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PC-Audio vs. High-end CD Player-GAME OVER

Hi All,
I just auditioned the Wavelength Audio Cosecant DAC on a very nice system at the local dealer. It was run through a Hovland 200 preamp , a Plinius amp and Avalon Eidolon Diamond speakers. This is all in a very well treated, good-sounding room.
It was, in a word spectacular. Beautiful tone, excellent bass, imaging soundstaging, etc. What was really amazing was a sense of space, or ambience that was imparted. We then compared the same CD's (Diana Krall, Jennifer warnes, some jazz), on a Levinson CDP. I'm not saying that the levinson is the last word in players, but it was what he had on the shelf.While it sounded good, it was much more bright, and "constricted".
Control was through an Imac using I-tunes, and the CD's had been nurned using Apple Lossless.
I ordered my Crimson on the spot.

David
deshapiro
drubin
3,240 posts
 
Revising previous post with a third option...

Dumb question, but, hypothetically, which would be better:

(1) USB out of my Mac --> USB input on Benchmark DAC1 USB, or

(2) USB out of my Mac --> Empirical Audio device that converts USB to SPDIF --> coax digital input on DAC1, or

(3) Toslink out of my Mac --> Toslink input on Benchmark DAC1 (or this can be done via Airport Express)?

#3 is the only option I can do currently.

Or am I missing something?
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Drubin asks:
which would be better:

(1) USB out of my Mac --> USB input on Benchmark DAC1 USB, or

(2) USB out of my Mac --> Empirical Audio device that converts USB to SPDIF --> coax digital input on DAC1?

They both use virtually the same USB interface and firmware. #2 would have lower jitter due to the Superclock4 in the Off-Ramp I2S. There is a slight advantage of the DAC-1 USB because of the upgraded op-amps on the outputs. More mods are recommended to improve the high-frequency smoothness and overall dynamics of either.

#2 also allows optimum use of the Pace-Car reclocker with a wide range of sources, including SB3, Sonos, Olive and AiRport Express. These combos are actually better than the USB interface, lower jitter.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
Manufacturer
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
#3 is a non-starter, not even close IMO.

Steve N.
kana813
956 posts
 
Now there's a newsflash, Steve N. thinks #2 is better.

Drubin-

Spend $30. on a Monster Cable ICable and try your Mac's optical output into your DAC-1. Follow Benchmark's Mac set up instructions and enjoy.
drubin
3,240 posts
 
Thanks to both of you. I have the non-USB version of the DAC1 at the moment and have ordered the cable you mention, Kana. AT the Benchmark Web site, I see Mac setup instructions for the USB implementation, but not for the toslink. Can you provide a pointer?
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