digital streaming into Cary 306 SACD player

[kpolen]

I have a Cary Audio 306 SACD player which has digital inputs and can function as a DAC accepting streams up to 24/192. (Rest of the system is Cary SET pre-amp and amp going to Triangle Magellan speakers. Spent more on my stereo than my car.)

 

Available digital inputs are toslink, coax, AES/EBU. There is no clock input.

 

I want to hook a windows 7 computer to the SACD player to act as music server taking advantage of highest possible fidelity available in the files. I asked Cary technical support how to do this and they sent me here.

 

I've been reading the forum and there seem to be a lot of options and a lot of dedicated folks tolerant of questions from neophytes like myself.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Karl

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hi Karl - Welcome to Computer Audiophile. The 306 SACD player appears to have AES/EBU, Coaxial, and Toslink digital inputs. The highest fidelity in my opinion will be using a LynxAES16 audio card to output digital from 44.1 up to 192 via AES/EBU to the Cary 306. Another audio card that's substantially cheaper is the ESi Juli@. It will handle the same sample rates and output AES/EBU into your SACD player. Using Coaxial you can check out the ASUS Essence STX cards or the HDAV cards from ASUS. There are many Toslink options, but I really don't recommend them if you have Coaxial and AES/EBU as options.

 

If you use a laptop you will need a device that converts USB to AES or Coaxial S/PDIF. As of this writing the cap is 24/96, but 24/192 should be available fairly soon.

 

Let me know if I've only confused you more.

 

[kpolen]

Thanks.

 

[jb8312]

I have been using the Cary 306 Pro for about a year now. Soon after I purchased it new, I picked up a Macbook laptop. Since the later purchase, the amount of actual CDs spinning in the 306 has decreased steadily to the current rate of about once a month. Yes, the DAC is that good.

 

As Chris pointed out, if you are using a laptop you will need to convert the USB to S/DIF. I have done this (3) different ways, first the Bel Canto USB converter, then Empirical Audio's Off-Ramp Converter (with Super Clock) and I am currently using the Sonicweld Diverter for USB Conversion. (a review of each forthcoming on Positive-feedback.com) While the Bel Canto is the most economical and has excellent sound, I am currently digging on the Sonicweld. The Empirical is no slouch either, but at this point in comes down to personal preferences.

 

I use the RCA digital input on the back of the Cary and the Cary figures out the rest. While I have no intention of selling the Cary, I can see clearly the use of the transport diminished to naught before too much longer.

 

Good Luck and enjoy the journey, jtb

 

[msb1]

I am using the CARY SACD 306 Pro with the M2Tech Hiface and like the sound a lot. I will be experimenting with an Empirical shortly.

 

Server is a dedicated box with minimal software and services running Jriver and Mediamonkey. For Ripping I use Dbpoweramp.

 

[kpolen]

Hi, thanks for taking time to respond.

 

I've decided to try the m2tech hiface and have ordered one. Do you use JRiver to go to the Hiface? If using windows 7 on your box, what settings there?

 

BTW, doesn't the 306 pro have a USB in? Have you tried that?

 

 

 

[msb1]

Hi,

The 306 doesn't have a USB in so had to use a converter.

I am using J River to the hiface but with Windows XP. Havent tried it on Windows 7 yet, but dont think there should be a problem.