Solved AUDIRVĀNA (and other audio related chitchat)

Edwin · Jan 22, 2023

Dru2 said:
@Edwin, did you actually purchase Audirvana? Or are you now seriously considering it?

Naw, I'm not gonna buy it! I just check out new versions from time to time.

Dru2 · Jan 22, 2023

Edwin said:
Naw, I'm not gonna buy it! I just check out new versions from time to time.

Got you. Yeah, I'm gonna stick it out with JRiver.

Anyway, I wanted to post this to one show the size difference between my DAC and the full-sized standard rack mount CD player. Also post some other info. So as you see my DAC is a small unit in both width and depth

This is the backside of both DAC (top) and CD player (bottom). As you see my DAC takes various inputs...

Anyway, the DAC won't be sitting where it's shown, but rather it's spot on my PC desk far left of the CD player, and thus why I need a long cable.

All that said, since getting this DAC in 2016, this is actually the first time I've connected my CD player to it. And I gotta tell you I've never heard this DAC sound so clear. JRiver played from my PC has nothing sound wise compared to the DAC/CD combo. And because my speakers are connected directly off the DAC, nothing runs through the PC when using the CD player. Played this disk, and I've never heard it sound so good through the CD/DAC combo.

Man, I can't wait to get those cables - whether digital or analogue

Edwin · Jan 22, 2023

Dru2 said:
... as you see my DAC is a small unit in both width and depth

Do those types of DAC's have a phono stage/input?

Dru2 · Jan 22, 2023

No but, but I have my Rotel phono preamp so I could simply connect the turntable to the preamp and connect the preamp to the DAC should I wish to do so. Actually, that is the plan whenever I decide I want to use my turntable. Just have to find a place for it.

That's another reason I got that particular DAC - you can connect multiple devices to it. And since my speakers are powered, I don't need an amplifier. Just connect the speakers directly to the DAC

BTW, that DAC also has a built-in headphone amp which is another reason I got it.

badrobot · Jan 24, 2023

Edwin said:
Mine's the RCD 951.

(Had to dust it off a bit!) View attachment 50622

View attachment 50623

This is the only working CD player at home right now.

I use Spotify, Tidal and Youtube Music at home and play it wherever I am in house.

Although I do have a vinyl player and a small vinyl collection.

Dru2 · Jan 25, 2023

First, this is a reminder that no PC / Media player can compete where dedicated stereo components are concerned. My uncompressed FLAC files played through JRiver Media Center though my PC connected to the Teac UD-503 DAC via USB, has a nice clean sound, but it can't compete with my Rotel RCD-1072 CD Player directly to the DAC via digital cable. No matter the quality of cable (well at least a decent cable). That... These Blue Truth cables from Better Cables are the truth!!!

The first thing that stands out is how deep and clear the bass/drum notes are. The next thing is the timbre - everything is just clear and precise, especially vocals. And the soundstage is just magical - While in a stereo system you want things centered, especially vocals, you don't want them so centered to be pinpoint, you kind of want a fading to the center as that tends to present an open soundstage - everything isn't so cramped.

Anyway, while cables can make a difference, bear in mind it's the system that has to produce. Here, lucky for me both my DAC and CD player are no slouch with both producing a warm sound that's without any hint of digital harshness lessor components are known for.

And BTW, none of the components are new - the DAC and headphones are 2016 purchases, while the Rotel CD player is 2004

Yes, I need a new work desk, but I've had this since 1998 when I got my first PC

badrobot · Jan 26, 2023

Dru2 said:
but I've had this since 1998 when I got my first PC

but that doesn't mean you can't upgrade.

Dru2 · Jan 26, 2023

I'm sending those Elite audio analog cables back. Didn't even bother trying them out. In fact, I've not even opened the box. Just blown away with that Blue Truth digital cable. Expensive as hell though.

Dru2 · Jan 26, 2023

badrobot said:
but that doesn't mean you can't upgrade.

It means it's served me well for now 25 years

I've actually been looking to replace it, but I've not found what I want in a similar design but larger. I could piece mill something together but that's an expense where I have other priorities at the moment.

Anyway, I'll eventually replace it, but in the meantime I'm about to cover that top with a mouse matting I bought last year. Just hadn't gotten around to it yet. Maybe this weekend.

Edwin · Jan 27, 2023

I was gonna hook up my Rotel, just for kicks, and found the carriage belt had split!!! Bummer!!!

Edwin · Jan 27, 2023

I'ma go to Dollarama for a bag of assorted elastics, be right back...

Dru2 · Jan 27, 2023

Since adding my CD player, I've been really enjoying my CDs. To think I've had this DAC since 2016, and never hooked up my CD player till now is an eye-opening experience as how good this DAC is. I was already impressed with how it handled FLAC files from JRiver, but the CD player is even better. And the good thing is the setup bypasses the PC since the Rotel is direct to DAC, and speakers are connected to DAC

I still use JRiver though as It's simply easier to play a lot of stuff from there as opposed to switching CDs from a CD player all the time. And JRIver still sounds great. But there's a warmness that this setup has that no PC software can match. My PC setup is close, but...

Dru2 · Jan 28, 2023

Edwin said:
I was gonna hook up my Rotel, just for kicks, and found the carriage belt had split!!! Bummer!!!

View attachment 51124

Did you ever find that belt?

Edwin · Jan 28, 2023

Dru2 said:
Did you ever find that belt?

Not yet.

Dru2 · Jan 28, 2023

Damn, I'm surprised you're up. Didn't expect to hear from you till later.

I'm obviously still up. Actually, listening to some Miles Davis on Spotify.

Edwin · Jan 28, 2023

Dru2 said:
Damn, I'm surprised you're up.

Me too!!!

Dru2 · Jan 28, 2023

Well, I'm out. Just spent an hour or so over at stevehoffman.com forums reading old jazz posts while listening to Miles on Spotify. Ended up ordering two CDs from Amazon. Actually 3 CD as I'd ordered one earlier, but that wasn't a Miles Davis CD, or even jazz.

Anyway I'm out.

Peace

Dru2 · Jan 30, 2023

Just wanted to point out that you don't know what you have until you try it. So, I had replied previously that I didn't have voice control when @badrobot pointed out that when streaming using a paid service you can use voice command to find/play a song or album...

badrobot said:
It's just a nice experience to talk to your car and ask it to play any music or song you want to listen to while driving... Just ripping the fruits of my labor and enjoying the technology I can afford to pay. I don't want to go through a long list of my songs. I can just pull it up with a voice command at home or on the road.

Dru2 said:
That's a good point about just using voice command to find a track or album. Don't have that feature.

Well, I did/do have a voice activated navigation system in my car, but little did I realize I could use it on both Plex and Spotify. Out of curiosity one day, I gave it a try and asked it to find as specific song by specific artist and it replied "asking Plex to play abc by xyz (substitute abc for song, and xyz for artist) and there it was. So now no more fumbling with buttons and touch screens. Just use voice commands