VDAC Need Running In?

[admin_exported]

Current system: Marantz PM7200 Amp, Sony CDP XB930 CD, Quad 11 Speakers,Bi-Wired with QED Silver Anniversary,Atlas Equator Mk2, Grado SR80i, VDAC

Just bought a VDAC,connected via USB from my Mac PBG4 and connected my Atlas Eq mK2 on output. First impession was that

the sound was a bit thin,bit lacking in bass,will sound improve over time? (been on about 3 hours)

Is USB the best connection?

Was also going to connect a dgital coax from the CD player through the VDAC and switch between the two

Would this give a better sound from the cd player?

Need recommendation for digital cable!

VDAC owners please help!!

 

[MattSPL]

All components generally sound better after a break-in period but its hard to say if you will gain more etc.

 

[Anonymous]

After x amount of hours, what you hear is what you get, what files are you playing? have you set up the audio on the computer? there are threads on here explaining how to do that

 

[JoelSim]

Are you listening to lossless or MP3 quality files? My own experience is that MP3 sounds much worse than CD and lossless sounds a little worse (thinner and more glassy). That is when played via the DAC on my CDP so the only difference is the source (MacBook Air), Airport Express and associated coax cable.

 

[the record spot]

Running in? An hour. Tops. Probably less.

Not much difference across the boards from 128kbps up to Lossless. I use everything from WAV to 128k and they all sound good. A lot of fluff written (often on the Steve Hoffman forum) by folk who can "spot 128kbps a mile away" but I've tried and don't hear it. Many people, I suspect, fall into this category.

 

[Anonymous]

When there are lots of transients, the difference is quite notable, it's not that it sounds bad, it just sounds flatter.

 

[JoelSim]

the record spot:Running in? An hour. Tops. Probably less. Not much difference across the boards from 128kbps up to Lossless. I use everything from WAV to 128k and they all sound good. A lot of fluff written (often on the Steve Hoffman forum) by folk who can "spot 128kbps a mile away" but I've tried and don't hear it. Many people, I suspect, fall into this category.

Eh? There's a world of difference on revealing kit.

 

[the record spot]

See my kit below for the same, see also good headphones on an iPod. "World of difference" is moot at best and I'm being generous here.

 

[JoelSim]

the record spot:See my kit below for the same, see also good headphones on an iPod. "World of difference" is moot at best and I'm being generous here.

No really, there is. Chalk and cheese.

 

[Anonymous]

You'd be better off using the digital optical out of your Mac if it has one - all recent models do.

Whether running in makes a difference is moot. I hqve a v-dac and didn't find the sound changed at all. However, the v-dac isn't as forward as some components and it's only after a while that you begin to hear its virtues. Everything is there, it's just not pushed at you.

I'd for once disagree with RS. I do hear a difference between files compressed at different rates and those not. They just sound less full: the skeleton of the music is there, but some of the flesh is missing.

 

[Anonymous]

I am happy with the VDAC, certainly not thin to my ears. I find it impossible to separate burning in from getting used to a sound, so I won't comment on that. Are you 100% sure that your computer setup is optimal and bit perfect (all volumes at 100%, no dsp, no sample rate conversion, no low quality compressed audio)? What kinda music are you playing? Listening to Corinne Bailey Rae now, great,,,

 

[Anonymous]

Hey

Thanks for the replies,useful advice, having spoken to my son, mac expert, i have realised that all my cds i put on itunes through

my mac were not on lossless,told you i was new to this stuff!!

So thats my next job,tried a couple through the vdac,sounded so much better!!

connected my cd through the vdac as well next question is where do i go for lossless downloads?

presumably not amazon/itunes etc,are there other sites available for "popular music"?

 

[Anonymous]

Some googling resulted in this: http://www.hifimusicdownloads.com/index.htm