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Apple TV sound quality as a transport

I recently switched from a DVD Changer into a Channel Island DAC to an Apple TV into the same DAC. I was under the impression that the DAC was ultimately responsible for the sound but I swear it actually sounds better. The only change other than the Apple TV is the switch from coaxial from the DVD to optical from the ATV. Is it possible that the ATV sounds better than my DVD changer as a transport?
macallan7
farjamed
33 posts
 
I recently switched from using an Airport Express to an Apple TV for streaming audio into my main system. I am using Apple Lossless files and feeding that into a Bryston BDA-1 DAC via the optical link. I did notice that when I switched the Byrston changed from showing locked on 44k1 to 48k0. When I play music onkyo dvd player through the BDA1 it also shows 44k1. Don't know if that can make the difference you are hearing but Apple TV apparently outputs at a higher sample rate that an Airport Express.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Most audiophiles believe that the DAC is the most important part of the source, but actually it isn't. It's the digital source jitter that is most important, whether it is coming from a transport or computer.

With a higher jitter source, yes most DAC's sound very different from each other. The reason for this is that the different DACs have varying levels of jitter rejection. Once you have a very low jitter source, most high-quality $10K DACs sound a lot like high-quality $1500 DACs. This is why it makes sense to consider a good USB converter.

There are of course poorly designed DACs that sound harsh on all material with all sources, but these get weeded-out fairly quickly by this crowd.

The ATV is not bad, but the Logitech Touch is a lot better as far as jitter in the stock box.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
kbarkamian
647 posts
 
Farjamed,

Are you using the original ATV or the current one? My gen 1 ATV outputs at 44.1. I know this because my previous Theta DAC wouldn't decode 48, according to Theta's tech.

The current ATV reportedly outputs everything at 48. I haven't heard it in a system outside the Apple store, so I can't realistically comment on it's sound quality.
farjamed
33 posts
 
KBarkamiam, I am using the current apple tv.
magfan
1,583 posts
 
Far,
I can vouch for jitter being destructive. My AirportExpress has such a high jitter signal that my DAC.....a Cambridge Audio CA840 (redbook player w/dac inputs) sometimes looses lock. And makes an awful noise in the process.

Is the ATV better? Is it internally clocked? The AE is not, being an asynchronous device.
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