Apple Express for Sam's external DAC (Music Hall dac25.2 processor review)

In his review of the Music Hall dac25.2 processor, Sam mentions how he doesn't use a laptop to play music because he doesn't want it to be tethered to the hifi.

If someone would kindly point him in the direction of an Apple Express he'd be all set. In particular relevance to the review, he'd be interested to know that the AE can output digitally to another DAC.

USB vs. Firewire

I have seen comments on the web, by respected mastering engineers, that state that firewire is audibly better than USB for an audio interface. This is supposedly the reason that the new Apple laptop machines have firewire that had not been in the previous generation.

I am struck by the reports from CES that seem to indicate that the high end manufacturers are using USB and not Firewire.

This seems to contradict the princible of best sound possible that has been the reason for the success of the high end industry.

Constellation Audio Sirius DAC & CD Player

Constellation Audio Sirius DAC & CD Player

Designer Peter Madnick, one of the original founders of Audio Alchemy a couple decades back, has returned as part of a new Southern California company called Constellation Audio. In addition to preamp and amplifier offerings, on hand was the $50,000 Sirius DAC and CD player two box system. One box (which they call the "clean box") contains the DAC and audio stuff and then the "dirty box" houses the transport and power supplies (pictured above).

Bel Canto DACs

Bel Canto DACs

Bel Canto has clearly been busy on the digital front. Three new DACs are on display: the e.One DAC1.5 at $1,395, e.One DAC2.5 at $1,995, and the e.One DAC3.5VB at $3,495. The company explains that the core of all three products is the "jitter-eliminating" Two-Stage Master Reference UltraClock.

Olive+Thiel HD HiFi Music System

Olive+Thiel HD HiFi Music System

Olive and Thiel have teamed up with the help of zöet networking technology from a company called Bicom, and have created a complete media server/powered speaker system. Included in the system is a 2TB Olive 4HD music server which has been specially outfitted with an audio networking system using ethernet cables for connecting to the speakers.

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