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Transport - will it really make an improvement

Looking for honest advice. I am considering buying a better transport, and cant yet convince myself that it will really make an improvement in my system. At present, I am using a Pioneer elite DV-05 dvd player as a transport with an outboard, Assemblage, platnum dac and upsampler. I am overwhelmed with the improvements the dac made in my system, in lieu of using the inboard dac in the Pioneer Elite. However, I'm just not convinced, due to lack of digital knowledge, that a digital output from one source could be that much better than another. I seam to think that differences in quality of cd players, are mainly attributable to their internal dac's and not the transport or digital side. Of course, I maybe completely wrong!! On the other hand, I would hope to expect a difference if comparing my 500.00 dvd player, to say a 6k transport, but are not looking to spend any where near that much money. Please enlighten me with some education, and if you have any recommendations on a used transport for around 1k. Thanks, Steve

Oh, in case it matters, I have a pair of Innersound Eros MK1 electrostats with their new xover bass amp and ESL amp + good cables.
sfrounds
jcaudio's avatar
jcaudio
237 posts
 
The power supply of the transport is also EXTREMELY important. This is why we do power cord demonstrations on the transport. Look at the power supply of most units including the Audiomeca which is distributed in this country by Sanibel Sound a subsidiary of Hi Fi Farm. Then go to your nearest Audionote dealer and open it up. Just having a external power supply does not guarantee anything. In fact, some designers feel the cord connecting the power supply to the unit is a source of R.F. contamination. Rather than quibbling as to which brand is better I think the question has been answered. Good transports make a difference. Find a dealer you trust and seek their advice
jcaudio's avatar
jcaudio
237 posts
 
By the way Audionote does make a very good dedicated transport for $999 retail since I notice SFSOUNDS was looking for something in that price range.
hififarm
92 posts
 
For anyone reading this thread JC Audio,s statement about Sanibel being a sub of HiFi Farm is 100% not true.They are 2 completly different corporations with totally different ownership.It is true however that I am affiliated with both companies.So far Sanibel has managed to garner a lot of praise for providing new and important products which truly have something new and important to offer the audiophile.Aloia with inductive power supply,Audiomeca with it's own reader and the first application of Anagrams digital technology,Piega with their own truly unique ribbon diaphram,and soon to come more "new" technology to enhance the aural experience.By the way the external supply converts 12 volt elminating rf potential.
Best Regards,
Stephen A. Davis president owner HiFiFarm
22 years service to the audiophile
Stephen A.Davis director Sanibel Sound
Americas most important distributor for the future of hi-end
turnaround's avatar
turnaround
52 posts
 
If I can add to the question above with some of my own:

What can one expect out of a high-end transport? Or, what do you listen for once you get above a certain threshold for jitter?

I imagine that it isn't all about controlling jitter, but I don't understand what is beyond the 1's and 0's and the "spacing" of them. I'm wondering what the advantages and differences are once you hit a certain point (wherever that may be) of controlling jitter.

Also, do jitter-control boxes do as good a job as having a good transport to begin with? What about "locking" the clock between a transport and DAC of the same brand?

Finally, is there a sound difference between using RCA coaxial and AES/EBU digital outputs? Thanks for the help y'all.
jcaudio's avatar
jcaudio
237 posts
 
A good transport does do a better job of controling jitter although some of that jitter control is being handled at the DAC now on some machines. A good transport IMHO will allow you to hear more of what's on a cd. We actually hear things we didn't know was on the disc as we move up in transports. Again this will depend on the equipment used! On the equipment we have tried we prefer the RCA outputs.
To be honest I haven't felt a desire to try the jitter reduction devices as the digital we get is so awesome as it is I have felt no longing. Maybe someone else who uses a high quality transport and DAC can answer that one for you.
Finally a good quality transport should work equally well with most DAC's. Many people who are using cd players etc. as transports probably have not heard their DAC's at their best. We have sent even a $999 dedicated transport to people who were using VERY expensive cd players as transports and all have noticed a big improvement. Even at this modest price point. Hope his helps some.
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