Ack dAck! owners, what are you using as transports?

Dracule1 · « **on:** 7 Aug 2004, 09:26 pm »

Would appreciate help guys. If you own a dAck!, what are you using as a transport? Thanks.

davejcb · « **Reply #1 on:** 7 Aug 2004, 09:28 pm »

I have a Panasonic DVD-A7, also ran it on friend's Cary 306/200, noticeable difference.

srclose · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Aug 2004, 10:01 pm »

I just switched from a Meitner CD-D transport to an ASUS K8V SE motherboard SPDIF out, with very good results.

Double Ugly · « **Reply #3 on:** 7 Aug 2004, 10:03 pm »

EA modified Sony S7700.

Good stuff.

DU

Dracule1 · « **Reply #4 on:** 7 Aug 2004, 10:31 pm »

DU, what level mod did you get? How is the sound compared to other transports you've used? Thanks to all for the prompt reply.

texasphile · « **Reply #5 on:** 7 Aug 2004, 11:57 pm »

Quote

Would appreciate help guys. If you own a dAck!, what are you using as a transport?

I use a Cambridge Audio Azur DVD540 or my Denon DVD3800. Can't tell a difference once I run the signal through a Monarchy Audio DIP.

Double Ugly · « **Reply #6 on:** 8 Aug 2004, 12:06 am »

Quote from: Dracule1

DU, what level mod did you get? How is the sound compared to other transports you've used? Thanks to all for the prompt reply.

In the last email Steve sent before shipping the unit, he said, "It's all modded up." To me, that clearly meant it had every mod available at that time (which did not include the Superclock2). Apparently I was mistaken. I asked Steve to specify which mods were performed on my unit a couple of weeks ago, and was surprised to learn it has only the basic mods. That means it is not a "Turdomod" unit, nor does it have the Jensen cap.

That said, I've enjoyed the S7700 tremendously. I haven't heard one with the additional mods, but my unit is so smooth, so musical that I have no interest in paying for more. I might change my mind after hearing a truly "modded up" version, but at present I'm quite satisfied with the status quo.

The best "other" units I've heard in my system were from Naim and Ayre. Sorry, but I don't recall the models.

DU

Dracule1 · « **Reply #7 on:** 8 Aug 2004, 01:37 am »

Thanks DU, the modded Sony is on my list.

Texasphile, I was looking into the Azure because it seemed to be the recent rage and it looked like it had a decent transport section with a low jitter and all. How does Azure as a CD player compare with the dAck! and what kind of improvement are you getting with the DIP installed? Thanks.

I'm also considering the Stello transport (or their new CDP when it comes out) and the CEC TL-51x transport. Any opinions?

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #8 on:** 8 Aug 2004, 02:34 am »

I have a Parasound belt drive transport and it matches very well with the ack dAck. I will soon be receiving a modified Rega Jupiter transport and will report how they compare. Best of luck.

Michael

BeeBop · « **Reply #9 on:** 8 Aug 2004, 10:54 am »

Toshiba SD2815 5 disc DVD Changer (cheap - $C 90) to Monarchy DIP Classic by TOSLink then to blAck! dAck! (black faceplate option) by Stereovox HDVX digital cable.

Dracule1 · « **Reply #10 on:** 8 Aug 2004, 06:40 pm »

Beebop,

doesd the DIP make that much of a difference?

BeeBop · « **Reply #11 on:** 9 Aug 2004, 09:22 am »

Yes a lot of difference. The dAck! with the Toshiba alone is not pleasing - harsh highs, poor bass. I believe that this is due to a lot of jitter from the Toshiba. The DIP gets rid of that very nicely. Would like some day to hear the dAck! with a low jitter CDP to test my theory. I have read that the non-oversampling DACs like the dAck! are less susceptible to jitter but I can't think of any other explanation. Maybe Texasphile can comment? I had thought that the Cambridge had low jitter so what does he use the DIP for?

MttBsh · « **Reply #12 on:** 9 Aug 2004, 02:35 pm »

My Monarchy DIP Classic did a fantastic job of cleaning up the digital signal from my Sony S7700 to the DACs I used to use (Monarchy 22B, M Audio Superdac) but when I hooked it up to my Scott Nixon Tubedac + DAC, the DIP made no difference at all. I was amazed that the Tubedac sounded so smooth without any jitter reduction or cleanup in front of it. Once I was positive that I could hear no improvement with the DIP in my system, I sold it.

I know that the DAcK! is a fine DAC, very comparable to the Tubedac, so am surprised to hear that the DIP in front of it improves the sound.

Matt

srclose · « **Reply #13 on:** 9 Aug 2004, 03:43 pm »

As I understand it, the dAck is fairly sensitive to the transport and definitely benefits from having a synergistic match.

orthobiz · « **Reply #14 on:** 9 Aug 2004, 05:52 pm »

What is a Monarchy DIP Classic?

biz

mcgsxr · « **Reply #15 on:** 9 Aug 2004, 07:41 pm »

As I understand it, the DIP classic is a DIP that does not upsample in any way, and is slated for use as a 44.1 clock. I have an older DIP, that is the Superdrive version (has a BNC output in addition to the RCA) that is also strictly for 44.1 cd.

Mark

BeeBop · « **Reply #16 on:** 10 Aug 2004, 10:59 am »

Yes that's right. The DIP Classic does not upsample. Christopher Owen says that the upsampling DIP won't work.

texasphile · « **Reply #17 on:** 11 Aug 2004, 01:08 am »

Quote

Texasphile, I was looking into the Azure because it seemed to be the recent rage and it looked like it had a decent transport section with a low jitter and all. How does Azure as a CD player compare with the dAck! and what kind of improvement are you getting with the DIP installed? Thanks.

Sorry for the late reply, I hooked the Azur (it uses a Crystal 6 channel DAC) up digital out to the dAck! and also analog output (for DVD-A) directly into the preamp. I mistakenly thought I was listening to the dAck! when in fact I was listening to the Azur. It is very dynamic, more so than the dAck!, but it is less refined and more 2 dimensional sounding (you lose some detail). It is likely a single bit--multi-bit debate, both have their plusses and minuses. So, to keep this answer short, the Azur is a rather good DVD player (it does not do animation well-rather choppy looking compared to my Denon DVD-3800), but video and film sources look pretty good and it sounds very good for it's price point.

Also, I have the DIP version which does not upsample, it only reclocks the datastream, the upsampling-style DIP device will not work with the dAck! since it only accepts 16 bit / 44.1 kHz data.

Hope that helps,
Chris