CD5x / HiCap v nDAC - Best way to compare

Posted by: HuwJ on 23 May 2010

Well, at last, I have an nDAC at home to test against my CD5x & HiCap2. The rest of my system is comprised of a SuperNait with HiCap2 and Focal 1027BE speakers.

I have a Macbook Pro (Cambridge optical / iTunes / WAV & AIFF & Lossless & Spotify 320) & Squeezebox 3 (Chord Coax / FLAC).

Test Tracks:
Naim Sampler 2 - Angel
Shelby Lynne - Just a Little Lovin
Biffy Clyro - Living is a Problem......
Ricky Lee Jones - Various off self titled album
Green Day - various off American Idiot

My aim is to get a DAC that is as good or better than my CD5x for a similar outlay of cash. I don't want to have to buy a power supply top supplement the nDAC or a CD transport or HDX.

Initial listening tests suggest the nDAC is not as 'good' as the CD. The most noticeable difference is in instrument definition. Instruments sound sharper and more defined via the CD.

While previously there was a noticeable difference between the Mac and the SB3 that is no longer there, they sound very similar indeed now and better than through the SuperNait DAC. However I would not say there was a night & day difference in quality between the nDAC and SNDAC.

I was lead to believe by my dealer that the nDAC should sound better than the CD player.

Any input or suggestions with regard to maximising the sound output from the nDAC (I can't change interconnects) would be gratefully received.

Regards,
Huw

Posted on: 28 May 2010 by Andy S

quote:
Originally posted by AMA:
quote:
I have no idea what you mean Winker Big Grin

Trying to save your theory from contradictory facts -- no hidden agenda!

Just because someone hears a difference - especially one described as "there but not huge", doesn't mean one actually exists. As I said - trust YOUR ears... didn't you say your DC1 sounded better than cheaper cables when you first tried them

Posted on: 28 May 2010 by HuwJ

In the end I've decided to sell my CD5x/HC2 (already gone) but I have to say that I still think the CD/PSU combination is better than either the SB3 or Macbook Pro as a front end. It was a lot closer with a USB stick but I still felt that lagged behind to some extend.

For me, using computer based audio is the way forward. I'm going to use the Macbook and SB3 (I think there is little difference via the nDAC) for now and then get the new Naim ripper unit later in the year - providing it improves on the Macbook. Might get a Hiface in the meantime to see if that helps.

When money is not so tight I might get a PSU for the nDAC as well.

Thanks all for your ideas and comments,

Regards,
Huw

Posted on: 28 May 2010 by AMA

quote:
didn't you say your DC1 sounded better than cheaper cables when you first tried them Confused Winker.

That was with upsampling DAC (PS Audio DLIII) -- not nDAC.
When I have finished a demo with coax and tosslink through nDAC I repeated the test with DLIII again (DC1 was not in the contest as DLIII does not have BNC input) -- and the difference between cables was their again: coax sounded better than tosslink. This is nDAC who make them sound the same as DC1.

Posted on: 28 May 2010 by Andy S

quote:
Originally posted by AMA:
quote:
didn't you say your DC1 sounded better than cheaper cables when you first tried them Confused Winker.

That was with upsampling DAC (PS Audio DLIII) -- not nDAC.

Ahh.. I have no problem with people hearing diferences with cables on a DAC that isn't an nDAC