goldband

Ive been using Tidal for about a week and I am totally disappointed: * Many tracks that they 'appear' to have, actually fail to play in the Chrome browser player. They play in the downloaded Wndows app though * I am using Win 8.1 and Jriver media player for my main music, using my Mtek DSD DAC. In Tidal, I selected 'Jriver' as the output device-- which I think is the DLNA renderer. In any case, it does play through the DAC and the rest of my system (Wyred4 sound ST1000, wilson sophia). * The most cursory comparison tests with music I have on my server in 192/96 or CD Flac format shows me the Tidal versions are unlistenably bad. There are many gaps and skips, but worse, the sound is grainy and awful. Yes I have Tidal set to 'hi fi' and I have really good internet connectivity. If this is their hifi they are really in trouble.

I have this fine Audio-gd NFB 10.2 DAC / headphone amp for sale. It is a dual WM-8741 design with top flight components. My unit is less than a year old, and upgraded with the USB-32 front end chip, making it very close in spec to the current design ºÍ§Ó*µ响. My unit is 9/10 condition. The new price is $580 plus international shipping. I am asking just $350 OBO.

** Here's the thing with vinyl. (Note: the following statements are explanatory, not normative.) Good vinyl playback had a tactile feel to it that digital, no matter how good it is, can never replicate. Why? Because what makes vinyl sound so great are the various resonances and distortions that are inherent to the medium. Even really good digital vinyl rips seem to miss that last little... something that sets good vinyl playback apart. What we need is a DSP "vinylizer" button for playback software and disc players that models the resonances and distortions and puts all that crap back into the digital file to give us the vinyl experience. ** I am a fine art photographer as well as an audiophile-- and a similar dynamic reigns with respect to digital images and film/silver prints. Most people of a certain age grew up appreciating fine black and white photography, and still yearn for certain distortions that they enjoy as beautiful (like lack of color). This is true even as digital capture and reproduction get better all the time, and demonstrably reproduce the natural world better than the classic materials.

Your problem sounds alot like mine-- I have a Musical Fidelity Vdac II with a Win 7 PC. Have you tried the various alternative Widows sound options (wasapi, wasapi event driven, etc?)

Yes I am happy I upgraded-- I had been using the v-link to get asynch USB input ahead of the V-Dac, and I liked the sound alot. The mark ii of course looks alot better and simplifies the rig. Im not sure I can hear any difference, but I still love the sound. I definitely heard improvement when I made that step... and it sounds like you are already there.

I had the original and upgraded to the mark ii. The PS plug configuration is the same.

I had the same disappointing experience with an XDA-1, and back it went to Emotiva. I am otherwise a huge fan of Emotiva electronics. My solution was to swap in a Musical Fidelity V-DAC Mark ii using an external PS, and connected by asynch USB. The VDAC produces a detailed and transparent sound that is far better than XDA-1 (and also the DAC internal to my Emotiva UPC-1 processor). I havent had the pleasure of comparison to the Weiss or other high-end DAC, so I will leave it to others to make that comparison. Meanwhile I am very satisfied with what I am hearing.

I have a new V-DAC II -- but I dont understand what integer mode is and how to test it-- can you please explain?

Yes, I am using USB input. I have a Pyramid PS4KX Power Supply which I compared to the wall-wart with the V-DAC and thought I heard some improvement.

I was loving the sound of the v-link/v-dac and still love the Mark ii. I wouldn't say I can hear any difference-- but I do like the combined form factor and the lower overall price. I had just bought the combo when the mark ii was announced, and sent them back.

I ordered a Mark II from the UK, and got it in a week from custom-Cable.co.uk. They rebate VAT (20 pounds) and shipping is 13 pounds. All together a great deal. Its a bit nicer finished than previous model, but still very basic. I use an outboard 12v PS, but if you order from UK you will get the UK 220V wall wart. It sounds fantastic-- i replaced a v-link/v-dac combo and am very happy with the result. Very transparent and revealing (though so was the V-dac!)

paulr, are you accessing the MF web site from the UK? I am not seeing any reference to the mark II there (from US). I am trying to verify that the USB input is 24/96 in addition to being asynch.

I like to tweak my setup as much as the next guy, but the holy grail for me to to hear music that makes a big smile spread across my face. Then I want nothing more than to stay where I am and enjoy the experience.

Does anyone have any experience or opinion of the Emotiva xda-1 DAC (http://emotiva.com/xda1.shtm)? It seems remarkably well priced for its specs. I have other Emotiva gear (XPA-5) power amp and I am very satisfied with it.