morphsci

Why do I feel like Abbott to your Costello lately?

The 840c is certainly a good buy if you want to spin disks and have a useable DAC. However, for a DAC only there are some serious competitors, especially if you expand your search into the pro market. I do prefer the 840c to the Benchmark.

For some it may not be a bad idea. The one complaint I have about my Sony ereader is that it could stand to be a little larger as I use it mostly for scientific articles and text.

Very, very nice. I love it when hardware is repurposed.

Best wishes to you, your daughter, and the rest of your family, Mike.

Yep, I've kept two sources for comparison for months before making a decision. Also thanks for the info on the Mytek, it led me to look at the Mytek 8x192 ADDA. An interesting unit and very reasonably priced for its features.

Happy Birthday and welcome to the wonderful world of "adulthood".

FTFY

I prefer the optical connection between my MAC Mini and the DACMagic compared to the USB connection. Didn't do a DBT but listened back and forth for a few days and settled on the optical. The USB always sounded a little "fuzzy" compared to the optical.

Dam, I'm now up to three headphones I need to bring to CanJam. I am looking forward to hearing the balanced version of this amp.

Happy Birthday, Moth Man.

DSD is Pulse-Density-Modulated (PDM)

Emm ... PDM ≠ PCM

I've heard them, unfortunately more than once, but I am talking out of my ass (It's OK to actually spell it out here). Although they are mediocre, they do have the distinction of being overpriced.

Except, the track record is 60+ years of mediocrity, at best. Not really that impressive, meh*60^2*24*365.25*60

Happy, Happy, Birthday, Birthday.

Happy Birthday you wildcat.

I thought he was being cheeky.

No, the DSD stream can be gotten off the board at least on a Denon 1920 (probably just as easy on a 1930/1940). DSD and PCM are not the same though the results are the same. You are judging the outcome not the process. The implementation may simply make the outcomes equivalent. Now getting the DSD out via HDMI may not be easy but at this point it doesn't look totally SOL. I do not think it is too much to ask to be able to determine for myself, and on a case-by-case basis if pure DSD all the way to DAC sounds different than DSD --> PCM --> DAC.

Looks like its going to be a full Head-Case crew x2. As long as you don't look like your avatar.

That's an old picture, the current one works fine, except for the glass. My plan was to use epoxy to put it back on but I will make a final determination when I get it open. I was not able to talk to Mikhail today. Mostly on my end. Only one week left until finals so everybody is realizing all the assignments they "forgot" to do.

I use 5 M200's in my HT. I have them in a rack in a converted closet. I think they look and sound cool. They also run cool so that is an advantage as heat build-up is a problem in there. I am going to have to install an active ventilation system anyway.

I'm not sure as the spec. sheet is pretty cryptic so Its full capabilities are not easily deciphered. I also have to finish reading THIS PAPER

Thank you.

They could certainly have an HDMI input as well as output. However for me, the only reason to buy a disc player over a DAC is to play SACD discs and then use the internal DAC for my HD based files. Moot point for me now anyway as the Sabre32 has attracted my attention.