Topic: Advice for 24 bit playback system

[lds490]

I want to play my 24 bit recordings on my home system.  I've got a 24 bit soundcard and dvd burner.

My system consists of mass-produced consumer electronics.  I can't afford high-end audiophile products, unfortunately.  The main component  is a Yamaha HTR-5590 home theater receiver.

First, I need a new DVD player.  I'll be using it for playing video dvds as well as my dvd-r recordings.  Any recommendations on a good, low cost machine?  What features should I be looking for?

Second, what other options do I have for playing 24 bit music files on my home system?  My soundcard has a digital optical output (SPDIF).  If I am playing a 24/96 file on my hard drive, can I simply run a cable from the soundcard to one of the optical inputs on my receiver?  Are there any other options if I don't want to run on optical cable from the computer to the stereo?  What about one of those devices that allow playback over a wireless network?  Is anyone using one of these?  Do they have enough bandwidth for 24/96 wave files?

Thanks for any advice y'all can offer.  I'm a total newb.

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

You can run SPDIF from your computer to your playback system if your reciever supports 24/96.  That is the cheapest way to do it.

There was a toshiba box for $150 that got good reviews here that plays DVDA.  If you are burning to DVD-V formatted audio discs, you can get that $60 toshiba player that got good reviews here.

Not all the wireless stream transport devices will carry 24/96.

If you already have the burner, the $60 toshiba player and the $40 audio DVD authoring software (see the computer recording foum thread) together is a pretty cheap way to go too and you have the benfit of portability and by using DVDV instead of DVDA wider compatability (for now).

[Ed.]

what toshiba box was it that got the good reviews?  i want a do-it-all player for around that price.  at this point in time tho, my receiver, nor my speakers are awesome, so just having something that will play dvd-a and sacd disc would be good enuf.

[Daryan]

The Toshiba 4960 has gotten great reviews, so I picked one up.  Plays dvd-a flawlessly.  There are lots of mods that can be done to it to make it sound even better.  Here are some of them:

Hi Daryan,

Here are some upgrade options for the 4960, though
some are costly, they bring lots of performance with
them:

-Add $25 to replace Top line Blackgate with Exotic
Jensen 4-pole version for increased tonality and
dynamics.

-LC Audio XO3 Reference Clock (retail price $259)-
We add a reference quality jitter reduction circuit
called a LC Audio XO3 , this a major improvement in
overall sound! This replaces the master clock and
offers much much lower jitter rate than the stock cmos
type oscillator. Expanded soundstages and accurate
instrumet definitions for example are the many
outcomes of this major mod component.
The performance of this clock is UNMATCHED against
other leading reference clocks we have tested or
previously used. The results are stunning and we wire
this clock using a special silver cable we make by
hand for the fastest digital signal transfer.

Add $275 (installed) to the order, this price offer
only good for this machine.

-Herbies Audio Lab Tenderfeet-
Since there is really no stock feet at all, we now add
 4 herbies audio labs tenderfeet. There is a
difference in sound! Subtle but noticable! These do
work! Your choice in black or clear.

Add $45 (installed) to order.

-C37 Lacquer Treatment to all IC's-
We apply several coats of a special violin lacquer
substance called C37 to all Integrated Circuit chips
and DAC chip. This created more of a "natural
dampening". C37 is a natural property that react with
our ears, its a very complicated idea to understand so
please visit http://www.ennemoser.com/c37theory.html
for more information. The sonic results are much more
delicacy, detail and naturalness. It really does work,
it takes awhile to palmerize so results could happen
within 1-2 month to a year.

Add $40 (installed) to order.

-Bybee Purifiers-
We install two Bybee filters at the output jack of the
player to eliminate any 1/F, quantum, and shot noise
thus providing much smoother midrange characteristics
and greatly improves instrument location/outlines!
Great Results!!

Add $180 (installed) to order for 2.
The BASE mod"

>>Reference Audio Mods East wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >>   
>>> >>
>>
>>>>> >>>>Our mod is $275 with return ground shipping
>>>>> >>>>       
>>>>> >>>>
>>
>>> >>included
>>> >>   
>>> >>
>>
>>>>> >>>>and you supply the unit.
>>>>> >>>>
>>>>> >>>>The mod consists of:
>>>>> >>>>-Replace Large power supply cap with Huge $$ N
>>>>> >>>>       
>>>>> >>>>
>>
>>> >>Series
>>> >>   
>>> >>
>>
>>>>> >>>>top of the line Blackgate
>>>>> >>>>-Delete energy robbing devices in power supply

> for

>>>>> >>>>more energy transfer/more dynamics/resolution
>>>>> >>>>-Replace all main and secondary diodes with

> Harris

>>>>> >>>>High speed versions
>>>>> >>>>-Replace about 30 rail voltage capacitors with

> the

>>>>> >>>>rare Rubycon ZA/ZL series low impedance

> capacitors

>>>>> >>>>(much better than standard blackgates, as those
>>>>> >>>>       
>>>>> >>>>
>>
>>> >>are
>>> >>   
>>> >>
>>
>>>>> >>>>phasing away)
>>>>> >>>>-Replace coupling capacitors with High Quality
>>>>> >>>>KimberKap versions!
>>>>> >>>>-Dampen lid with vibration isolation materials
>>>>> >>>>
>>>>> >>>>
>>>>> >>>>Option-
>>>>> >>>>Set of 4 Herbies Audio Labs tenderfeet- Puts

> alot

>>>>> >>>>       
>>>>> >>>>
>>
>>> >>of
>>> >>   
>>> >>
>>
>>>>> >>>>vibration isolation into the unit as the player
>>>>> >>>>   
>>>>> >>>>
>>>>> >>>>       
>>>>> >>>>
>>>
>>>> >>>really
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>
>>>> >>>     
>>>> >>>
>>>
>>>>> >>>>doesnt have any feet on it. This is a very

> popular

>>>>> >>>>mod!
>>>>> >>>>$45 installed

[Ed.]

awesome, i'll probably get that one sometime early next year if its still around and theres not something better out by then.  i'll probably be sticking to the base unit for the time being, but its nice to know the mods are available.

[scervin]

hmmmm...... I see a bunch of money for a bunch of nothing!  I don't see them swapping out the power supply (unless this is #1, but for $45 I doubt it), op-amps or DAC's.  Nor do I see any chassis damping mod either, unless he thinks his $45 feet do the trick.  For $24 you could pick up 4 vibrapods that would probably do better. Also, "exotic Jensen" scares the crap outta me.  For this amount of cash you can go grab a Denon-2900 while they last.

SC

[Ed.]

for what its worth, i probably wouldn't get any of the mods.  when its time to upgrade to bigger and better, i'll just buy something bigger and better.  but for right now, i just need somethign that plays the discs.

[Daryan]

Well, supposedly the thing sounds great as is, and since it plays both dvd-a and sacd, I figured I would give it a shot.  I will get the base mod, and see what the difference is.  I will report back.  FWIW, I found a returned unit for 88 bucks.  Search froogle!

Daryan

[JackoRoses]

has anyone had these mods done on their toshiba and how do you feel about the investment?

[Tim]

Try this instead- http://www.oppodigital.com/dv970hd/dv970hd.html

I didn't find my 3960 to be all that reliable, lots of choking on discs at random times. The Oppo deck, while also low cost, seems to be of better build quality. I think it sounds moderately better too, though I am using an external DAC.

edit to add: good review here - http://stereophile.com/hirezplayers/507oppo/

[JackoRoses]

I find mine choking on discs as well.
Thank you for the link and glad to here I guess that my unit isn't the only one that glitches.

[cheshirecat]

has anyone had these mods done on their toshiba and how do you feel about the investment?

The mods seem pretty generic and something you could pull off on pretty much any deck.  Basically sounds like replacing the PS caps with higher quality (more capacitance?) parts, upgrading the clock, dampening, etc.

[PeterE]

Try this instead- http://www.oppodigital.com/dv970hd/dv970hd.html

I didn't find my 3960 to be all that reliable, lots of choking on discs at random times. The Oppo deck, while also low cost, seems to be of better build quality. I think it sounds moderately better too, though I am using an external DAC.

edit to add: good review here - http://stereophile.com/hirezplayers/507oppo/

While OPPO is great video machine, be aware that the OPPO does NOT output 24/96 out of its SPDIF jack, according to their customer support. It truncates and resamples to 16/44 out of its SPDIF. Hi-res data out of its HDMI port only.  This is also true for other players. I'm not sure about the 3960.
The Denon 2900 series DOES output 24/96 out of its SPDIF jack.

[jerryfreak]

if you want to use your soundcard, be aware that the vast majority of soundcards on the market resample, and if youre running windows and not using kernel streaming or asio drivers its guaranteed resampling.

what sort of card do you have

[Nick's Picks]

IMO....

get an outboard DAC.  You can find plenty of them out there that will interface nice w/the PC and whatever CD/DVD player you currently have.
if your receiver has a DAC on board and can take the digital inputs, that is the simple way (and basically the same concept).

burning DVDs is a PITA.  the DAC just allows you to play them off your hdd (along w/your digital output from the sound card, of course).