brodricj
Senior Member

To my ears, the Discrete is on another level. It has a huge big chunk of the sound of the REF and Select. Sonically, it’s very fleshed out, organic and natural. Far far removed from the typical “digital sounds” of many DAC’s. I know this may...

It IS confusing: Alpha DAC Series 3 is $10,995 Alpha DAC Reference Series 3 is $28,000 The N-05XD is worth considering. MQA is a must?

Completely disagree. This DAC with the second PSU ($1750) hits way way above its price point. Aside from that, we were asked by Berkeley to give their latest products a listen and we have the REF3 coming in. But perhaps their Berkeley Alpha DAC...

I'm to understand the hardware guts of the network function of N-01/N-01XD/N-05XD/N-03T is a Lumin U1. Which is why the Lumin Sound Stream App works with the Esoteric network streamers. Esoteric bolted its own power supply to the Lumin guts plus a...

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The golden child is out? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

The 12:50 mark onward is “wow”. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Shunyata sounds best on our panels. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

There is no risk of G1X being discontinued anytime soon.

What firmware version do you have installed on the N-05XD?

G-01X was removed from the Esoteric website a while ago. G-02X was removed recently, it was great for the money. G-02X would have to be replaced by a new model under G1X.

Be careful not to sit on the remote control for the C1X Solo. I sat on the remote for my C1X tonight and it got into some weird operating mode shown on the display, but which said weird operating mode is not mentioned in the manual. The C1X would...

My Mil-Spec M27500A16LE1S06 wire arrived today. This is a shielded silver plated stranded copper wire with a PTFE jacket. I bought 50' of it. The plan was to cut it to length to connect my source components to the Altaira grounding hub. I had a...

The opening post. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I noted the equipment above. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Go. Not needed. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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The best looking, the best measuring, and the best sounding amps out there, and built in Australia (where WiFi was invented)....in my experience.

In today's streaming ecosystem, from both performance and convenience standpoints, disc transports are becoming redundant. N-05XD would be my choice. Don't underestimate how good 320 kbps can sound with the right hardware.

So the manufacturer is wrong? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Tubes + Ladders on the aqua take time. Some folks think break in is BS. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

That would be the N05-XD. N-01 is long discontinued, and it's replacement N-01XD is about $24K. N-01 has a better DAC in it that K03.

You think the Mcintosh is? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

C1X Solo to be used with the Bricasti DAC?

50-100 watts. Something like a VAC Signature 200iQ would be amazing. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I was thinking the smart money would be to add a 2nd SG rather than buying a set of grounding cables. A set of GC is $1K+ more than the cost of a grounding hub. I couldn't see the sense of that when basic wire worked so well. I had placed an order...

How interesting. These stories are eye opening. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

One Altaira doesn't have enough grounding posts for my system. If I went segmented that would be another SG, right? I'm wondering whether the power supply for the SACD transport would be on the analog segment with the pre-amp and its power...

You were a skeptic! Glad you got to experience “the real deal”! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Oh yeah baby, this is the real deal. Altaira brings more to the party than Everest or Alpha/Sigma v2 power cables did. It's right up there with Sigma Clock-50 for quantum leap in system utility. That's all I have to say about that!

I'M GROUNDED. IF I MIGHT BORROW AN EXPRESSION FROM JOHN McENROE..... YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!!!

Another animal has been born at the HiFi zoo.... Operating in eye candy mode until I can cook up a set of ground cables.

Let me just say this about Master Sound Discrete. Be careful what you wish for. It's stunning. It's incredible. And it's terrifying. All at the same time. I'm hearing the best sound I've ever heard...it's just stunning, it's incredible,...

Oooo, happy days....ground hog day...it arrived a day early...time to start grounding...

Congrats! We love our Aqua LaScala. It’s seriously the best DAC I’ve heard under $10k. R2R + Tubes = yummy. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

I’ve owned both and for me, the 703’s hit way above their price point. They play bigger, more bass and smoother than Sopra 2. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Very nice! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

You need to have at least 10 posts to post links. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

Make a list of the rooms you want to hit, starting with 352 and 602. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I'd skip the coffee and go straight for the listening room. Because that is the mission. Coffee is not.

https://absolutehiend.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Magico-S3-TAS-2023.pdf?mibextid=kdkkhi Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Welcome Tom! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Yes, MSL is the most underrated family of cartridges around. People don’t know how many cartridges they make for other companies - like Air Tight. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

704’s are great. I bet they sounded nice with tubes! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I hope so. I just ordered four Omega ground cables. Custom made to order, about one month delivery. It's a lot of money, more than the cost of the Altaira hub. I hope it yields something worthwhile.

Nothing wrong with copper. I use SFP to reach from one end of the house to the other, but not for audio. For audio I use copper.