Slim Devices Transporter: Anyone put this in their system yet?

[jtwrace]

my "reference" digital setup is $11k. To me it is worth it. It all depends on how much one can spend. I also live in a sports world that it's never good enough. You need to get the best you can and then improve. That's how everyday of my life at work has been and I don't live any other way. Again, it is worth it to me and I can do it....

 

[Joey_V]

I wish I could do it... *sigh*...

 

[jtwrace]

don't wish. You can. You can do anything you want if you work hard for it and put your mind to it.

 

[Pcar928fan]

don't wish. You can. You can do anything you want if you work hard for it and put your mind to it.

Roger that...

Joey is going to be a doctor soon enough and will be in private practice making the big bucks...he'll put us all to shame eventually!

 

[Charliemike]

So with the in and outputs you could use this as your DAC and hook up a SACD player to it?

 

[TheBobGoat]

so honestly...how well does this thing organize songs and how easy are the menus---compare it to say, an Ipod or Windows Media player or itunes....thanks guys!

 

[ralflar]

Most SACD players can only output full quality over their analog connections. The digital outs have reduced sample rates. This is due to DRM (Digital "Restrictions" Management) requirements. The same applies to DVD-A signals.

So with the in and outputs you could use this as your DAC and hook up a SACD player to it?

 

[JonFo]

Most SACD players can only output full quality over their analog connections. The digital outs have reduced sample rates. This is due to DRM (Digital "Restrictions" Management) requirements. The same applies to DVD-A signals.

Unless you use a Meridian player and pre-processor, in which case full resolution is maintained until the processor, or if using DSP speakers, into the speaker itself.
Using their MHR digital, encrypted links, they preserve the full fidelity of DVD-A. Truly wonderful to hear.

Although I have to say my Denon DVD2900 analog outs through my bass management rig sounds as good or better (INMHO) than any >$100K Meridian rig I've heard. ML’s are a big part of that.

 

[ralflar]

None of these would work with the Transporter's DAC though, for the reasons mentioned.

 

[ralflar]

so honestly...how well does this thing organize songs and how easy are the menus---compare it to say, an Ipod or Windows Media player or itunes....thanks guys!

In my opinion, very well, at least if you do not use play lists. The remote control lets you browse your collection by Album, Artist, Genre, Year, or file system. Use the categories to locate an album or individual song. Then play it and/or add it to a play list.

One may also create a random play list using any of these categories, or subsets, or the whole collection. For instance, you choose to randomize by genre, and include all or only a few genres in the play list.

I have no need to store or replay any explicit play lists. That is why I cannot comment on how well the software manages these. Most of the time I browse to select an album and play that, much like I would select and play a CD in a standalone player. Sometimes I randomize by Genre(s) or Artist(s), or the whole collection. I rarely use the PC interface, other than for administrative tasks.

 

[jfm]

The world of media servers is a new one for me. Too many questions. I would like to ask my first ones.

I enjoy dvd concerts and have an integrated a-v setup. I prefer to listen to many such concerts via their LPCM stereo outputs, straight to my tube preamp.

Here are the related questions:

1. Can I hook up a digital out from my dvd player to the Transporter and use the Transporter's DAC? In other words can it read an LPCM input?

2. I've heard (somewhere) that some DACs do not like Dolby inputs, and that Dolby could even harm them. However some discs don't have LPCM stereo, but Dolby Digital 2.0. Would the Dolby input hurt the DAC in the Transporter?

3. Related to no. 2, if I mistakenly select the DTS output, would it hurt the DAC?

Thanks!

 

[sleepysurf]

1. Can I hook up a digital out from my dvd player to the Transporter and use the Transporter's DAC? In other words can it read an LPCM input?

2. I've heard (somewhere) that some DACs do not like Dolby inputs, and that Dolby could even harm them. However some discs don't have LPCM stereo, but Dolby Digital 2.0. Would the Dolby input hurt the DAC in the Transporter?

3. Related to no. 2, if I mistakenly select the DTS output, would it hurt the DAC?

Thanks!

Those types of questions should probably be posted over on the Slimdevices Forum, in the General or Audiophiles sections... http://forums.slimdevices.com/

 

[ralflar]

Jfm, I am not into hardware but I seriously doubt that any bitstream could hurt DAC hardware.

Redbook CD playback into the Transporter's DAC will work fine. SACD and DVD-A won't, because of DRM. Also, you would not want to use the Transporter's DAC for anything but Stereo, because stereo is all it is going to play. So no Dolby/DTS anything. For those you'd need a multi-channel HT processor/receiver.

 

[sleepysurf]

Here are some links for one of the most amazing audiophile/photography/graphic arts sites on the web today. I've read WS Lam's postings in various audio forums over the years (don't personally know him), and have watched his system evolve over the years. He writes an audio blog, in addition to his multiple other websites/businesses, and his creativity never ceases to amaze me. His current system uses a Transporter as source, ultimately terminating with a pair of the highly regarded Magico Mini's. Spend some time exploring ALL his sites, and make sure you have your speaker volume turned up. Enjoy!

http://wslam.blogspot.com His Audiophile Blog
http://portfolio.lam.ws His photo site
http://www.lam.ws His main page linking all his other sites