USA EXASOUND 28 WITH PURE MUSIC MOD
USA EXASOUND 28 WITH PURE MUSIC MODS

However, there are also several digital front ends in the $5,000 to $8,000 range which sound very close to those stratospherically-priced components. Make no mistake about it – these components are really good. There are several more in the $25,000 to $75,000 range. There are several digital front ends that flirt with $100,000 price tags. In my opinion, this phenomenon is especially true with digital front ends. To make a really significant difference, I probably need to spend at least another $35,000.

My own 2-channel system’s retail value – please excuse what may to some seem like bragging and/or ridiculous indulgence, but I’m doing it to make a point – is right around $120,000. Moreover, these often modest improvements usually come at a very hefty increase in cost. Granted, I’ve heard a few systems that I’ve liked more than my own main system, but the biggest differences have most often been in the voicing, while improvements to extension, resolution, dynamics and soundstaging have been pretty slim. I should first mention that I’ve become jaded by repeated claims of “breakthroughs” and “massive improvements” in sound that have become all too common in audio. My purpose is for you to understand my preferences/prejudices. hard drives and (3) yes – the dreaded issue of digital vs. Here I want to briefly discuss three things: (1) Differences between the top digital components (2) optical drives vs. This was going to be fun! More Background: My Take on Top Digital At the same time I also received a complete set of MIT cables for review, including the very excellent Oracle Digital MA-X (see November 2010 Dagogo). In preparation, I started seeking auditions of several other DACs: the Berkeley Audio Alpha DAC the Weiss DAC 202 the Lessloss DAC 2004 and the dCS Debussy DAC. He was very busy with filling orders, but I persisted, and he agreed to send an Overdrive for review after the 2010 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. I started pestering Steve for a chance to review his Overdrive DAC. Adding the battery raised the system’s performance further, and I decided I needed to hear more of Empirical’s products. Given my prior positive experience I placed an order for the battery. Right about that time Steve/Empirical released a battery power option for the Pace Car. I don’t want to jump too far ahead and kill the suspense, but I was so happy with the results that I began paying more attention at Empirical’s other products. I sent Steve my Qsonix to modify and purchased a customized version of his Pace Car.

USA EXASOUND 28 WITH PURE MUSIC MOD

With some trepidation, as the mod voided the Qsonix warranty, I took the leap. That clock was the Empirical Audio Pace Car. His mod would slave the Qsonix to a custom external master clock. After contacting this customer and learning of his experience I called Steve Nugent and got the lowdown.

USA EXASOUND 28 WITH PURE MUSIC MODS

He directed me to a customer who had some mods performed by Steve Nugent at Empirical Audio. As I started my search for a solution, I called Mike Weaver at Qsonix and asked him whether he knew of any steps I could take that could really ratchet up my performance.

However, in doing so I lost the ability to slave to a single clock, thus was in an irritating predicament of losing that last degree of resolution. However, like any true audiophile, I wanted state-of-the-art performance to go with the state-of-the-art interface, so I used the digital output of the Qsonix into my Esoteric DAC. With its wide array of search features and ability to provide instant access to anything in my music library, the Qsonix interface changed my listening experience. It is accurate to say that my journey began when I decided to review and then purchase the Qsonix Q105 Music Server (updated review in March 2010 of Dagogo). They are from a small, relatively unknown company – Empirical Audio. Rather, I’m going to talk about an acoustically fabulous set of products that have been central to my education. I’m not going to regurgitate all of that in this article, as that would take way too long. That education included learning a bit about setting up your own server, listening to some of the most sought-after DACs on today’s market and understanding the benefits of battery-powered digital.

Along the way I have received quite an education. About a year ago I embarked on what has been an absolutely fabulous journey into computer-based digital audio, culminating in what can only be described as a transformation of my main audio system.

Usa exasound 28 with pure music