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Recommendations for music network player

Hi. I'm never in digital and I'm very septic. I'm using Mac mini. Any suggestions for any thinking better sounding than Mac , I do own dac , but would be great to hook up to music player cd ripping device. Thanks for response if any 
pophaudio
bondmanp
1,784 posts
 

Thanks guys!  I was actually thinking of the Node 2 as a first step, to be followed by the addition of an ifi iDSD Black Label DAC (which I can get an employee discount on through a family member).


But, since it my current DAC only goes to 96/24, I expect I might be using the Node 2's DAC for a while until I could afford the ifi DAC.  However, my current DAC is pretty good - a highly moded Beresford DAC called the Superberry, by K-Works.  One of the things I like about it is that it has a really wide soundstage, although the depth is a little lacking.  That's why I asked specifically about the Node 2 DAC's soundstage characteristics.  Can anyone comment specifically on that for me?  It's really the only area some of the reviews (none from Bo) criticized.


Thanks.

williewonka
3,067 posts
 
@bondmanp - I am very happy with the sound stage of the Node 2 - but you have to treat it to some great cables to maximize it.

The presentation is 3D and very large - it’s like being at the actual venue

Orchestral tracks offer the biggest sound stage, but having said that I have a solo violin album that transports me into the church where it was recorded - the walls of my room just melt away

I get a similar effect with Is this Love from Bob Marley - instruments are spaced much wider than my speakers and walls

With stock cables the image was not as spacious or as detailed and dynamic

My room is 16.5 x 40 x 7.5 - the speakers are 8 ft from the wall behind them and 4.5 ft from the side walls

Hope that helps
pophaudio OP
75 posts
 
Hi . I'm using acrolink cabling . What are you using??? 


pophaudio OP
75 posts
 
Did somebody see what is inside vault , what components look like???
williewonka
3,067 posts
 
@pophaudio - all cables are my own DIY design see...

http://image99.net/blog/files/category-002ahelix-interconnect-cable.html

http://image99.net/blog/files/category-002ahelix-power-cable.html

http://image99.net/blog/files/category-002ahelix-speaker-cable.html

But if you want great commercial cables see...
http://www.kleinnovations.com/

I have reviewed most of their product line and they are the best commercial products I have tried

The problem with most other commercial cables is that they tend to use a very poor geometry (like slightly twisted pairs)  that actually results in RFI/EMI being into the conductors from within. Shielding does not protect against this.

To alleviate the issues of intra-cable RFI/EMI you need a more advanced geometry such as braid, Helix or that used by KLE Innovations.

As for the Vault - I have three Bluesound components and their fit and finish is exemplary - I see no reason to assume the internals would be any different

Hope that helps - Steve
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