Rabbit
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Bitzie
Jul 31, 2013 10:26:35 GMT
Post by Rabbit on Jul 31, 2013 10:26:35 GMT
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Javier
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Bitzie
Jul 31, 2013 11:27:55 GMT
Post by Javier on Jul 31, 2013 11:27:55 GMT
There is one thing that I find strange.
He says the DAC will be automatically detected by all supported OSs yet he doesn't seem to provide any drivers so he is relying on native OS support. Windows only has native drivers for 24/96 USB DACs (UAC1) but in the specs says all sampling rates are supported including 176.4K and 192K, it doesn't sound right to me. I think he doesn't mean native DAC support but media players support which will get downsampled by the OS to the supported sample rates.
He also mentions using a TI BB CODEC, mmmhhh... not the best SQ sources IMVHO, specially at £350 even if it includes a HPA.
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Rabbit
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Bitzie
Jul 31, 2013 19:52:57 GMT
Post by Rabbit on Jul 31, 2013 19:52:57 GMT
He also says it 'plays' the following formats ..... etc
I don't see how, it's a DAC.
I don't like the look or price of this. It looks like a £90 home made device to me!!
My problem is £350 for a DAC.
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Deleted
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Bitzie
Jul 31, 2013 23:52:49 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2013 23:52:49 GMT
I think he doesn't mean native DAC support but media players support which will get downsampled by the OS to the supported sample rates. X 2 - bet it just downsamples anything it can't handle. I'm beginning to be as suspicious of G.S. as I am of Russ Andrews. + agree with Ian. Why (at £350) does it have to be stuck in a £10 Hammond case? Admittedly, after living day-to-day for years now with my Shanling 3-D Audio CDT-100 CDP, and Shanling 3-D Audio STP-80 amp, I've probably been really spoiled, but - JEEZ - does it have to look so basic?? I guarantee many of our members here could produce a better looking, designed, and implemented case for £350.
Calling Drymdrum . . . Calling McFrede . . . Calling Solderdude . . . Etc.,Etc, . . .
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Rabbit
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Bitzie
Aug 1, 2013 6:39:32 GMT
Post by Rabbit on Aug 1, 2013 6:39:32 GMT
Javier has one on the way Jeff. You can put it in whatever box you like.
I'll never forget seeing the Slee headphone amp. That looked OK but the power supply was plain awful. Again, for the money, it was a dreadful looking thing. The wire was the kind that eventually goes brittle. I couldn't believe it for that price. The Little Pinkies are way ahead in that respect as well.
Looks like he's done the same kind of thing with the DAC. I think some makers forget that many people keep the gear in the front room. Therefore, commercial stuff needs to look presentable as well; especially at that price.
How many guys are going to be able to show the wife a Hammond box and say it cost them £350?
My wife likes the Ember actually and the glowing base of the tube not only looks nice,but it is obvious if you've forgotten to turn it off.
In fact when people come round and see it, they want to hear a headphone on it.
When they see the Hammond box and ask what they always do ..... 'How much?' I think I might have to tell a porky pie because I'd be embarrassed.
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Bitzie
Aug 1, 2013 17:27:43 GMT
Post by clausdk on Aug 1, 2013 17:27:43 GMT
350£ is OK for a DAC, in some DACs you really get awesome sound for that kind of money,I have not heard the Bitzie and probably never will, it just looks so cheap that "designed in Great Britain" becomes an insult..
Just look at the Aune´s at less than 200€, they have a nice box for their stuff and sounds quite good, they make a joke of the "designed in GB" part, the sound I can not tell anything about, but the Slee stuff I have heard was nothing special..
And yes McFrede would make it so much prettier, but his boxes are really expensive, they often cost more than the parts inside, when that is said Frederik has style and class above and beyond most others and he is also a very nice and helpfull guy..
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Rabbit
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Bitzie
Aug 1, 2013 18:24:52 GMT
Post by Rabbit on Aug 1, 2013 18:24:52 GMT
Maybe it's just me Claus. For a lot of people, a computer is like a secondary source. I'm not completely happy using a computer for audio tbh so for me it's a second kind of source. I don't like noisy fans going and to get something quiet needs a more expensive computer and it goes on and on. The Macs are quiet though, but I wouldn't buy a Mac just for music.
I don't like the idea of a computer screen to choose files and and a computer sitting there dedicated to the purpose. Adding £350 to that imo is too much for most people.
I liked John's DAC32 a lot but the price for me, using it as a 'less important' source is just too high.
Why are UK designs so crap? Remember the odd looking Cyrus amps? We seem to produce such minimalist looking stuff. I really couldn't believe the power supply with the Graham Slee Solo amp and that amp was retailing around £400. The wire was really poor quality. I had mine for a few years and the wire had gone old and stiff. Mine has ended up in China somewhere.
I have a couple of Aune DAC's and they just look better and are way lower in price. Good enough for me.
I wonder whether he'll sell many of these tbh.
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Javier
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Bitzie
Aug 1, 2013 19:53:50 GMT
Post by Javier on Aug 1, 2013 19:53:50 GMT
For me it is quite the opposite, I can't think of going back to disk based players and I find a pain dealing with the small capacity of DAP, smartphones, etc. BTW, some latest generation Android Smartphones/tablets can use external USB DACs though this is still in its infancy and not all file resolutions are supported.
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Bitzie
Aug 2, 2013 10:36:41 GMT
Post by clausdk on Aug 2, 2013 10:36:41 GMT
I have the same attitude, Disk players are just a PITA, I love chosing tracks on the PC, it is very nice to sit and surf in ones musiclibrary and have it all right in front of you intead of the constant change of disk and waiting time, life is to short to bother with that.. A decent laptop is very quiet and makes about the same level of noise as a CDplayer.. I also find that a PC is a better transport than a CDplayer, it do not have the same limitations. I would like windows to support USB2 for external DACs, that would be nice, as it is now one have to install drivers for USB2 DACs.. A decent USB DAC also cost less than a decent CDplayer, if one presume that you own a PC and we all have PCs, at least the guys we know from forums
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Rabbit
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Bitzie
Aug 2, 2013 11:04:20 GMT
Post by Rabbit on Aug 2, 2013 11:04:20 GMT
I guess it's the idea of having a computer in your front room that puts me off, Claus.
6 Black Bream last week from Brighton Harbour btq!!! I was actually after mackerel when a shoal of bream turned up.
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Dave
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Bitzie
Aug 2, 2013 11:27:05 GMT
Post by Dave on Aug 2, 2013 11:27:05 GMT
I guess it's the idea of having a computer in your front room that puts me off, Claus. Hi Ian, Get with the times . There are now some 'not ugly' (choosing my words carefully here ) HT PC cases out there that would not look too bad in many front rooms, particularly if there are other modern furniture bits and pieces in there. And it certainly makes listening to music in the comfortable seats (using closed cans of course) whilst SWMBO goes off into her 'soap' world. Of course, if your front room is full of Shuttleworth's self rising chairs and Chesterfield sofas one might clash a bit . Dave..
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Rabbit
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Bitzie
Aug 2, 2013 12:40:10 GMT
Post by Rabbit on Aug 2, 2013 12:40:10 GMT
Exactly Dave. My place is 150 years old. I guess it'll have to be a Sinclair Spectrum. You know, every PC I've had has had fan problems., The blasted things wear out. I do play stuff from a PC sometimes, but generally transfer them to an Ipod or two and run from the dock port into an amp. Wavs sound great but using a DAC from a computer is better. I once had about 300 films stored on a portable type drive (that plugs to the wall in as well) and that failed spectacularly - refused to ever work again and took my films with it. Actually, sometimes, people post pictures on headfi of their setups and it tends to be either in their bedroom or in a workroom. (With soldering gear) I've rarely seen a picture of a setup in a front room. It's the wife, Dave!! Does she really want a computer in the front room? You're the only person who spotted why I don't want a pc in my front room!! It's not the sound - it's what it looks like. Some of us have standards, don't you know? Pass me another crumpet ..........
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Rabbit
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Bitzie
Aug 2, 2013 15:54:45 GMT
Post by Rabbit on Aug 2, 2013 15:54:45 GMT
Chris read this thread and sent me some samples for my Spectrum .............. Now that's nasty!!!! This is a bit more funky. He had another one that was 'Eastern' looking but I couldn't download it. He also mention placing the monitor into the wall....... I'd be in trouble then!!! Thanks Chris.
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Deleted
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Bitzie
Aug 2, 2013 17:02:58 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2013 17:02:58 GMT
Love that top case - real steam-punk
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Javier
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Bitzie
Aug 2, 2013 19:53:00 GMT
Post by Javier on Aug 2, 2013 19:53:00 GMT
There is a third way that offers the "best" of both file based approaches, the dedicated media server. For this task a very small and cheap Atom based PC (100% fan free) can be used, sofwtare can be VoyageMPD that runs from a USB pen drive and is setup once and forget. It can be controlled from an iOS or Android device with access to the full monty: covers, lyrics, biography, etc. Sound can be sent to an external USB DAC and the whole system hidden from view as is Wifi controlled.
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