Minimalist Pure System

[pablolie]

Let's say you had to start from utter scratch right now and build a system... what would your choices be?

It seems we're getting to the point where with some audiophile level active speakers setup and just a SB3 or Transporter and some very good cabling some awesome results can be achieved. I don't know of anyone that has such a system yet, but I'd be very curious. And tempted.

Sugestions, experiences? I will be dividing my life between 2 continents soon, and would like a high quality audio system in both places. One's covered with what I have, the other one will be built around a SB3 or Transporter.

[egd]

Let's say you had to start from utter scratch right now and build a system... what would your choices be?

Transporter >> ATC SCA 2 >> ATC SCM100SL AT or ATC SCM150SL AT

[cliveb]

It seems we're getting to the point where with some audiophile level active speakers setup and just a SB3 or Transporter and some very good cabling some awesome results can be achieved. I don't know of anyone that has such a system yet, but I'd be very curious. And tempted.

My system is a Transporter directly feeding a pair of ATC SCM100A active speakers via its balanced outputs. You don't get much more minimalist than that.

Are the results "awesome"? All I can say is that the system sounds pretty damn good to me - it's certainly the best sound I've ever had.

[adamslim]

I was chatting with some guys from Meridian last year and they all had loads of Squeezeboxes driving their digital active speakers. Now that is minimal...

Adam

[konut]

Make sure the actives are large enough so that you don't need a sub, and that your computer is powerful enough to run the Inguz plug-in, and you're there, dude!

[egd]

My system is a Transporter directly feeding a pair of ATC SCM100A active speakers via its balanced outputs.

What are you doing for volume control?

[Andyoz]

My kitchen system is just a SB3 feeding a pair of these...

http://www.digitalprosound.com/Htm/R...JBL-LSR25P.htm

[cliveb]

What are you doing for volume control?

13dB of passive attenuation inserted into the XLR plugs at the speaker end (yes, I know it's a weird amount - I wanted about 12dB and the resistors I had available ended up giving 13dB), then using the Transporter digital volume control.

Normal listening levels are usually between -10dB and -16dB on the Transporter scale, which leaves a fair bit of headroom for head-banging sessions. For background listening, it's typically somewhere between -20dB and -30dB.

[egd]

13dB of passive attenuation inserted into the XLR plugs at the speaker end (yes, I know it's a weird amount - I wanted about 12dB and the resistors I had available ended up giving 13dB), then using the Transporter digital volume control.

Normal listening levels are usually between -10dB and -16dB on the Transporter scale, which leaves a fair bit of headroom for head-banging sessions. For background listening, it's typically somewhere between -20dB and -30dB.

Unless I've misunderstood or missed something, anything other than 100% volume through the SB3 or Transporter results in a lossy audio signal being sent to the speakers, which would for all intents and purposes negate the need for a Transporter and/or ATC monitors, not so?

On another note, what interconnects are you using?

[cliveb]

Unless I've misunderstood or missed something, anything other than 100% volume through the SB3 or Transporter results in a lossy audio signal being sent to the speakers, which would for all intents and purposes negate the need for a Transporter and/or ATC monitors, not so?

You've misunderstood. The digital volume control in the SB and Transporter operates at 24 bit resolution, while the source files (ripped from CD) are 16 bit. Any volume attenuation up to -30dB is arranged such that not one single bit is lost in the signal that is sent to the 24 bit DAC. Of course, there is a slight S/N ratio degradation as attenuation is applied, but since the noise floor of the Transporter is about -130dB to start with, this is a moot point. The digital volume control has been discussed many times on these forums - a quick search should find you plenty of background reading.

On another note, what interconnects are you using?

I use the cables supplied by ATC. They have Neutrik XLR plugs, and I believe they are some sort of microphone cable (Belkin?). Unfortunately they are a rather vivid red - I think a more neutral colour would have been preferable.