Any Digital Impressions of the Caiman yet?

[marscay]

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..

Agreed, it sure doesn't hold back at times, great for well mastered material but can show up the worst in others. Can't blame the DAC for that though.

Something like Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms is just mesmerizing under the Caiman yet a bit of Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood is almost unlistenable. Some would say anything which made Motley Crue unlistenable is a blessing and i would agree but they did make a killer single here and there. I would also say the Caiman really likes the White Stripes, it's really changed the soundstage for the better .....was kinda recessed with the 7520.

If you want to tame some of that sharpness you could do worse than trying the AD826 opamp, takes some of that edge off whilst not losing any detail.

[MartinT]

The sound quality from Sky HD broadcasts is amazing from the Caiman. I use the optical output from my Thomson HD box into the Caiman and the quality and detail from some HD broadcasts is simply mesmerising.

I just watched two episodes of ER in HD and the soundstage was enveloping, much wider than the placement of my speakers. Micro-detail in the mix from bleeping machines, background cast, noises off-stage keeps me engrossed and adds greatly to the drama. In this respect I really hear the greater detail retrieval and focus that the Caiman brings compared with my older DAC.

[Chippy_boy]

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.

As a matter of interest, I assume you have tried the Apple TV straight into the 7520, without using the Monarchy? Did you find the Monarchy made much of an improvement?

I am puzzled as to why any improvement should be large (or even perhaps why there should be any at all) considering the 7520 has it's own jitter reduction/removal circuitry.

[trailer]

Yes, yes, no idea.

It was through listening to familiar recordings over a period of time that I made my findings. The DIP in basic, non-upsampling mode, made a small difference. Everything seemed sharper/clearer. Setting the DIP to the upsample mode just brought everything into a more 3D wider soundstage whilst still retaining the detail.

[technobear]

My feet have finally touched the ground!

I had time this evening to perform a proper comparison between the Caiman and the Transporter!

Not sure how long I've had the Caiman now. It's 3 weeks I think. Anyway it has been playing 24/7 into phones and into the amp so it should be pretty well run in by now.

To begin with I struggled to hear any differences at all. I started with 'Private Investigations' by Dire Straits. It was only on the third time through that I could say that the Caiman was a touch better at resolving small details in the mix. But I might have been imagining it as the Caiman was also very slightly louder.

On to 'White Room' by Eric Clapton & Cream. I could not hear any differences.

On 'Principles Of Lust' by Enigma, the Caiman gave a slightly better resolved soundstage and voices stood out slightly more clearly from the mix. Again I played the track twice on each device to be sure.

On 'Tangram' by Gak Sato, I couldn't really tell them apart. Maybe the Caiman sounded a little more real, a bit more full but again it may just have been a little louder.

On 'Miss Clare Remembers' by Enya, the Caiman was clearly ahead on the rendition of the piano. The notes seemed fuller, richer and the decay of notes seemed to last longer. It sounded more like a real piano through the Caiman than through the Transporter.

On 'Zap' by Eric Johnson (from G3 live) again I could not tell them apart.

On 'Slow And Easy' by Whitesnake again I could not tell them apart.

This is an outstanding result for the Caiman. It matches the Transporter in every area and it would seem to have slightly higher resolution which makes acoustic instruments sound richer and more real and also creates a more sharply resolved soundstage.

I could not identify anything in the tracks I listened to where the Caiman was in any way inferior. Quite a surprise - a pleasant one I might add.

I also did not find the Caiman to be particularly intolerant of poor recordings. That may be because my amp and speakers are not particularly intolerant. You can hear the recording is bad for sure but you can still listen to it without wincing. The Caiman certainly is not bright or harsh so anyone finding it so needs to run it in some more or they have a synergy problem (or maybe their speakers aren't up to the job but that another story - 1 inch dome tweeters are evil, they need special treatment but most manufacturers don't bother).

When considering the above remarks, bear in mind that the Transporter is a very good transport. Results with other transports may vary.

I've also been using the Caiman for movies on the optical input. In those quiet suspenseful moments when the actors are practically whispering deep and meaningful things to each other before everything blows up, the sound is eerily real. Of course it helps if you have Zu Druids too

I'm presently unable to try the USB input as one of my PCs is caput so I'll come back on that one another time.

[Gazjam]

Excellent writeup Chris, the one I've been waiting for.

I knew running the SB3 into the Caiman produced something special, and I've felt that there SURELY couldnt be THAT much of an improvment using the Transporter?

Out of interest...
What digital interconnect are you using on your SB3?
*EDIT*
Just noriced the link to your kit, still using the Belden 1649a?

Are you using the stock Power supply etc etc?


Thanks,
Gary.

[SteveW]

Agreed, it sure doesn't hold back at times, great for well mastered material but can show up the worst in others. Can't blame the DAC for that though.

Something like Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms is just mesmerizing under the Caiman yet a bit of Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood is almost unlistenable. Some would say anything which made Motley Crue unlistenable is a blessing and i would agree but they did make a killer single here and there. I would also say the Caiman really likes the White Stripes, it's really changed the soundstage for the better .....was kinda recessed with the 7520.

If you want to tame some of that sharpness you could do worse than trying the AD826 opamp, takes some of that edge off whilst not losing any detail.

Oh, that sounds like a way forward. Is it an easy thing to do? (for someone with with limited technical skills !)Seem to recall Stan posting advise...any chance of a link ?
thanks

[Spur07]

Nice work chris.

Just what I've been waiting for. Thanks for taking the time and effort - it's great to get reports like this. I've heard great things about the transporter. I guess on that basis the Caiman can't be far off a Lavry or Benchmark.

[technobear]

Excellent writeup Chris, the one I've been waiting for.

I knew running the SB3 into the Caiman produced something special, and I've felt that there SURELY couldnt be THAT much of an improvment using the Transporter?

Out of interest...
What digital interconnect are you using on your SB3?

Er... I don't own an SB3. I have a Transporter

I am still using the Belden from Mark Grant Cables.

I am using the power supply that was supplied with the Caiman.

It would be interesting to have an SB3 here for a direct comparison.

[Labarum]

Er... I don't own an SB3. I have a Transporter . . . It would be interesting to have an SB3 here for a direct comparison.

Indeed it would. I am very pleased with the SB3 Caiman pairing.

To take the digital out from the Transporter and feed it to the Caiman and to find it at least as good is impressive. The Transporter is over £1000.