loserica

correction : the number of DSD masters IS , not ARE One example is Telarc : in the last years they recorded in DSD, released everything in CD format, and some of them also in SACD format

The number of DSD masters are far greater than the number of SACDs produced from those masters. Why ? CDs still sell better

Simply put, DOP (DSD over PCM) is a way to transmit DSD to a DAC through a transport that is not DSD-aware. E.g. you can use Audirvana Plus with a Hiface and a Mytek DAC, the player will take the DSD stream, disguise it as PCM, send it through the Hiface to the DAC, which recognizes the "wolf in sheep's clothes" and decodes it back as DSD. But the USB to SPDIF transport thinks it's PCM. Or, more complex : DoP open Standard | DSD-Guide.com

The Transporter has a better circuit, with better power handling (two separate toroidal mini-transformers) and I think better regulation, also it has a better DAC , has balanced outputs, has word clock in and out, can be used with in an effects loop (for instance with a sound processor for equalization). <br /> So, the analog quality should be better, not speaking about the extra options not found on the Touch. Only as a digital transport, it still should be a little bit better. Now ,how much better, that is another story. I bought the Touch to use it as a digital transport, but that was also because I had a Weiss DAC2 with firewire input, and the extra cash for the Transporter to use it only as a digital out seemed too much. But still, Transporter is the better player or transport.<br /> <br /> Adrian

Yes, it does support gapless playback.

Hi René, Thanks for your input, I have bought a Weiss DAC2 in the meantime, because I did not have enough funds right now to invest in a Transporter + a very good DAC. Btw, EMM Labs also produces DAC's that have a master clock out. This is what I had in mind for the TP. I did not had a chance to compare the TP with the Weiss. Best regards, Adrian

Thanks Ted, Sorry, until reading the AVS thread I did not know that you own a DAC2, I did not say that your post was not relevant. It was not clear to me that you own a Weiss, and that you answered strictly on the transport question. I thought that the DAC2 can function as a Firewire to AES-EBU bridge, as it is stated on their webpage. http://www.weiss.ch/dac2/dac2.htm Isn't that so ? I really do not know what to choose right now....maybe that a DAC2 would sound great now, and would offer me the possibility to try other DAC's attached to it in the future (via the AES/EBU output). In both scenarios, the DAC2 will be used with its firewire input. Can you comment on the analog outs of the Weiss DAC2 vs the TP + Berkeley combo ? Did you have the chance to try that ? Adrian

Hi Ted, "I can't compare. The Transporter is clearly a better transport than, say its Squeeze box little brothers (better PS, better AES outputs, etc.) but know nothing of the Weiss interfaces or how they sound." I was quite confident that I should get a Transporter, but while I waited for a good used price, I kept asking myself if the Weiss DAC2 would not be a better deal (on the sound, not on the money). Surfing the net for comparisons between Transporter ( + external DAC) and Weiss DAC2, I found this thread : http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16200702#post16200702 Was this post written by you ? If so, do you or don't you know how the Weiss sounds ? If I might ask, what transport did you use when testing the MW TP versus the Weiss DAC2 ? did you use the TP , or firewire straight into the DAC2 ? Same for TP Thanks

Thanks Ted I think I will go with the Transporter. Now, I must only look for a good price Will let you know of the results Adrian

Hi Ted, Sorry to bother you again, but I don't think I got your opinion. Do you think that the AF-1 or the Vesta is a better transport than the Transporter ? Any others ? Thanks

What do you think of this thread ? http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=71262 Sean Adams, the former CEO and founder of Slim Devices, and the designer of Transporter, is saying that the AES is worse than the coax. Did you make such a test ?

Thanks Ted, Actually, a Transporter is cheaper than an AF-1. I can get a new transporter from audiogon for less than 1000 euros, compared to 1550 euros for a new AF-1. Plus, if I buy the Weiss, I would need to buy a mac mini too. I have now a SB3 + Lavry DA-10, and I am controlling the SB3 with Ipeng on my Iphone. I can also control foobar from my Iphone, but it's not so nice as Ipeng. I want to use the Transporter instead of the SB3 + Lavry combo (I have a friend who would buy them), and in the future I want to be able to use a better dac (berkeley, EMM Labs etc). I think that the Transporter is better than the SB3 or even Touch, as a digital transport, I have read many opinions on that. In theory, I don't see why the AF-1 would be better than the Transporter anyway (as a transport), but from theory to practice there is a long way, so this is why I am asking. Adrian

Hi Ted, I was wondering, did you compare the Transporter and the Weiss on Firewire (Minerva, DAC2, Vesta or AF-1) only as transports ? Using the Alpha DAC for instance ? I really like the user interface of the Transporter, but I was wondering if going on the firewire route would be better soundwise. I intend to have a degree of flexibility in changing the DAC afterwards, so I have two options : a) buy the Transporter and use it only as a transport b) buy a Vesta or AF-1 as a transport What would you choose and why ? Thanks, Adrian

Hi Fyper, So I should understand that you feel that the AES/EBU out of the TP is better than the coax or optical outputs ?

Thanks Fyper, So after all it does make sense to buy the Transporter, if I have the SB3, but only if I will use it with a DAC that has a word clock out, right ? Out of curiosity, did you had the chance to compare the Transporter + Esoteric D-05 combo with the Esoteric P-05/D-05 combo ? Adrian