The Computer Audiophile Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 View full article Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
Popular Post The Computer Audiophile Posted March 28, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 28, 2019 Yeah, I certainly hear you about the price. The best of anything isn't cheap or anywhere relative to those of a lesser quality. The koenigsegg Jesko is $3,000,000 and it's sold out. Certainly not millions of dollars better than many other cars on a linear scale, but life doesn't work this way. I wish it did. This is probably the most expensive DAC I've ever reviewed. If I had the money I'd certainly purchase it. I don't see the APL products as priced insanely for no reason like some other products. This stuff is hand built one at a time using the best components, and on a tiny scale. Doak and Perfect sense 1 1 Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 6 minutes ago, matthias said: "APL Hi-Fi obtains this sound by converting DSD to analog without altering the DSD data in any way and converting PCM to DSD128 or DSD256 (user selectable)." Chris, did you compare converting PCM to DSD128 vs. PCM to DSD256? Thanks Matt Yes, my preference using the APL DAC was DSD256. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
Popular Post The Computer Audiophile Posted March 28, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 28, 2019 15 minutes ago, bobflood said: I too do not wish to be negative but I share the sentiment expressed here by those above about the pricing of these products. I read this very good review and then felt very sad at the end when I saw the price of these items. This kind of stuff just makes our hobby look like it is for a bunch of over privileged kooks to the rest of the world. It is no wonder that the high end of audio is shrinking away as those of us who are of a certain age naturally leave it. As there are fewer and fewer to buy at this level, the price will continue to rise as the sellers try to make more money from a shrinking base. The future will eventually be that what we now would call mid-fidelity will be the new high end and the rest will be mass produced product of varying sound quality and build quality with low prices. Of course there will always be a few sellers of super expensive stuff and a few buyers for it but it won't be worth reviewing it either online or in print. I don't mean to pick on this one particular seller because this is the trend now with nearly every seller of high end gear. They are all caught in the upward pricing spiral as their buyer base shrinks. Sadly, I see no way out of it. The best of anything is expensive. All industries have the same issue. Perfect sense and Albrecht 2 Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 3 minutes ago, ted_b said: Chris, Do you still have the dac and streamer in your possession? I ask cuz was wondering what a software upsampler like HQPlayer would do to present the dac with already converted PCM-to-DSD, or DSD upsampled to DSDnnn (the idea, of course, is to let the dac do less heavy lifting...unless of course that lifting is its secret sauce). Yes, I have both sitting right next to me. Sure, it's possible attempt this. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 3 hours ago, matthias said: Marcus, can you or @The Computer Audiophile please clarify if APL will demo their products at HIGH END Munich in May? Thanks Matt Yes, APL will be in Munich with products. UPDATE: It’s possible APL will not have components at the show. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 The APL Hi-Fi DSD-SR DAC is tens of thousands cheaper. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 Just now, Kal Rubinson said: How about pix of the back panels? Coming right up Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted March 28, 2019 Author Share Posted March 28, 2019 Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
Popular Post The Computer Audiophile Posted March 29, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted March 29, 2019 56 minutes ago, Marcin_gps said: Great review, Chris! APL DSD-MR is my reference DAC that I've had in my system for over a year now. Before that I had a previous model, DSD-M, and before that, DSD-S, which started my journey with APL. Each upgrade was a big step up and the DSD-MR is by far the best DAC I've heard. I also prefer the DSD256 & NORM filter setting in my system which is the most natural and detailed to my ears. That said, the DSD128 setting has a bit better trarnsient response and is a bit sharper, but it doesn't sound as spacious. The DAC is very sensitive when it comes to power cords and vibrations. It is worth playing with both to extract the full potential. Regards, Marcin Thanks for the kind words and comments. Alex suggested I use DSD128 for better transients as well. It’s all about engineering trade offs. No DAC is perfect. Over all I like what DSD256 gave me more than what it may have taken away from a more perfect transient response. All good. What a product. I feel like I’ve been driving a Ferrari for the last couple months. Perfect sense and Marcin_gps 2 Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted March 29, 2019 Author Share Posted March 29, 2019 7 hours ago, ThenewGearPPK said: There are already DACs that can do DSD512 & DSD1024 & much much cheaper. Seems having DSD256 max is incredibly outdated for a 2019 $50,000 DAC I’m not following your logic. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted April 4, 2019 Author Share Posted April 4, 2019 1 minute ago, Lucky Left Hook said: Thank you for the write-up. Seems like a very interesting product. Have you tried any rock music, like Led Zeppelin or Pearl Jam? How does it sound? Oh yes. Pearl Jam bring my favorite artist, I played nearly every album and it sounded excellent. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted October 22, 2019 Author Share Posted October 22, 2019 20 hours ago, octaviars said: @The Computer Audiophile what formats is it possible to transfer via the DTR connection between streamer and DAC can it do native DSD? Cant find anything on the net about it. Good question. I'm not 100% sure. @joelha Do you know this one? Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted October 23, 2019 Author Share Posted October 23, 2019 32 minutes ago, joelha said: While I understand that octaviars' question may have already been answered by Alex at APL, here's the answer I received from Alex: "The DTR connection supports up to 384kHz/32bit PCM and up to DSD256 in NativeDSD format. DoP64 and DoP128 are also possible." "However, if someone has a compatible DAC with USB Class 2 input, it is possible to stream up to DSD512 in NativeDSD format (not DoP) from the USB DAC connection of the streamer." Joel Thanks Joel! Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
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