Any Digital Impressions of the Caiman yet?

[Themis]

Dunno till I have tried and listened.

On the Squeezebox/Transporter (that use digital attenuation) it is clearly audible. They use 24bit for that, but, still, it is audible at moderate/high attenuation levels. As a result I know nobody who uses it (the digital attenuation) on them.
I made a test the other day plugging the dac directly with the fixed output into a power amp and using the Squeezebox's digital attenuation : it was disastrous.
The only way to make it bearable was to plug it into a variable input of the power amp (it was a NAD C272 with a variable input), then reduce the power's input level while having no attenuation, to an average listening level. Then use the digital attenuation to lower a bit. (I'm not sure I'm clear)

But, of course, you have to try it by yourself.

[leo]

Attenuation might not be as bad if using the dac chip, of course the only way to know is by trying it

I'm not sure the way its done with the Wolfson chip yet, some chips do it much better than others.

[Stratmangler]

On the Squeezebox/Transporter (that use digital attenuation) it is clearly audible. They use 24bit for that, but, still, it is audible at moderate/high attenuation levels. As a result I know nobody who uses it (the digital attenuation) on them.
I made a test the other day plugging the dac directly with the fixed output into a power amp and using the Squeezebox's digital attenuation : it was disastrous.
The only way to make it bearable was to plug it into a variable input of the power amp (it was a NAD C272 with a variable input), then reduce the power's input level while having no attenuation, to an average listening level. Then use the digital attenuation to lower a bit. (I'm not sure I'm clear)

But, of course, you have to try it by yourself.

Hi Dimitri

I too find that the digital attenuation on the Squeezebox is not acceptable - my impression is that it sucks all the life out of the music.

I have recently started using just the power amp of my NAD C320 BEE, with my modded TC7510 as a preamp and things sound absolutely fantastic.

I'd like to see a Beresford DAC with a couple of analogue line inputs and a decent motorised pot fitted - obviously with a remote control for volume control duties.

Chris

[Peter Galbavy]

I too find that the digital attenuation on the Squeezebox is not acceptable - my impression is that it sucks all the life out of the music.

"me too"

I ran with my SB3 directly into a pair of Audiolab 8000M's and I was happy - happy until I plugged the SB3 into a pre-amp and set the output to 100%. Cor. Yep, the digital volume in the SB3 is aweful comparatively...

[Covenant]

Hmmm, I've just tried disabling the SB3 digital volume and the difference is slight in my system. The convenience factor means I will probably change it back.
My system must not be as revealing as yours

[Themis]

Hmmm, I've just tried disabling the SB3 digital volume and the difference is slight in my system. The convenience factor means I will probably change it back.
My system must not be as revealing as yours

Not sure. The first 30-40% don't have any effect.
Listen to the SB at 10%, you will see.

[Covenant]

Oh right. I normally have the volume on the SB3 at about 90% and adjust it up and down from there. I can imagine if you have it set considerably lower you will seriously degrade the quality.

[macjager]

odd title but there is madness to my method
I have been burning in the Caiman since Saturday, using my Mac to the Caiman via the toslink. I have an app called iWOW by SRS labs and when turned on the sound is very rich with lots of detail. When off, boy, music sounds crappy. I plan on trying it via a 3.5 to RCA (once i can find it) and compare the sound that way. Has anyone else tried this app, as it really seems to make a difference in the sound - running iTunes from my MacBook Pro to the Caiman to the Cayin 88T to my Allison IIs

[macjager]

Ok
did the A/B test...very interesting, the 3.5 into RCA from the Mac has a lot less presence than the toslink via the Caiman. When you turn on the iWOW while using the 3.5 it boosts the sound but when you do the same with the toslink via the Caiman...huge increase in sound fullness.
So what have we learned, the Mac through the Caiman sounds better than from the Mac directly to the Cayin, and using iWOW adds a fullness that is much more noticeable...


the iWOW app is aval for both Mac and PC...and no, I have no affiliation with SRS - except they have some of my money for their app

[Shanedudddy2]

Yes, I`ve tried SRS Labs before and I freaking hate it...it sound terrible, seriously.
Best sound I`ve gotten is through winamp output by ASIO plugin.