I have a Cyrus XT-SE and Quad pre-power, best thing I ever did was buy a full set of Van den hul Orchid interconnects, absolutley transformed the system, from classical to extreme metal, they've just about burned in and its still blowing my mind after 2 months.
DELETED_5350
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Normal......Hmmm if nothing is wrong in your rips to FLAC, and the DAC is working correct, it would suggest the DAC is not as good as the ones built into the Arcam player.... I've not heard the DAC, so can't say.
It's not normal for FLAC to sound 2x less clear, done correctly with a suitably good DAC or media streamer the FLAC files can/should sound better than the CD !......
This all point to the advice we have given so far..... try out some new CDPs or DACs. ..... How does the DAC sound if you feed the dig out from the Arcam into it ?
If your PC has it, try connecting using an SPDIF connection to see if that makes any difference. I've read that USB is actually not that simple to do well.
dbpoweramp is one of the best PC based ripping solutions, but you shouldn't notice a difference on CD's in good condition.
Ok at the risk of pimping Linn too much (as if I would
) This what you should do..... get yourself a Sneaky DS, (should be able to pick one up for your 800 budget) Install Asset UPnP server on your laptop, it's free from the dbpoweramp people, connect up with CAT5 patch lead, and install the Linn software on the Laptop..... Then rip all your CD's, and sell the Arcam and DAC. Job done 
With your system I wouldn't waste your time and money with a Squeezebox, the amp and speakers are worthy of decent front end, the SneakyDS will see off most CDP up to about a couple of grand. Any good Linn dealer will give you a demo, or possible home loan.
Ok at the risk of pimping Linn too much (as if I would
) This what you should do..... get yourself a Sneaky DS, (should be able to pick one up for your 800 budget) Install Asset UPnP server on your laptop, it's free from the dbpoweramp people, connect up with CAT5 patch lead, and install the Linn software on the Laptop..... Then rip all your CD's, and sell the Arcam and DAC. Job done With your system I wouldn't waste your time and money with a Squeezebox, the amp and speakers are worthy of decent front end, the SneakyDS will see off most CDP up to about a couple of grand. Any good Linn dealer will give you a demo, or possible home loan.
dbpoweramp is one of the best PC based ripping solutions, but you shouldn't notice a difference on CD's in good condition.
Ok at the risk of pimping Linn too much (as if I would
With your system I wouldn't waste your time and money with a Squeezebox, the amp and speakers are worthy of decent front end, the SneakyDS will see off most CDP up to about a couple of grand. Any good Linn dealer will give you a demo, or possible home loan.
If the OP has the dosh, agreed!
Commited,
Re Monica2, I have one, it's not bad, but it's nothing special either, IMO it's an Internet forum over hyped product..... couple of friends borrowed it as well, one has an Arcam 192 CDP, the other an old style Audiolab DAC, and I compared it with my very old Linn Karik CDP... The Monica2 lost out to all of them.
I say it's good for the money, but is not good enough for more than a budget system. Your Father's setup deserves much better in my view.
He's not using a Monica2, I made a mistake, I am. I can't even remember what DAC he's using. It's a Non-OS DAC from Asia that was highly raved about. I've never actually compared the two, but I lent my fathers DAC out to a few people with high end systems and it was well received.
I agree overall that the source lets down my fathers system. However, the Arcam 6+DAC is better than the Linn Sondek LP12 he has. Unfortunately it's academic, the system gets used about once a month due to keeping mother happy.
If you want to sell the Monica2, let me know.
That's because the LP12 is either in need of a service, or is a very old spec.....
A few updates and service will see it spank just about any DAC.
To be honest I said that, but my old man said that it had been serviced in the mid 90s and he's used it very little since then.
It's one of the old ones, 1979 - still a fantastic player mind. It's treated like a baby, but thanks to me when I was a baby doesn't look like new!
If it's a 79 spec, there are some major updates since then....plus they need service more often then every 10-15 years ....
If he is happy with the performance then great..... just a CD player shouldn't really get near it on SQ.
....If he is happy with the performance then great..... just a CD player shouldn't really get near it on SQ.
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Anyone here ever heard of Avondale ?
They take Naim gear and modify it. Makes decent hifi affordable.
I went from a CDX, XPS, 52, supercap, 250 to various Avondale gear, free'd up a few grands worth of cash and have a much better sounding hifi (to my ears).
Worth checking out !
Speakers are also Avondale, but I do have some SBL's too. Turntable is a Michel Orbe, with SME V4, Tom Evans Groove and Te Kaitora Rua cartridge.
One of the best bits about Avondale is the free home trial they offer - the worst is that you need to phone them for a response - emails are often ignored, as they are to busy making the gear they sell.
However, the £800 budget of the OP may disappear fast....
They take Naim gear and modify it. Makes decent hifi affordable.
I went from a CDX, XPS, 52, supercap, 250 to various Avondale gear, free'd up a few grands worth of cash and have a much better sounding hifi (to my ears).
Worth checking out !
Speakers are also Avondale, but I do have some SBL's too. Turntable is a Michel Orbe, with SME V4, Tom Evans Groove and Te Kaitora Rua cartridge.
One of the best bits about Avondale is the free home trial they offer - the worst is that you need to phone them for a response - emails are often ignored, as they are to busy making the gear they sell.
However, the £800 budget of the OP may disappear fast....