OK, What's next?

[Luvin Da Blues]

I think you meant PONTIAC, LDB.

I was gunna say Pontiac (since I do drive one), but Chevy fit better.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Repeat after me... I'm happy with my Chevy, just want to drive a Pontiac. See what I'm sayin'?

[Luvin Da Blues]

Repeat after me... I'm happy with my Chevy, just want to drive a Pontiac. See what I'm sayin'?

LMAO,Missed that one. Still wanna drive a MB.

[audio amateur]

Once again, if the sound of lossless files isn't as good as direct CD play, then you are likely right that new DAC is a good idea.

You obviously have the choice of connecting any DAC with S/PDIF input to the corresponding Philips s/c output, or getting a USB DAC. The state of knowledge is such that no one can say categorically which approach is better in general. The big problem is jitter.

However you should also consider the O/S, drivers, and player. Since WinMP is basically WinXP, it will have the 'kmixer' issue that purists complain about. No technical expert here, but certainly this means avoiding the Windows default 'Direct Sound' drivers. One option in this regard is to use an ASIO driver. I don't think Windows will let you select an ASIO driver under Control Panel > Sound & Audio > Audio: instead your player has to allow you to select it as special option. As I understand, Winamp does provide for the use of certain non-standard drivers.

There is the issue of where to get an ASIO driver. You Philips s/c might come with one: check it out. Otherwise there is something called ASIO4ALL which is a software implementation of ASIO that some people recommend. (I haven't used it myself because my M-Audio s/cs have each had their own ASIO drivers).

I do know for a fact that with standard Windows drivers I don't get bit-perfect delivery from my s/c's S/PDIF output to my DAC. This is evidenced by the objective fact that the HDCD indicator usually doesn't light up for HDCD material unless I use the ASIO driver (or the 'kernel streaming' Foobar2000 component in that player).

Bill,
Does the ASIO driver work with WMP? If so how do you configure it?

[Feanor]

Bill,
Does the ASIO driver work work with WMP? If so how do you configure it?

I don't believe that the one for my sound card does, but I don't use WMP so I'm not 100% sure. I don't think that you can set up ASIO as your standard Windows driver via Control Panel > Sound & Audio Devices so this percludes its use with a lot of music players. So I'm not aware that you can use ASIO with WMP or with iTunes.

However you can use ASIORALL with WinAmp as well as Foobar. A good discussion of the Windows sound system can be found at Head-fi.org where the setup for ASIO4All is discussed in some detail. I haven't tried it myself, but it looks very promising.

[noddin0ff]

Cool sites, any comments on the Lite DACs? The MD10 loooks like a nice unit but, I am strongly leaning towards a tube DAC with balanced outs to take advantage of the balanced inputs on my Marsh pre.

From what I can piece together from the descriptions, many of the Lite DACs are variants on a theme. They all have much in common with the MD10 (minus a function or two). They are variously modded; mostly to improve the analog output. That's my take on the solid state DACs. I haven't delved into tube DACs. I think I'm a bit afraid of the added complications. I mean, what if I tried one and liked it... Then I'd open up a whole new world of audio anxiety I'm just not prepared to face. PV&E does have a good line up of tube DACs. I don't know anything about tubes.
http://www.pacificvalve.us/VacuumTubeDacs.html

[Luvin Da Blues]

...... I haven't delved into tube DACs. I think I'm a bit afraid of the added complications. I mean, what if I tried one and liked it... Then I'd open up a whole new world of audio anxiety I'm just not prepared to face........

I think I just may try the new Music Hall tune DAC when it comes available. Then I'll post a review on my adventurous journey into the deep dark tube abyss.

[emesbee]

Repeat after me... I'm happy with my Chevy, just want to drive a Pontiac. See what I'm sayin'?

Sounds like the arguments people have over here about Fords vs Holdens. Gawd!

[audio amateur]

Repeat after me... I'm happy with my Chevy, just want to drive a Pontiac. See what I'm sayin'?

Can you name me any one Pontiac that can beat a Chevy Z06?