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Not that it matters much or at all....
Was it Mike Moffat or Paul McGowan ?
These two pioneered Audiophile DACs and continue as Leading "Higher Authorities".
Tony in Venice
I auditioned the Cobalt 307 DAC through my usual reference system: Audio Research LS2B line-stage preamp, Mark Levinson No.23.5 or VTL 225W monoblock power amplifiers, and Hales System Two Signature loudspeakers with a Muse Model 18 subwoofer. The Cobalt also saw time with the superb Thiel CS3.6 loudspeakers.
Interconnects were primarily AudioQuest Lapis and Diamond or Monster Cable Sigma; loudspeaker cables were 8' bi-wired runs of AudioQuest Sterling/Midnight. Digital interconnects included the excellent Aural Symphonics Digital Standard or TARA Labs' killer Digital Master. Power to the system (except for the Muse and power amplifiers) was conditioned with a Tice Power Block and Titan.
Other processors on hand for comparison included the Proceed PDP 3 (to be reviewed next month), Mark Levinson No.30, and Meitner IDAT. On a more price-competitive level, I compared the 307 DAC to the $799 Sumo Theorem, a processor I believe to be the best-sounding converter under $1000.Robert Harley
Not that it matters much or at all....
Was it Mike Moffat or Paul McGowan ?
These two pioneered Audiophile DACs and continue as Leading "Higher Authorities".
Tony in Venice
... "good for its price" sounds like damning it with faint praise.
You'd have been much better off buying one of the higher end Sony ES CD players from that era.
Not that it matters much or at all....
Or Arcam or Musical Fidelity in the UK?
Was it Mike Moffat or Paul McGowan?
Paul McGowan in the US. But what's interesting about the Cobalt DAC is that it was designed by Jason Stoddard, then with Sumo, and now better-known as the cofounder of Schiit Audio.
Good to see you back, Tony.
John Atkinson
Technical Editor, Stereophile
"Who was first?" (The Dawn of Commercial Digital Recording)
http://www.aes.org/aeshc/pdf/fine_dawn-of-digital.pdf
Today, in digital audio, the technology is rather well understood, and it would be a long list of 'higher authorities'.
For the modern variant, high quality digital audio over IP, I would highlight the name Kevin Gross (AES Fellow, invented CobraNet, chaired the AES67 working group and did most of the heavy lifting, etc., extending to a long depth of work and list of accomplishments).
Well, he seems to be talking to the Pro People more than we hobbyists. Can't complain about that too much because I don't know the first dam thing about 192 and beyond, I'm a Loyal 16/44 Redbook fan.
If I could...
I'd ask Mr. Gross how a $100,000 DAC delivers superior playback sound quality from Music recored by ProAudio ADCs costing far less and often not featuring any of the magic pixie lust dust included in those 2 chassis Sculptures ?
anyway...
Thanks for writing about all this.
Tony in Venice
Thanks for stepping up for our Brits with their earliest DAC contributions.
I was a bit worried that you might disappear to Bermuda or join the growing number of NarrowBoat Retirees cruising the Cut. ( like I'm contemplating )
Something you wrote over the Summer reminded me of your considerable skill & lexicon. Mr. Austin's writing seems to further establish Stereophile's sound Management principals are being kept in a World where Outfits like Boeing are cutting cost corners at the expense of Quality.
I'm delighted they're not squeezing you out. ( redundant ? , god forbid )
Tony in Venice
ps. Mr. Stoddard doesn't seem to crave a "First DAC" title. Maybe being First is just an Asian sort of thing ( other than Drag Racing, of course )
Mr. Atkinson seems to hide in his 'safe space' more often these days ...... Just kidding :-) ........
Tony, please don't disappear in the 'Bermuda Triangle' :-) ........
that was a close one for me,
Bahamas we're destroyed which included quite a few retired Brits.
Tony in Venice
When he retires, JA1 is gonna live in his own private island like, Sir Richard Branson. Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Leonardo DiCaprio and some other wealthy individuals :-) .........
Of course, just like those wealthy individuals, JA1 is gonna own his own private jet and private yacht for his transportation needs :-) .......
Liked it quite a bit.. little chalky and dense, but it was fun! Now, this level of quality is pretty laughable.. marginal, incremental improvements over a standalone CDP.