A Budget Digital to Analog Converter

andrewsouthern · « **on:** 27 Mar 2006, 03:14 pm »

Hello all,

I have a large collection of recordings in .WAV format. I stream audio over Airtunes to my amp out of the 1/8" jack. This is noisy. I think maybe (?) if I get an outboard D>A converter I will come out of the Airport Express with optical digital instead.

Has anyone tried this here?

Anyway, I'd like to get a reference on a good DAC that isn't too expensive - think Audio Alchemy from years ago...any ideas?

kfr01 · « **Reply #1 on:** 27 Mar 2006, 04:20 pm »

Quote from: andrewsouthern

Hello all,

I have a large collection of recordings in .WAV format. I stream audio over Airtunes to my amp out of the 1/8" jack. This is noisy. I think maybe (?) if I get an outboard D>A converter I will come out of the Airport Express with optical digital instead.

Has anyone tried this here?

Anyway, I'd like to get a reference on a good DAC that isn't too expensive - think Audio Alchemy from years ago...any ideas?

I've been pretty happy with my Perpetual Technologies P-3A dac.

http://www.av123.com/

You can find them on agon for ~$500 used.

Phil A · « **Reply #2 on:** 30 Mar 2006, 02:44 pm »

For new, look at www.ciaudio.com. That is Channel Islands Audio. Dusty Vawter who founded it was Audio Alchemy's technical manager. Lots of used stuff out there. I have an old MicroMega (DuoPro) DAC I picked up in a trade that sounds wonderful.

bikes and beats · « **Reply #3 on:** 30 Mar 2006, 03:03 pm »

These are my criteria, as I join you in your DAC quest. I too use my Airport Express to stream files from my laptop (wireless) to my stereo (wired w/ a cheap Belden mini-to-RCA cable). I don't notice noise so much as decreased sonics to the point where I can only guess somtimes if I'm listening to a compressed file or not.

I've used years ago, a Bel Canto DAC 1 which I liked. It does upsampling and would be an interesting match with the 16 bit only Apple AE. I have also used the Perpetual Technologies P3. I liked that too, and it also upsamples. I'd like to try both of these again as my system has improved recently but alas, they are long sold off. I will say you should invest in a glass-fiber toslink. I used a plastic one most recently and didn't care for the results.

I've heard great things about the Dac Ah avalable from dealers here. That's a cheap experiment at least at $175 shipped. It's a non-os DAC. No upsampling and I'm not sure how it deals with the higher jitter rates as seen from the Apple AE. Anyways, good luck! And please post your findings.
-Out

kbuzz3 · « **Reply #4 on:** 31 Mar 2006, 02:13 am »

Think about a Used meitner bitsream, ack, scott nixon. The lite dac is getting good feedback here but I have not heard it.

Atol · « **Reply #5 on:** 31 Mar 2006, 03:26 am »

The Lite DAC-AH is an amazing dac for only $150.

Horizons · « **Reply #6 on:** 31 Mar 2006, 11:52 pm »

Quote from: Atol

The Lite DAC-AH is an amazing dac for only $150.

I second the rec for the DAC-AH. The most musical DAC I have ever heard. NOT the most detailed, just the most analog-sounding.

albee · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 Apr 2006, 09:10 pm »

I got to chime in on the Lite DAC AH . . . for the money it's a great buy. I use it with a Denon DVD player for CD listening only (the AH will only accept the 44K sampling rate).

BrassEar · « **Reply #8 on:** 17 Apr 2006, 08:20 pm »

Using the SB3 + DAC-AH. This combo is killer and I finally have no desire to tame those digital nasties anymore. And my DAC-AH is bone stock. I can't imagine how good this dac might be after replacing those electro output caps.

tanchiro58 · « **Reply #9 on:** 8 Sep 2006, 05:48 pm »

Quote from: albee on 16 Apr 2006, 09:10 pm

I got to chime in on the Lite DAC AH . . . for the money it's a great buy. I use it with a Denon DVD player for CD listening only (the AH will only accept the 44K sampling rate).

Hi Albee,
Do you like the sound of this combination since I also combine the Denon 2900+Lite Dac Ah and love the analog sound of this combination. I am thinking to mod the Dac myself by replacing the high quality caps and the op-amp 627. The reason is the muddy bass and grainy on high. What do you think?

tvyankee · « **Reply #10 on:** 8 Sep 2006, 06:13 pm »

You might want to check out something like this.looks cool and it seems to play all the formats.

http://www.neodigits.com/new/body/products/Xline/x5000.asp

My girlfriend uses the airport express hooked up optilcaly to a very good da converter and just said to me the other day why does it not sound as good as when i had the sb2 hooked up to it.

I said i don't really know but i might have something to do with the amount of jitter coming from it.

Also for $695.00 you could look at stello da-100

JoshK · « **Reply #11 on:** 9 Sep 2006, 04:00 am »

That the type of device I've been waiting for, but it says it is only available to EU customers. Might have to have one of my euro buddies sent it to me.

tvyankee · « **Reply #12 on:** 9 Sep 2006, 01:23 pm »

i think if you look at it carefully you will see it is coming to the usa as well.

audioholics is going to be covering it a cedia.

i thought it looked pretty cool for the money.

are you coming is sept?

tdangelo · « **Reply #13 on:** 9 Sep 2006, 01:50 pm »

I bought one of these http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0406/mhdt_laboratory_dac.htm
the Paradisea tube Dac and it's performing very nicely. It's a non oversampling variety. They are sold on Ebay for around $500 shipped from Taiwan. Very nice quality and sound!

jbgcpa · « **Reply #14 on:** 18 Sep 2006, 07:54 pm »

This ebay seller (mhdt labs) has a 100% positive feedback, but that still doesn't tell me how it sounds. Has anyone seen a discussion or a review of the Paradisea dac by users, rather than a professional reviewer? This seller has a few different models - it would be interesting to hear a comparison of their performance.

tdangelo - have you written a review somewhere or willing to expand on your comments?
Thanks,
Jack

bpape · « **Reply #15 on:** 18 Sep 2006, 08:20 pm »

I've listened to the Paradesia quite a bit and find it to be an excellent performer - especially at that price point. It does everything a tube piece should do in terms of warmth, imaging, sweet top end but without the bloating on the bottom that sometimes happens with tube DACs. It does add a LITTLE bit on the bottom but nothing obtrusive by any stretch.

I've heard it in quite a few different systems including flea powered single drivers, VMPS driven by Rogue, Maggies with VTL's, the new Nomad Ronin's with a couple different amps on it, the new Gallo References driven by JC-1's, and in my own systems. I've never heard it not make an improvment over what it replaced including some much more expensive pieces.

I'm just saving my pennies to buy my own. I haven't found anything for less than 3-4x the price that even comes close IMO.

Bryan

tvyankee · « **Reply #16 on:** 18 Sep 2006, 08:55 pm »

hey

i heard this dac this weekend and i thought it was very good for the money.

http://www.diykits.com.hk/da7.2.html

If you want to go to another level you could look at the

http://www.aprilmusic.com/products/products_da100.htm

i have had this dac in my system and can tell you that it out performs many other dac's.

good luck

tdangelo · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 Sep 2006, 09:41 pm »

Quote from: jbgcpa on 18 Sep 2006, 07:54 pm

This ebay seller (mhdt labs) has a 100% positive feedback, but that still doesn't tell me how it sounds. Has anyone seen a discussion or a review of the Paradisea dac by users, rather than a professional reviewer? This seller has a few different models - it would be interesting to hear a comparison of their performance.

tdangelo - have you written a review somewhere or willing to expand on your comments?
Thanks,
Jack

Hi, I haven't written a review. The Paradisea is still burning in and I'm currently using a 5760W tube that sounds good to me. I tried a 2c51 tube but that was a little too forward and bright. The Paradisea is not quite up to the sonics of the Tact DAC(expecially when modified by mauimods) but it very musical! I have no way to compare them at the same time. The Paradisea is being fed the digital output of my Bolder modded Squeezebox 2. I'm having to use the digital volume on the SB so I'm dropping bits of resolution. All in all its a very sweet sounding DAC - bass does seem a little heavy but that can prob. be tailored with a different tube - soundstage depth isn't as good as the Tact DAC. Like others have said for the $$ it's very good IMO. I had a Benchmark at one time that wasn't musical to my ears. I got returned quickly. I'm liking the Paradisea

bpape · « **Reply #18 on:** 18 Sep 2006, 10:12 pm »

If you can find one, get the WE NOS tube (396A I think) that is recommended by the designer. It makes a significant difference and even at 'high' prices, they're still usually under $20.

Bryan

tdangelo · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 Sep 2006, 11:51 am »

Quote from: bpape on 18 Sep 2006, 10:12 pm

If you can find one, get the WE NOS tube (396A I think) that is recommended by the designer. It makes a significant difference and even at 'high' prices, they're still usually under $20.

Bryan

yeah, I'm trying to locate on now - thanks Bryan.