Any Digital Impressions of the Caiman yet?

[Labarum]

I cannot compare SB3+7520 with SB3+Caiman becuse I only have a 7510 and a Caiman.

The improvement of the Caimen over the 7510 is very significant, and I don't think the Caimen is showing flaws in the SB3. My instincts lead me to follow Gaz's view.

I have a great deal of respect for the digital out of the SB3 (even if the internal DAC is poor).

SB3 > coax S/PDIF link > Caiman > Quad 405

beats

Foobar on Laptop in bit perfect WASAPI or ASIO mode > USB link > Caiman.

There is nothing wrong with the SB3 streamer and I think it merits a Caiman.

I would wait till the next batch is in.

[chrism]

I also run a SB3 digital out into a Caiman (variable out) into an Avondale A260 power amp and it sounds great. I have reduced my setup from a Naim CDS1 / Avondale Grad1 preamp and am just as happy with the overall sound and cost savings made.

To me the SB3 digital out sounds the same as USB/foobar from a PC and I have gone round in circles doing quite a lot of A /B tests with this (using EAC/flac copied original CD's and MP3 files). So really sorry but on this basis I don't agree with the statements regarding the SB3 digital out not being a good enough streamer etc.

Also wired / wireless SB3 sounds the same to me and again I have gone to town testing this one out too. I have kept things wireless which enables the PC to be sited in another room.

My next test is to try a macbook using spdiff output as Mr Tibbs on Pink Fish Media has reported good results with this compared to PC / Laptops running XP etc.

Hope this helps narrow things down a bit.

Regards

Chris

[trailer]

I just did a quick experiment this afternoon.

Here is my order of listening preference:

1. AppleTV streaming Apple Lossless via the Monarchy DIP (optical in) to the 7520 (co-ax in) (Wolfsoned/AD826)
2. Naim CD5X (no 7520W involved)
3. Oppo BD-83 co-ax feed into 7520

The differences between the three are quite marked.

[Labarum]

To me the SB3 digital out sounds the same as USB/foobar from a PC

I will agree there is not much in it. I need to explore a better USB lead, and I am waiting to see how the laptops sound when I move house (noisey mains?)- I can only use them as USB feeds to the Caiman with the laptops running on batteries or I get digital hash. Maybe my laptop - USB instalation is not good.

One of the laptops acts as the SB3 server, and no hint of a problem there.

But we are agreed - the SB3 deserves a Caiman.

[Alex_UK]

Just to add, I'm new to DACS too, "blamed" it (the Caiman) to start with, but then couldn't understand why it was only the odd track/album - with the help of everyone here, and knowing how the Caiman is so revealing, Simon can make an informed decision. I know I made the right one...

[SteveW]

Just my two pennyworth..
Get a Caiman.

It shows a Linn Ikemi how to behave. (Co-axial out to the Caiman)...and at the same time the optical is connected to an Airport express, which th=en plays itunes, and FLACs from Cog via Airfoil etc etc.

A dragon slayer indeed Stan.

[lovejoy]

It shows a Linn Ikemi how to behave. (Co-axial out to the Caiman)

A dragon slayer indeed Stan.

That post just illustrates how things have moved on. I remember selling Ikemis when they were new and at that time you'd never even contemplate sullying their outputs with a couple of hundred pounds worth of DAC.

Just goes to show what an amazing piece of kit the Caiman is.

[SteveW]

That post just illustrates how things have moved on. I remember selling Ikemis when they were new and at that time you'd never even contemplate sullying their outputs with a couple of hundred pounds worth of DAC.

Just goes to show what an amazing piece of kit the Caiman is.

Quite.. The detail revealed through the Caiman is substantially more than through the dac built into the ikemi.
If there is a downside, its that it can sound a bit sharp..

[Labarum]

For a few years I have known that the basic Audigy card in my ageing desktop PC sounds better that my Quad 77 CD player. Anyone want an immaculate Quad CDP?

Vorsprung durch technik!

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/399450.html

[Alex_UK]

For a few years I have known that the basic Audigy card in my ageing desktop PC sounds better that my Quad 77 CD player.

I am now using a USB Audigy soundcard in my study system, and with the coax input connected to my old CD6000SE KI Signature as a transport - it's nowhere near being a Beresford, but sounds pretty good for what it is!