Audio Alchemy DAC MAN

Dan Driscoll · « **on:** 12 Oct 2004, 08:54 pm »

I've been looking at adding a DAC to improve the sound of my old Carver SD/A-360 CD changer, but as always, I'm on a tight budget. I occasionally see references to the DAC MAN and was curious about it. I did a forum and google search, but couldn't find much. Any info would be appreciated.

KKM · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 Oct 2004, 04:16 pm »

You might also want to look at the ART DI/O, do a search at audioasylum.com under the digital category.

doug s. · « **Reply #2 on:** 13 Oct 2004, 04:16 pm »

i am not familiar w/that item, tho i do think the audio alchemy dlc preamp is a nice budget piece. but, if i were looking for a budget dac, i would get this one:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1100883510

doug s.

Dan Driscoll · « **Reply #3 on:** 13 Oct 2004, 04:58 pm »

The ART DI/O is on my list, but there is plenty of info available on it. I'm curious about other low cost, high value DACs that would also be worth consideration.

arthur · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 Oct 2004, 06:52 pm »

a lot of us are very pleased by the Scott Nixon Tube Dacs

i think its scott-nixon.com

Brian · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 Oct 2004, 09:52 pm »

Hi Dan

I do not know if these cost to much, but here goes.

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/stello_da220.htm
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/benchmark_dac1.htm

I have not heard them, but if I was in the market for a DAC I would consider them.

mcgsxr · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 Oct 2004, 10:51 pm »

Well, the Benchmark is around US$1000 new, and the Stello retailed for around US$1200 new.

I have seen the Benchmark around used for $800 or so...

Mark in Canada

audioslave · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 Oct 2004, 03:24 am »

You have to check out the Ack! dac for budget dacs. I just got one and I am extremely pleased with this little gem. Very natural sounding and super smooth midrange. It is really bringing out the best in my system. They list for $525, I think.
Their website is http://www.ack-industries.com/
I have heard the Stello dac at HE2004 and for the money, it is a great dac too. just my 2......

Double Ugly · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 Oct 2004, 04:47 am »

I second the Ack! dAck. I haven't heard anything near it's price point that comes close.

DU

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #9 on:** 14 Oct 2004, 05:01 am »

I think I should mention that I am buying a new dac based on a diy design that is something akin to, to put it crudely, an Ack dAck on steroids.

It uses 8 or 16 tda1543 dac chips in parallel to increase linearity (it's an option)
It uses a tent clock to do asynchronous reclocking
It may offer a jung super regulator as an option, will have to wait until after the first production run to see
Comes standard with blackgate and nichicon coupling caps and wimas, plus auricaps on the output
Battery powered like the Ack dAck BUT it can run 16 hours before recharging with a 7ah battery (included)
Discrete output stage requires no opamps or tubes because of the high output generated by the dac tower.

Standard 8 chip model price is anticipated to be around $600+ship. I'm estimating that I will probably get mine, part of the first production run, in about 4-6 weeks.

mcrespo71 · « **Reply #10 on:** 14 Oct 2004, 05:05 am »

You have a link to this dack on steroids?

Michael

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #11 on:** 14 Oct 2004, 05:56 am »

well, here's the link to the original design: www.dddac.de
It's closely based off of the dddac1543.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #12 on:** 14 Oct 2004, 11:53 am »

Quote from: Dan Driscoll

I occasionally see references to the DAC MAN and was curious about it. I did a forum and google search, but couldn't find much. Any info would be appreciated.

Sorry, no info, but I was wondering why you're thinking about the Dac-Man but not other AA gear like the Dac-in-the-Box (DITB) which seems much more common/available??? There have been several DITB's on eBay recently (and in the $79-125 range). I don't know what the Alchemy hierarchy was---whether the DITB was entry level and other models supposedly better or vice versa. Wonder if a quick e-mail to Dusty Vawter (formerly of AA) of Channel Islands would be productive??? Or maybe it'd be better to just go with CIA's current dac at $350???

doug s. · « **Reply #13 on:** 14 Oct 2004, 12:55 pm »

i would second the comments about asking dusty directly about the old aa gear. that said, i would still grab a modded art di/o for <$200 & never look back. all the other suggestions are good ones - but not for <$200.

if yure wanting to spend <$1k, then the other options are good - scott nixon, benchmark, ack!, etc... and a modded di/o would still be in the game. now, system synergy & personal taste will come into play. but, if ya wanna spend <$200, yust get the modded di/o & forget about it...

ymmv,

doug s.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #14 on:** 14 Oct 2004, 01:12 pm »

Was the Audio Alchemy gear fairly reliable??? It'd be a shame to spend even $100 for a DAC and then have trouble down the line that couldn;t easily be serviced. I don't know if Dusty is still willing to work on the AA stuff or not???

Mudjock · « **Reply #15 on:** 14 Oct 2004, 01:45 pm »

My brother had a Carver CD changer (maybe the same model as yours, but I'm not positive). The output section actually failed, so I found him an Audio Alchemy DAC-in-the-Box. The improvement was not subtle, particularly in terms of bass and dynamics.

DAC technology has advanced pretty quickly. If you really want to keep the budget down and still want changer functionality, you might consider something like the Panasonic DVD-F65. I wound up replacing my MSB Link DAC, Monarchy DIP, cheap transport system with a $50 Toshiba 3950 DVD player. Even in stock form, the 3950 just does some things better (particularly midrange). I have the F65 in my HT system, and it is very good too (will easily outclass either the DAC-Man or Carver changer). With that in hand, you can still add an outboard DAC later if you want to go further.

Dan Driscoll · « **Reply #16 on:** 14 Oct 2004, 06:14 pm »

Quote from: Tonto Yoder

Sorry, no info, but I was wondering why you're thinking about the Dac-Man but not other AA gear like the Dac-in-the-Box (DITB) which seems much more common/available???

Because I was offered a DAC MAN for a very low price (lower than anything mentioned in this thread), but the seller doesn't know anything about DACs, isn't the 1st owner and doesn't have the manual.

doug s. · « **Reply #17 on:** 22 Oct 2004, 04:19 pm »

Quote from: Dan Driscoll

Quote from: Tonto Yoder
Sorry, no info, but I was wondering why you're thinking about the Dac-Man but not other AA gear like the Dac-in-the-Box (DITB) which seems much more common/available???

Because I was offered a DAC MAN for a very low price (lower than anything mentioned in this thread), but the seller doesn't know anything about DACs, isn't the 1st owner and doesn't have the manual.

dan, dunno if ya have done anyting yet; here's one on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=14980&item=5727263333

personally, i'd still buy a modded di/o for $175 (or less?) - even if i could get a dac man for *free*, $175 ain't a whole lot more,

& it really *is* an excellent dac...

doug s.

glt · « **Reply #18 on:** 26 Oct 2004, 02:05 am »

I've been thinking of getting one of this:

http://www.diyclub.biz/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23_135&products_id=270

for $135 with shipping from HK to Los Angeles for $39. They would also put the output opamps on sockets for $15 (for experimenting). Great deal, but haven't gotten it yet...

Guillermo

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #19 on:** 26 Oct 2004, 02:17 am »

That should be pretty cool.