CB3874

Hello, I need some suggestions on what to do with the following components: Rega Brio - R Schiit Gungnir NuForce U192S USB to S/PDIF converter Fiio D3 & E17 pair of Emotiva Airmotiv 6 speakers pair of Wharfedale 10.2 speakers waiting on a Olive One with 2TB drive ( late July 2013 ) The Airmotivs & the Gungnir are currently sitting in the closet not being used. The rest is connected to my TV in the rec room : TV optical out > Fiio D3 > Rega Brio - R > Wharfedale Diamond 10.2. I also have Apple TV connect to the TV via HDMI. I can't connect the Gungnir & AIrmotivs to my iMac due to lack of desk space to accommodate those components. My 27" iMac currently sits on a small corner desk in the rec room. I should be getting the Olive One mid to late summer. My original intent was to connect it to my Rega Brio - R. I'm tempted to sell what I'm not currently using but would be happier to find another configuration utilizing all or most of my components. Would there be a substantial improvement if I add the Gungnir to my TV setup? I like to stream my music library from iMac to my Apple TV but would the Gungnir have much of an impact due to Apple TV's 44.1 kHz /16 bit limit? All opinions & recommendations will be greatly appreciated. Thanks! CB3874

Hello, Here is my current setup : 27" late 2009 iMac > USB to NuForce U192S > Optical to Schiit Gungnir > RCA out to Rega Brio R Integrated Amp There is no sound above 96 kHz sample rate. The blue & white LED between 192 & 176 is on the NuForce U192S but no sound. All other bit rates are fine. I can see the sample rate change in the Audio MIDI setup. Is there something I'm forgetting to configure? How do I resolve this? Thank you! CB3874

I ordered a Schiit Gungnir (non - USB) on clearance from Audio Advisor and a NuForce U192S (USB to SPDIF converter) yesterday. I've read nothing but good thing regarding the Gungnir and I got it significantly less than the Rega Dac. I like the Rega DAC and may pick one up if I find one used.

Hello, I have a Rega DAC on loan to hear how it sounds with my Rega Brio R & Wharfedale Diamond 10.2 speakers. I liked it very much but feel very hesitant to pull the trigger. I don't know how old the Rega DAC is but I'm finding reviews going back to 2010 so it's been around awhile and still retails for $895 new. There are many newer DACs out now that can handle 24 / 192 asynchronously thru USB & SPDIF / Coax for a lot less like the Bifrost, ifi iDac, MyDac, and Emotiva XDA-2. If I get the Rega DAC, I'm going to have to get an USB to SPDIF/Coax converter to play my 24 / 192 files. I do like the Rega DAC. I think it has a nice warm, organic sound and can see how some feel it's very close to analog. Could something that's been around 3 years old still be on par & competitive with the newer DACs on the market?

I have a ibasso D4 Mamba lying around that I thought I mess around with and maybe learn something.

Hello, Is it possible to easily swap out / upgrade the chip in a DAC? I saw these ads on ebay and was wondering if it's worth the roll of the dice. ESS ES9023 Sabre DAC | eBay 1 Cirrus Logic CS4398 CS4398 CZZ CS4398 CZZR 120dB USB Audio DAC 24bit 192kHz | eBay Thanks!

Hello, How difficult is it to change the female end on a power cord? I have a Transparent Audio High Performance PowerLink power cord that is too big to fit in my Rega Brio-R. I removed the IEC housing and it fits now but rubs up against the speaker inputs. Can I or is there someone out on there who can change the female termination to a smaller termination? Thanks!

That's my primary requirement. I would like something that has no volume knob, or any knob for that matter. I would prefer to control the volume primarily on the Rega Brio-R.

Just saw this : Woo Audio WA7 Fireflies headphone amplifier with built-in USB 32/192K Digital-to-Analog Converter Wowie Zowie!

Hello, I've just recently acquired a Rega Brio-R, a pair of Transparent Audio The Wave speaker cables, and a pair of Wharefdale Diamond 10.2 speakers. I'm using a Fiio D3 as a temporary DAC with some old Monster RCA interconnects & a Dynex Digital Optical Audio Cable hooked up to my late 2009 27" iMac to play a large library of lossless & HiRes tunes. What's a good DAC & RCA interconnects to partner up with the Rega & the Wharfedales? I'm passing on the Rega Dac, because I don't like the USB option only doing 16 / 48 (the max is 96 on the iMac thru SPDIF) and I have a growing number of albums @ 24 / 192 I want to play. I plan on using a Transparent Audio USB or an Audioquest Carbon cable. These are the DACs so far I've seen (not heard) that interest me : Schiit Bifrost & Gungnir (if I can scrounge up some extra scratch) ifi iDac & iUSB Emotiva XDA-2 & ProDAC (not out yet, in late Feb / early March) Music Fidelity V-DAC II HRT Music Streamer HD Any suggestions, input, opinions, recommendations on the listed DACs or not would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I just need to get a DAC now. I've been using a Fiio D3 for now. I'm disappointed by the specs on the Rega DAC. I would prefer to get an asynchronous USB DAC that could do bitperfect 24/192 thru USB. I'm also bummed that the room on the back of the Rega is too tight for my Transparent Audio High Performance PowerLink & Analysis Plus Power Oval 2 power cords. Can I use an adapter? I've also been using a pair Transparent Audio Wave Speaker Cables and so far no problems (I've only used balanced XLR or 1/4 TRS in the past.).

I ended getting the Rega Brio R. A local shop had it in stock. It has plenty of juice for my speakers. They can be heard throughout the whole house @ 11 O' Clock on the Rega's volume dial. The Wharfedales & Rega so far have 30 hours of burn in. I'm digging them so far.

How about an Emotiva XPA-200 & XDA-2? Emotiva is releasing the ProDac under their professional line in February.

Hello, I fell under a spell of irrational, spontaneous madness and impulsively acquired a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 10.2 speaker after a demo. Here are the specs: Product - Products - Wharfedale Hi-Fi [TABLE=width: 100%] [TR] [TD]Format [/TD] [TD]Stand Mount [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Bass/Mid Driver [/TD] [TD]165mm [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Tweeter [/TD] [TD]25mm [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Suitable Amplifier Power [/TD] [TD]20 - 100 w [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Nominal Impedance [/TD] [TD]6 ΩA/V [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Shielded [/TD] [TD]yes [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Sensitivity (1W @ 1M) [/TD] [TD]86 dB [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Nominal Frequency Range [/TD] [TD]40 – 24 kHz [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]HF Limit (-10dB) [/TD] [TD]44 kHz [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Freq. Fb [/TD] [TD]42Hz [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Crossover Frequency [/TD] [TD]1.8 kHz [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Dimensions (mm )(H * W * D) [/TD] [TD]364 * 223 * 301 [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] The problem I have is I don’t any means of amplifying them, so now I’m in the market for an amp. I’ve never owned one and my previous setup was a pair of Emotiva Airmotiv 6 (still have them and plan on keeping them) speakers & an Apogee Duet 2. I’ve been told these Wharfedales are power hungry. It will be in a big rectangular room a door ((Length) x (Width) = Area, 9ft x 20ft = 180sqft) with a big pool table in the middle. Please offer your suggestions on what integrated amps or components out there on the market that could adequately power my speakers and sufficiently fill the room. My taste in music is mostly Rock (Wilco, Pavement, Marah, Beatles, Spoon, Morphine, Elvis Costello) with some Jazz (Miles, Coltrane, Mingus). I have a big Apple lossless library (22K plus tunes) in iTunes and a growing hi-res library in 24/96 & 24/192 in Fidelia on my iMac. I need something that I can connect directly to iMac for the time being and maybe later look into streaming. I don’t know if I’m better off getting an integrated amp with a DAC or get them separate. Are there any pro & cons going this route? My budget so far is $1,100 but may increase slightly. Here’s a list of what I’m considering so far: [TABLE=width: 638] [TR] [TD]Brand [/TD] [TD]Mode [/TD] [TD]Link [/TD] [TD]Price [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Musical Fidelity [/TD] [TD]V-LINK192 [/TD] [TD]Musical Fidelity | V-LINK192 USB/SPDIF Conv. [/TD] [TD] $200 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]bel canto [/TD] [TD]uLink [/TD] [TD]Bel Canto Design -- uLink Asynchronous USB Converter [/TD] [TD] $675 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]bel canto [/TD] [TD]mLink [/TD] [TD]Bel Canto Design -- mLink Asychronous USB Converter [/TD] [TD] $375 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]schiit [/TD] [TD]Bifrost [/TD] [TD]BIFROST Schiit Bifrost Upgradable 32 bit 24/192 DAC [] - $349.00 : Schiit Audio, Headphone amps and DACs made in USA. [/TD] [TD] $349 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]schiit [/TD] [TD]Gungnir [/TD] [TD]GUNGNIR - $749.00 : Schiit Audio, Headphone amps and DACs made in USA. [/TD] [TD] $749 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Rega [/TD] [TD]Brio-R [/TD] [TD]Rega Brio-R Integrated Amplifier [/TD] [TD] $895 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Rega [/TD] [TD]DAC [/TD] [TD]DAC [/TD] [TD] $995 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]ifi [/TD] [TD]iDAC [/TD] [TD]iFi-audio iDAC [/TD] [TD] $299 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]ifi [/TD] [TD]iUSB [/TD] [TD]iFi-audio iUSB [/TD] [TD] $199 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]NAD [/TD] [TD]C 356BEE [/TD] [TD]C 356BEE Stereo Integrated Amplifier - NAD Electronics [/TD] [TD] $799 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Rotel [/TD] [TD]RA-12 [/TD] [TD]Home Theater System Surround Sound Amplifier DVD Player - Rotel PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS [/TD] [TD] $876 [/TD] [/TR] [TR] [TD]Peachtree [/TD] [TD]decco65 [/TD] [TD]Amplifier with DAC - decco65 Amplifier DAC with Tube | Peachtree Audio [/TD] [TD] $899 [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] There’s just too many darn options out there. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I picked up a Furman PST 8 and now gives me a reading of 0.8. That's has to be pretty good.