sonq

DAC is the data conversion part of a CDP system; Transport + DAC = CDP. There're lots of choice for under $1.5K. Consonance CD120 from Opera has lots of rave reviews. Cambridge Audio 640 or 740 are decent choices too.

You you listen mostly to Jazz, vocals & accoustic music, may want to consider getting a good used tubed DAC instead. An older Audio Note, Musical Fedility or Softone DAC will sound great compared to most $1K CDP. You can use a cheap Belden 1694 digital cable to connect them. Down the road, you also have the option of getting a Squeezebox to replace your old CDP and stream your music straight from your PC.

Wow, you guys are incredibly helpful. A big thanks to all.

it's tomorrow night. E5c sounds correct, but why is it rare? Is it a discontinued model? Thanks

Really appreciate it if someone direct me to best place to get Shure model 5 in town. Great if you know the price too. Need to get it for a customer who's leaving tomorrow. Thanks.

Hope someone can advice me on what's the best way (in terms of SQ) to deliver audio tracks to my non-USB DAC (SPDIF input)? Considered a SB3, but as my headphone rig is beside my PC, seems quite silly to go wireless. Understand that USB input compromised quality compared to SPDIF too, hence my question. By the way, I've already got a Fubar2 USB DAC but I also have 2 highend DACs of much higher SQ from my main rig that I'm trying to use on my headphone rig. Thanks.

I rip my CDs on Windows - got WMA by default. What's the easiest way to rip to Flac? Heard quite drastic dif between WMP & Foobar - is the dif between WMA & Flac of the same magnitude? Thought WMA Lossless is exact copy of the CD I ripped.

I think the main areas are both digital & analog out stage. I'm no expert in these things but just auditioned a DAC with single ended discrete output design instead of run of the mill op amp and noticed the high level of refinement in the treble & mid range.

Hi Sghound, If I don't need video, is this the best SQ available for portable device? How does it compare to their smaller M3 in SQ? http://www.cowonamerica.com/products/iaudio/m3/ BTW I'm using WMA lossless files. Anyway, are there reviews on these devices? Searched but only found reviews on mainstream non-audiophile medias like zdnet etc

You may even consider a DAC running off your PC's USB or even a squeezebox3 to you head amp.

I'm buying the 8mb Nano. Does it sound any worst than the latest iPod Video? Not sure how the latest Shuffle sounds compared to the Nano, but I need at least 12hrs of palyback when I travel. I've been ripping my CDs to 320 WAV files and will be using Sony's MDR-EX90LP.

IMHO the 880 2005 already has a touch of treble emphasis, can't imagine enhancing it. Quite nice drving it with my tubed amp though.

The art supply shop in Taka sells plain MDF board - about $15 each. The one from Ikea is a particle board. Will be buying some thick glass to try, cost around $20 each. For glass, was told need to use 3 points for cones - not 4. Yes, Bumpon from DIY - many different kinds.

I just bought 2 pcs of Ikea PAX shelving $12 and added 3M Bumpon feets ($3.70) for isolation. I then added cones between component & flatform. Seems to work quite well compared to placing on regular wood cabinat. I'll likely try thick pieces of Plexiglass next.

I've just bought a pretty transparent home system and tried both Belden XXX207 & 259. Good as they are, still not up to the dealers "Star Quad" DIY 1/c. His 1/c is more detailed & focused, also seemed more liquid. The 207 is not far behind & is in turn better than the 259 in my new system. Both Belden have more bass and sounds tonally fuller though.

You can even hookup a USB DAC to your PC as source. Less than $200 from Jaben - decent sounding i/c included.

His wife is too buzy taking care of 4 kids to notice...

Google Sonic Impact amp for details. I've got one hooked up to a high sensitivity speaker with excellent result. All cables are DIY from LHS.

I was outstationed and left the system to cook for almost a week. I must say the Sonic Impact + LothX sound pretty amazing. Low bass & high treble is limited but the mids are so clear & musical...everything sounds quite far away, so the mssing bandwidth didn't sound unnatural. The Pioneer DV989 as a source is quite good after burning in. I got this as a bundle with my new plasma and was concerned about the stereotype bright piecing treble common amongst DVD players - fortunately my concerns were unfounded. I tried substituting the HA1A in both Triode/Pentode mode with substatntial degradation - soft & fuzzy with no bass in comparision.

I'm be frank, never heard of the lothx until my friedn lend it to me. Light & didn't look like nor expected much. Just to test room acoustics & just curious how the cheap little Sonic Impact will sound after ready all the hype. To my pleasant surprise, the combination with the Pioneer DVD is really musical! Speakers are not even stand mounted. The highs & lows are missing but vocals and instruments falling within the mids are strangely intimate. Though extreme highs are missing, harmonics and related audio cues are present and natural - vibrating reed, trails of shimmering cymbal, vocal noises etc.

Macky, Thanks for the intro/info on AA amp. The system is just a temporary setup as I'm not sure what I want. I've been a hardcore audio nut for years but completely switched out for many years. Just getting back in and do not wish to rush. I'll likely get an amp with RC though. The LothX speaker is on loan from a friend - it was supposed to be selling for $1.2K but manufacturer already closed down.

I think it is Amaze or Ablaze, but here's the image. See the little Sonic Impact amp in the corner. The extreme freqencies are missing but extremelly musical but definitely not for rock. I'll try the Cayin HA-1A both as a pre and int amp when I have time as speaker sensitivity is 95db Cables are all from LHS; XX259 & 8471. Using a mini-to-RCA from SLT basement shop. The DVD989 sounds a lot better than I thought, expected it to sound bright and got it mainly for 1080 video capability.

Unfortunately, setup will be in the living area, so wife only consent to carpet. Our close friend has an array of big tuning tubes, triangles up in ceiling corners and other paddings in the living room - she almost flipped! He wife is not critical about decor.

Cannot afford that type of full range - just something with more than mid-bass. Primus 360 is acceptable but I'm also looking at Revel F12 if mark up is not so ridiculous. I don't mind the iQ7/9 either, although audition was not too impressive, it's tonally quite balanced and looks great. I think the NAD electronics upstream does not allow it to run at it's full potential, but the salesman pulling a long face throughout, so may also have added to the negative impression. I feel the Primus 360 is quite a good choice not only in terms of price/performance ratio, it's high sensitivity allows a wide variety of amp matching.

sorry for typo, it's LothX - bookshelf single driver.