Channel Island VDA-1/VAC-1 mods?

gd0 · « **on:** 10 May 2005, 09:57 pm »

I'm considering a <$1K DAC to improve music playback in the HT system, where the DVD players are no better than mid-level Pioneers... adding a dedicated CD player is not an option.

The top contenders so far are the Benchmark DAC1, or a used Bel Canto DAC2... upsamplers with built-in jitter reduction.

Then I stumbled across the Modwright mods for the Channel Island VDA-1/VAC-1 combo for well under a grand... and I would certainly consider CI as I had a very good experience with an old Audio Alchemy DITB years ago.

Is an additional jitter unit recommended for the VDA-1?

Anybody try the Modwrights yet?... or are they still too new to have a track record?

Thanks in advance.

kfr01 · « **Reply #1 on:** 10 May 2005, 10:21 pm »

Quote from: gd0

I'm considering a <$1K DAC to improve music playback in the HT system, where the DVD players are no better than mid-level Pioneers... adding a dedicated CD player is not an option.

The top contenders so far are the Benchmark DAC1, or a used Bel Canto DAC2... upsamplers with built-in jitter reduction.

Then I stumbled across the Modwright mods for the Channel Island VDA-1/VAC-1 combo for well under a grand... and I would certainly consider CI as I had a very good experience with an old Audio Alchemy ...

I am also interested in feedback / listening impressions on these modifications.

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 May 2005, 10:32 pm »

I had a Bel Canto DAC 2 I bought from Audio Advisor. What a disappointment!!!. Save your money and buy something else. Modded DVD players by APL or Modwright are the only way to go!

Cheers
Charlie

Rocket · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 May 2005, 11:35 pm »

hi charles,

do you think a modwright level 2 perpetual technologies p3a dac would sound better than a bel canto dac 2?

i have never compared them but have heard the bc is very good.

regards rod

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #4 on:** 11 May 2005, 12:09 am »

Rocket:
I really and truthfully cannot say how the Modwright modded units would sound compared to the B.C. DAC2. I've never heard them. Truthfully I can say that Buying a B.C. DAC2 and hooking it up to a CD player is a waste of good money. Maybe if the B.C. DAC2 were hooked up to a CD transport it would work better than what I encountered by just hooking it up to a CD player.

Cheers
Charlie