MSB to offer new module for SACD fans

GSOphile said:
I wasn't referring to locally stored ripped files, in which case I would probably agree with you (I have none today). I was referring to files streamed from Qobuz vs. on CD disc. Same recording, Esoteric K-01 XD DAC/(SA)CD Transport, Aurender N20 streamer. Same bits but CDs sound better on my system. TBH the N20 streamer has exceeded my expectations and no doubt will improve further when I add a switch, etc.
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The issue with is that you never know for sure if the files being streamed from, say, Qobuz, are the same as your CDs.
That’s why I used ripped files as a reference. Tracks may be different (mastering or compression) and therefore will sound different.
I would not expect any sound improvement as a result of a switch.
 
I guess if you have a large collection of SACD having a transport that can output the native DSD stream via I2S into the MSB module would be ideal? I don’t find many transports available with this ability.

Even with just using CD Redbook wouldn’t that be an ideal source over ripped or streamed music? I could see a modest transport giving a lower cost option for great sound if you don’t mind handling the physical media.
 
nicoff said:
The issue with is that you never know for sure if the files being streamed from, say, Qobuz, are the same as your CDs.
That’s why I used ripped files as a reference. Tracks may be different (mastering or compression) and therefore will sound different.
I would not expect any sound improvement as a result of a switch.
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I am aware of the issues you mention. I used favorite classical orchestral music files (compression issues for this genre are unusual) for comparison and researched provenance via Discogs. The results have been pretty consistent.
 
Anybody know if the module is limited to DSD128?

User error. Incorrect input setting. MSB has to be one of the best at customer service in the industry. Second to Mike no less.
 
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I see now that this module will now accept the HDMI / I2S output from an Antipodes KALA K50 or Oladra. That makes it much more interesting to me.

Any of you Antipodes & MSB’ers have any experience switching from the Pro ISL USB module or the Renderer V2 to the HDMI / I2S route?
 
This a an old thread, but I wonder how many folks are still spinning discs of any kind in 2026. (I personally have not played a CD/SACD in years.)
 
brodricj said:
Grandioso N1 might turn out to be the hi-end CD/SACD player slayer.
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It sure looks incredible. People do still like spinning CD’s and SACD’s though. I have customer who have some very “esoteric” CD’s that aren’t available on streaming (think, small jazz band at a local club that has their own CD).
 
For me everything gets imported into Kaleidescape. It's not very often I use the Grandioso disc transport. Kaleidescape and Grandioso N1T are so close in performance to Grandioso disc transport ultimately the convenience of networked audio wins.
 
nicoff said:
This a an old thread, but I wonder how many folks are still spinning discs of any kind in 2026. (I personally have not played a CD/SACD in years.)
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Guilty. CDs/SACDs on my Esoteric K-01XD sound better than streaming over the internet on my Aurender N20, although I stream about 80% of the time. Both sources can be improved. Subject to change I'm not planning to rip my CD collection or buy digital downloads although I expect locally streamed music of the same recording would have SQ indistinguishable from the physical disc. I have CDs/SACDs, some of my best, that are not available on Qobuz, and most of my SACDs of classical music beat the high res PCM streamed versions of the same recordings almost without exception.
 
My Grandioso N1T playing content from SSD beats everything, without question. Streamed content compares very favorably with physical disc but it can be a bit of a crap shoot. For example, I played the Madonna "Celebration" CD the other evening and it sounded terrific. I then tried streaming the same CD on Spotify lossless and it sounded rubbish in comparison. But other albums can be virtually indistinguishable between streamed and physical disc. The issue that can arise with CD, particularly compilation albums, is that different tracks are recorded at a different reference level and that can be annoying having to adjust volume between tracks to get consistent playback volume. Whereas streamed on Spotify they must apply equalization between songs recorded at different levels as I'm not diving for the remote control to adjust volume anywhere near as often as I might do with physical discs. Kaleidescape has the ability to normalize volume from different albums but I find the sound quality is not quite as good as playing different CD at the recorded volume. I've optimized my Kaleidescape with Shunyata stuff and Sbooster power supply and it sounds really really good.
 
nc42acc said:
Any of you use the i2S module in your MSB DAC? What do you think?
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Still nobody using the MSB Universal I2S Input module with an SACD transport willing to respond with their experience? I see that this module now supports the Jays Audio CDT3 Mk3, reputedly a more robust transport than the PS Audio transport.
 
brodricj said:
My Grandioso N1T playing content from SSD beats everything, without question. Streamed content compares very favorably with physical disc but it can be a bit of a crap shoot. For example, I played the Madonna "Celebration" CD the other evening and it sounded terrific. I then tried streaming the same CD on Spotify lossless and it sounded rubbish in comparison. But other albums can be virtually indistinguishable between streamed and physical disc. The issue that can arise with CD, particularly compilation albums, is that different tracks are recorded at a different reference level and that can be annoying having to adjust volume between tracks to get consistent playback volume. Whereas streamed on Spotify they must apply equalization between songs recorded at different levels as I'm not diving for the remote control to adjust volume anywhere near as often as I might do with physical discs. Kaleidescape has the ability to normalize volume from different albums but I find the sound quality is not quite as good as playing different CD at the recorded volume. I've optimized my Kaleidescape with Shunyata stuff and Sbooster power supply and it sounds really really good.
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Your issue is using Spotify. Absolutely a horrible streaming service. But you do listen to Madonna Gak!
 
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