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dufferdan
26-02-2012, 18:15
Name is Dan, live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Home of the hapless Flames, gateway to the Rockies.

Not an audiophile per-se, I like good sound, but don't have the spousal permissioning to go crazy, which is a good thing.

Modest system:

Sources:
Squeezebox Touch, hardwired via ethernet to HP MediaSmart Server, EX495, running Squeezeserver plugin for HP software. Sound is great, but having a devil of a time getting iTunes sources Genius playlists to operate properly. Files are iTunes ripped ALAC from CD and some hi-rez FLAC (24/96 as that is all the Touch can handle) that have been either purchased or I ripped from a few DVD-A's I own. I store all my 1200 CD's in a purpose built cabinet.

Rotel 5 disk CD player for when the HP MSS is off or when wife can't be bothered to look something up, she'll flip on the CD player.

DAC: Beresford Caiman. Don't know much about DAC's, but this one clearly sounds better on my modest system than the straight Touch RCA outputs. Might upgrade the DAC if I could find a cost effective player that plays 24/192 files, but for now, this works nicely.
Rotel tuner
Cambridge Audio Azur 640 integrated amp
Rotel 6 channel amp to drive kitchen and outdoor speakers, fed via tape out from Cambridge amp
Speakers: Living room: Royd Minstrels purchased in 1997 and still going strong
Ambient: kitchen: Paradigm in-ceilng
Outdoors: Paradigm Stylus 240's

The upgrades currently being considered would be the speakers: either a pair of Focal Chorus 807's or Martin Logan ESL electrostatics, but the latter would would likely require a step up in the amp a bit. I have decided my next amp will be a Bryston, maybe the 100 wpc integrated, the B100.

Been lurking a bit, some interesting stuff here.Hopefully I can contribute positively in some manner.

Ali Tait
26-02-2012, 18:25
Hi welcome. I wouldn't worry about the difference between 24/96 and 24/192. No audible difference IMHO. The original mastering is far more important I think.

A very good cost effective dac is this IMHO, it beat a Musical Fidelity M1 dac in my system -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Finished-2496-AK4396-CS8416-DAC-R-core-Transformer-case-115V-230V-/110747160549?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Amplifiers&hash=item19c90b8fe5

The Grand Wazoo
26-02-2012, 18:33
Hi Dan,
Welcome to AoS from me.

keiths
26-02-2012, 21:23
Hi Dan - and a welcome from me too :wave:

Disles1
27-02-2012, 13:53
Hi Dan, glad to see another Calgarian on the Forum.

jostber
27-02-2012, 14:05
Hi and welcome to here! :)

Alex_UK
28-02-2012, 15:48
And another "hi" from me too - enjoy the forum. :)

Spectral Morn
28-02-2012, 16:15
Welcome to AOS Dan


Regards D S D L