View Full Version : Transport - Does it matter?
jaxwired
11-09-2009, 10:03 PM
I'd like to hear from everyone regarding the CD transport used to feed an outboard DAC. Do they make a difference even though it's all digital before the DAC? Surely error correction and read accuracy are factors. Do transports sound different or identical?
Different. Try using a few...the naysayers will say digital it digital...it's not. They'll spend two hours formulating essay's and pasting links when they could have heard the differences themselves in half the time they spent typing.
tonyb
11-09-2009, 10:20 PM
I thought we covered this in another thread. Anyway,like anything else,quality of the transport moves up with higher quality gear. Keeping in mind of coarse that alot of manufacturers use the same transport or the same handfull of higher end ones.Given a mass marketed piece in the lower to mid price range,I would have to say probably not. If they didn't make a difference,there wouldn't be a market for stand alone transports.
danz1906
11-09-2009, 10:20 PM
Transports make a Big Difference, I used a Cd player as a Transport with my
Theta Pro Prime II dac. The Cd player sounded very good, but when I got a Theta
Data Basic Transport it was a difference. The Theta Transport was much more Detailed
with great bass! Every Transport you use will sound different.
danger boy
11-09-2009, 11:00 PM
transports do make a difference.. just like cables.. (runs and hides) ;)
tonyb
11-09-2009, 11:09 PM
transports do make a difference.. just like cables.. (runs and hides) ;)
chicken shit!!:p:)
bikerboy
11-10-2009, 12:16 AM
A digital transport upgrade is like a tt upgrade. One part in a chain. Some people might not hear much difference. To me it makes a cd sound a step closer to the sound of vinyl.
GV#27
11-10-2009, 01:06 AM
Do transports sound different ....?They can,a big factor is the jitter reduction capabilities of the DAC it's feeding.This is because it is the relative jitter levels that are the biggest contributor to SQ differences between different dac/transport combo's.
For instance if a DAC incorporates a sample rate converter(upsampler)it reclocks the data so any jitter resulting from the interface with the transport will be greatly reduced.Therefore even transports that have higher levels of jitter will be more or less corrected for by the DAC so differences between them should be markedly reduced.
GV#27
11-10-2009, 02:08 AM
the relative jitter levels that are the biggest contributor to SQ differences between different transports
fixed
lakesailor
11-10-2009, 02:33 AM
From my own experimentation the DAC makes a far more significant upgrade to a system than the transport will. That is not say that a good transport will not outperform a lesser one; only that I suggest you invest in a good DAC first; transport second.
GV#27
11-10-2009, 02:42 AM
From my own experimentation the DAC makes a far more significant upgrade to a system than the transport will.Absolutely, and even more specifically the quality of the power supplies and analog stages of the DAC differentiate the good from the excellent IMO.
steveinaz
11-10-2009, 08:32 AM
In my experience, transports can sound different.
To clear up the "error correction" myth. There are 2 types of error correction; successful and unsuccessful. You only hear the unsuccessful in the form of a skip or drop-out. Succcessful error correction has absolutely no by products.
thsmith
11-10-2009, 09:19 AM
Yes, went from PS3 to Rotel CDP using PS Audio DAC on both and Rotel slayed the PS3.
fbm211
11-10-2009, 02:37 PM
I went from an adcom CDP to a theta transport.The theta is much better.Night and day difference.
madmax
11-10-2009, 04:26 PM
I went from an adcom CDP to a theta transport.The theta is much better.Night and day difference.
Likewise. I tried a lot of CD players as transports. When I hook up my Theta the sound is better. The DAC is an audionote Kit1.2. I have another transport (forget the name of it :o) and it sounds better than the cd players used as transports but not quite as good as the Theta. Certainly a certain transport makes a difference.
danz1906
11-10-2009, 04:56 PM
I went from an adcom CDP to a theta transport.The theta is much better.Night and day difference.
Theta Transports are very Good!
GV#27
11-10-2009, 10:00 PM
Theta Transports are very Good!Theta,Wadia,CAL and Esoteric all made some excellent transports,but the new generation of transports look to be alot more fun.:) http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/wireless_music_systems/devices/5745&cl=us,en
danz1906
11-10-2009, 10:35 PM
Theta,Wadia,CAL and Esoteric all made some excellent transports,but the new generation of transports look to be alot more fun.:) http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakers_audio/wireless_music_systems/devices/5745&cl=us,en
Yes, the future is here;)
jaxwired
11-11-2009, 01:50 PM
Well, everyone seems to think transport do in fact matter so....
I'm thinking about switching out my NAD C545 to a Rega Apollo just for transport use. Opinions welcome. Or, if you have a better idea, love to hear it. Thx!
fbm211
11-11-2009, 03:40 PM
Do you have a DAC? The adcom GDA-600 is a giant killer if you can find one
beardog03
11-11-2009, 04:34 PM
I don`t know if this helps, but since I have been going down pretty much the same road with my CDP upgrade, I was turned onto the Bryston DAC.
I, for one reason or another, have been getting into Bryston gear, and with having no experience with this brand, have found this....
http://bryston.com/bcd1_r.html
it kind of explains alot...
I also was lookingh at this....
http://bryston.com/bda1_m.html
the read on the CDP leads me towards the CDP, but the external DAC is still an option at this point, but as the title reads.....does the transport make a difference, and what should I use with this DAC ?
After reading the CDP page, I am convinced that the transport does matter....almost as much as the DAC does
I could be misguided....wouldn`t be the first time
or the last !!
jaxwired
11-11-2009, 05:57 PM
Do you have a DAC? The adcom GDA-600 is a giant killer if you can find one
I have a benchmark DAC1 that I purchased new only 2 months ago. I'm very happy with it and I don't have plans to change the DAC right now. I am considering changing the CDP I use as a transport to feed my DAC.
jaxwired
11-11-2009, 06:01 PM
I don`t know if this helps, but since I have been going down pretty much the same road with my CDP upgrade, I was turned onto the Bryston DAC.
I've read alot abou the Bryston CDP and DAC. I know they are very respected and get great reviews. If I wasn't happy with the benchmark, Bryston would be at the top of my list.
If I was going to buy a Bryston, I think I'd go for the BCD-1 and sell my current CDP and DAC. But as it stands, I'm going to stick with the benchmark for now and am just considering a transport change.
I only listen to CDs right now. I do not listen to any streamed, iPod, or computer based music at this time.
beardog03
11-11-2009, 06:28 PM
[QUOTE=jaxwired;1192161]
If I was going to buy a Bryston, I think I'd go for the BCD-1 and sell my current CDP and DAC. But as it stands, I'm going to stick with the benchmark for now and am just considering a transport change.
QUOTE]
Agreed....I am seriously lookimg at the BCD-1 instead of going DAC/Transport
I am still doing my homework, as I won`t be able to upgrade for a long while !
Ranger0912
02-02-2010, 04:19 PM
A lot depends on your downstream electronics. I'm delighted with my PS Audio Digital Link III but was hard pressed to identify a noticeable sonic difference before upgrading to my current amp.
MANSKITO
02-03-2010, 11:23 PM
All Digital transports are the same, all cables are the same, 50% of the products they try and sell you are snake oil. And Emotiva amps are the best amps EVER. : P
Jk If they make a difference is not really in question, the question is how MUCH of a difference they make. I would say if you already have the best of the rest and some spare cash then try it out. If not then your best off with speaker, DAC or AMP/pre-amp upgrades.
But for your gear I would say maybe listen to some new speakers, your gear seems I don't know that much about gear that is that High end, but it seems fine. That is if you want a large delta change. But if your happy with your current sound and what to maybe tweak it a little then try a transport or cable upgrade or something of that nature.
The simple answer is check out the overall WEIGHT of a unit with a GOOD transport in it? does it weight 12 lbs or less like most mid-fi DVD/CD players? NO!
Are manufacturers who design jitter resistant--vibration resistant heavy weight transports crazy? No!
Listen to a few and you will hear a 'difference'!
cnh
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