Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

theflattire said:
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I put mine between two masonite bats (ceramic things) and then put a flat of ammo on top.
I do a couple of weeks too.
Kinda works; helps on really bad ones, but doesn't make them totally flat.
Thinking about getting a heated system.
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The casual dropping of ammunition in a conversation about a domestic setting still blows my mind even after 5 years interaction on a mostly American forum!
 
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I was requested to do a comparison after letting the MP-7 burn in for a week.
It's over on SHF in the Darlington Labs thread if interested.
Short of it: the Modwright is better, but doesn't walk all over the MP-7.
If the Modwright is endgame, the MP-7 can be used in the same sentence.
Not as close as the MP-7 was to the Tavish Adagio (for sale!) but still in the ballpark.
Not sure what effect the Hashimoto's had, but I don't have any MM carts.
Kinda embarrassing how good it is.
The Modwright with the Hashimoto's are a different animal!
 
Just a quick blurb about my 5 days or so with my Darlington Labs MM-5. It still continues to impress me. Everything sounds much more open and detailed versus the Mani. It sounds like I'm running a whole new system. So far I've tested the recent Sigur Ros ( ) Re-issue, Dave Matthews Band "Crash", The recent Manic Street Preachers "Know your Enemy" reissue, Smashing Pumpkins "Adore" (stereo) and Hans Zimmer's Dune score. Everything has sounded so good! Highs sound nice and crips. The lower end is much improved. I've even started running my Sub because the bass sounds tight and natural. It definitely feels like an upgrade to my system.
 
dbarila said:
Just a quick blurb about my 5 days or so with my Darlington Labs MM-5. It still continues to impress me. Everything sounds much more open and detailed versus the Mani. It sounds like I'm running a whole new system. So far I've tested the recent Sigur Ros ( ) Re-issue, Dave Matthews Band "Crash", The recent Manic Street Preachers "Know your Enemy" reissue, Smashing Pumpkins "Adore" (stereo) and Hans Zimmer's Dune score. Everything has sounded so good! Highs sound nice and crips. The lower end is much improved. I've even started running my Sub because the bass sounds tight and natural. It definitely feels like an upgrade to my system.
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Audiophile nirvana. Oddly enough, that's how I felt when I started using the HumminGuru ultrasonic cleaner!
 
So a question to the masses

I have a very nice Onkyo CD player hooked up straight to my CD input on my Rotel amp - sounds great to me


Is there any benefit to getting a DAC ?

And if yes - any recommendations?
 
Gavaxeman said:
So a question to the masses

I have a very nice Onkyo CD player hooked up straight to my CD input on my Rotel amp - sounds great to me


Is there any benefit to getting a DAC ?

And if yes - any recommendations?
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So you're currently using the DAC in your cd changer. Depending on budget, I would think that you could see a lot of improvement going to a stand alone DAC.
 
Gavaxeman said:
So a question to the masses

I have a very nice Onkyo CD player hooked up straight to my CD input on my Rotel amp - sounds great to me


Is there any benefit to getting a DAC ?

And if yes - any recommendations?
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Potentially. The DAC in the CD player will be built to the budget of the player. It all depends on how much you want to pay. Not enough and it’s likely not going to be an improvement, too much and you might outstrip the transport in your CD player. The DAC could be handy for adding on streaming down the line if that is ever something you wanted to do.
 
Gavaxeman said:
Thanks for the suggestions - I think as it’s sounding pretty great to my ears , gonna stick with the current set up until my retirement new system spend up (whenever that may be!)
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Not a bad idea. Then you could take the time to audition stuff with the dealers and the like.
 
Gavaxeman said:
Thanks for the suggestions - I think as it’s sounding pretty great to my ears , gonna stick with the current set up until my retirement new system spend up (whenever that may be!)
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Real talk - I have three DACs at various price points and vintage and I can’t tell the difference between them when they’re level matched. A louder, high output DAC will always seem better than a less loud one, but may not sound at all different when the volume is the same.

I have my Integra CD player plugged into the “CD” input of my Bryston pre-amp with an internal DAC. I have the digital coax from the CD player running into the Bryston DAC. When I flip the selector from DAC to CD, I hear no change whatsoever. I have a Topping DAC on the balanced inputs and have run the same comparisons; no difference except volume. YMMV.
 
Angsty said:
Real talk - I have three DACs at various price points and vintage and I can’t tell the difference between them when they’re level matched. A louder, high output DAC will always seem better than a less loud one, but may not sound at all different when the volume is the same.

I have my Integra CD player plugged into the “CD” input of my Bryston pre-amp with an internal DAC. I have the digital coax from the CD player running into the Bryston DAC. When I flip the selector from DAC to CD, I hear no change whatsoever. I have a Topping DAC on the balanced inputs and have run the same comparisons; no difference except volume. YMMV.
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@Gavaxeman this.

Most digital equipment sounds more alike than analog gear does. Even amplifiers sound different, where much digital gear sounds the same.

Years ago I had a Harman/Ksardon CD player. I was able to improve upon it with an outboard DAC. The H/K died and couldn’t be repaired. I bought a highly rated Sony. The DAC made no difference and the Sony didn’t sound as good as the H/K plus the DAC.

It’s actually easier to get a satisfying analog setup than it is digital. You have lots of choices with analog that sound different. Not so with digital in my experience.
 
David A. said:
Hiiii…. Recommendations on an Sacd player with a small footprint?
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I’m actually don’t know of any that aren’t full size unless you look on the used market. New ones are becoming niche, very much audiophile only and higher up the manufacturers ranges. Some Sony Blu Ray players also play SACDs and are smaller but you’ll need a DSD DAC that takes a standard HDMI input and they are as rare as hens teeth.
 
Joe Mac said:
I’m actually don’t know of any that aren’t full size unless you look on the used market. New ones are becoming niche, very much audiophile only and higher up the manufacturers ranges. Some Sony Blu Ray players also play SACDs and are smaller but you’ll need a DSD DAC that takes a standard HDMI input and they are as rare as hens teeth.
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ooof, not sure that will fly with my lady friend.
 
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