Affordable Processor with Fabulous 2 Channel ?

Clark calls regular asynchronous USB interfaces ’non optimal’ because the ground noise that is inevitable with computer sources pollutes the clock and the DAC in the receiver.

Except that it is completely preventable with standard isolation techniques, available as off-the-shelf chips or custom designed.

Honestly in 2018 this should not even be an issue anymore, though it is, rarely.

er, I shoudl have clarified : "I now own a DAC with a very good clock which behaves about the same whether from USB or S/PDIF. It also makes Redbook sound much better than my previous DAC.

aux:
I've had a DAC which behaved much better via USB than other inputs. I now own a DAC that behaves similarly.

I think it's very much about implementation of the jitter and re-clocking interfaces as a whole. The DAC which behaved much better via USB had kind of mediocre clocks.

Best,
E

+1 aux! 

Just based on reading this thread, no one has stood up for NAD's HT processors but they have for Classe. 

I have listed to a few NAD digital products over the past couple of years with mixed experiences. I use a D 3020 in the bedroom, works great there. :) 

Best,

E

Still looking, and still unpacking. :) 

Right now I am running with a Mytek Brooklyn as my DAC/preamp. It is hoooked up to the TV via optical. My source is Roku. 

I have a Parasound P7 and Oppo still boxed up. 

There's no guarantee I'll really ever go back to 5.1. It's just such a cable mess, and takes time to set up properly. 

aux - 

Thanks so much. I am for their modular construction and relative price (say compared to Theta) - But I've had one really poor and one good experience with NAD DAC's which has made me pretty wary. 

Best,

E

But you will have to use its USB input. It sounded phenomenal. You can try to compare feeding the Sigma SSP directly via its USB input vs your Mytek Brooklyn DAC going analog into the Sigma SSP. I’m pretty sure its USB input will sound better.

I've had a DAC that sounded great but only through USB. The Mytek spanked it at all times in all ways. 

Should say, otherwise, the Classe SSP seems like a really good fit for me. It's relatively small, pure analog inputs and has all the formats I need / care about. 

Thanks for all of the inputs everyone! 

Owning a small NAD digital integrated, and quite happy with the sound, I was hoping someone would have an informed opinion about the NAD M17 series. I am particularly enamored of the modular construction, and being able to buy an M17 without paying for things like Atmos I don't care about. :-)

I really really wish Theta had come out with the Supernova, the Casanova reboot. It was perfect for me. 

Best,

E

I don't really care about Atmos. 5.1 is enough for me though! :) Maybe I'll check out the Bryston too. :) 

Bryston SP3's are ridiculously cheap used. What's up with that? 

BTW, 

I just wanted to comment that the Classe SSP is doing what the Theta Casanova used to. Convert all analog inputs to digital, use DSP for crossover and EQ.  There was no pure analog pathway in it. 

I also loved mine. I upgraded mainly to get a more modern DAC and HDMI compatibility. 

@caphill -

Might be worth clarifying that you mean digital compression, and decompression, vs. dynamic range compression. :D

Not the same thing. 

The theory is some devices suffer more jitter due to the varying amounts of CPU processing decompression takes. 

I do like to use something like the Wyred4Sound remedy for those devices. Works like a charm.

Best,

Erik

Thanks for all of that @caphill. 

I do my own room correction really, so I'm not worried about that.  I'll read more on the Classe SSP! 

Best,

E

Thanks auxinput!

So I looked again, I guess the Krell Foundation is still out of my price range unless I wait, does anyone like their musical performance?

Erik

Thanks @willland !

I haven't thought of Anthem since they got sold and closed down Sonic Frontiers. I will check them out! 

Erik

lux - 

Yeah, I'm very attracted to the Krells in the used market for just that reason. 

Feature wise, I do not need more than 5.1 and do not care about video scaling. 

Honestly I would like to stay under $2,000

I use ICEpower based Class D amps. I'm extremely happy with them. 

I hear a lot for Classe. Didn't they just get sold or shut down? 

Best,

Erik

I really like the modular construction of the NAD, and I have a 30W digital integrated in the bedroom. I also heard the masters series 2 channel DAC and it was god awful. So, mixed experiences.