Transport for X-Dac V3

Tenson

Do you think the Teac would be a significant improvement,soundwise, compared to the Sony. Aesthetically the little goldSony wins hands down and if sonically they are likely to be pretty close I might be sawyed by looks. For which I am deeply ashamed.

 

The only downside to a T1, is that they are supposed to be really fussy with finger prints and marked disc's, causing the player to skip, I also believe they won't play CD-RW. Where as the SONY will play CD-RW, and isn't over fussy with marked discs.
I also own a XDACV3 and went to other route,and use a Meridian 500 Mk2 Transport, but I have also owned a Sony 930QS which has a similar transport,IMO it will make a great transport, and will respond great to mods for the future.
You would be surprised how well a cheap DVD player sounds as a transport, a PIONEER 575A as an example.The only good news,is you are stuck for choice !

 

Cheers Stella. Interesting feedback. I have a Sony DVP-NS930QS DVD player which I will try but i don't want both my Hifi and AV running of the same source. I really am tempted by the Sony CD player although I don't think I would carry out any mods as electronics is not something I know anything about and me an soldering irons don't mix.

 

The Sony, I believe is already blessed with low levels of jitter. It's well worth giving your SONY DVD player a try, just for you to play with, and hear for yourself. The real problem you have, is simply the X Ray V3 is a very good transport, even before any mod's.
The Sony 3000 player is a lovely looking player, one word of warning, and please don't quote me on this, I believe that the Laser units are really hard to obtain, and spares for that matter, no doubt someone of the forum with a bit more knowledge may know more about this, it's just something I read on a forum, and as usual I can't remember !

Let us know how you get on with your SONY DVD

 

I will let you know how I get on.

One question about the X-DAC, as you have had one, particularly if I am going to consider using my DVD as a transport. What happens if I feed the DAC a Digital 5.1 or DTS signal. Will it just loop it through where I can send it to my AV amp or will it try and decode it and create an almighty racquet which could damage my equipment if I am (and I am) stupid enough to have my amp on the wrong input. My firend had a Musical Fidelity A32.4 and he did this once and nearly killed all the dogs in the neighbourhood.

Cheers

 

TBH when I had a DVD player as a transport, I only used it for CD's, which only outputs PCM code, so I never ran into that problem. I would imagine going into DVD Players Menus, and changing the Digital Output is the only option. Again it's just a case of you having to get into the habit of checking settings before you press play!

 

If you like the sound you can get another DVD player cheaply enough anyway

 

I don't think that price has much to do with it.

Heavy, costly engineering of the like used in turntables is not required and may actually be a bad thing.
It's the old question of perception and expectation again. A battleship £5k transport must sound better than £150 NAD right?

Why?

Do we look at the two transports and allow our expectations to dictate what is heard?

 

I have now sold the X-Ray so another transport will be necessary one way or the other.

Someone is showing interest in the Sony x3000es now so I will probably miss out on it. Let the search begin.

 

Have a look on ebay, I can recommend the SONY XB930EQS, although it dosen't look as nice as the X3000ES, it has a similar transport, also if your unit ever goes bang, you can always buy another,unlike the 3000ES there are plenty on the 2nd hand market.
The Units come in 2 Colours,Silver or The more common black. I believe there is a silver one up for auction on ebay at the moment,they normally go for around £70 to £95 mark.

 

Cheers.

I saw that. I will monitor the auction and see what happens. The X-Dac and X-PSU have just arrived and to my ears make a substantial difference to the X-Ray on it's own. First impressions suggest a more focused soundstage, tighter and deeper bass and now the speakers just vanish.

I am going to have a good listen for a couple of hours and then substitute the X-Ray for the DVD player and see how much I regret selling the X-Ray.

At the moment transport wise I am also looking at a newly serviced Teac T1 for £250 and also a CEC TL51. I have heard good things about the CEC and some guy is selling one paired with the CEC DAC on Ebay. He has no bids at the moment and I have contacted him about having first dibs if he is prepared tp split them. The Sony you mention seems like a riskless punt at that price although the X3000ES is a beauty. With the X3000ES am I paying up for scarcity and looks or do you thing it will be a better sounding transport.

Cheers

 

If I can remember, when I get back home on Tuesday, I'll do a quick comparison between my TEAC P-30 (as a reference), the P-700 and the X3000ES as transports. And, just for the DVD guys, I'll also try the £17 Tesco "value" DVD player I have.

 

I would be very interested to hear the results of that comparison. Although, by then, I may have already committed myself to the Sony. Not that that would be the end of the world. It would make a very nice source for a second system.

Regards

Paul

 

Wow I didn't know they had got SO cheap now! How long until the DVD recorders are that price?

 

I am pretty interested in a X-Ray v3. I have a X-150 and many people says that the combination is fantastic.
Is really that good?

I would appreciate a comment on it

 

I was very happy with the sound of the X-150/ -Ray combination. A solid performer in all areas. I just had the opportunity to pick up the three little MF boxes for a good price and thought I would give it a go. I definitely would not dissuade you from seeking out an X-Ray to go with your amp. I would leave it a month or so, though, as MF are (shock horror!!_ bringing out a V8 which will weaken the 2nd hand market for the V3.

 

I would look for a second hand Pioneer 575 universal disc player. They are well known for being pretty solid transports and will read all you throw at them.

You get a cd transport that can play mp3s too, and dvds, sacds, dvd-as (not useable via your dac though) all for probably under a hundred quid.

if you see a 565A they are even better, and have been the base of some serious high-end conversions.

jack

 

A modded xdac v3 needs a good transport ...unmodded its nasal and stodgy with a forward presentation and could get away with a less transport.........

Theres a fine old dac hidden away beneath the Cr*p components ....fit some panasonic FC as a minimum and be gob smacked !

 

I am actually happy with the sound of the X-Dac, although no doubt improved componentry would improve things.

I have looked into modding but given that I am a danger to myself, not to mention electronic components, with a soldering iron I will have to give it a miss.

 

https://www.audio-forums.com/as-rediect/showthread.php?t=12604&highlight=xdac

Have you seen this ?