Integrating the old and the new

[bgb]

Hello BR forum,

I have a few ideas to toss out for feedback/ideas:

1. I love tube amps.

2. I love high quality 2-channel sound (I have nothing against the 7/1 surround crowd, but that setup is just not for me).

3. I love my PS3.

4. I have used a Squeezebox device before, but want to use my PS3 instead as the source for my music/playlist/radio streaming.

I will be selling my SACD CD carousel player. No more stand alone CD players for me.

My stereo setup consists of a Jolida 302 tube amp, some knockout little speakers (which will remain unidentified), and my 500GB PS3.

I want to compliment my love of old school fidelity with the benefits of modern digital music storage via the PS3 with optimized tweaks (if possible). I currently use the PS3 to store music and play it through the components mentioned. I have heard rumblings on the internet that there is a way to improve the sound outputted from the PS3 by incorporating a high quality DAC such as the Benchmark 1 model (and others). Does anyone on the forum reading this know how I'd go about hooking-up/configuring a superior DAC device with my PS3 for optimal sound from the PS3 end (my amp and speakers need no help - they are audio nirvana already)?

Thanks in advance

[Danger Boy]

Originally Posted by bgb

My stereo setup consists of a Jolida 302 tube amp, some knockout little speakers (which will remain unidentified),

Your are using Bose speakers right? you said, little speakers.

[bgb]

Bose?

[bgb]

I'm looking for feedback as stated in my OP. If it makes it any easier, I'm wondering how a device like the new Cambridge Audio DacMagic might improve the digital audio signal from a PS3 by changing it to an analog signal (in real life we hear in analog, not digital). After processing by the DAC device, ones music amplifier then receives the DAC sampled analog signal to send along its way to the speakers - in glorious analog! Guess what people? Analog isn't going to die in real life. I believe the synergy of analog and digital is where seriously good sound reproduction potential exists, one reason we humans crave the experience of live acoustic music and the unaltered human voice in song. Then again, I'm an opinionated old codger. Opinions? Feedback?

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by bgb

I'm looking for feedback as stated in my OP. If it makes it any easier, I'm wondering how a device like the new Cambridge Audio DacMagic might improve the digital audio signal from a PS3 by changing it to an analog signal (in real life we hear in analog, not digital). After processing by the DAC device, ones music amplifier then receives the DAC sampled analog signal to send along its way to the speakers - in glorious analog! Guess what people? Analog isn't going to die in real life. I believe the synergy of analog and digital is where seriously good sound reproduction potential exists, one reason we humans crave the experience of live acoustic music and the unaltered human voice in song. Then again, I'm an opinionated old codger. Opinions? Feedback?

Might I suggest you invest in a good Turntable if you truly believe analog is that glorious?

John

[Big Daddy]

Playstation 1 is considered to be a great CD player. Buy a PS1 for less than $30, sell your PS3 and invest the money in a good D/A converter. In the future, buy a good turntable as John suggested and enjoy two-channel analog and digital music.

[richteer]

As the resident analogue nut, I second John's turntable suggestion.

When you say you want to use your PS3 as a source, do you mean you want to play CDs using it as a drive, or do you mean to use it as a music server, playing files stored on its hard drive? From an audio playing perspective, what is it about the PS3 that you like?

[Opips2]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Playstation 1 is considered to be a great CD player. Buy a PS1 for less than $30, sell your PS3 and invest the money in a good D/A converter. In the future, buy a good turntable as John suggested and enjoy two-channel analog and digital music.

Ha, I thought PS3 60gb is more value investment. it's large 90nm chip is very expensive than now other SKU PS3 45nm chip because cost less price to sale $399.99

PS3 original 60gb
-SACD
-90nm chip
-EE chip
-USB 4 ports
-Memory cards SD,MD,CF

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Opips2

Ha, I thought PS3 60gb is more value investment. it's large 90nm chip is very expensive than now other SKU PS3 45nm chip because cost less price to sale $399.99

PS3 original 60gb
-SACD
-90nm chip
-EE chip
-USB 4 ports
-Memory cards SD,MD,CF

PS3 is a great and innovative machine. Not all versions of PS3 play SACD. The first two generations do, but unfortunately, they cannot play SACD in its native DSD format and convert it to PCM. My $160 Oppo CD/DVD/SACD/DVD-A player outperforms the PS3 as far as CD an SACD playback is concerned. Believe it or not, many experts believe that PS1 was a great CD player.

[Johnny Vinyl]

When it comes to the PS3, I think we need to ask the OP why he loves it as much as he does. I think the PS3 is a great device (I have one myself), but he's looking to improve his 2-channel experience and I don't think that the PS3 is the right companant to achieve that. Which is what BigDaddy and richteer were trying to point out in their own way.

John

[musicman1999]

A good DAC would certainly sound better than using the PS3 on board DAC, but what connection method are you using now? I have heard that the Dacmagic is very good but i don't know how it would match up with your Jolida, very nice amp by the way. What concerns me is your speakers, if they are as someone suggested, Bose, i would audition some others before i made anymore changes to your system. Speakers are the most important component in your system.

bill

[bgb]

Originally Posted by richteer

do you mean to use it as a music server, playing files stored on its hard drive?

yes

Originally Posted by richteer

From an audio playing perspective, what is it about the PS3 that you like?

I can't really separate it out on one criteria richteer, I view the PS3 as my total media hub. With one-half of the 400+GB of storage filled with my music/photo/etc. files, I'm just trying to see if I can tweak the PS3 audio output. I could take my backed-up files and just forget the PS3 for music of course (and not require the wear on my flat screen to navigate file menus), but I'm trying to see if a DAC converter might give me the sound that's closer to what I'm looking for.

[Johnny Vinyl]

What format/bitrate are you using to store on your PS3?

John

[bgb]

Originally Posted by musicman1999

A good DAC would certainly sound better than using the PS3 on board DAC, but what connection method are you using now? I have heard that the Dacmagic is very good but i don't know how it would match up with your Jolida, very nice amp by the way. What concerns me is your speakers, if they are as someone suggested, Bose, i would audition some others before i made anymore changes to your system. Speakers are the most important component in your system.

bill

Good god man, not to sound highbrow but I output through Epos 12.2's (actually a decent, affordable speaker system more or less). Bose?#! Aren't they known mostly for noise canceling headphones and those old 901's that every other armed forces service person bought in the 70's? The 901 stands did look good though - as a prop in 2001 Space Odyssey.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by bgb

Good god man, not to sound highbrow, but I use Epos 12.2's (actually an affordable speaker more or less). Bose? Aren't they known mostly for noise cancelling headphones and those old 901's that every other armed forces person owned in the 70's? The 901 stands did look good though - as a prop in 2001 Space Odyssey.

Not to sound suspicious, but why would you choose to have them be such a mystery to us? If you had Bose, you had Bose. The point of your OP has nothing to do with speakers...it had to do with trying to give you answer and opinions on the componants you want to use for attaining a sound that is closer to the analog sound you find so glorious.

If you want to add a seperate higher-quality DAC to your system to get there, go ahead....but it won't sound analog and you should probably know that, given your affinity for tube amps.

I am quite frankly a bit confused. Please enlighten me or give me a straighter path as to your thinking.

John

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Playstation 1 is considered to be a great CD player. Buy a PS1 for less than $30, sell your PS3 and invest the money in a good D/A converter. In the future, buy a good turntable as John suggested and enjoy two-channel analog and digital music.

It is the SCPH-1001 model by the way. Other models do not have the same stereo outputs that the 1001 model has (the one that is a good player). I purchased one a few months ago for around $20 plus shipping and admit it sounds much better than my PS3's CD playback.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

It is the SCPH-1001 model by the way. Other models do not have the same stereo outputs that the 1001 model has (the one that is a good player). I purchased one a few months ago for around $20 plus shipping and admit it sounds much better than my PS3's CD playback.

This is a quote from Stereophile' review of PS1:

That said, if I owned any of a number of other digital source components, and if my daughter owned a PlayStation 1, I would offer her a trade—although I don't know what possible use she could have for the former, and I don't know if I could shake the guilt that comes from getting the better part of the deal. Perhaps if certain "high-end" CD players came bundled with a few games...?

[richteer]

Originally Posted by bgb

yes



I can't really separate it out on one criteria richteer, I view the PS3 as my total media hub. With one-half of the 400+GB of storage filled with my music/photo/etc. files, I'm just trying to see if I can tweak the PS3 audio output. I could take my backed-up files and just forget the PS3 for music of course (and not require the wear on my flat screen to navigate file menus), but I'm trying to see if a DAC converter might give me the sound that's closer to what I'm looking for.

OK. The DACs built into the PS3 are not going to audiophile quality, not by a long shot. So to get the best sound from your PS3, you 'll need to hook up its digital output to an external DAC. The new one from PS Audio comes to mind (the Digilink 3, IIRC). But for the best sound quality, you might need to upgrade the rest of your audio chain too. Make sure that you're using decent cables, and that your EPOS speakers are on decent stands.

PS I love tube amps too, which is why my stereo has a tubed preamp and tubed monoblock power amps (powering a pair of electrostatic speakers). :-)

[bgb]

Originally Posted by richteer

The DACs built into the PS3 are not going to audiophile quality

That's why I posted my initial external DAC inquiry.

Originally Posted by richteer

to get the best sound from your PS3, you 'll need to hook up its digital output to an external DAC. The new one from PS Audio comes to mind (the Digilink 3, IIRC).

I'm going to check this out.

Originally Posted by richteer

for the best sound quality, you might need to upgrade the rest of your audio chain too. Make sure that you're using decent cables, and that your EPOS speakers are on decent stands.

Have always used quality cables/interconnects. My speaker stands are solid two pillar, shot-filled anchors.

Originally Posted by richteer

PS I love tube amps too, which is why my stereo has a tubed preamp and tubed monoblock power amps (powering a pair of electrostatic speakers).

Nice. I used to own a pair of Magnepan's in the 80's. Just for laughs, here was my stereo system in the 1970's:

H/K Citation Amp & Pre-amp
JBL Jubilee's
Revox reel to reel
DBX 3BX range expander
Dual Turntable w. Ortifon moving coil cartridge

You see, I've had the hifi bug for a long time.

When I worked in LA I used to frequently be in the homes of actors and business big shots. I'll never forget the time working in Michael Mann's (Miami Vice, etc.) home on Sunset and hearing his Mark Levinson stereo with my jaw hanging open. Bet his cables cost more than the total cost of any system I ever owned.

Thanks everyone. Sorry for some of my obnoxious comments. I'm thinking now I'll keep my modded SACD player for the single disc play quality since I still own the CD's I copied. I was going to sell my big CD collection and get a nice piece of change to put toward Magnum Dynalab's MD90. Maybe I'll keep the CD's after all.