CA Bits & Bytes Volume 3: 2012 CES, Upcoming Reviews

Hi Murray - The C2000 I had in for review had some issues. The unit had traveled the world a few times and something came loose internally.<br />
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Went to the company site. Basically no explanation of anything their stuff actually does:<br />
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"bsg technologies has developed a method of retrieving sonic information from audio signals that provides a realistic and complete rendering of the original acoustic event"<br />
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Robert Harley wrote a review. http://www.bsgt.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/tas_feb2012_review.pdf /<br />
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Very enthusiastic, he's added it to his system. Some explanation of what it does. But he also says he doesn't understand how the product works.

Audio Research prototype Ref Dac?

I assume that a good part of the QOL involves one or two transformers, capacitors and bypass capacitors in some kind of circuitry to alter and recombine the audio signals.<br />
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It sounds great and as anyone who has played around with different transformers and capacitors knows the significant differences these things can make.<br />
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About the only thing that I dislike about the QOL is the gimmicky bypass feature whose primary purpose is a sales tool. What would be more useful for any consumer would be a variable bypass that engages the QOL circuitry from zero to 100%, especially since there are instances or setups where the full QOL effect might seem excessive. Perhaps someone attending the show could ask the QOL folks to consider a more useable consumer feature that would still be capable of demonstrating the dramatic difference when the QOL circuitry is dialed down to zero.

A prototype is displayed- lit up but not connected. Very nice and as you expected, it does a lot. They're calling it a digital media bridge. Price will be between $14-$15,000 I believe that they said with availability in Q1-Q2, perhaps as early as February. The size is same as other REF chassis.<br />
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DAC portion based on DAC 8 with same drivers. Analog section is all tube based on Ref5SE. The unit is not a preamp but does have a combination of analog and digital attenuation ( avoids loss of critical bits). <br />
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Will accept pretty much everything digital- streaming DNLA/ UPnP, etc via RJ45 ( the person I spoke with did not know what the control app, etc. would be), USB2HS, AES, SPDIF, etc..it has a dedicated USB-type "iPod" port as well as a front panel USB port, presumably for USB sticks. Ability to up sample to 176.4 or 192. Wireless Ethernet built in, Internet radio, RS232 control<br />
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Supposedly, the 3.5" TFT front panel will display some metadata from certain sources. The tube analog section should be awesome but I guess that I'm maybe a bit disappointed that there does not seem to be any major updates to the digital section over the DAC8 (although that is very good except for maybe the possible Mac driver issue that people report).<br />
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It certainly is very interesting and I'd very much suggest that Chris put this on his list to see and report on.

I too would have hoped the DAC portion would have been different or the driver issues addressed at the very least.<br />
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We will see. There seems to be many gimmicks in the unit, something unusual for ARC. Personally, I don't see the reason for a unit like that to have to display metadata on the unit and streaming??, well we will see.<br />
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More importantly, I guess they aren't listening to their customer base which is a somewhat disappointing. dCS did listen as we are seeing with their DSD solution. ARC it seems are not addressing the numerous calls from their endusers about the need to use a Wavelink solution for a Mac based server or the better results with a Windows solution and the inability to use a PK90 USB solution because of a failure to address the driver issue. <br />
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I don't want to pre-judge, so I will wait for their take. Also, if they are going to introduce a "new" reference DAC, one would think they would address 32 bit and higher sample rates as well as DSD as competitors are starting to do.<br />
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Thanks again. <br />
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The QOL is a stereo field editor. You can achieve the same exact results with a Rupert Neve Portico 5014 which will allow you to create the effect from 0 - 100% at a much cheaper price. If you have an analog console you can create the effect in a DAW by using the M/S algorithm. <br />
The QOL DOES increase voltage by more than .1v<br />
You can read more about it here:<br />
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http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?4384-Stereo-Field-Processing

Even though the upcoming ARC Ref DAC seem to have all the bells and whistles, I too, am somewhat disappointed. <br />
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The unit looks quite chunky and the puny display looks like the MF M1Clic, It doesn't even match the REF5 display in size. Looks weird in an all ARC system.<br />
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I still don't get why they don't just offer a killer Class audio 2.0 USB asynch input and let the user decide his/her preferred way to get bitperfect audio to It. That way, Mac and Linux would be compatible at least. And there are a few solid Windows drivers out there already. <br />
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Bravo to them to have one digital input of each type but I still don't get why companies don't offer at least 2 coax and 2 toslink. Its not an ARC thing per see but with CD, DVD, AppleTV, Squeezebox lying around It would be great if those "cheap" devices could all be upgraded soundwise when one buys a great DAC for big $$$. Classé got It with their CP-800 at least.<br />
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I don't even own ARC or can afford It for that matter, hence why It is completely gratuitous here but that is one company I lust after for sure and It pissed me off so I can only imagine those who can afford the stuff such as Priaptor. I would be disappointed too.<br />
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End of rant.<br />
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Despite multiple calls from many end-users, they don't seem to be listening.

While the majority of users here don't appreciate UPnP; it does appear to me that in the wider audiophile market streaming does seam as accepted or even more than direct computer links via USB. There does seam to be vastly reduced market for tweaks via USB cables etc. which may be a good thing... Perhaps it's the one-box player vs transport and DAC of the past all over again!<br />
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Eloise

wants to include UPnP, I would have like to see a more upgraded USB solution in a 15K DAC.

Where do you guys look up for updates, pictures of the CES?<br />
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There is Stereophile/AudioStream and Soundstage that has daily coverage but other than those?<br />
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Socrates site was amazing for RMAF but alas, he is not at CES...<br />
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Any suggestions?<br />
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Thanks!<br />
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http://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php?option=com_igallery&view=igcategory&id=3 3&Itemid=261

That's the one I meant by Soundstage...<br />
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http://www.enjoythemusic.com/ces_2012/

Here's a taste. Much more coming, but time goes so fast here at the show.<br />
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<center><img src ="http://www.computeraudiophile.com/files/P1000681.jpg"></img></center><br />
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Could we get feedback on this new Music Streamer server from Simaudio ?<br />
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http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/digital-media-servers/moon-180-mind-music

And is priced/configured exactly right for those of us with a nice DAC and need a decent streamer.

Chris could you please confirm if AR's new dac does twice DSD decoding without any conversion?

Where is Warner Music / Atlantic?<br />
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They would make a "huge announcement" at CES 2012 about high resolution audio. Physical media and downloads. Is this their active-agressive promotion approach they were talking about last summer in the press?<br />
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I haven't heard anything yet? What's wrong? Did they already gave up their plans, because there's only interest in cheap docks and streaming from the cloud?<br />
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I'm really confused right now.