cd player upgrade

Try a search on "DAC dbt" in this section of the forum. You'll find tons of info.

Yeah, but not any you'd want to hear.

The predominantly expressed view here (not necessarily the majority view), is that upgrades of CD players are a waste of money. Many of us don't even use them anymore.

You've asked more than one question. You may want to stick to one topic at a time.

The Linn Akurate DS is expensive. I saw the unit when it first hit the market, it has some bells and whistles. You may be able to accomplish the same functions with a Mac Mini at a fraction of the price. As far as an "improvement" if you want to stick with your speakers I would add an external cross over and a sub. Or some way to EQ your system along with a measuring device to test the changes made through EQ. It isn't the 2 channel purist approach but for the home those 2 options will provide an audible inprovement.

Yes, your posts look like it came from someone who is poorly informed about the best ways to improve the sound quality of your system. DACs and the like are actually about tenth on the list.

> Yamaha have released device (CD-N500) that streams and plays CDs. So you can get a single device that does both.
I've just posted my thoughts here:
http://www.avsforum.com/t/1458693/yamaha-cd-n500-networked-cd-player-owners-thread
> I don't know, I tried streaming from a Mac Mini for while (actually connected to a Squeezebox) that was connected to the amp and hated it. Too flaky and waiting for it to boot was annoying. You also need to buy a separate CD/DVD drive for a Mac mini these days.

The Yamaha is relatively cheap for what it does. I paid $700. The included CD player is getting great reviews and I'm very happy with the quality of the streaming. Going by the price, I suspect the Linn is another league but I really don't know. So far very happy with the Yamaha.

First off sapr2 Welcome to AVS.

Please read the 3 questions the OP (original poster) asked above. They relate to a Dac, a streaming device, amplifier and speakers, the speakers he owns. When answering a question regarding an amplifier it is important to understand the specifications of the speakers in the system the amp will be driving. So you see, that is 4 different components he has pointed to. Thank you for your input.



Starting a sentence with "I don't know" when making a recommendation is not a recommendation. I am not sure why one would chose to stream to a Squeezebox when you may use an iOS device to control iTunes and stream using an Airport Express. Which is what I do in my home to 2 different zones (2 AE). I'm not familiar with the Squeezebox product line.



I read a members post, look at their equipment and answer questions based on the price point of the equipment or I don't participate at all if I am not familiar with the concept or the equipment mentioned. Which is why I didn't recommend a "cheap" alternative. This OP has spent $ on his gear and is considering a Linn product that retails for $6,800 my recommendation reflects all of these considerations.
Edited by K Shep - 2/18/13 at 9:11am

Hey K Shep - Sorry if my response upset you. No offence or wastage of valuable time was intended.
So really this particular discussion should be limited people using the audiovector MI 1 avantgarde speakers who have used them with a Dac + a streaming device + amplifier. Mea culpa...but it appeared as if users of Mac minis were exempted from this requirement.
Agreed - that because that sentence wasn't a recommendation. I was simply stating my reservation on the mac mini following my experience. Semantically, I wouldn't have thought the sentence "You may be able to accomplish the same functions with a Mac Mini at a fraction of the price." was a recommendation either - seemed more like an opener for discussion to me.

The Squeezebox performed the function of media streamer + DAC. I wanted to avoid the cheap DAC that comes with the Mac mini and this device allowed me to browse the iTunes library without a iPod or TV on, but I'm not recommending it. Both it and the Mac were annoying. When it would stop working due to the endless Mac and Squeezebox updates, I'd lose interest altogether.
Good for you K Shep.

The salient points (however controversial) being made by me in the context of a discussion were simply:
1. It may be worthwhile considering a combined device for CD, DAC and streaming.
2. A combined device that I've happily experienced is the Yamaha.

Granted a $6800 Linn would be a thing of undoubted beauty and quality. That being the case and with that kind of money, I'd be inclined that $700 Mac mini well away from any such set up.

I did have a listen to the models up in the range when I purchased my setup: Yamaha AS-2000 Amp for $2500 + Yamaha NP-S2000 streamer for $2000 + Yamaha CD-S2000 for $2500. It may be of relevance to the original post. Unfortunately I didn't hear them with the audiovector speakers so will withhold further comment.

Cheerio

No apology necessary.


That's not what I wrote. Let's stay on topic.



Thank you, just tryin' to help.

Akurate is a series by Linn. If you would like to receive interaction with folks here you may want to explain what type of components you auditioned. I'm guessing you tried the Akurate DSM unit against your Supernove CD player?