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Post by robbiegong on Dec 3, 2020 21:28:18 GMT
After going the vintage cdp route I've decided I've had enough of reliability concerns and issues, which goes with that territory os it's time for a different approach.
Been reading about stand alone transports coupled with a DAC.
I dont know anything about DACs in particular, or transports for that matter, but have been reading up and know like all things hifi, they dont all sound the same.
That said i've a good idea of the two pieces I'd like to couple together.
My question is, what connects do I use to 1. connect the transport to the DAC and 2. Is it ok to then use the rca's I already have, to connect the transport to the amp ?
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 3, 2020 21:34:55 GMT
Actually, looking at the rear of the transport, I dont think you'd be able to connect with rca's ....https://www.audiolab.co.uk/6000cdt/
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 3, 2020 21:39:11 GMT
Looks like Optical of SPDIF.
SPDIF would be my weapon of choice.
What DAC are you considering?
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 3, 2020 21:40:56 GMT
Looks like Optical of SPDIF. SPDIF would be my weapon of choice. What DAC are you considering? Marantz HD DAC1
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 3, 2020 21:43:28 GMT
Looks like Optical of SPDIF. SPDIF would be my weapon of choice. What DAC are you considering? Marantz HD DAC1 Is that based on the looks Rob, or have you heard one? Certainly a good looking unit!
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 3, 2020 21:47:36 GMT
Is that based on the looks Rob, or have you heard one? Certainly a good looking unit! Looks most certainly as I have similar sides on my Sansui AU a707Dr, but if reading said it was nothing special it wouldnt get a look in. Reading speaks highly favourably ie: excellent vfm, great solid/heavy build, excellent DAC and head phones amp (although i'm not after the headphone bit) with a sonic description I like, ie: not forward, warm, natural etc etc
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 3, 2020 22:00:27 GMT
Is the SPDIF same as digital coaxial or different ?
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 3, 2020 22:09:36 GMT
Haha, fair enough.
Optical is Toslink...SPDIF is like an RCA cable.
I can help you out with one of those though.
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 3, 2020 22:28:23 GMT
Thanks Oli,
Two things, can you send me links/image of the type of cable(s) I need to use/ you are are referring so I can see what the heck the ends/plugs look like as I haven't a clue what these thing look like.
I need to what what I use to connect the transport to DAC if you could link one like that and then the cable to link the Sansui (amp) to the transport.
I'm a virgin and trying to learn to avoid asking for / buying the wrong thing,
Future shops use the following for plug configuration options: RCA TO RCA (Which I get), RCA to BNC, BNC to RCA and BNC to BNC ?? what of these would / could I use ?
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Post by antonio on Dec 4, 2020 0:26:17 GMT
Start with the easy one, dac to amplifier, you just use a pair of normal RCA interconnects same as phonostage to amplifer. Transport to dac, most would favour coaxial/SPDIF (they are the same) and this is using just one cable, and it can have either RCA or BNC connectors, depends what the manufacturer of your transport and dac have used. Example here's a cable which can be ordered in either silversonic.com/products/digital-cables/d-750/Toslink is something I don't use except for connecting tv to dac, I don't have many digital sources, but you will see what they look like here. silversonic.com/products/digital-cables/toslink-optical/Feel free to ask again, I've asked plenty of stupid questions, it's the way to learn. Nearly forgot to ask, what transport do you have in mind?
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Post by macca on Dec 4, 2020 8:33:26 GMT
Actually, looking at the rear of the transport, I dont think you'd be able to connect with rca's ....https://www.audiolab.co.uk/6000cdt/ That's what I just got recently. You can use a normal interconnect cable to connect it to the DAC via SP/dif input/output but ideally it needs to be 75 ohm. I got Ollie to knock one up. Or you can use a TOSlink cable, aka optical. I've tried both connections and could not hear a difference between them. You can get an optical cable for less than a tenner.
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Post by jandl100 on Dec 4, 2020 11:45:32 GMT
Ah, but some optical cables sound better than others.
No, really, macca, they do!
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 4, 2020 12:10:07 GMT
Start with the easy one, dac to amplifier, you just use a pair of normal RCA interconnects same as phonostage to amplifer. Transport to dac, most would favour coaxial/SPDIF (they are the same) and this is using just one cable, and it can have either RCA or BNC connectors, depends what the manufacturer of your transport and dac have used. Example here's a cable which can be ordered in either silversonic.com/products/digital-cables/d-750/Toslink is something I don't use except for connecting tv to dac, I don't have many digital sources, but you will see what they look like here. silversonic.com/products/digital-cables/toslink-optical/Feel free to ask again, I've asked plenty of stupid questions, it's the way to learn. Nearly forgot to ask, what transport do you have in mind? Thanks for the very helpful and clear info Antonio, much appreciated. So what I understand is that I can use the good rca interconnects I have, to connect the DAC to the amp. And i can use either a digital coaxial, something like this www.futureshop.co.uk/chord-clearway-digital-coaxial-audio-cable?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvKiSjKO07QIVzd_tCh0iVQw4EAQYASABEgJCJvD_BwE to connect the Transport to the DAC, or a Toslink like the one you've attached link to. BTW - I've done some reading, informing myself and drawn towards coax to connect the Transport to DAC (but what do I know ) In terms of what plug configuration I'd need for the coax, here's a shot of the rear of DAC www.stereolifemagazine.com/images/reviews/marantzhddac1/w/MarantzHDDAC1-02w.jpgand rear of Transport www.audiolab.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/6000CDT-1.jpg
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Post by stryder5 on Dec 4, 2020 12:26:01 GMT
Coax to coax.
Gary
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 4, 2020 12:29:34 GMT
Nice one Gary - muchus thanks!
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Post by macca on Dec 4, 2020 13:21:19 GMT
Ah, but some optical cables sound better than others. No, really, macca, they do! Not according to the youth I spoke to in Richer Sounds! But if you've compared them blind and level matched then who am I to argue Someone is sending me a fancy optical cable to try out in the near future so I'll let you know what the story is.
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Post by sq225917 on Dec 4, 2020 18:45:46 GMT
Toslink is the plug standard, optical is still spdif as regards the transmitted signal. The difference is tosl8nk offers electrical isolation and an additional layer of electrical/optical error at either end.
They should be identical in terms of data. Bit perfect is trivial to achieve with either.
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Post by antonio on Dec 5, 2020 1:33:34 GMT
Actually, looking at the rear of the transport, I dont think you'd be able to connect with rca's ....https://www.audiolab.co.uk/6000cdt/ That's what I just got recently. You can use a normal interconnect cable to connect it to the DAC via SP/dif input/output but ideally it needs to be 75 ohm. I got Ollie to knock one up. Or you can use a TOSlink cable, aka optical. I've tried both connections and could not hear a difference between them. You can get an optical cable for less than a tenner. You'll be telling me next usb cables don't sound any different. Robbie, you wouldn't go far wrong in trying the ones I linked to from what I've read.
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Post by macca on Dec 5, 2020 7:59:19 GMT
That's what I just got recently. You can use a normal interconnect cable to connect it to the DAC via SP/dif input/output but ideally it needs to be 75 ohm. I got Ollie to knock one up. Or you can use a TOSlink cable, aka optical. I've tried both connections and could not hear a difference between them. You can get an optical cable for less than a tenner. You'll be telling me next usb cables don't sound any different. Robbie, you wouldn't go far wrong in trying the ones I linked to from what I've read. I'd be surprised if they did but I've never used a USB cable for audio so I've no personal experience. Certainly I could not detect any difference between optical and coax in my system but admittedly it is not 100% up to scratch right now. I do think I have heard differences between them in the past, optical sounding slightly softer. I couldn't say for certain that was a real difference though as very subtle.
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Post by antonio on Dec 5, 2020 12:06:39 GMT
OIf course I was only pulling your leg Macca, and not only you, the difference are subtle, the one cable that shocked my brother and myself was a change from RA to Crystal power cord, the difference was not subtle, but that is going off track, sorry.
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 5, 2020 14:57:40 GMT
I'm almost ready to go Transport-DAC.
One thing I need to ask is has anybody had a cdp go from sounding fab one moment and then without warning just sound rubbish / broken ?
This happened to me with a lovely vintage Pioneer PD-91 - sublime to cr&p sound without any hint of prior warning.
I've had two other 91's in my system since and they too haven't sounded particularly good / anywhere like when my first one was on song.
I've tried a different Line input/output on the amp and no change so I'm assuming it is definitely the cdp's not being optimum, these cdp's are 30 years old no matter how gorgeous they look.
At the same time, could it be something the else, the amp even ? (which i dont think it is)
Just putting the question out there before I move another 91 on, buy the Transport and DAC only to find that something still isnt right. It's odd that the two 91's I've had in since the first one suddenly went bad sounding', both haven't sounded great at all to my ears, hence me deciding it's time to move away from these vintage cdp's and try another approach.
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Bigman80
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AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,062
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 5, 2020 15:34:10 GMT
I'm almost ready to go Transport-DAC. One thing I need to ask is has anybody had a cdp go from sounding fab one moment and then without warning just sound rubbish / broken ? This happened to me with a lovely vintage Pioneer PD-91 - sublime to cr&p sound without any hint of prior warning. I've had two other 91's in my system since and they too haven't sounded particularly good / anywhere like when my first one was on song. I've tried a different Line input/output on the amp and no change so I'm assuming it is definitely the cdp's not being optimum, these cdp's are 30 years old no matter how gorgeous they look. At the same time, could it be something the else, the amp even ? (which i dont think it is) Just putting the question out there before I move another 91 on, buy the Transport and DAC only to find that something still isnt right. It's odd that the two 91's I've had in since the first one suddenly went bad sounding', both haven't sounded great at all to my ears, hence me deciding it's time to move away from these vintage cdp's and try another approach. I have had Vintage gear go from great to naff but not a CDP.
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 5, 2020 15:40:37 GMT
I should really try to hear the one I've currently got in someone elses system. I was hoping to get it up on eBay this weekend to take advantage of £1 final seller fee
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Dec 5, 2020 16:53:58 GMT
I should really try to hear the one I've currently got in someone elses system. I was hoping to get it up on eBay this weekend to take advantage of £1 final seller fee I wouldn't hesitate Robbie. I know the Vintage Pioneer has pleased at times, but you're never gonna be totally convinced about it going forward. Nice things.....but no more vintage for me.
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Post by antonio on Dec 6, 2020 0:46:50 GMT
Get it up on ebay, you can always remove later if you have second thoughts. I will not go vintage anymore either, two amps, both nice sounding, but started with intermittent faults, the worst kind. Have you heard the dac you are intending buying, there are numerous demonstrations/comparisons on You Tube just to give you an idea. Here's an interesting one, I have watched quite a few of his videos, forget his style, I think he knows his stuff and has a good ear. He does admit he is a cable seller, although I had never heard of his brand before.
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Post by robbiegong on Dec 6, 2020 16:33:33 GMT
Get it up on ebay, you can always remove later if you have second thoughts. I will not go vintage anymore either, two amps, both nice sounding, but started with intermittent faults, the worst kind. Have you heard the dac you are intending buying, there are numerous demonstrations/comparisons on You Tube just to give you an idea. Here's an interesting one, I have watched quite a few of his videos, forget his style, I think he knows his stuff and has a good ear. He does admit he is a cable seller, although I had never heard of his brand before. I've seen the DAC on YouTube and read loads about it - hifi-reviews, forums, user/owner reviews, etc etc and I like what I've read and particularly in terms of it's sonic signature. As whatsits law would have it, they suddenly seem to be sold out everywhere at the mo.......
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Post by jimbo on Dec 7, 2020 6:22:29 GMT
If I had the Cash this would be the DAC I would go for Rob.
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Post by antonio on Dec 7, 2020 10:51:48 GMT
If I remember correctly he does a small mod to the Vermeer and it really makes a difference.
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Post by robbiegong on Jan 14, 2021 16:50:41 GMT
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Post by macca on Jan 14, 2021 17:15:38 GMT
You connect the transport to the DAC and then the DAC to the amplifier.
Transport can be connected to DAC via optical or coax cable, DAC to amp is just standard RCA interconnect cables.
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