mdunjic

It would be very interesting to compare this combo with the HifiMan Express + stereo cable combo (which would be 10x cheaper). I would expect that the HifiMan Express+Stereo cable combo would qualify even more as a CASH recommendation ;-)

The Chakra power amplifier delivers ~100 watts (4 ?) into two channels. Chakra power amplification is a patent pending unique Linn technology. According to the Linn Chakra white paper, "... When output current is less than a few amps, all of the power output comes from the monolithic, maximising the speed and linear properties of this design. At higher output currents the bi-polars provide the majority of the output current, leaving the monolithic to operate well within its capability and so able to correct any error instantaneously...The Linn CHAKRA technology eliminates the weaknesses and maximises the strengths of monolithic linear amplifier technology. It combines the speed and precision of a high integration chip technology with the ruggedness and smoothness of discrete ultra-linear bipolar transistors and delivers precisely controlled Linn Silent Power at all listening levels." Throughout the review I used Verity Audio Fidelio loudspeakers. Listening to music from dynamic orchestral pieces to the electric bass of Marcus Miller the solid state Chakra integrated amplification easily powered these speakers.<br /> <br /> ====<br /> <br /> Well this sounds to me awfully similar as Quad "current dumping" power amplifier technology which I absolutely like. It sounds as if it is based on same 'feed forward' principle as Peter Walker 'current dumping' employed in Quad 405, 306, 606, 707 and 909 series of power amplifiers. <br /> <br /> Quad 'current dumping' design has high quality low power Class A amplifier (seems equivalent to Linn's 'monolithic') stage which 'fills in' the cross-over region with high quality signal (during that time Class B 'current dumpers' are switched off) and when input signal exceeds conduction threshold of the Class B stage (Linn's equivalent seems to be called 'bi-polars ;-) they provide output current. An intelligent 'passive bridge network' (no active components in it) decides which stage is switched on or off.

Why use USB DAC vs normal DAC? Still can't understand what would be the main reason to switch to a USB DAC from high quality normal DAC ... any suggestions?

I got "Page Not Found" when clicked on it ...

Just curious if you are going to publish Part 2 and when?

Hi<br /> I have around 7600 Wav / Aiff files rich iTunes library on Mac Mini hooked up to my main hi-fi system. All Wav and Aiff music files are physically located on the external USB hard disk drive folder and Mac Mini iTunes Music Folder points to that location on external hard drive. I have set iTunes to point to that location from the very beginning and I have ripped all of my 700 CDs without compression. It works great.<br /> <br /> Now I would like to 'clone' that setup on a portable 500 GB USB hard disc and carry it with me and play on my MacBook laptop iTunes in the office. How to do that properly and preserve original info on my Mac Book iTunes that I have on Mac Mini iTunes? <br />

Hello not sure why you said that iTunes doesn't rip the CDs to AIFF anymore. iTunes continues to support ripping the original CDs into AIFF format. It did, is, and always will ... Off course that may not be the default set right out of the box when iTunes is installed... Go to preferences and change the ripping format. That's all you need to do. Hope this clarifies...

Yes I remember AVI Laboratory series Preamp/Amp and their 200W/ch absolute giant killer integrated amplifier. The ADM9.1 must sound very good knowing that they probably used the same amplifier technology and circuit design / topology built right into the ADM9.1 speakers. Active speakers are way to go for sure. Quad 11/12 Actives are another example of enormous value although they don't have pre-amp and DAC built right into it - they are around 1200$US and have 40/60W Quad 'current dumping' (basically 2 modified Quad 306s in each speaker - remember how good those puppies sounded?) amplifiers built into them instead of mind blowing 75/250W found in the ADM9.1.<br />

Hi Chris<br /> thanks. My iTunes Playback settings are exactly the same. <br /> Regards<br /> Milos

Hi Chris<br /> thanks for trying to help in this interesting matter. <br /> <br /> Well Front Row definitelly doesn't depend on iTunes and its audio settings for its own playback and it bypasses iTunes completelly - it probaly uses QuickTime engine directly. <br /> <br /> I will also keep comparing the playback of my WAV collection through both iTunes and FrontRow, but in my case I still consistently hear much more transparent and open sound going through FrontRow for some reason - maybe it is just my imagination, who knows. <br /> <br /> Never mind what's important is that in my system Mac Mini with FrontRow is an excellent digital source that is on par with my Quad 99 CDP2 when I use it as CD player when playing Red Book format files. <br /> <br /> Can you tell me how did you set iTunes preferences?<br /> Regards<br /> Milos<br />

Hi Chris<br /> thank you for your welcome and quick response. Yes I thought the same about FrontRow. However it seems that FrontRow may be for some unknown reason to me more transparent to the signal than iTunes. <br /> <br /> Maybe because there is no volume control as part of FrontRow? Who knows? I also turned off all sound effects in FrontRow.<br /> <br /> On the other hand iTunes has volume control (which I keep up to the max volume anyway) but still the software volume controls are known for apparently affecting the digital sound somewhat.<br /> <br /> It would be great if you can let me know what you found out in your experiment when you have time. <br /> <br /> Regards<br /> Milos

I am using Mac Mini as a digital music server feeding into Quad 99 CDP2 DAC input, Krell KRC-3 pre-amp, 2xQuad 909 power amps bi-amping Neat Motive 1 loudspeakers.<br /> <br /> My iTunes libarary consists of around 7000 WAV files (uncompressed, original RED-BOOK quality).<br /> <br /> I have noticed that when I listen to my music through FrontRow I get noticeably better sound quality (more transparent in a way with no veil) than when listenning through iTunes. In both cases I am using Mac Mini's S/PDIF optical output, with Tosslink cable going into Tosslink input of my Quad 99 CDP2.<br /> <br /> Anybody has any idea why would this be the case?<br /> <br /> I would appreciate your opinion and comments about this interesting fenomenon.<br />