Any Digital Impressions of the Caiman yet?

**Gazjam** · 30-08-2009, 22:37

Originally Posted by technobear

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.

I was more thinking of my own setup Chris, in that its good to know that with the Caiman it keeps the Transporter honest. (no difference between the spdif digital outs)
Been housepainting last couple of days,put my comment down to possible inhilation of paint fumes

**Spur07** · 31-08-2009, 08:36

Originally Posted by technobear

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.

Chris,

Laburum's comment regarding connecting the Caiman to the Transporter digital out has left me slightly confused. Just to get this straight your comparison was a straight fight between:

PC ----- Transporter ----- Amp, etc.

and

PC ----- Caiman ----- Amp, etc.

Cheers, spur07

**leo** · 31-08-2009, 09:15

Originally Posted by Spur07

Chris,

Laburum's comment regarding connecting the Caiman to the Transporter digital out has left me slightly confused. Just to get this straight your comparison was a straight fight between:

PC ----- Transporter ----- Amp, etc.

and

PC ----- Caiman ----- Amp, etc.

Cheers, spur07

Going by this in his post "bear in mind that the Transporter is a very good transport. Results with other transports may vary." I'd imagine he used the Transporter as a transport

**StanleyB** · 31-08-2009, 09:25

And a very good movie it was to! Including S3...

Sorry, couldn't miss that one..

Stan

**Spur07** · 31-08-2009, 10:17

Originally Posted by leo

Going by this in his post "bear in mind that the Transporter is a very good transport. Results with other transports may vary." I'd imagine he used the Transporter as a transport

So if you use the digital out from a Transporter does that bypass it's internal dac, giving the Caiman full control? otherwise I can't really see the point

although it must be said, i'm not nearly as technically minded as you lot

**technobear** · 31-08-2009, 10:35

Oh dear

I thought I made it clear but just to set the CD completely straight...

I compared the analogue output of the Transporter to the fixed analogue output of the Caiman using the Transporter as a transport via a Mark Grant Belden 1694A coaxial interconnect.

I used the same analogue interconnect, a Krystal Kables Prism, in each case - pity I don't have two identical interconnects, it would have made life easier.

As my living room computer is bust, I have not yet tried the USB input of the Caiman. When the computer is fixed I will try it.

My point about the Transporter being a very good transport was to emphasise the fact (er... possibility) that the resulting output may not be as good when the Caiman is driven by an SB3.

In other words PC-->SB3-->Caiman might not sound as good as PC-->Transporter-->Caiman.

The Transporter is a very low jitter device. While the jitter on the S/P-DIF output is not as low as that which enters the Transporters own DAC, it is still much lower than that which emerges from the digital output of an SB3. Therefore I would expect the Transporter combination to sound better.

I would be happy if someone wants to come over here with an SB3 to try it out. I would be very happy if I could hear no difference as I could then sell the Transporter and have a few bob to spend on something else

**Spur07** · 31-08-2009, 10:57

Originally Posted by technobear

Oh dear

I thought I made it clear but just to set the CD completely straight...

I compared the analogue output of the Transporter to the fixed analogue output of the Caiman using the Transporter as a transport via a Mark Grant Belden 1694A coaxial interconnect.

I used the same analogue interconnect, a Krystal Kables Prism, in each case - pity I don't have two identical interconnects, it would have made life easier.

As my living room computer is bust, I have not yet tried the USB input of the Caiman. When the computer is fixed I will try it.

My point about the Transporter being a very good transport was to emphasise the fact (er... possibility) that the resulting output may not be as good when the Caiman is driven by an SB3.

In other words PC-->SB3-->Caiman might not sound as good as PC-->Transporter-->Caiman.

The Transporter is a very low jitter device. While the jitter on the S/P-DIF output is not as low as that which enters the Transporters own DAC, it is still much lower than that which emerges from the digital output of an SB3. Therefore I would expect the Transporter combination to sound better.

I would be happy if someone wants to come over here with an SB3 to try it out. I would be very happy if I could hear no difference as I could then sell the Transporter and have a few bob to spend on something else

I've got you (I think!

)

I originally thought this was a mash up between the Caiman and the Transporter dac. I'm still not sure what you really learn from sticking the Caiman on the back of a transporter.

Sorry to hear your computers bust - I thought you needed it to run the transporter?

**Labarum** · 31-08-2009, 10:59

Originally Posted by technobear

I would be happy if someone wants to come over here with an SB3 to try it out. I would be very happy if I could hear no difference as I could then sell the Transporter and have a few bob to spend on something else

I'll have to think about that. Warminster -Glastonbury is not a million miles - but moving house in three weeks!

There are firms that upgrade the digital side of the SB. How much would be gained, I don't know.

My Foobar > USB > Caiman is not as good as my SB3 > coax S/PDIF > Caiman

That could be jitter issues with the USB link, it could be the cable or the laptop. Not explored as I don't use USB much.

There is a SB Touch rumoured - touch screen, faster processor, ability to run it's own server and use a USB drive and true 24/96 streaming. Audio quality as yet unknown.

All I really of Logitech is the streamer - a high quality duet without analogue section - wont happen. But Logitech are happy to licence technology . . . Stan?

**StanleyB** · 31-08-2009, 11:05

Originally Posted by Labarum

All I really of Logitech is the streamer - a high quality duet without analogue section - wont happen. But Logitech are happy to licence technology . . . Stan?

I innovate, not copy. Many have copied my ideas over the last 15 years though.

Stan

**Labarum** · 31-08-2009, 11:10

Originally Posted by Spur07

So if you use the digital out from a Transporter does that bypass it's internal dac, giving the Caiman full control? otherwise I can't really see the point

The comparison was between the DAC internal to the Transporter and the Caiman.

Not straightforward, because when using the external DAC (the Caiman) you are also reviewing the interconnects. The lot in one box, designed of a piece has many advantages.

The Transporter is not cheap and has bells and whistles I don't want.

https://www.ripcaster.co.uk/node/71

Cheaper here

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/p...roduct_ID/3229

N0, it's not. It was £1100

Thread: Any Digital Impressions of the Caiman yet?

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