Help me go hard-drive based!

by eatmorecarrots on Opinions Please
Ignore stuffed animals
Sim Audio Orbiter
Rega P3-24
Rogue Audio 99
Rogue Audio M-150
System components

Description

I love the sound of tubes and rock and roll. I put as much into this financially as I was able to. I have had this system about 2.5 years and I am looking for some advice on change. Specifically, I want to swap my main source.

I am headed in the direction of a hard drive based, lossless file format system centered around iTunes. Although the Slim Devices Transporter looks appealing, I don't think I am interested in packaged hardware / software servers. I'll obviously do an external DAC, but I also want to be able to control playback from my iPhone and my Macbook, have access to internet radio such as Pandora (for my girlfriend mainly), and get the best sound possible without making it too complicated (I am not computer wiz).

I've been doing my research and have some concerns like the idea of jitter and clocking I see people discussing similar systems, having to have another completely separate computer, being limited to DAC that have USB inputs, etc.

Lastly, I will tell you now I have no idea what a lot of the initials people on here use to abbreviate things mean so please be clear in your responses.

Thanks so much everyone. Let me know what you think!
Read more...

Components Toggle details

    • Sim Audio Moon Orbiter
    universal disc player http://www.simaudio.com/moonorbiter.htm
    • Rega P3-24
    with Dynavector 10x5 cartridge and optional TT PSU power supply/ speed control. http://www.rega.co.uk/index2.htm http://www.dynavector.com/products/cart/e_10x5.html
    • Rogue Audio 99 Super Magnum
    with optional internal phono stage http://www.rogueaudio.com/Products_99.htm
    • Rogue Audio M-180 Magnum
    mono-blocks http://www.rogueaudio.com/Products_m150.htm
    • B&W 803D
    floor standing full range pair http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=1156&sc=hf
    • Panamax 5510-Pro AC Regenerator
    power conditioner with analog displays
    http://www.panamax.com/PDF/Datasheets/M5510PRO_L543A.pdf
    • AudioQuest Columbia
    a couple pair upgraded with 72v battery packs http://www.audioquest.com/
    • AudioQuest Gibraltar
    bi-wired and spade terminated pair http://www.audioquest.com/

Comments 17

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Dude, I love the set up, great choices on speaker/amp combo.

I also have a Drobo/drobshare (to AppleTV) and I love my digital setup. I went through many DAC's including the ones you mentioned before I finally picked the one I kept, which is a Bryston BDA-1. I think the Berkeley Alpha was better all around looking back, but I think the Bryston sounded warmer with my gear, so I got that one instead. Next I liked the MHDT Labs Havana the best, and it was much less than either of those. It's incredibly musical, and as much as I listen to digital, I probably should have stuck with that one. Not as detailed or extended (espcially compared to the Berkeley) but just sounded great!

Good luck.

macdadtexas

Owner
Whow! I must have turned my email alerts off somehow because I didn't know I had any further comments here after my last one in August!

Well, I've got the Mac Mini and Drobo in. I'm still in the process of ripping my collection (about a third complete). I am also still shopping for a DAC. I'm considering the Ayre (though its a bit pricey), as well as some pro-audio firewire options. I am no longer considering Bel Canto or Benchmark as I don't need analog inputs (I don't want to replace my pre) and I don't want another volume control in the mix (the software, the computer, and the pre is already too much).

I'm in no rush as I still have a ways to go in the ripping process and the Mac's analog out into my pre is sufficient for this interim period (I still have my SimAudio Moon Orbiter for the time being).

Thank you guys for your comments. I'll update the pics and system stats soon.

eatmorecarrots

I'm running a Macbook through a Locus Design usb cord into a PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC. For the moment I'm using a Lacie Hard drive, which is reasonably attractive and quiet. Software is iTunes, ripping is AIFF, error correction is on. I'm quite pleased with the PWDAC, and the setup easily bests the modded Musical Fidelity A5 CDP it replaced. The Perfect Wave may be worth a look for you.

I don't feel as though I'm getting everything out of my setup; I detect a bit more lifelike timbre when I use a Jolida CDP as the transport. I'd be interested in your thoughts as you progress; I think you'll be very pleased with the combination of convenience and sound with a computer front end.

John

jdoris

The Ayre QB-9 DAC is remarkable. I've had mine for about a month, and it revolutionized my system. I can't say enough about it; I often feel like I'm hearing my music collection for the first time. See the rave review in last month's Stereophile (now online) for more info.

Having seen it demonstrated in a couple of ways, I am now a firm believer that jitter reduction as an absolutely critical element for digital sources. The only USB DACs I would consider right now would be the Wavelengths and the Ayre (because of the async USB), and I wouldn't go near SPDIF unless it was reclocked with something like the Empirical Pace Car. Or maybe use USB with Empirical's Off Ramp into one of the DACs the others here are recommending. Though, by the time you do that, price wise, you might as well just get the Ayre.

Good luck,
Bruce

cbw723

sorry but I have done side by side comparisons between the dac 3 and the benchmark , and the belcanto was much better, in everyway possible. so try before you buy !

chrissain

I have used both the Bel Canto and the Benchmark and the benchmark is leagues ahead. Based on my own experience and several journal reviews, the Benchmark would be hard to beat at any price.
I use an apple tv, optical out to Benchmark. I have the Benchmark Pre, which enabled me to sell my Eastern Electric tube pre. If you went with the benchmark you could also eliminate your pre as long as one analog in would satisfy your needs. Free up some money for music

extra_action

I would suggest looking at the usb DACs from Wavelength Audio. This would leverage your Mac and allow you to use an iPhone as a remote with iTunes.

dpatterson

hi, I use the bel canto cd2 transport, I dont have my system hooked up to a computer. not yet anyway. the dac 3 has usb, aes/ebu, bnc, and toselink optical inputs.

chrissain

Owner
Hey Chrissain,
Is your source also a Mac Mini? If not, what? What input / outputs do you use to connect them?

eatmorecarrots

the bel canto dac 3 sounds grreat with the rogues, its what I use at home, its not to expensive either ! good luck, chris

chrissain

It's no accident that recording studios primarily use AES/EBU, with FireWire a very distant second. They do know what sounds best. Plastic (toslink) optical and USB are never used. The best option would be to use a Lynx AES16e (Mac), AES16, no e, (PC) and a pro converter from: Berkeley Designs, Weiss (pro DACs only; the audiophile oriented models are way overpriced,) Lavry, or Mytek. If you must use FireWire, I would suggest a Weiss DAC2, but AES/EBU really does sound better. You will need a computer with PCI card slots to use the AES/EBU I/O. I make recordings on my Nagra VI, and edit and play them back on my Mac Pro, currently with an Apogee duet via FireWire, but soon to be replaced with one of the options above. Hope this helps.

hornblower

Owner
System edited: OK. The Drobo and the Mac Mini are on the way. I'm probably going to plug them both directly into the system and connect remotes (macbook, iphone) via wifi. The only thing missing is a DAC and a way to connect it all together. Considering my tube mono-block setup, what DAC would you guys recommend? Bel Canto? Bryston? Benchmark? The Mac Mini has a mini optical, Usb and Firewire 800 outs. Since most DACs don't have Firewire, I'll end up using that to connect to my Drobo which leaves the optical out and the USB to experiment with in going to the DAC. How would you guys do this?

eatmorecarrots

You could light the room with those blue Rogue LEDs! When I had the Rogue 99 I put several layers of blue masking tape over the LED.

daverz

I have heard really good things about Linn's digital stream players.

firedrums

Owner
System edited: 2 Things: (1) Just sent my Rogue Audio equipment out for upgrade; M-150s to M-180s and the 99 Magnum to a 99 Super Magnum. I figured now was a good time since I needed new tubes and I'm beginning the packing process for a move anyway. (2) In terms of going hard-drive based, I am leaning toward a Mac Mini and a Drobo (http://www.drobo.com)as the server but instead of putting it directly in my system rack, I'd use an Airport Express into my DAC. I like this idea over just using my Macbook because my Macbook travels around with me a lot and I don't want to have to connect and disconnect it to the Drobo all the time and have to always have my Macbook out when I want to turn on some tunes. I figure the Mac Mini idea will always be connected and on. I also like it over something like an Apple TV which I've also seen people use because I'd be able to do internet radio like Pandora and others without having to hack into it. What do you guys think? Am I wrong about any of this? Better ideas?

eatmorecarrots

Owner
Funny that the first comment I receive is about the one piece I didn't put any thought into. The rack is just an "Init" rack from Best Buy. I chose it because it was on of the only ones I could find anywhere that suited my setup that was deep enough for the mono-blocks (19"). Definitely not something worthy of showcasing on an audiophile site, but I do like it! In my defensive of the criticism sure to come, I do at least use iso-feet from Herbie's Audio Lab on my sources and pre.

eatmorecarrots

Nice rack... What manufacturer made that rack?

wpines

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