Accessible, yet elite sounding, musical CD machines. Current vs next upgrade

I was not quite right in my previous post.

I2S is, as @richardbrand stated is a protocol that was designed to move data internally.  Starting (I think) back in the '90s when data was moved over coax or optically, with the clock recovered from the data stream, engineers started developing the idea of extending I2S to use between boxes.

Initially I2S was transmitted over RJ45 wires but has since moved to use HDMI cables.  In the audio world an HDMI cable between a source and a DAC will be carrying I2S.  This is very different from the use of HDMI to carry video and sound (etc.) between a DVD player and the TV monitor.

USB was developed in the late '90s specifically to move data between computing components.

If you enter "Explain the technical benefits (like avoiding clock recovery) of using I²S over USB" into Google you will get a lengthy explanation that has (being generous) traces of AI slop to it.  In particular are claims that using the source's clock is an advantage - even though that clock signal has been transmitted over a cable where noise can be picked up.

To summarize, given decent components and cables: over USB, SQ depends on how good the DAC is; over I2S, (carried on an HDMI cable)  SQ depends on how good the source, the cable and the DAC are.

Good digital setups re clock usb and have eliminated the packet delivery as an issue.

DAC chips are important but it’s more important that they be supported by excellent power supply and other implementation issues.  Burr Brown isn’t considered as sexy as ESS or AKM for example but I’ve heard 24 bitt B-B that sounded awesome with CD.

  The DSD issue is important with SACD.  If one doesn’t listen to that format then they aren’t missing anything.

  I prefer having the DAC and transport separate .  I use an Oppo 105 into a Bryston DAC 3.  My SACDs are output over HDMI into the Bryston but HDMI inputs in DACs are now difficult to find so if I was in the market currently I would look for an all in one machine such as a Luxman.  That would leave me without something to play my BlueRay audio discs but that’s a small fraction of my listening.

@jbuddha882 I have a long-term interest in Resin-Impregnated Densified Woods.

Especially those produced in a heated Vacuum Chamber where the produced product comes in at approx’ 1400Kg/m3.

Selection of a Board material is always for a cross-grain layering for the Veneers, where the maximum thickness for a Veneer is 1mm, which is compressed to 0.5mm. My go-to board is usually 25mm (1") thick. 

Using terminology in searches, I have discovered DW produced using the desirable method with veneers as thin as 0.6mm, creating an increase in veneer layers per given board thickness. Or increased channels for dissipation from an already extremely attractive material for dissipation. 

I do have board material up to 75mm thick, and also recently found a service willing to produce a sheet material from an already owned board at approx’ 3mm thick (1/8").

My EE friend, who produces work I am encouraged to share in through the design stages when being developed, is to be gifted this 3mm sheet to produce Circuit Boards (CB) from, similar to what Audio Note does.

This EE has produced some very attractive Analogue Source designs, including Head Amp’s. I always stated that when a CB was able to produce from a Densified Wood, I would be the first in the queue to own the design, moving on from loaning the designs. No Stress for the veneer producer then .

Curiosity keeps me on my toes, where the audio hobby is a concern.

My EE friend with a sheet of 3mm DW will be presenting some very interesting designs for the future.

Regarding Sources, the owned Digital Source, even though having been compared to quite a selection, through loans to be used in my system and through my travelling with the owned Source and loaning it to be used in other systems. I really know its value and have not experienced any comparisons where there is a discernible difference encountered that is decided to be a betterment.

With this in mind, I have now decided to concentrate on my own Digital Source and make a discovery within my own system that is discernibly different and classed as a betterment. "Let the Digital Games Begin".

Fortunately for me, within approx’ 40 miles of my home, with the minimum Journey being 15 miles, there are nearly £40K in value CDT’s able to be demoed through audio dealers. I will be keen to get my CDT > DAC used as a comparison if the dealers are willing to assist with my investigations.

Many, many years passed, the most local dealer, when at their premises for a consultation for an Analogue Source, was quite happy to home demo local, that as a service might still stand?

 As for the Vinyl Source, there is nowhere for me to go; I am hitting the ball out of the ballpark, so there is no need to keep trying to get a better connection with the objective. I’m contented, I’m curious and vice versa, but Happy as a Clam, Euphoric. 

All the plans in the pipeline for the Vinyl Source were recently announced as being abandoned, to leave time and energy for my new venture.      

@retiredaudioguy 

In the audio world an HDMI cable between a source and a DAC will be carrying I2S

Not in my audio world!  I use native HDMI to move audio from Reavon, Panasonic and Sony player / transports to my Marantz pre-processor.which has 8 AKM dacs.

The Reavon has Burr Brown dacs but high-resolution DSD is down-sampled to CD quality.

Australia is more aligned to the European way of doing things 

All this tech-talk tends to get in the way of enjoying the music.  I use the Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista CD player and digital hub for all my digital equipment. It has one bullet-proof Nuvistor tube per channel and sounds, well , very musical indeed,  Beautiful casework, too.