Wow...this is really interesting. I am enjoying this trip into cutting edge front end technology. At the same time, I am reminded of the relativity of technology as it relates to sound and how we listeners use it toward our own ends. In each step my system has taken, it is always from a place I thought was so satisfying, how could it get so much better? But it does! And from this thread and Pale Ryder's recommendation, the very inexpensive Fidelia player's advantages over the iTunes I had been satisfied with...may be yet another little "leap."

Like Brett, I love this hobby! And the microscope analogy....the importance of the first lens being like the source in audio systems, hyper important since its attributes are amplified by what follows. I really like this, but with my system, I am also particularly attuned to his thought that each part is equally important.

And now, realizing my Mini/ZDAC source may not be in the technological cutting edge of data movement.... I was really scratching my head. Like Lon has indicated when talking about his satisfaction with his system, in part due to his beloved Sony 5400 disc player, and how it sounds better to him than anything else he has had, here I am, right now, with an audio system so beautiful that it has the ability to transport me into the experience of music, and from the less than optimal Redbook Cd stock....it just blows my mind.



But the ZDAC, coming from years of experimentation with circuits, chips, clocks and all, by a guy who has proven to me I can trust his sound decisions, it all worked for me....my trust was well placed. And regardless of theory, to my mind and body, it is a very good beginning in a system for which I can't possibly distinguish between the importance of one part over another!

The Mac/ZDAC is followed closely by the Zstage and its circuits and tube doing its "filtering," refinements, and enhancements; then the Torii and its many tube stages doing their part, and with my preferred tube sets in place; then the MG944s......with Decware interconnects and speaker cables tying it all together; and an assortment of power cables I moved around to suit my tastes; a bunch of Herbiesaudiolab stuff; and my room and power treatments tailored to suit my tastes........And last, but not least, all of it was designed by and built by three people working together toward a particular sound criteria.....Steve and ZYGI working independently, but interactively as Decware, and me working with their brilliant tools to make it all like I like it in my house.

As hard as I try, I can't think of a single one of these things that is less important than another to my system, and each improves on my very revealing and musical source, as the source improves the rest.

So, the nature of good tube gear and stuff designed for it supports the source = first-lens theory, but once that source is a good enough, and if the rest of the parts are synergistic, then everything makes everything else better at the same time! In this the technical efforts that led to the system parts are not unimportant, but they are now integrated into a sort of living thing that is very likely much greater than the sum of the parts! What an awesome opportunity to be able to play the game at this level!!!!!

And what a great opportunity to share information and experience in this forum.....the questing music lovers enabling each other toward a more refined musical experience! Thanks guys, and I hope it keeps on coming!!!

Lon, I agree, it is real joy. I feel sort of like the cat that got the canary.

Pale Ryder, I finally had a chance to play around a bit with Fidelia doing direct comparisons with iTunes. At first I thought it a mixed bag, very smooth and nice micro detail, but a bit too warm for my tastes with default settings.

Then I started adjusting the preferences. I don't have much idea what many of the settings are, but in playing with them until I liked the sound most, I am feeling very impressed! Amazing detail and micro detail without hard edges, increased image density and space, smoothness, increased bass articulation. Thanks for the tip.

So far, I see no downside except that it is a bit quirky between uses, needing to restart the program, and I miss the checkbox for individual songs in iTunes for editing album playback....guess i'll just make different playlists. But man, the sound......

Yes, for me, the technology is a vehicle to the beauty be it a good lens or a good DAC, but then there is photoshop these days, (at least for me) and like with tubes, it offers the chance of refining something relatively accurate, into something more resolved, and beautiful. No artist I know of who consistently makes good art, is/was a weak technician with their medium. But technique without heart and expression is empty.

On the other hand, I agree, there is nowhere to go without a truly good lens. No disagreement there, and thanks to the experience of others involved in this quest for great sound, both with advise and gear, I have gotten somewhere very satisfying fairly efficiently. But as we all know, once something gets really good, even small refinements can be fairly revelatory!

My net thing is limited to 5GB/mo, the speed is pretty good. But this allows the occasional big file, and I can go to town too. So thanks for the recommendations. I will get some high-res things in here one way or another.

I wish there was an easy way to audition gear. It is interesting that at a certain level, the details of circuit synergy becomes the big player in the game. But it is also clear that those circuits are really important! My personal tastes go more toward smooth detail than warmth, and since it is only in the hearing and preferences of the listener that the "best" is found, I would love to compare the ZDAC/Zstage with a comparably priced asynchronous DAC.

I see the need for another piece of equipment. There needs to be something that can take a file, buffer it, reclock it and release it the correct time domain. The buffering would be the important thing. You need to hold the information so that it could be put together correctly.
Is there anything out there that does this?
I know in high speed machining we have had problems with transferring information from our CAM systems into the controllers of the machines rapidly enough. When you can put a buffer into the system it helped with the transfer of program and you get a more accurate part. This is the same thing that we are trying to do with our music files. Get them to the the end product as accurately as possable.

Pale, It was a incomplete thought of mine. I hadn't thought it through.
I was thinking that perhaps some of the issues that people hear is from insufficient data transfer. And that a buffer would work like a capacitor in a electrical circuit. Like I said, not a complete thought, I get them fairly often. That could by why I'm not filthy rich.

That's a good point. I can hear those sort of differences on cds with my SCD-XA5400ES, and with my ZDAC-1 and any source connected to it.

I found that for ME the quest for "the perfect setup and sound" was a path to stark raving madness. I know I'm close and that's more than good enough to me.

Listening to some new Japanese jazz cds that  arrived in the mail today from Dusty Groove in Chicago, and the sound is superb, I've just been drifting along happily, surfing and listening and sipping some hot chai. Life is so good sometimes!  ;D

Hope the ZDAC is back very soon my friend. I can imagine and almost feel your pain.

You're right, sit back and enjoy the wonderful sound of your system. Your amp is a wonderful thing. Just being able to listen toi music in your home is an amazing technological marvel, and to get the quality we do as Decware system users. . . well past generations couldn't even dream about it. Sometimes I just feel amazed at what's possible and how fortunate we are.