Confessions of a DigiPhile III
Entry posted by DigiPete
The quest for Digital solutions begins
I needed something decent to tie me over till I found my final solution and the needed funding.
An Arcam rDAC made the cut. It’s a USD 500 unit and it has given me full value for the money.
Cheap enough to be disposable and good enough to not make me do something rash.
Today I would probably have chosen a Rega DAC or M2Tech Young.
I hit the local audiophile pushers, but most of them think that I speak Russian. They have lots of nice analogue rigs, some even with a digital front.
One sales guy was really hyped over a rig with an amp dedicated to each driver in a stereo setup. Linn or Naim as far as I remember.
The rig takes analogue a little further with “active x-over”. Active is actually passive x-over before the amps. Not a bad rig, but it’s just another analogue rig in my world.
I hit the web, and finally I stroke digital gold.
It seems that I had to do some more homework to better define my demands and preferences.
Hours of surfing turns into days, days into weeks, and weeks becomes months.
Great Digital Solutions that made my first cut:
Steinway Lyngdorf
http://www.steinwaylyngdorf.com
Digital perfection – way out of the reach of mere mortals.
Headed by Peter Lyngdorf and endorced by Steinway.
“Model D Sound System start at US$ 158,900 MSRP.”
behold / Ballmann Electronica GmbH
behold was invited by the SoundStage! Network to contribute to The World’s Best Audio System 2009 (TWBAS 2009)
http://behold.eu/page.php?dea00000
I personally like the UPA192 Tri-Amping Mono Block with active crossover (DSP)
Genelec
http://www.genelec.com/products/dsp-products/
Professional active studio monitors, now available with build-in DSP and AutoCal room correction.
Uses the professional AES/EBU digital signals straight to the 8200 series monitors / 7200 series subs.
Internal or external digital soundcard is needed to feed AES/EBU, some options:
Weiss AFI-1 http://www.weiss.ch/afi1/afi1.htm
Lynx Aurora 16.VT http://www.lynxstudio.com/product_detail.asp?i=53
Lynx AES16 http://www.lynxstudio.com/product_detail.asp?i=13
Meridian
Meridian delivers complete digital audio and video home entertainment systems.
This may be the most fail proof way in to an integrated audiophile surround system with video.
Posh looking speakers, they are often seen in Hollywood movies.
Meridian beats Bang & Olufsen in product placement these days.
Lyngdorf Audio
Peter Lyngdorfs original venture into audio perfection, then setting new standards in digital amplification and RoomPerfect room correction.
The sound is quite good and you can buy a whole stereo setup with dual woofers.
The Lyngdorf system has not been updated for a while, but RoomPerfect is still high class.
Spatial Computer
http://www.spatialcomputer.com
Spatial offers external DSP capable multi channel DACS and remote help to calibrate the x-over and room/speaker correction.
Spatial uses Pure Music and they optimize your MAC to be an exclusive transport.
sixmoons gave Spatial the Lunar Eclipse Award.
Read the mind-provoking article about it: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/spatial/1.html
DEQX
The HDP-3 is a DAC pre-amp, room correction X-over unit.
A versatile unit that has received much acclaim.
Audiolense
Software for Digital EQ and time domain correction.
Audiolense can also do X-over, surround and multi seat.
Audiolense must be the fastest and cheapest way to get all the DSP options (price ex. VAT):
EUR 390 Audiolense XO – the most expensive package
EUR 161 Calibrated measurement kit
PC only, but the filters can on a MAC be embedded in
USD 129 Pure Music http://www.channld.com
Remember, these are my picks – your list may look very different.
Next:
The homework – what do I really want? Specs and limits.
Find my blog: “Confessions of a DigiPhile” at http://www.computeraudiophile.com/blogs/7638-DigiPete
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