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CI Audio Transient Mk2 USB->SPDIF Converter Loaner

Discussion in 'Closed Loaners' started by Hands, Mar 17, 2016.

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  1. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Anyone interested in trying out a good USB->SPDIF converter? I am going to start a small loaner tour for the Channel Islands Audio Transient Mk2 USB->SPDIF converter. It does NOT include the LPSU, so it runs off battery power. However, if you have a compatible LPSU, feel free to try it with the converter.

    Rules of the loaner tour:

    1. Limited to SBAF Friends and individuals I trust. I am only going to loan this out to a few people and will be hand picking them at my discretion. Sign up if interested, but I am not guaranteeing you a spot. The more info you can give on what gear you'll try it with and why you want to try it, the better.
    2. I ask that you insure the package for $400. Pick your own shipping carrier.
    3. Try to keep it for about a week, though if you have it for two weeks, I won't crucify you. No longer than that, though.

    I will include 1 USB cable, 1 BNC-to-BNC digital cable, and 1 BNC-to-RCA digital cable.
     
    Last edited: Mar 17, 2016
    Hands, Mar 17, 2016
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  2. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    I'm 100% interested. Any chance it could come very soon to compare directly against the Audio-GD DI-U8?
     
    Luckbad, Mar 17, 2016
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  3. philipmorgan

    philipmorgan Member of the month

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    I'd be interested in trying this between my iMac and Gungnir Multibit (Vali and modded hd650 for the rest of the chain). I want to try it because I'm curious if my relatively untrained years can detect and describe the difference that others seem to perceive with this kind of gear.
     
    philipmorgan, Mar 17, 2016
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  4. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I actually had you in mind, so, yeah, can try to get that out to you soon.
     
    Hands, Mar 17, 2016
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  5. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    using one with a Gungnir Multibit and it's legit and a bit better with a linear power supply.
     
    zerodeefex, Mar 17, 2016
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  6. aufmerksam

    aufmerksam Friend

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    Very interested.

    Will be using with a Gungnir Multibit, but keen to compare to laptop>wyrd>Gungnir Multibit and more importantly denon dcd3000>Gungnir Multibit via SPDIF. I am REALLY curious how redbook to Gungnir Multibit via SPDIF on a decent cd transport compares to the disc image on laptop through the converter to Gungnir Multibit. I have been quietly enjoying everything much more from my transport to Gungnir Multibit, and I suspect SPDIF might be more of a factor than I previously thought.
     
    aufmerksam, Mar 21, 2016
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  7. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Cool, should have no issues getting you in with so few apparently interested. :) At this rate, 3-4 people could easily spend a good 2 weeks with the Transient. Not having to rush with loaner gear is nice, yeah? ;)
     
    Hands, Mar 21, 2016
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  8. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I'm going to limit this tour to these individuals:

    @Luckbad (currently has it)
    @philipmorgan
    @aufmerksam
    @brencho (hit me up on the side, I trust him)

    Take your time with it. 2 weeks is fine. If you need more time, feel free, but at 3 weeks I might ask you to move on.

    I am not too worried about order because USPS priority or similar always takes 2-4 days regardless of distance.

    Hopefully the Gungnir Multibit guys hear what I did. :)
     
    Hands, Mar 26, 2016
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  9. philipmorgan

    philipmorgan Member of the month

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    Here's a brief writeup of my experience with @Hands' Transient. If you want to see my full listening notes, check out https://docs.google.com/document/d/...xl-xKnSR0fxtnmmSg/edit#heading=h.b20fcfo1vnp5

    The chain I used was 5k iMac --> Gungnir Multibit --> Vali 1 --> modded HD650. I ran USB directly to my Gungnir Multibit and USB --> Transient --> SPDIF so that I could send audio to both via Jriver and easily switch from one to the other for comparison.

    Overall the Transient expanded the sound stage and improved the bass. On more than one track, the soundstage moved from "eyeglasses distance" to "brim of baseball hat distance", and bass became more clear with higher bass harmonics more distinct from fundamental tones.

    At this point, I'm 100% sold on avoiding the USB input to my Gungnir Multibit at any cost. It's audibly compromised compared to SPDIF. In fact, I'd say the Raspberry Pi with Hifiberry Digi+ that I've been experimenting with lately has the majority of the benefit of the Transient at lower cost (but less ease of use, for a variety of reasons).

    Edit: I should also note that I listened for just a bit to the Transient's internal DAC. Imaging and detail was noticeably less good than Gungnir Multibit, and upper midrange/lower treble sounded hard vs. Gungnir Multibit.

    Thanks so much for the loan, @Hands!
     
    Last edited: May 7, 2016
    philipmorgan, May 7, 2016
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