New line of DACs. Info posted!

elnero · « **Reply #80 on:** 30 Jan 2006, 01:56 pm »

That was fast! :p

Odd, I saw pics of one just today, I'll send you a link via PM.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #81 on:** 30 Jan 2006, 02:12 pm »

There were some that were made in Black for a while. I'll check and see if I can get them to do another run of them.

Guan, I checked on more details on the DAC-68. It doesn't use the 24 bit Burr Brown processor of the DAC-60. It uses a 16 bit chip from Analog Devices then up-samples it. This is probably the reason the sonics fall so short.

elnero · « **Reply #82 on:** 30 Jan 2006, 02:15 pm »

Quote from: Danny

There were some that were made in Black for a while. I'll check and see if I can get them to do another run of them.

It's not a big deal, I was just curious. At this point I'm just checking all the different options for upgrading my Dialogue II.

dcktr · « **Reply #83 on:** 31 Jan 2006, 05:35 pm »

Hello
I have just ordered the DAC 60 and wondered if anyone had tried some rolling tubes. Obviously many choices, wanted your experience.
Also before deciding to go with the DAC 60 with sonic craft mods, I had strongly considered the unmodded Benchmark DAC1. Anybody do a comparison?
Thanks
Happy to join the dac 60 "family"
Ron

tigzstudio · « **Reply #84 on:** 31 Jan 2006, 05:52 pm »

Anyone with any impressions of teh Sonic Craft modded Dac-60 ? I am very anxious to know!!

Danny Richie · « **Reply #85 on:** 31 Jan 2006, 06:55 pm »

Quite a few modified units are shipping out this week. Some today, some tomorrow...

I would imagine you'll be hearing some feedback on these real soon.

Images · « **Reply #86 on:** 1 Feb 2006, 01:24 am »

I am certainly looking forward to some feedback on the DAC-60 from fellow audiophools. The three contenders on my list include this DAC-60, likely with the mods, or the Channel Islands VDA-2, or the Audio Mirror. The first two are such new arrivals that as yet no reviews exist. Regarding the Audio Mirror Dac, I am only aware of one rave posted on Audiogon. The review is quite favorable.... in fact so favorable, flowerly, and metaphoric that it fails to fully inspire my confidence. The Audio Mirror is also a little more expensive than the other two. The VDA-2 has got a good pedigre and comes from a reliable source. (I don't know the who or what about Audio Mirror--so reliability issues and warranty service concern me.) The Channel Islands product uses a Burr Brown PCM1794 balanced/current output DAC. I like that no opamps are in the circuit. I l like that the DAC-60 has tubes. The DAC-60 claims a 24bit 96kHz DAC D/A chip using BB famous 24-bit PCM1704U-K. It seems the DAC-60 is 24/96 while the VDA-2 is 24/192. The VDA-2 utilizes "limited" digital filtering and no analog filters. I don't know what's da scoop with the DAC-60 and digital or analog filtering.

OK, so what? So I am not sure which road to take. I imagine there are some opinons out there. I'd love to hear them.

Guan · « **Reply #87 on:** 1 Feb 2006, 02:06 am »

Quote from: Danny

Guan, I checked on more details on the DAC-68. It doesn't use the 24 bit Burr Brown processor of the DAC-60. It uses a 16 bit chip from Analog Devices then up-samples it. This is probably the reason the sonics fall so short.

That's interesting. It's a pity because the stock DAC68 comes with balanced outputs and digital input as standard. I also find the quality of the transport makes quite a bit of difference with the DAC68. I'll probably get a DAC60 to compare and then send the one I like best for modding.

FredT300B · « **Reply #88 on:** 1 Feb 2006, 02:41 pm »

Quote from: Images

I am certainly looking forward to some feedback on the DAC-60 from fellow audiophools. The three contenders on my list include this DAC-60, likely with the mods, or the Channel Islands VDA-2, or the Audio Mirror. The first two are such new arrivals that as yet no reviews exist. Regarding the Audio Mirror Dac, I am only aware of one rave posted on Audiogon. The review is quite favorable.... in fact so favorable, flowerly, and metaphoric that it fails to fully inspire my confidence. The Audio Mirror is ...

It's always hard to get reliable unbiased informaton because the sound of a component is subject to listeners' personal preferences, and owners of any product often have a strong sense of loyalty to that manufacturer or seller that may positively influence their perceptions of that product. I am no exception to this reaity, but I have attended some events where these products were compared to other brands by other listeners who are not owners.

I haven't heard the Channel Islands DAC so I can't comment on it, but I own the DAC-60, the DAC-AH, and the Scott Nixon tube dac. I was at a Houston Audio Sociey meeting where three non oversampling DAC's, the Audio Mirror, the DAck! DAC, and my Scott Nixon were compared. The Audio Mirror was preferred to the other two. Even though the oversampling DAC-60 wasn't included in this comparison it's my favorite by a wide margin.

I was also present at a Dallas Audio Club meeting last month where a Sonicraft-modified DAC-60 was compared to a $20K Meitner transport/dac/pre combo. Comparing redbook CD's, the Meitner offered more detail, but I still believe I would be happier with the easy, open, non-fatiguing sound of the DAC-60 over the Meitner (I prefer girls with curves to supermodels too). Regardless of how the others there felt, all agreed the modded DAC-60 was a strong competitor to the $20K system.

As our host said it in his summary of the meeting "Meitner CD vs. DAC 60 CD - A lot closer. Still, I thought the Meitner was a bit clearer/
> more detailed, the DAC60 a bit smoother. I think the Meitner gets you "closer to the
> original recording". It might be just a matter of personal taste in music presentation.
> However, I'm far more inclined to scrounge up the $800 for modded DAC60 then $20K for
> the Meitner.

elnero · « **Reply #89 on:** 1 Feb 2006, 02:51 pm »

Quote from: Images

I am certainly looking forward to some feedback on the DAC-60 from fellow audiophools. The three contenders on my list include this DAC-60, likely with the mods, or the Channel Islands VDA-2, or the Audio Mirror. The first two are such new arrivals that as yet no reviews exist. Regarding the Audio Mirror Dac, I am only aware of one rave posted on Audiogon. The review is quite favorable.... in fact so favorable, flowerly, and metaphoric that it fails to fully inspire my confidence. The Audio Mirror is ...

I'm not sure if you realize this or not but the Lite DAC-AH and Audio Mirror are basically the same design, from my understanding the Audio Mirror uses a few better parts and a nicer chassis but costs quite a bit more. I've also been told that both of these are based on the DDDAC 1543 DIY DAC http://www.dddac.de/ design.

studley · « **Reply #90 on:** 1 Feb 2006, 03:43 pm »

FredT300B

In comparison with me you are easily pleased; I like skinny girls that are also curvy. Not too many about!

More seriously, the fact that you think the DAC 60 is worthy of comparison with the Meitner is pretty impressive given the price differential. If you are right it makes buying the 60 a no-brainer.

elnero · « **Reply #91 on:** 1 Feb 2006, 04:07 pm »

OK, another question, what exactly is the VCO and how does it go about controlling jitter?

ctviggen · « **Reply #92 on:** 1 Feb 2006, 04:25 pm »

A VCO is a voltage-controlled oscillator, meaning that a change in voltage causes a change in frequency. I'm not sure how it's being implemented in the DAC, so I don't know how it affects jitter.

Danny Richie · « **Reply #93 on:** 1 Feb 2006, 06:20 pm »

You can read about the comparison of the DAC's at Oscar's get together here: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=25007

A good handful of people that were there and spoke to me about the comparison were in complete agreement with my assessment of the comparison.

Jon L · « **Reply #94 on:** 1 Feb 2006, 06:39 pm »

Quote from: Danny

You can read about the comparison of the DAC's at Oscar's get together here: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=25007

A good handful of people that were there and spoke to me about the comparison were in complete agreement with my assessment of the comparison.

The modded DAC60 is "$800" officially now? It's still very difficult for me to believe modded DAC60 was even in the similar ballpark as Meitner (which one, DCC2?) playing redbook, but perhaps we can hear it for ourselves if a modded DAC60 travelling audition can be arranged (hint, hint)

Images · « **Reply #95 on:** 1 Feb 2006, 10:11 pm »

b

Quote

I was also present at a Dallas Audio Club meeting last month where a Sonicraft-modified DAC-60 was compared to a $20K Meitner transport/dac/pre combo. Comparing redbook CD's, the Meitner offered more detail, but I still believe I would be happier with the easy, open, non-fatiguing sound of the DAC-60 over the Meitner (I prefer girls with curves to supermodels too). Regardless of how the others there felt, all agreed the modded DAC-60 was a strong competitor to the $20K system.

FredT330B, thanks so much for your comments. The waters now seem a lot less muddied. I'm encouraged to have all this feedback. It was also edifying to see the thread about Oscar's get-together to which Danny pointed us. In that thread no one mentions whether or not the DAC-60 was the modded version. You, Fred, report that it was the Sonicraft version. To keep up with the Meitner I expect it would have to be. Just to be certain/reassured, are there others that were present at Oscar's that agree with FredT300B, meaning the DAC-60 was the modded model? And my apologies to you Fred, if it appears I am doubting your words. I just want some collaboration. In fact, I would be shocked if it was the stock DAC-60.

As far as the Meitner is concerned, if I went out and spent $20K on an audio component, I assure you that my wife absolutely would see to it that I died in my sleep -- and she's not even from Texas.

kenk · « **Reply #96 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 12:29 am »

I am not sure you guys know this, Dac-Ah actually reverse phase per some DIYers. One gentleman in HK actually reversed the phase back to normal. There is the link (some english and some chinese):

http://www.review33.com/avforum/

search under Dac -ah and find that post (make sure dac (space) then -ah).

Ken

elnero · « **Reply #97 on:** 2 Feb 2006, 02:43 pm »