Darren69 Posted March 28, 2014 Posted March 28, 2014 Once I get my DEQX, I will use the 'digital in' jack. Therefore, I can use my Audia Flight and it's built in DAC elsewhere. Anyone have any awesome experiences with transports? I believe most things equipped with Phillips stuff is the balls(?)
aechmea Posted March 28, 2014 Posted March 28, 2014 I guess that there are a few spinning transports around, but I went for the ones that focus on getting the ones and zeros off the disk without error. I therefore chose from ones like the MSB Data and the PS Audio one where they are constructed by using a computer DVD spinner with standard computer data extraction which is then assembled in a RAM buffer and pumped out via S/PDIF or some sort of proprietary protocol. I suppose there are others - not sure. The spinning mechanism is a bog-standard computer DVD drive that you can buy from any computer shop. It is replaceable using just a screwdriver - no need to search for a long out of production spare part laser and $ for a tech to fit it and calibrate it etc. Ozcal recently bought parts and did a DIY transport in this format. I couldn't see any value in buying something that was a traditional redbook CD drive where the quality of the data is dependent on the drive mechanism. The MSB reads all forms of CD media and DVD-Data disks with .WAV files. (Note these are data disks and not DVD-video or DVD-audio disks). It will play .WAVs up to 192 or maybe its 384 by now. Remember that you are only after the digital signal into the DEQX so anything that does that without too many data or electrical or timing errors will do fine. I think I can tell the difference between my digital sources when sighted but would have no show if it was some sort of blind test. I don't think it matters all that much really. What is more important is the quality of the DACs and the output analog stages in the DEQX. The latest DEQX has an asynchronous USB input option if you wanted to go the computer-with-ripped-CD way. The USB is excellent but the computer part is too fiddly for me - much rather press 'open' and then 'play' on a spinner. The rest of the family would have no chance of getting the laptop connected and producing a sound. [Are you going to ask about planar speakers next, Darren? I have them too. ] 1
Rob181 Posted March 28, 2014 Posted March 28, 2014 He should...and if he does...he will never go back...invite him up/down (I have no idea where you are in relation to him) to have a listen...Rob
aechmea Posted March 28, 2014 Posted March 28, 2014 He should...and if he does...he will never go back...invite him up/down (I have no idea where you are in relation to him) to have a listen...Rob I have invited him before Rob when he was musing about Magtech amps and then a DEQX. Maybe, one day, Darren - just say. Darren is up near Grafton somewhere and I am in the Hunter so that is about a 6 hour drive one way I guess - but if you're gunna spend that sort of money, well, it could be worthwhile to hear all the components real and live in a normal (!) domestic environment.
Rob181 Posted March 28, 2014 Posted March 28, 2014 I have invited him before Rob when he was musing about Magtech amps and then a DEQX. Maybe, one day, Darren - just say. Darren is up near Grafton somewhere and I am in the Hunter so that is about a 6 hour drive one way I guess - but if you're gunna spend that sort of money, well, it could be worthwhile to hear all the components real and live in a normal (!) domestic environment. As per usual...a generous offer & wise advice...I sincerely hope Darren takes advantage of it...Rob
Darren69 Posted March 29, 2014 Author Posted March 29, 2014 Well I may have to drop in on the way to Phillip Island in Oct....via the Oxley of course....
Darren69 Posted March 29, 2014 Author Posted March 29, 2014 Like this?? http://www.visionliving.com.au/hi-fi/ps-audio-perfectwave-transport/id-6i#.UzZds3yKDcs
aechmea Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 Like this?? http://www.visionliving.com.au/hi-fi/ps-audio-perfectwave-transport/id-6i#.UzZds3yKDcs Yeah thats the PS Audio transport that I was referring to. I think that it has some sort of wireless? network connection, called 'the bridge' as an extra add-on. Magenta Audio (SNA sponsor I think) has them. http://www.magentaaudio.com.au/product/ps-audio-perfectwave-transport/ It and the MSB are pretty exxy, but that depends on a budget. The PS Audio does album art, track listing etc. on its little screen, but I couldn't see the point in that when the unit is 4meters or so away. They are trying to place it as a media centre whereas the MSB is a single function box in comparison.
Darren69 Posted March 29, 2014 Author Posted March 29, 2014 Yeah, I am not fussed with pretty pictures, it's only the sound I like. Where could one find an MSB? I couldn't reveal one whilst being Googly.
Gordon Macfarlane Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 Just finished building a very high quality transport Darren . http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/60688-interesting-basis-for-a-cd-hi-res-transport/
aechmea Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 Yeah, I am not fussed with pretty pictures, it's only the sound I like. Where could one find an MSB? I couldn't reveal one whilst being Googly. http://www.msbtech.com/products/data4.php There is an Australian agent and retail organisation.
Darren69 Posted March 29, 2014 Author Posted March 29, 2014 Forehead slap. Was only searching 'Australia Only'. ta Man. Crikey Gords, will check that all out when I get a spare moment or two. Thanks mate.
Stereophilus Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 Yeah thats the PS Audio transport that I was referring to. I think that it has some sort of wireless? network connection, called 'the bridge' as an extra add-on. Magenta Audio (SNA sponsor I think) has them. http://www.magentaaudio.com.au/product/ps-audio-perfectwave-transport/ It and the MSB are pretty exxy, but that depends on a budget. The PS Audio does album art, track listing etc. on its little screen, but I couldn't see the point in that when the unit is 4meters or so away. They are trying to place it as a media centre whereas the MSB is a single function box in comparison. Just to clarify a few points. The media bridge is an add on for the PerfectWave DAC, not the PerfectWave Transport (PWT). The PWT has an Ethernet port to allow album art, but it is not necessary to utilise this function, and if desired the screen can be turned off. The DVD rom drive in the PWT is a bit noisy when spinning up, this could be a concern for some users. The PWT has been discounted quite heavily recently. In the US, PS Audio were actually giving away a free PWT with each PWDac purchase! I think Mike at Magenta has been offering the PWT at half RRP. The reason for this discounting has probably been more due the market shifting to streaming media over transports, rather than any weakness of the PWT. 1
Darren69 Posted March 30, 2014 Author Posted March 30, 2014 Now that's the kind of info I LIKE!! ...and I did......
Rob181 Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 Just to clarify a few points. The media bridge is an add on for the PerfectWave DAC, not the PerfectWave Transport (PWT). The PWT has an Ethernet port to allow album art, but it is not necessary to utilise this function, and if desired the screen can be turned off. The DVD rom drive in the PWT is a bit noisy when spinning up, this could be a concern for some users. The PWT has been discounted quite heavily recently. In the US, PS Audio were actually giving away a free PWT with each PWDac purchase! I think Mike at Magenta has been offering the PWT at half RRP. The reason for this discounting has probably been more due the market shifting to streaming media over transports, rather than any weakness of the PWT. The DVD drive I heard in a MSB was noisy when operating & is/was "par for the course" for that model...so the drive in the PWT must be from the same family...Rob
Telecine Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 The DVD drive I heard in a MSB was noisy when operating & is/was "par for the course" for that model...so the drive in the PWT must be from the same family...Rob Really? What model MSB?
Gordon Macfarlane Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 Forehead slap. Was only searching 'Australia Only'. ta Man. Crikey Gords, will check that all out when I get a spare moment or two. Thanks mate. More than happy to answer any questions D. 1
Darren69 Posted April 2, 2014 Author Posted April 2, 2014 So a transport as described above would sound better than my existing Audia Flight CD three used as a transport (through the DEQX DAC)? Also, I believe coax is the best digital interconnect method??
Stereophilus Posted April 2, 2014 Posted April 2, 2014 So a transport as described above would sound better than my existing Audia Flight CD three used as a transport (through the DEQX DAC)?Also, I believe coax is the best digital interconnect method?? It is hard to generalise too much about these questions. In principle a high quality coax output into a good digital coax cable is hard to beat. The PWT does have an I2S over HDMI output which can sound superior to coax when used with a DAC that accepts this input. It would seem likely both transports mentioned above will sound better than the Audia Flight... But YMMV... 1
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