amp followed by speakers and then CDP and turntable. However, a few months ago I met with Gerrardasnails for lunch and heard his set-up. Was I impressed? yes, far better than anticipated. Easy, you might think? wrong; it's further complicated the choices of modern hi-fi.

Since then I've been seriously toying with the idea of chucking my old set-up DVD player, CDP.... apart from SQ there are practical issues why I should embrace the 'Download route'. The most important is I've outgrown our bungalow - wherever you turn there's hi-fi and music everywhere. So before you all nod off I'll give the options:

1) Replace the CDP

2) Replace the DVD for a universal Blu-Ray jobbie and sell the Arcam. This must outgun my 73T in pure SQ terms.

3) Keep the CDP and use it as transport + DAC + other boxes needed for film, TV and radio, and bung the DVD out. This has posed another problem: My Marantz tuner will have to be put out to grass within the next 18 months.

4) If I go the DAC +++ route I have to somehow convince the OH, who is adament she doesn't want the room stuffed full of gizmos and additional boxes.

I roughly know how much I want to spend for option 1, but haven't the faintest idea about the other routes. BTW, I won't be looking until after Xmas.

Any help would be smashing.

Cheers, pp

I know you've said before that you are a PC novice. However, once you have ripped a few cd's and moved them onto an external drive, it really is easy. I would sell your cd player and tuner and buy a Western Digital Media player, an external 1TB HDD (£49!!) and a DAC. This was you can play cds from your DVD player through the DAC. Radio from Sky/Freeview through the DAC. Radio from the WD box (internet stations). And best of all, ripped FLAC files through the DAC and not have to have loads of cds around the place. This way, you also reduce the box count/size. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digital-Live-Media-Player/dp/tech-data/B002LZUHMI/ref=de_a_smtd http://www.amazon.co.uk/Western-Digital-Elements-Desktop-External/dp/B002E7HEVU/ref=pd_sim_computers_6 £78 + £49 - cd player - tuner = very little DAC price? Say £200-£500 All in all, not a huge outlay and you would notice a massive upgrade.

Agree, it's a pretty modest outlay. My main issue is whether can suss the day-to-day practicality; I really need to leap this self-inflicted barrier I have towards DACs etc. The only way is to visit a very understanding dealer and ask him or her to go through every detail in laymans terms, and to maximise my amp.

Very much an interest with the benefits of streaming.

Ta, Gerrard.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Andrew Everard:
igglebert:RegaDAC with DVD player as transport.

If you want something a bit more complete and easy to use, the MF Clic streamer thing looks good. Check out Moorgate Acoustics Website forum.

The Audiolab CDQ is DAC, pre and transport so a nice combo unit, not that you need a pre.

Would that be three product suggestions, none of which you have heard and at least two of which don't actually exist yet?

Indeed Andrew. Three suggestions for consideration and auditioning. I have no idea which PP will prefer, less so given that none of them are out yet. They're suggestions and I don't claim to have heard them.

Any reason for the dig?
 

SteveR750

Well-known member
PP - I was converted by Gerrard, or rather he helped me attain the nirvana that I thought streaming lossless would be (and maybe even streaming is not even the ultimate goal). If you have a PC in your house, then I really would urge you to try a couple of albums off the PC - you can download something like J River Gerrard or I can help you get the setting right, get a £6 optical cable from amazon and if you are not blown away then you've lost nothing.

You don't have to get rid of transports, in fact you'll need one to rip your CDs into your library, but that said you can still keep your BDP or CDP as a source until you are sure what you want to do. The hardest part of all of this is finding the album artwork on google images. At this stage DAC choice is largely irrelevant, that's for later when you have realised how good your source can sound, a used DACmagic can be had for £150, and there are others cheaper new that will tell you all you need to know....
 

idc

Well-known member
Gerrardasnails:

I know you've said before that you are a PC novice. However, once you have ripped a few cd's and moved them onto an external drive, it really is easy.

x2 on that advice. I know it is a bit daunting at first, but if I could figure it out on my own, then anyone can, even Penguins.
 
Certainly is daunting...

Right - another question. I'm not that interested in buying any of the above storage, DACs etc from web-based companies, purely because I'll recieve it in the post a few days later and won't have clue what to do with it all - it'll be a demonstration of "Still Life". So would any good hi-fi retailers, such as Richer Sounds, Infidelity, Unilet etc, supply (and give advice) on any of this stuff, or will I need to contact a PC specialist?
 

drummerman

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Andrew Everard:

igglebert:RegaDAC with DVD player as transport. If you want something a bit more complete and easy to use, the MF Clic streamer thing looks good. Check out Moorgate Acoustics Website forum. The Audiolab CDQ is DAC, pre and transport so a nice combo unit, not that you need a pre.

Would that be three product suggestions, none of which you have heard and at least two of which don't actually exist yet?

Have you unpacked and tried that 30 quid streamer/DAC you bought a while ago?
 

SteveR750

Well-known member
plastic penguin:
Certainly is daunting...

Right - another question. I'm not that interested in buying any of the above storage, DACs etc from web-based companies, purely because I'll recieve it in the post a few days later and won't have clue what to do with it all - it'll be a demonstration of "Still Life". So would any good hi-fi retailers, such as Richer Sounds, Infidelity, Unilet etc, supply (and give advice) on any of this stuff, or will I need to contact a PC specialist?

I'd find a hi fi retailer first, since the PC bit is largely irrelevant as none of them have anything special in the sound card department. I would guess that most music player software programmes aimed at enthusiasts will have enough adjustments to be able to drive any combination of DAC, so it's about choosing the DAC you like the sound of, and setting up your PC to optimally feed it. The PC itself probably has little effect (that's not to say they won't, but they are all so crammed full of bits sharing the same power supply rails, generating RFI etc that they are all likely much the same).

The way I view it, is that PC music is an intermediate steop between cponevtnional CD system and going to a full server based system with remote NAS / streamer etc and eliminating the PC from the normal system, and only using it to rip and upload to your library. It just happens that using a PC gives better results than you might imagine, so its a convenient and effective " free upgrade", assuming you already have a PC for other purposes.
 
Just spoke to a nice gentleman from Sevenoaks S&V Kingston. He has advised me to look at the Olive 3 music server. He said it can be used wireless or wired. The only snag with it is it won't stream films - it's purely a music server. I might pop there during the week for a dem. I made it very clear that I won't buy yet - i need to get my head around the various options. He seemed happy to show me what it can and can't do.
 

SteveR750

Well-known member
plastic penguin:Just spoke to a nice gentleman from Sevenoaks S&V Kingston. He has advised me to look at the Olive 3 music server. He said it can be used wireless or wired. The only snag with it is it won't stream films - it's purely a music server. I might pop there during the week for a dem. I made it very clear that I won't buy yet - i need to get my head around the various options. He seemed happy to show me what it can and can't do.

I'd be keen to hear what your findings are, as this is what I'd like to do next...
 
plastic penguin:

JohnDuncan:Cambridge Audio 650BD. Job done.

The reviews and your recommendation confirms what a capable machine 650BD is. However, there's a couple of concerns: Firstly, if it mirrors Cambridge seperates in presentation then it could be a little too bright with the Leema. The other is will it seriously out perform the 73T? The benchmark is the 192, but I won't know for sure until I hear it. Definitely a serious option though.

Cheers for that....

Cancel those comments of mine - I've been listening to CDs through the DVD player all morning... guess what? The Sony DVD recorder sounds better than the Arcam. And like the Arcam is a great synergy match with the Leema.

The evolution starts today.
 
SteveR750:

plastic penguin:Just spoke to a nice gentleman from Sevenoaks S&V Kingston. He has advised me to look at the Olive 3 music server. He said it can be used wireless or wired. The only snag with it is it won't stream films - it's purely a music server. I might pop there during the week for a dem. I made it very clear that I won't buy yet - i need to get my head around the various options. He seemed happy to show me what it can and can't do.

I'd be keen to hear what your findings are, as this is what I'd like to do next...

No probs, Steve.
 

Gerrardasnails

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Sep 6, 2007
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plastic penguin:SteveR750:

plastic penguin:Just spoke to a nice gentleman from Sevenoaks S&V Kingston. He has advised me to look at the Olive 3 music server. He said it can be used wireless or wired. The only snag with it is it won't stream films - it's purely a music server. I might pop there during the week for a dem. I made it very clear that I won't buy yet - i need to get my head around the various options. He seemed happy to show me what it can and can't do.

I'd be keen to hear what your findings are, as this is what I'd like to do next...

No probs, Steve.

PP. If you want, email me and I'd be happy to go through things over the phone with you, with regards to adding music files to a hard drive and anything else. I would show you in person but now I'm working again(!), it only leaves weekends and I'm never able to get any play time these days!

If your dvd player sounds better than the Arcam, imagine with it through a DAC?
 
Gerrardasnails:plastic penguin:SteveR750:

plastic penguin:Just spoke to a nice gentleman from Sevenoaks S&V Kingston. He has advised me to look at the Olive 3 music server. He said it can be used wireless or wired. The only snag with it is it won't stream films - it's purely a music server. I might pop there during the week for a dem. I made it very clear that I won't buy yet - i need to get my head around the various options. He seemed happy to show me what it can and can't do.

I'd be keen to hear what your findings are, as this is what I'd like to do next...

No probs, Steve.

PP. If you want, email me and I'd be happy to go through things over the phone with you, with regards to adding music files to a hard drive and anything else. I would show you in person but now I'm working again(!), it only leaves weekends and I'm never able to get any play time these days! If your dvd player sounds better than the Arcam, imagine with it through a DAC?

Thanks, Gerrard - give me few days and I'll mail you. Like you this week is going to be busy for me (two weeks away with flu and the OH has been ill). We can arrange something a little later down the line.... I'm not goin' to be buying until after Xmas.

Regards the DVD player out performing the Arcam; it is a surprise, that Leema really exposes any weak links in a system. The bass is slightly stronger and the overall sound is atouch more airy. That said, the Arcam has the DVD licked when it comes to poise and detail. Even though it is subtle differences, the Arc doesn't quite do enough to justify having two boxes.

I'll mail in a week or two.

Cheers again.
 

chebby

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I think I like John's CA 650BD suggestion best so far. (Doesn't even need a seperate DAC.)

Of course it doesn't stream music files, but OTOH it plays anything you can get on any disc.

Keeps it all under one lid.

Another way of keeping it simple(r) is the Audiolab 8200CD DAC + CD player.

However, you will still need a seperate BD/DVD player for movies. (Or BD/DVD recorder if you want Freeview HD and a built in HDD and a replacement for your tuner by listening to Freeview radio.)

The Audiolab + BD/DVD player option is twice as expensive as the CA 650BD and is two boxes towards filling up the bungalow again.
 

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