hmmm yes on that note the Juli@ can provide SPDIF out so I can continue to enjoy 5.1 with the burr browns, and then I can use the 2 channel analogue outs on the Juli@ to listen to high res. A bit of a muck around with wiring, but at least I'll be able to listen to the difference in SQ straight up! Will go with a Juli@ or Cantatis then...

Just before I pop off to work, why is it that cd/sacd transports can cost many thousands of dollars? All they are doing is reading 1's and 0's off a disc - and how, then, does a computer compete with that? For example, if I rip a CD using my cd-rom drive and store it on my hard drive, wont that process have induced some of the same errors that a 'cheap' cd transport would have done? The same question then, how does ripping a cd in a cd-rom drive compete with a high quality cd transport?

I hope someone has an answer, it has been keeping me awake at night

Thanks for the advice Telstar and Calibrator. Calibrator, will PM you when I get back from work with my number.

Hi Calibrator,

Great to meet you online – I might as well have grabbed the phone off Chris and talked to you myself!

Could I ask, does the release of XXHighend coincide with anything in particular? What is the milestone?

Could you recommend a good speaker company here in AUS? I thought the VAF bookshelfs that CLEF audio had sounded very nice.

Calibrator, I note you have a Juli@, but you don’t use the onboard DAC, but the DAC of your Integra. Why do you use the Juli@ at all then?

I think I’ll buy the HiFace, for now. The 18 bit Burr Browns will have to do for now, but at least I can see each step getting better.

Thanks again

Telstar/PeterSt,

First can I just say that I am flattered that both of you have replied so adequately, to a guy that obviously knows so little about these matters. Thanks again…

Yes, I think both of your ideas are very valid. I would actually like very much to play around with all the features that XXHighEnd can tweak.

Here is a question then, I can buy the Musical Fidelity V-Dac for around EU$350, and the XFace for EU$138. Assuming I am happy to spend the EU$350, would that be your choice?

With regard to the hardware side, I am lucky as I recently bought a new desktop computer. It’s an intel E7400 and 4 GB ram (though on XP I can’t use 2GB of that). I run a tv tuner card and the internet through it onto the big screen in the living room, but I can disable all that when running XXHE. I’ll have to wait until next week to setup XXHE on that, as I am away from home. The laptop I have here with me won’t run XXHE – it says it has allocated the DAC but can’t run it (you know the message). I assume that’s because the laptop is just too inferior.

Thanks for your opinions thus far. Of course, I would welcome all input.

Hi Telstar,

I knew the moment I posted the message, that would be the response 
I could say my budget is around $1500 euro over the next 6 months, with an upfront spend of around $200. Not much, I know, but in time all can be acquired! Having said that, I was almost convinced to spend around $4000euro on a new pair of tannoy prestige speakers on the weekend

Dave_S

Hello from Australia!

First of all, I would like to thank all the active contributors to this website and software for creating such a rich resource. I have only just been introduced to XXHighEnd recently, so there will be plenty of opportunity to discover more about its possibilities.

The purpose of my message is to ask for preliminary advice on how to improve my current setup. I would welcome ANY and ALL input. The forums are full of many examples, however since so much has changed over the recent years with regard to best practice, I am having trouble determining exactly what is best right now.

My current setup is below (simple, I know), and below that I have added a few thoughts based on what I have read over the last week on this forum so far.

System:
XP running MS Media player --> usb --> Cheap SPDIF converter (Xitel) --> NAD T770 integrated amp with 18bit Burr Brown DAC --> Polk Audio 11TL front speakers

Thoughts:
- I now know I should use XXHighEnd, which I will begin using once I get back home from a course soon.
- I should install win 7
- Should I get a quality USBtoSPDIF converter – (HiFace???)
- Should I get a better DAC? If so, can I get a good one for less than a few hundred euro somewhere? Would this make a big difference over the Burr Browns (I can bypass the DAC in my system fine – I have external analogue inputs into the NAD)

Are there any other questions I have not asked???

Once again, thanks again for this great site. If the person who introduced me to this site reads this, could you let me know who you are so I can thank you! (I found out via Chris at CLEF audio, Melbourne – he rang up a friend and active user of XXHighEnd and he passed on the name of the software to me).