Thread: What's your system?

Posts: 74
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Post by windhoek December 16, 2014 (1 of 74)
I just saw a thread wherein a new member asked about potential SACD setups and although I'm not familiar with the hardware mentioned, it made me think perhaps we should have a (sticky?) thread dedicated to listing the hardware we employ for SACD playback.

Such a thread would let each of us get a glimpse of what kit is used in each other's setups without having to trawl through each others' profile, which might be useful when it comes to exploring playback options. What do you think? At any rate, here's mine :)

Digital (2.0):
HTPC (Jriver)>Lavry DA11>Teddy Pardo i80a>ATC SCM7

Digital (4.0):
(f): OPPO 103D>Teddy Pardo i80a>ATC SCM7
(r): OPPO 103D>Teddy Pardo ST-60>ATC SCM7
(c): no centre
(s): no sub

Other:
Headphones - Sennheiser HD650
Equipment Stands - Mana Acoustics

Post by WhiteMaxima December 16, 2014 (2 of 74)
System 1) Oppo 95 -> Mogami XLR balanced -> Bryston 3B-ST -> Auqioquest Cobalt 2 -> Thiel 2.2

System 2) Oppp 105 -> Sennhaiser HD600

Post by wehecht December 16, 2014 (3 of 74)
We don't need a thread for this. The occasional requests for system guidance are handled as they arise and wouldn't be as well addressed by a thread full of posts of everyone else's system.

Post by windhoek December 16, 2014 (4 of 74)
Scrolling through a thread to see what hardware is used is a lot easier than navigating back and forth through lots of member profiles, especially when afaik, there isn't a list of members through which one can navigate; in that case, navigation would have to be done on an as hoc basis depending on when one stumbles across un-navigated profiles.

I just think it's simpler and more convenient if we can choose to share our system info via a thread that's easily accessible.

Post by zeus December 16, 2014 (5 of 74)
I'm willing to contribute to this, even though the gear I own is listed in my profile. Just listing it doesn't tell why I chose these components or whether I'm (still) happy with them.

For SA-CD stereo I still use my old Marantz SA-11S2. This player has been outclassed for CD playback so it's a bit of an extravagance keeping it for just the 120 stereo-only SA-CDs I own. It's a good reference though of what a nicely designed source can sound like. Anybody who hasn't heard high-end Marantz gear should experience this.

For SA-CD multichannel and Blu-ray Audio I use a Denon DBT-3313UD transport feeding an AVR-3313 receiver. The Denon Link HD connection between the two solves the issues others have gone to hard-disk playback to address. The DACs in the AVR-3313 aren't terrific with low sample rate files but fine for SA-CD and Blu-ray Audio. This combo is great sound for the price and something I would buy again today (but substituting the current AVR-X4100W).

For PCM stereo (CD rips and downloads) I use a NAD M51 DAC, superior to what the DACs in the AVR-3313 can do.

Amplification and speakers are common throughout.

Post by Iain December 16, 2014 (6 of 74)
windhoek said:

I just saw a thread wherein a new member asked about potential SACD setups and although I'm not familiar with the hardware mentioned, it made me think perhaps we should have a (sticky?) thread dedicated to listing the hardware we employ for SACD playback.

Such a thread would let each of us get a glimpse of what kit is used in each other's setups without having to trawl through each others' profile, ...

Good idea. For now however, see my user profile for comprehensive kit list.

Post by Disbeliever December 16, 2014 (7 of 74)
MCH SACD & CD Sony XA5400ES player STR-DA5400ES AVR (UK version) pre-out into Goldmund JOB 225 amplifier Sony BDP 1000ES BD player. Samsung Smart TV 55" H6700. Front speakers new Phantom Source TL speakers, Centre speaker KEF XQ50, rear speakers B & W M1 on stands,

Post by Marpow December 16, 2014 (8 of 74)
If you are interested in my McIntosh, B&W, Martin Logan, Bluesound Vault, etc check out my profile.

Post by windhoek December 29, 2014 (9 of 74)
I recently bought a poweramp and pair of speakers to use in a 4.0 system using my OPPO 103D as processor, DAC and preamp, but when I tried it a few days ago, it was a complete disaster as it was terribly uncohesive and just plain awful.

I then bought a Marantz NR1504 AVR to see if an AVR with more DSP trickery could make things better with m/c disc playback and boy, did it ever! It turns out though, the newer Marantz NR1605 apparently supports DSD via USB, Network (WiFi and Ethernet) and HDMI, so I've ordered one and will return the NR1504 for a refund. Fwiw, support for DSD is only important in this instance because bitstreaming DSD is the simplest method of getting m/c DSD to the AVR where it can then be converted to PCM and benefit from the Marantz' DSP trickery.

This means I should be able to have a fully PC based setup for stereo and m/c music via USB, Network or HDMI, depending on which sounds best. And, if stereo audio sounds similarly good through the Marantz, I might even dispense with my Lavry DAC and route both stereo and m/c audio via the Marantz to benefit from the on-board DSP features. When the NR1605 arrives, the updated audio flows will be:

Digital (2.0):
HTPC (Jriver)>Lavry DA11>Teddy Pardo i80a>ATC SCM7

Digital (4.0):
(f): HTPC>Marantz NR1605>Teddy Pardo i80a>ATC SCM7
(r): HTPC>Marantz NR1605>ATC SCM7
(c): no centre
(s): no sub

Other:
Headphones - Sennheiser HD650
Equipment Stands - Mana Acoustics

Post by mekduk December 29, 2014 (10 of 74)
Has not upgraded for quite a while except for the Mytek Manhattan DAC. It gladly replaced the still formidable Mytek 192DSD. I have gone totally discless for the playback chain.

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