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Am I headed down the road to ruin here?

Currently I have a macbook (stripped of everything but the software I use to stream music with, via USB and an ultraviolet USB cable to the USB input on ny Shanling cd2.1 player. The player outputs over some very nice cables I picked up here to an Audible illusions preamp which (over bluejeans 15ft coax) go to powered martin logans.

OK, using USB prober, and confirmed by Shanling, the USB input is not asynchronous. Som being a scientist, I am about to perform the following experiment - USB, UV USB cable to a V Link USB->Coax adapter -> coax into the cd player DAC. I also have on hand a nice glass optical cable, and picked up an optical to coax converter. WIll also try this from mac to CD player's DAC.

What do you think? Is any of this going to make a difference? I am streaming from MOG so it's not terribly high quality but its ok for now. I am interested in streaming some higher quality recordings too.

Do the people who believe cables dont matter also think all of this doesnt matter too?
elader
6 responses Add your response
davide256's avatar
davide256
395 posts
 
You should find that if you rip your CD's to uncompressed format that they sound via asynch USB generally better than played as disc via the CD player if both inputs are passing through the CD player DAC section. Low bass should be where you notice biggest difference.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
i have heard several streaming services. switch to googleplay, www.googleplay.com. try it you will not be disappointed. my friend has created cds for me from material streamed from google play. its very high quality .
Post removed 
williewonka
3,067 posts
 
Continued...

Opps - pressed the wrong key - sorry

With Audirvana you are streaming the actual data in the WAV or AIF or FLAC file and not an augmented version which is what native iTunes streams.

Yes - I know iTunes is frowned upon by some - you either love or hate it, but is has one of the best interfaces for viewing music by artist, genre, song, album etc... I have used to date.

I also stream radio from iTunes and yes - the cables made a difference with that also.

The only problem areas may be with the various converters you plan on using. I've never used one so I have no experience there.

Hope everything pans out
williewonka
3,067 posts
 
Cables matter! Even optical cables.

Problem with streaming is there are no data checks, so if bits are dropped you'll never know - except for the degradation of the regenerated analogue signal.

I've tried three different grades of optical cable and several different grades of usb cable and the DH Labs I'm using at present are the best I've found so far. Each upgrade provided an audible improvement.

Are DH Labs the best? Probably not, but the are very good bang for the buck

BTW Audirvana (software) provides the best quality playback from an Apple computer because it bypasses apples software, which "diddles" with the original file which in turn degrades the sound

You can also integrate Audirvana into iTunes, which in turn can be controlled via a tablet or smartphone.
mesch
3,394 posts
 
If you were playing redbook (44/16) cd quality files (AIFF) from your MAC, I believe it to be likely you would hear a benefit from the USB converter. Can't say about MOG. I believe coax to be superior to optical spdif connection. Would not use an optical to coax converter over a straight coax connection unless EMI/RFI interference was a problem.

Quality cables make a difference. Need not be the most expensive. Budget end audioquest or wireworld (only 2 examples, there are others) perform well.

Which AL pre do you have?
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