| Author |
Thread: The Upgrade Bug strikes again! |
    
New member Username: Lg0
Lincoln
UK
Post Number: 1
Registered: Aug-09
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| Posted on Monday, August 31, 2009 - 01:24 pm: |
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Firstly, hello all!
Now, before I ask a bunch of questions it would be useful if you knew a bit about me. I'm a student, which immediately tells you that both space and budget are in short supply for me. I listen to a whole plethora of music, but mostly acoustic rock and ambient/post-rock (think Porcupine Tree, Team Sleep).
On with the questions!
My current setup is as follows:
Source - MacBook (a roughly even mix of MP3 and FLAC)
Amp - Fatman iTube
Speakers - Kef iQ10
This is all situated on a desk which is far from ideal but hopefully won't be the case for much longer.
Anyway, the upgrade bug has hit again. The speakers a relatively new purchase, and I think that I can get more out of them than I currently am. I have no interest in changing my source, so my choice is to either replace the amp with something better or add another component such as a DAC. I've already been recommended the Audio GD Compass DAC.
So my question is, what is your opinion on how I should progress with my humble system. A new amp, a DAC, or something different? What would give me the biggest improvement in sound quality?
Also, on another note, I'm looking into getting some good quality headphones, most likely Grado's although until I demo some that isn't certain, so that is worth bearing in mind (for instance the Compass DAC is also a headphone amp from what I gather).
Anyway, any information is appreciated, and I apologise if my post appears vague. If any more information is needed just ask.
Thanks,
Joe |
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Platinum Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 13320
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Monday, August 31, 2009 - 02:01 pm: |
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Hey Joe. (I never tire of that).
What part of 'sound quality' do you want to improve? |
New member Username: Lg0
Lincoln
UK
Post Number: 2
Registered: Aug-09
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| Posted on Monday, August 31, 2009 - 02:19 pm: |
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Hi there Nuck. (your right, it is fun).
I'm not sure if this is possible at all, but my main wish is to improve how the speakers sound at low volumes. When I have the system blasting out it sounds great, but living with parents and neighbours makes this a rare luxury, and at lower volumes the music tends to sound lacking in detail. To be honest I think you are going to tell me I should get some studio monitors designed for nearfield listening or something, but I wanted some speakers that would last me a while and my current situation of have a setup on a desk shouldn't be the case for much longer.
If this is impossible to do simply by adding / upgrading components, then the other thing to change would be to 'warm the sound up' a bit as the kefs come across quite analytical and this at times makes the music seem quite cold, particularly in acoustic guitar songs. Sorry I can't be more clear, I find it very difficult to describe this sort of thing with relying on audiophile waffle!
Thanks,
Joe |
Platinum Member Username: Nuck
Post Number: 13321
Registered: Dec-04
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| Posted on Monday, August 31, 2009 - 03:12 pm: |
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Joe, I suggest that you wait until the new setup/room is in place.
There are numerous room treatments/tricks to modify what you hear, and you might find something simple to help you out. |
Gold Member Username: Dmitchell
Ottawa,
Ontario
Canada
Post Number: 2950
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Monday, August 31, 2009 - 03:48 pm: |
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How are you transporting the music from your Macbook to the Fatman? Is there a USB input?
I would try throwing a half-decent USB DAC in the mix and see what kind of improvements (if any) you hear. I've heard quite a significant difference with my PC based systems when using a DAC. |
Gold Member Username: Mike3
Wylie,
Tx
USA
Post Number: 2127
Registered: May-06
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| Posted on Monday, August 31, 2009 - 05:24 pm: |
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Joe, if you consider David's recommendation worth some thought this works fairly well. They have their own distributor and Music Direct carries them as well.
I think the $99 model would be quite sufficient for you.
http://www.highresolutiontechnologies.com/5496_hifi+_HRT_lowres.pdf |
Gold Member Username: Dmitchell
Ottawa,
Ontario
Canada
Post Number: 2952
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Monday, August 31, 2009 - 07:26 pm: |
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The DAC needn't be expensive Joe. I use these DACs at home:
http://www.audio-magus.com/Super_Pro_DAC707SE_USB_p/109401.htm
But the one Michael mentions looks pretty good too. |
Silver Member Username: Edison
Glendale,
CA
US
Post Number: 906
Registered: Dec-03
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 - 06:14 am: |
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I feel for you when you say you have to turn down the volume on rock music...
However, getting headphones might not be the solution - doctors are warning us that prolonged loud headphone listening is bad for our hearing !
Nearfield listening is my favorite way to listen to music - you should be able to gain quality by improving the source with a DAC.
You might want to post it on Audiogon.com, and buy used DAC there.
You already got some good advices though...
Sure beats my system when I was your age... |
Silver Member Username: Edison
Glendale,
CA
US
Post Number: 907
Registered: Dec-03
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 - 06:26 am: |
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I don't want to be a party p--per, but according to an ancient Chinese philosopher, we human beings get used to luxury, and it seizes to be that, and we want better and better quality of it... hence audiophile's constant upgrade bug.
I just got pretty good speakers recently and I was really happy to have found them, but it's only been a week, and I am dreaming again of something better...
At some point, we got to just stop and enjoy the music - at least for a little while before upgrading again...
Another Chinese philosopher reminds us -
" One who knows when to stop, always has enough..." |
Gold Member Username: My_rantz
Australia
Post Number: 2457
Registered: Nov-05
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 - 06:37 am: |
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And another Chinese philosopher scribed:
"When girl as pretty as picture - usually has nice frame"
Well, I couldn't help it :-) |
New member Username: Lg0
Lincoln
UK
Post Number: 3
Registered: Aug-09
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 - 10:52 am: |
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Thank you for all the advice, it seems to me that a DAC will be the next logical step as currently I just have my Mac connected to the amp by a 3.5mm to RCA cable.
Of the two posted I think am more likely to choose the one posted by David because of it's choice of inputs. Would I get better results using the optical out on the MacBook or the USB?
Since I am in the UK shipping prices will also have to be considered. With shipping from Audiomagus the Super Pro DAC707SE will come to $158 which is £97. I'm having trouble finding anywhere that will ship the HRT DAC to the UK, so that pretty much decides for me. Would everyone else agree that this is a good choice?
James, I'd love to get to the point where I no longer feel the need to upgrade, but I'm afraid that may not be for sometime! Still, I do love putting on a good song with the intention of having it as background music, only to forget what I was doing and just enjoy how good it sounds. I can only hope that as I get older and the equipment I can only dream about at the moment becomes affordable this feeling will be even stronger!
Thanks again for the help! |
New member Username: Lg0
Lincoln
UK
Post Number: 4
Registered: Aug-09
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 - 11:01 am: |
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After having a quick search around google the Super Pro seems fairly well reputed. I did find a discussion of it on Head Fi that suggests a good (in some peoples opinions better) alternative is the Valab DAC, which can be found here:
http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Audio-Lab__W0QQ_armrsZ1QQ_fsubZ225604719
Has anyone heard of these/have an opinion of them? Apologies for all the questions, I'm afraid I'm one of those people that does a lot of research before committing to buying something. |
Gold Member Username: Dmitchell
Ottawa,
Ontario
Canada
Post Number: 2964
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 - 11:41 am: |
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No problem. I'm the same way when I want to buy something - I research it to death.
Never heard of Valab DAC. I'm pretty happy with my SuperPro, I have 2 of them, in fact. |
Silver Member Username: Hawkbilly
Nova Scotia
Canada
Post Number: 664
Registered: Jul-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 - 04:44 pm: |
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Joe, put USB DAC into google and you'll get a bunch in all price ranges. Another thing to think about is what results you are getting from the different file formats you are going to feed the DAC. Feeding MP3 files isn't going to give you optimal results. I think you'll find that FLAC or other lossless formats will provide you with superior results. You likely are hearing a difference between formats even with your existing setup, are you not ? |
Gold Member Username: Dmitchell
Ottawa,
Ontario
Canada
Post Number: 2965
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 - 05:45 pm: |
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Good point Chris. Joe, if you can't hear the difference between a flac file and an mp3, don't bother buying the DAC. |
Gold Member Username: Dmitchell
Ottawa,
Ontario
Canada
Post Number: 2966
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 - 06:29 pm: |
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Pretty sure most anyone can tell the difference between a low quality bit-rate mp3 such as 192 kbps. I can even tell the difference between a flac file and the same song in 320 kbps. |
New member Username: Lg0
Lincoln
UK
Post Number: 5
Registered: Aug-09
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| Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 06:03 am: |
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I am currently hearing a small difference between the two file types, not a night and day difference, but enough to be noticed. FLAC files sound more realistic where I find MP3 to sound slightly flat and lifeless. Is that what I should be hearing, or am I imagining that?
As for the DAC, I think I will probably go with the SuperPro then, thank you for the reccomendation! |
Gold Member Username: Dmitchell
Ottawa,
Ontario
Canada
Post Number: 2971
Registered: Feb-07
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| Posted on Wednesday, September 02, 2009 - 07:50 am: |
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Yeah, that's pretty much what you should be hearing. Besides mp3's having a squashed frequency range, the compression algorithm dictates that the file's bits are disassembled, then reassembled after the "extraneous" information has been discarded. This often results in a sense of the music's beat or timing being "off".
You're welcome! And welcome to the forum Joe. |
