Trigon Chronolog

[Naturelover]

Hi
I have recently had the opportunity to hear this player. It sounded fantastic. It was playing through an Einstien hybrid amp and Blumenhofer Big Fun 17 speakers. This is a very versatile one box solution of CD player, DAC and media server with coax, optical, HDMI, USB, LAN and balanced connectivity. It is claimed to be able to play virtually any audio format. It is available here for 3 lacs. EU price is Euro 5000 and US price $9500. RoC has praised it in one thread.
What I would like to know is if this can be considered instead of separate high quality CD player, DAC and media player? Would someone be kind enough to put up a review here?
A few knowledgeable FMs have heard it. I would very much appreciate if they can give their opinions. Has anyone actually bought it?

Thanks

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8k2lc2fm0...s/8k2lc2fm0l9f2fj/Trigon Chronolog Manual.pdf

 

[reignofchaos]

It is the best one box network player I have ever heard. If that sort of thing floats your boat, there is no equal to it. You should not compare it to CD players. I tried playing CDs directly on it and didn't like the sound. The same CD ripped to the internal sad sounded mind blowing. Also its functionality and versatility is a bit limited as it does not have digital inputs.

For another opinion, please pm square wave. He has also auditioned it extensively.

 

[dheerajin]

In the same lines with more inputs and all in one player PLUS amplifier-

AVM Audio - INSPIRATION C8

and less than the price of trigon--Its like dream come true system..really all in one...one could wish for..

 

[Naturelover]

Well, it doesn't seem so attractive any more! [emoji19] Why, do you think, does the CD play sound bad? Will I get similar audio quality and capability from my original plan of existing Arcam CD73 CD player and M1Clic with the Antec 110 build you have suggested and a good DAC.

It is the best one box network player I have ever heard. If that sort of thing floats your boat, there is no equal to it. You should not compare it to CD players. I tried playing CDs directly on it and didn't like the sound. The same CD ripped to the internal sad sounded mind blowing. Also its functionality and versatility is a bit limited as it does not have digital inputs.

For another opinion, please pm square wave. He has also auditioned it extensively.

 

[mpw]

naturelover,

its better to do 1 thing well than do many things moderately and thats why things that do everything excellently have that kind of price also. Its always a compromise.

Simple thing to do will be to decide the direction which way you want to take on the source and dont get distracted by anything else.. stick to looking for what you want.

de-clutter and enjoi !!

mpw

 

[Naturelover]

Sorry, duplicate post

 

[reignofchaos]

Well, it doesn't seem so attractive any more! [emoji19] Why, do you think, does the CD play sound bad? Will I get similar audio quality and capability from my original plan of existing Arcam CD73 CD player and M1Clic with the Antec 110 build you have suggested and a good DAC.

Well in comparison that is exactly how I felt. Direct CD playback without ripping to the ssd sounded slow and mechanical. After ripping the same to HDD, it sounded how a high end source should sound like.

 

[square_wave]

Well, it doesn't seem so attractive any more! [emoji19] Why, do you think, does the CD play sound bad? Will I get similar audio quality and capability from my original plan of existing Arcam CD73 CD player and M1Clic with the Antec 110 build you have suggested and a good DAC.

I used to have the Arcam CD 73t player when I auditioned the Chronoloq. The cd playback in the chronoloq is far superior. ROCs comment ( i think ) is compared to the players otherwise world class quality as a network player. You should not buy the chronoloq if your primary playback is only cd. Consider the high quality cd playback as a bonus to the exemplary network playback you get.

I currently use the Naim NDX. Chose the NDX because I got a good deal ( used ) in Singapore. I can live with both.

 

[Naturelover]

Ok, so let's compare the Chronolog to this in CD playback, PC playback and networking quality:
AP transport and DAC, M1Clic, Antec 110 build.
Do suggest alternatives here if you have any reservations with any of these.
I am really not looking for a one box solution per se. Just that this seemed an attractive one. And not just in looks!

My only playback so far has been CD but I plan to get into pc and network playback. I am completely unfamiliar with both and have been reading up on these here and elsewhere.

I used to have the Arcam CD 73t player when I auditioned the Chronoloq. The cd playback in the chronoloq is far superior. ROCs comment ( i think ) is compared to the players otherwise world class quality as a network player. You should not buy the chronoloq if your primary playback is only cd. Consider the high quality cd playback as a bonus to the exemplary network playback you get.

I currently use the Naim NDX. Chose the NDX because I got a good deal ( used ) in Singapore. I can live with both.

 

[reignofchaos]

Building an optimized PC which can rival a high end cd transport is not easy no matter what people say. This has been my personal experience and to be honest I'm still learning on this. What trigon gives you is a device that is optimized and setup for playback of files from the word go. You don't need to struggle to get things working properly. Yes you lose out on flexibility but you don't have to go through the same steep learning curve.

As for musical fidelity, I do not have much respect for the modern iteration of this company. IMHO they create things that are rather over priced and not particularly good.

 

[square_wave]

I have compared the Naim NDX to the AP dac with Jplay dual pc setup. Both played extremely well. I could live with both. I like both the trigon chronolog as well as Naim NDX. Both has their signatures but since I listen to a wide variety of music - old and new, it does not really matter so much.. So it will all finally come down to personal preference..
I wanted a one box setup hence chose one.

 

[Naturelover]

So what rig do you have for ripping? Can the same configuration be used as a music PC?

I have compared the Naim NDX to the AP dac with Jplay dual pc setup. Both played extremely well. I could live with both. I like both the trigon chronolog as well as Naim NDX. Both has their signatures but since I listen to a wide variety of music - old and new, it does not really matter so much.. So it will all finally come down to personal preference..
I wanted a one box setup hence chose one.

 

[square_wave]

So what rig do you have for ripping? Can the same configuration be used as a music PC?

DBPoweramp - all rips are to wave files.

I have an AMD A8 chip based computer in a micro atx cabinet. It is used as a HTPC and ripping cds.No other use since i do not use a music pc. I am sure you can use this as a music pc too. If you have a USB Dac, a well thought out pc with the right software setup for the player that you use ( J river, J play, Foobar etc..) should do the job.

Here is something I suggested for a friend.

1. Processor: Intel 3.3 GHz LGA 1155 Core i3 2120 Processor

Intel 3.3 GHz LGA 1155 Core i3 2120 Processor - Intel: Flipkart.com


2. Motherboard : Specs : LGA 1155 type, (Intel H77 Chipset with USB 3 ), Micro ATX cabinet fit.


Model : Intel : Intel DH77EB Motherboard

Intel DH77EB Motherboard - Intel: Flipkart.com


OR


Model : Gigabyte GA-H77M-D3H

Gigabyte GA-H77M-D3H Motherboard - Gigabyte: Flipkart.com


3. Dvd rom:

Asus DRW-24D3ST DVD Burner Internal Optical Drive - Asus: Flipkart.com


4. HDD:

WD Blue WD10EZEX 1 TB Internal Hard Drive - WD: Flipkart.com

5. RAM:

Corsair DDR3 4 GB (1 x 4 GB) PC RAM (CMX4GX3M1A1600C11) - Corsair: Flipkart.com

6. Micro ATX cabinet

Buy Cooler Master 210 Slim Mini-iTX Cabinets (MIN-210-KKR300) online in india

 

[square_wave]

BTW..The links are a few months old..things may have changed now it was a good config six months back..

 

[square_wave]

If you are really serious about a music pc..go to this link :

Computer Audiophile - Computer Audiophile Suggested Hardware List

Scroll down to : Computers / Music Servers

Something I was planning to assemble ( before the network player bug bit me )

Computer Audiophile - Computer Audiophile Pocket Server - C.A.P.S.

From people who have pursued PC audio seriously, I have come to know that it is not trvial. Also ping Bhagwan on the forum..he has a stellar music pc setup.

 

[Naturelover]

@ square_wave
Thanks a lot. You appear to be quite satisfied with your rips played on your Naim NDX, LFD, Blumenhofer setup. So I guess it should be good for me as well. I am no expert or audiophile. The Computer audiophile site does look interesting. I have not gone through it completely as I am still travelling. Will it be so much better than your build? Would the hardware be available here or at least equivalent stuff?
I do hope to meet up with Bhagwan in Mumbai. His setup is way beyond me but hope to get some inputs.
I am really groping in the dark here but have decided to go with pc based music play.

BTW, I believe you have the Big Fun 17 and not the Fun 17. Is that correct?

 

[square_wave]

@NL,

I have the big fun 17.

All rips are via dbpoweramp to wave. Happy with the rips.

No pc in the music system.

Music is stored in a NAS. NAS and NDX on home network ( wired). Playback controlled via ipad ( wireless )

The caps build will be better if your need is a music pc ( which i did not intend to make since i went with network player). I think some hardware will need to be imprted.