Digital upgrades and a new DAC in my future?

[Bob Boyer]

Anyone tried this DAC (https://www.audioadvisor.com/prhbs2d-blk?sku=NEW-PRHBS2D-BLK)?

I'm about to give up the good fight and invest in a new Mac laptop sometime in the next year. My Mac Mini is overloaded by the OS upgrades I've been required to make so I can run Turbotax - at this point, it barely falls off a log when I kick it. And while this 2010 iMac I'm currently on communicates nicely with my Tascam UH-7000 interface, Firefox can't be upgraded further because of the old OS that allows the computer to work with the Tascam. Which means keeping track of finances is tough as a lot of sites I access are running newer builds that require much newer versions of Firefox, which would require much newer version of Mac OS, which means it won't work with the Tascam. So I still have to use the Mac Mini for everything but music playing duties, Hmpffff...

And I can't stand two large monitors of different shapes and colors just overcrowding my desk.

Given that this next computer will be needed while traveling and photographing, I plan to buy the biggest honkin' Mac laptop with the fastest processor I can afford while I still have my academic discount and hope the constant OS upgrades don't overwhelm the processor like they've done to my Mac Mini since 2014. I'd like to think the computer could make 15 years (that would put me at 85 and probably not traveling much by then). But a new computer won't interface with my Tascam any more than my Mac Mini will so I need to look into a new interface and I think it will just be a DAC, not a full studio interface that processes both ways like the Tascam.

Which brings me to Pro-Ject's new DAC/headpone amp in the link above. Same case as my VNRS Box, plays everything up to 32 bit/768 kHz and my few DSD files, with a reasonable price - $450. That way, I can hook it up to the Mac Mini now and have a single computer on my desk but which will do both computer things and play my digital files. I'll still bitch about the thing's speed but at least it will again do everything. and then get the new laptop next year.

I've got new hard drives coming, as well to make sure I'm covered for if/when these rocstors crap out. They've been great (and I don' t leave them turned on except when in use) but these things don't last forever. So new Glyph drive are headed my way, courtesy of my friend Adam at Nashville Recording Supply.

 

[laatsch55]

That's a lot of stuff to chew on right there...

 

[Bob Boyer]

Maybe less than it sounds, but still another project. Still have some investments in lead to make as well as truck upgrades, too. I'll stay busy.

 

[laatsch55]

Im sure you will Bob...keeps us young right?/

 

[Bob Boyer]

Younger than trying to keep idiots at work in line...

 

[Bob Boyer]

So that Pro-Ject DAC/Headphone amp is on its way, scheduled to arrive Thursday, just in time for me to not have any time to play with it before Saturday until after I wake up from a morning nap. Have the Kruger Brothers and Kontras Quartet playing a Friday evening concert and then have to get one of the Kontras to the airport for a 6:45 am flight Saturday morning. And you thought show business was glamorous...

Here's a taste if you haven't heard them:

Anyway, purchased the JRiver 32 upgrade before my subscriber pricing went away. My last version was 26 and it won't run on the Mac Mini (old OS, etc...) And have the new Glyph hard drives installed with all the music copied over so it's back to grumping about how slow this Mini is with the third OS update installed but at least I'll be ready for a new laptop next year.

I'll be curious to see if I can tell a difference in SQ between the Tascam and the Pro-Ject.

 

[J!m]

I’d be curious about that too.

I can’t tell much difference between the (well regarded) Alesis compared to the Tascam I have. Tascam is newer but…

 

[Bob Boyer]

A couple of preliminary observations from an hour or two last night. As I remarked over in the "What Are You Doing..." thread, on a variety of different files, I noticed the Pro-Ject seems to have a bit less bass than my Tascam converter. I tried to parse this a bit further with my go-to bass accuracy cut, Hotel California from the Eagles' Hell Freezes Over album. I have a digital download, a ripped CD file, a ripped vinyl file, the CD itself, and the vinyl. And there are variations between them to begin with but the ripped files just seemed to have a little less in that drum intro on the song. I have to discount the vinyl as my Pyxi phono preamp has a stronger bass presence than my old Phonomena, which I used to rip the vinyl. I may need to dig deeper into my digital files to find a better song for comparison sake; this one has too many variables.

Second observation is that I'm not sure I'm crazy about buss-powered devices as if you leave them plugged into the computer, they are always on. I get the convenience and size factors, but I'm not one to spin my hard drives unless I need to and while I assume the little light bulbs in the status bars on the Pro-Ject's face are all LEDs, they'll burn out sooner or later. I prefer later.

It's pretty transaparent as it comes out of the box. There are five filters you can switch between but I've not been able to discern a difference in their impact on the music as yet.

Finally, it's not long on volume. With the pot cranked hard right, I still find my normal listening volume with the new DAC is between 10 and 11 o'clock, where before, the Tascam matched the Pyxi's and the Nak's coutput levels fairly closely at 9 o'clock. This holds true for the headphone jack as well. As I have medium-resistance cans, that doesn't translate to a lot of volume when listening to headphones.

However, and this is the biggie, it works with the newer Macs, so it's already ahead coming out of the gate. All in all, I'd say the sound is most similar to my Astell & Kern DAP - just a tad shy in the bass and not a lot of headphone amplifier power. Not bad for a little box.

More later, gotta go get ready for my show tonight.

 

[J!m]

Qualifying bass is tricky as you well know.

You are familiar with the recording, but it would be better to use a recording you made of a live event (preferably acoustic) and then decide if what you are hearing is "correct".

One may be shy on bass compared to the other, but the other may have "enhanced" bass to make up for... whatever. And I would not rely on vinyl for evaluation of upper most and/or bottom frequencies, as we all know what to takes to get a "full" dynamic range onto an LP. CD is the bare minimum and I'd prefer higher-rez files or high-speed 1/2" tape as the source to make the call.

This is part of the reason Mark Levinson made his own reference recordings- he could then accurately determine the performance of the reproduction chain. If there is no reference, the output conclusions will always be wanting. No one else has really gone to that length that I am aware of, but the testing equipment is much better now, and that is generally the path a serious hi-fi company takes. (and perhaps why the best measuring is not necessarily the best sounding?)

 

[Bob Boyer]

Been reading a couple of reviews while waiting on either half of tonight's group to show (the quartet is delayed an hour getting out of Chicago and the Krugers themselves are on schedule, driving in from North Wilkesboro, NC). A couple of the reviewers noted a slightly "lean" sound, so it's good to hear a little confirmation while I can't do any more testing on my own.

The issue with my 24/192 recordings is they are all made from vinyl. It's pretty rare for me to run across a 24/192 album, most are 24/96 or lower so far. So I need to find something I've purchased that is more than an acoustic singer songwriter, or, as you say, go make a recording somewhere. Hmmm... wonder where that might be tonight?

Qualifying bass is tricky as you well know...

One may be shy on bass compared to the other, but the other may have "enhanced" bass to make up for... whatever. And I would not rely on vinyl for evaluation of upper most and/or bottom frequencies, as we all know what to takes to get a "full" dynamic range onto an LP. CD is the bare minimum and I'd prefer higher-rez files or high-speed 1/2" tape as the source to make the call...

 

[Bob Boyer]

So the missing link showed up. Now there's some more bass to help the DAC.



Scott found nothing amiss with the amp after all these months. Only supposition is a speaker wire was grounded across both outputs and I missed it.

 

[BlazeES]

So new Glyph drive are headed my way, courtesy of my friend Adam at Nashville Recording Supply.

Glyph's and Mac go together like peanut butter & jelly!

 

[Bob Boyer]

Update to this old thread. Just hooked up the Pro-Ject DAC again only this time with it's wall wart power supply. That woke it up! Now we have an improvement over the Tascam, which I've been running for some time now. Found the missing bass to go with the mids and high end air. More separation of the congas and bass drum in the intro to the Hell Freezes Over version of Hotel California - always a go-to mix for me. Also Kenny Aranoff's tympani on John Mellencamp's Crumblin' Down and Authority Song. Lotsa slam.

I will now highly recommend this little $450 DAC in-a-box with headphone amp. I think the Tascam is headed to Dallas in a couple of weeks with the Exposure integrated amp for Jeff.

 

[Hexis22]

Update to this old thread. Just hooked up the Pro-Ject DAC again only this time with it's wall wart power supply. That woke it up! Now we have an improvement over the Tascam, which I've been running for some time now. Found the missing bass to go with the mids and high end air. More separation of the congas and bass drum in the intro to the Hell Freezes Over version of Hotel California - always a go-to mix for me. Also Kenny Aranoff's tympani on John Mellencamp's Crumblin' Down and Authority Song. Lotsa slam.

I will now highly recommend this little $450 DAC in-a-box with headphone amp. I think the Tascam is headed to Dallas in a couple of weeks with the Exposure integrated amp for Jeff.

You may want to look into replacing that wall wart power supply with a dedicated power supply.

Most digital components respond very well to improved power supplies capable of supplying short high bursts of current, something wall warts typically do not provide.

 

[Bob Boyer]

One of these two gadgets now has my attention:

Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra Music Streamer - Black

<p>The Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 is very easy to use and has all the features of more expensive state-of-the-art streamers, including proper multi-room functionality. </p>

www.audioadvisor.com

iFi ZEN Stream Wi-Fi Audio Transport

<p>Beneath its classy exterior, the iFi ZEN Stream is a technological streamer-de-force. Its one purpose is to send music from the Internet to your DAC with no loss of quality.</p>

www.audioadvisor.com

I'd probably lean towards the Pro-Ject DAC streamer as it has the same form factor as the DAC. Need to see how much of my collection of files would fit on the laptop. If there's room enough for most of my files that are on the external drive, I can stream over wi-fi to either of these boxes and get rid of the tethered iMac. Specs look pretty good on both.

 

[Bob Boyer]

You may want to look into replacing that wall wart power supply with a dedicated power supply.

Most digital components respond very well to improved power supplies capable of supplying short high bursts of current, something wall warts typically do not provide.

It's a 5 watt power supply, Eric. I'd love to do what you're suggesting, just don't know where to start looking. Mouser? DigiKey? Or do I build my own? Are there kits out there?

 

[BlazeES]

One of these two gadgets now has my attention:

Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra Music Streamer - Black

<p>The Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 is very easy to use and has all the features of more expensive state-of-the-art streamers, including proper multi-room functionality. </p>

www.audioadvisor.com

iFi ZEN Stream Wi-Fi Audio Transport

<p>Beneath its classy exterior, the iFi ZEN Stream is a technological streamer-de-force. Its one purpose is to send music from the Internet to your DAC with no loss of quality.</p>

www.audioadvisor.com

I'd probably lean towards the DAC streamer as it has the same form factor as the DAC. Need to see how much of my collection of files would fit on the laptop. If there's room enough for most of my files that are on the external drive, I can stream over wi-fi to either of these boxes and get rid of the tethered iMac. Specs look pretty good on both.

For what that Pro-ject costs why not simply spend a little bit more coin and get down to enjoying a masterpiece -

NODE ICON - Reference Music Streamer

The NODE ICON is a flagship wireless music streamer, designed for the audio obsessed. With its sleek aluminum chassis, and vibrant 5” full-color display, it sets a new benchmark for wireless music streamers.

www.bluesound.com

Life's short. Live a little!

 

[Bob Boyer]

For what that Pro-ject costs why not simply spend a little bit more coin and get down to enjoying a masterpiece -

NODE ICON - Reference Music Streamer

The NODE ICON is a flagship wireless music streamer, designed for the audio obsessed. With its sleek aluminum chassis, and vibrant 5” full-color display, it sets a new benchmark for wireless music streamers.

www.bluesound.com

Life's short. Live a little!

Tony - feel free to call me behind the times. Can't tell from the description if it streams straight wi-fi. Apple Air Play 2 only goes to CD-quality, Bluetooth is even more constricted. I don't use streaming services; they don't pay the artists enough per play so all I'm doing is using my computer as a juke box with JRiver's software. Will this let me do that without the USB cable at 24/192 or better and DSD? I have a few of those files, as well. Vanessa Fernandez covering Led Zeppelin comes to mind...

It sure looks good and I know Bluesound is, in general, the shit when it comes to streaming sound.

 

[BlazeES]

Some key notable points:

It integrates well with the Apple ecosystem. Look at Airplay 2 as an Apple-esque Bluetooth connection vehicle. The Icon would be on your home WiFi network's backbone. Different deal entirely. It will require you to re-think about how your system is configured overall vs. the long USB link/run thing for sure! The BluOS control software plays nice with Android & Windows too. I can control the Node from computers, tablets & phones - with equal authority and no goofy BS.

It will play DSD files, (along everything else, of course...) served off multiple sources; a USB drive directly connected; a media folder "attached" to your home network and including "local" computer media folders. You can even enable the Node to be a music server itself. To be clear, you can have libraries in multiple locations, at the same time - if your heart so desires...

I even use this thing to stream iHeart & TuneIn stations - So, it's replaced using an analog tuner for local OTA stuff in my "realm".
I can't rave enough about this thing. It's a powerhouse!

You connect it to your system via whatever output works best; analog or digital. Hanging it off a router/switch is the real meat-and-potatoes of these and the Bluetooth part is just an "adder" or sideline capability.

If you like having your music library available in multiple places in the household, that's when the Bluetooth & home networking part really starts to open up doors. Obviously, the Bluetooth angle is a less "purist" capability - but for less discriminating listening - I personally value that "reach". Bluetooth is a convenience feature that's more about broadening listening opportunities beyond the "sweet spot", audio den. It will even broadcast to quality BT headphones

That said, the audiophile listening experience isn't compromised relating to your main listening, connected system...
It's a solid DAC.

 

[laatsch55]

Until you've somehow managed to deconfigure it so it won't recognize the optical in...on the Node 1...
There is nothing ive owned that makes feel as stupid as this thing does.
Maybe im getting dumber every day, but out of the box i could take stuff off the computer and play it through the tunebox. I was in settings checking output levels(imagine that) and before ya know it i no longer have a cooperating streamer.
My understanding of digital is pretty rudimentary anyway. I've yet to find the operating manual that talks in "Lee" mode. I wasnt always this stupid about stuff...