beerandmusic Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 So many entries for hardware that barely make a difference! Here are some truly great additions this year! Mcintosh MA5300 (Mcintosh added an upgradeable DAC module...now if they will get an ENET port added to that digital module they will be in business)! Focal Sopra N2 Speakers (came out at end of 2016, but didnt see reviews or deserved attention until 2017) Nativ Vita - Possibly if i can get my hands on one....if the SOTM and Sonore are on the list, this should be too....network roon endpoint same as sotm & sonore, but also includes stylish touch screen for less money! OPPO 205 - so many reviews suggest it is the best bang for the buck! LUMIN D2 - Network player AND DAC with great reviews for $2K....sets the benchmark imho....who can do better for less?! Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 Digital - another great bargain. More hardware needs to be included in the list for best bang for the buck. A dual mono-mono dac design with ES9038 chips for under $500 w/DSD 512 & MQA! This should not be overlooked. Class D amps are getting better and better and cheaper and hard to beat. Mytek Brooklyn DAC, probably best DSD dac under $2k. mozes 1 Link to comment
beerandmusic Posted December 20, 2017 Share Posted December 20, 2017 this seems like a biased election and mainly SOTM vs Sonore more than anything else. A blind test would be more appropriate imho, and from what i read from people i trust, the SOTM will win...but this biased thread will clearly dictate differently.... Also, it is nothing more than an enet to usb roon endpoint adapter....a product for people that insist on a usb dac, where imho it would make more sense to sell your old dac and buy a dac with an enet port which the direction the hobby will eventually go. A dac should support digital inputs whether it be toslink, usb, or enet....this is just a baby step imho. I doubt there really is anything really vital in the way of design for an enet to usb interface, especially when the usb intfc should be eliminated completely imho.... ...Moving forward, All future Dacs should have an enet port ...this is just another usb toy for archaic dacs. Link to comment
beerandmusic Posted December 20, 2017 Share Posted December 20, 2017 At the higher end, 2017 contenders should include: Ayre QX-5 Twenty (give charles his credit due) SOTM trifecta Zenith Inuos products Link to comment
beerandmusic Posted December 20, 2017 Share Posted December 20, 2017 53 minutes ago, Samuel T Cogley said: As I learned when I first attempted to stream to an Ethernet-enabled DAC, we're really talking about DNLA. And that requires some software in this hypothetical converter you're talking about. There are known issues with DLNA and gapless playback, and also file type support (FLAC, for example, is not supported and the streamer must convert to something like WAV on the fly). DLNA is an imperfect solution at best. As you learned? You have some more learning to do... there is also RAAT and NAA, and other methods. As for flac support, i don't know about your hardware but most will support flac files. As far as DLNA may be imperfect, but so are all other interfaces, all having their limitations...but imho all interfaces should be supported by future dacs in the $1K and up models....jmo also inre gapless...the oppo 205 latest firmware supports gapless, so i am not sure if that is an enet shortcoming or implementation issue. Link to comment
beerandmusic Posted December 20, 2017 Share Posted December 20, 2017 10 minutes ago, Samuel T Cogley said: Roon enabled devices = $$$. shouldn't be...they have $100 roon capable devices 10 minutes ago, Samuel T Cogley said: In all cases, some software is required on the DAC side. It's more than just an Ethernet port. All interfaces require some circuitry and software, so what? It is still of my opinion that all future dacs should support toslink, usb, and enet for dacs $1K and up...and i am 100% convinced you will see more in this area in the future. and i still don't know what you are talking about flac files...do you have a link newer than 2010 stating you can't play flac files via dlna? Link to comment
beerandmusic Posted December 20, 2017 Share Posted December 20, 2017 1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said: I have proof. Behind the scenes. Edit: I have proof of the company posting with multiple user accounts. I don't doubt anything you say as fact, but I don't think that is relative to the SQ comparison...? Charles of AYRE says things that I wouldn't ever dream of saying, but that wouldn't dissuade me from owning an AYRE product...but the price might (grin). I am not sure there is any audio company that hasn't been guilty of some marketing ploy that would make me question their integrity. Link to comment
beerandmusic Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 7 hours ago, mikicasellas said: John Swenson "Tip" on grounding devices can you share the link, i can't find it... Link to comment
beerandmusic Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 1 hour ago, bobbmd said: @Ron Scubadiver better yet lagavulin 16 year old and nub/cain cigar or even better yet a REAL Romeo&Jullieta Habano 1/2 Churchill's but i like your choice especially on the the 3rd floor of MY house since I'm not allowed to do it elsewhere unless I go and freeze my ass off on the porch(it's ZERO or less here today) Happy New Year Adding externals to improve the music mood certainly makes sense, but let's not make the mistake of including just spirits, and forsaking the absence of excellent cuisine... http://www.goodfoodawards.org/2017-winners/ Link to comment
beerandmusic Posted January 1, 2018 Share Posted January 1, 2018 For me, this is the biggest advancement in 2017 inre music. Alexa and/or Google home Voice controlled music...we have a ways to go, but it will get there....i see big promise here for 2018! Link to comment
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