USB DONE RIGHT: Two magic boxes that let computer audio ...

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have a good reputation. Both players
will play SACD, and both will play 3D
movies too, if that’s important to you.
The presence of balanced XLR connectors
on the Oppo might be a convincing
advantage, but so is the fact that you
have a local dealer for Cambridge, one
who can help you if you run into any
problems.
With either one you are going to
hear a dramatic improvement over the
low-cost DVD player you’ve been using
for CDs, and presumably movies, but
10 ULTRA HIGH FIDELITY Magazine
if we were you we would reverse our
priorities, putting Blu-ray playback first.
Why? Because, as you’ll see from the
present issue as well as from our recent
writings, the computer has come into
its own as a major digital audio source.
At pretty much any audio show, now,
there are at least as many computers as
CD players, and that’s not just a matter
of convenience. We think CDs will be
around for a while, but CD players are
clearly on the endangered list.
However we have a different point of
view on Blu-ray. Not only is the Blu-ray
disc the best format for high definition
movies, it is the ONLY format that can
deliver genuine high definition. And
notwithstanding what the hucksters are
saying, that’s not about to change.
I would like some advice. I’d like
to get a DAC (Moon 100D or 300D,
Peachtree iDAC or NAD M51), and I’m
not sure which to get, or how to connect
it to my iMac.
My iMac is about 20 metres away
from my hi-fi system (Simaudio P4002
and W4070SE, Totem Model One Signature
speakers, Nordost SPM interconnects,
Nordost Solarwind speaker cables,
and finally Nordost Red Dawn XLR
cables between the power supply and the
preamp. Someone suggested using USB
extenders, connected by Ethernet CAT5
between them. Is that the best solution?
Claude Dalcourt
LAVAL, QC
The USB extenders you mention are
not mere accessories, Claude, but active
transducers requiring power. You’d need
two of them, but they’re not likely to give
you great results. Most current converters
use USB chips of uncertain quality.
Considering the distance between
your computer and your music system,
we would suggest the $99 Apple Airport
Express, which you would connect to
your computer wirelessly via Wi-Fi. You
can then connect it to your DAC with an
optical cable.
An unexpected question: is it typical
for RCA input “shorting plugs” to have
an impedance? If so, why?
When I received my replacement
VdH mono power amp from the Audiophile
Boutique about a year ago, it was
missing the required RCA shorting plug
for its second, unused input jack. The
amp must have that plug in place for
operation (almost no volume otherwise)
so I just stole a shorting plug from my
now unused Celeste 4070. Problem
solved, happy audiophile.
Now I’m finally preparing to sell the
4070, and so I need to buy a shorting
plug. On a whim I checked the resistance
of the existing shorting plug (centre conductor
to ground) and — surprise! It was