[hum4god]

Hi everybody

i am looking for a new DAC and stumbled over all the great testimony regarding the dac 60 especially the soniccraft modified version.i like the idea of adding tubes to my system , but don't want things to be slowed down or get veiled by that.
i had a modwright preamp and liked what it did for my system together with the audiosector patek amp and the druids.

if people could share their long term experience of the dac 60  and especially comparisons with other dacs , and any other advice .....tube rolling  cables etc.



my source is a redwine modified sb3 that right now runs into an audiosector nos dac that has a passive output stage which means it needs a reasonable input impedance from a preamp to sound good.(which will not work with the passive Django)
rest of the system is redwine sig 30 amp ( coming in 5 weeks ) django passive preamp and audiosector patek amp into zu cable druids.


i also tried to get the specifications of the sonic craft modded dac60 especially the output impedance , and the output level in V (important fot me if i run the dac 60 into the passive preamp). i asked soniccraft and gr audio and still wait for a reply. so if any body knows something ....

any and all advice is very welcome
malcolm

[GHM]

Hello Malcom,
I use similar gear and also waiting for my custom battery powered 45/70 wpc T amp to be finished. I've ordered a Burson HDAM buffer to run in between my Dac and the two Integrates, which both use passive volume controls. I felt like it was the best option as I can use this buffer in different parts of the system with different configurations. I was looking for it to show up last week ..looks like the mail is a little slow. Hopefully it will show up in the next day or two. I'll let you know if it's worth it or not. From communicating with Nick Whetstone the reviewer from TNT that uses this unit. It should be a winner! And a perfect match for the gear. The cost is $245 before shipping and paypal fees.

By the way the output impedance of this buffer is 15 to 30 ohms and it is capable of +/- 12 volts on the outputs..talking about kicking some butt!! Alex told me the unit runs in single ended class A mode using discrete outputs..no Op amps.

Also if you want to take the Audio Sector up about 5 notches add a Monarchy DIP in between it and the source. Man..we're talking VERY noticeable difference in all areas. I think these NOS Dacs are very sensitive to jitter..just from the difference I've heard so far.

[hum4god]

hi GHM
that sounds very interesting.please let me know when you receive the buffer.i have to catch up and read the review.
seems like adding a lot of boxes dac,dip,buffer.  can't talk about a minimalist approach anymore.
but if it works what the heck.
do you have an upgraded dip or the stock?
how do you connect source ,dip, dac, buffer ?
is it possible to have more then one input for the buffer , for switching?

thanks
malcolm

[GHM]

hi GHM
that sounds very interesting.please let me know when you receive the buffer.i have to catch up and read the review.
seems like adding a lot of boxes dac,dip,buffer.  can't talk about a minimalist approach anymore.
but if it works what the heck.
do you have an upgraded dip or the stock?
how do you connect source ,dip, dac, buffer ?
is it possible to have more then one input for the buffer , for switching?

thanks
malcolm

Hi Malcolm,

It is very easy to connect. The DIP I have passes 96 kHz but it isn't an upsampler. I suppose it is considered the Classic model. You can read a lot about it on the Monarchy Site. You connect to DIP by digital cables or Toslink. One input coming from your source the other output going to the Dac input. I use a .5 meter on the input of the DIP and a 5 ft or 1.5 m Blue jean digital cable on the output side going to the Dac.The Dac will connect to the buffer using the analog outputs and the buffer has its own analog outputs that will go to the preamp or volume control.

As far as inputs go on the buffer..I don't see why you can't have more than one input..if that's what you need. It maybe possible for Alex and the Burson team to build you a unit with extra inputs. You would have to contact them about it though. Mine will just have a single input and output.

Yeah I've tried the minimalist approach. It doesn't work for me.
As you say if it sounds better having an extra box or two what does it matter any way? I'm not willing to have bad sound so I can say my setup is designed for the minimalist. You can also try that buffer just on your SB3 analog outputs to see how it sounds using its volume control.. hooked directly to the Patek. It should give the 1 volt wonder some serious balls!
 

Expect the bass, high frequency extention, imaging ,soundstage depth and delineation to increase just with the DIP. Like I said the difference isn't subtle!

[hum4god]

hi again
i emailed everybody possible to get specs for the lite dac-60 with or without mods .
so far , no information !!!!
i am just asking for the output impedance and the output level .
is that asked too much ?
i feel like asking a car dealer how many horses his car has and he tells me:

"i don't know"

can anybody help?

[Danny Richie]

Jeff said that he would measure this on the next group to be modified.

And I never did get an e-mail reply from the factory other than "we will get it for you".

For what it's worth, I have used the DAC-60 with the passive Superphon pre-amp and had no issues with doing so. In fact it worked out fine and my amps need a lot of input.

[Charles Calkins]

Do specs really mean a lot? If it sounds good to you no matter what the specs are "Buy it" If you don't like what you hear no matter what the specs are "Don't buy it"

                                  Cheers
                                  Charlie

[hum4god]

Do specs really mean a lot? If it sounds good to you no matter what the specs are "Buy it" If you don't like what you hear no matter what the specs are "Don't buy it"

                                  Cheers
                                  Charlie

i generally agree with you Charlie, but i do not have a chance to listen to the unit and then decide .  or is there a trial period for the modded dac 60?
wanting to use the lite  with a passive preamp it would help to know how it matches regarding impedance and output level.
it also gives me a good feeling when a manufacturer knows his specs. even if they don't mean everything.
you wouldn't play 88 db  speakers with a 3w power amp , would you???
thanks
malcolm

[Charles Calkins]

Malcom:
 Never had a passive preamp so I can't say anything about them. I do know that the CIA D-200 amps come in two versions. 26db gain for use with active preamps and 32db gain with passive preamps. It doesn't seem to make any difference weather the signal goes through a DAC or not.
Anyhow I've got a DAC-60 with the sonic craft mods hooked up to an SB3 system with CIA D-200 amps and couldn't be any happier.

                   Cheers
                   Charlie  

[hum4god]

thanks for your input Charlie.
what dac's did you compare the lite with?
malcolm

[Danny Richie]

or is there a trial period for the modded dac 60?

If you order a modded unit I'll give you 30 days to decide if it kicks ass or not, and if not, you can return it.

it also gives me a good feeling when a manufacturer knows his specs. even if they don't mean everything.

Sorry Malcom, I am not the manufacturer. I just thought that these were too good for the money and that my customers would appreciate them. So I am importing them and re-selling them. There isn't really any money in it for me, but it is a great promotional item.

The guy that I deal with at the factor is not exactly a tech either. He handles product sales. So he has to ask someone. I'll shoot him off a reminder tonight.

[Charles Calkins]

Malcom:
 The DAC-60 is a hell of a lot better than the Bel Canto DAC-2.

             Cheers
                Charlie

[arthurs]

Second, third and fourth what Charlie said....the DAC60 kicks some serious ass, Danny is the man for turning me on to this gem....

[HChi]

Danny,
Is there a plan to import DAC-68 as well?  Also can Lite provide one with 2,preferrably 3 coxial inputs?  Thanks.

[Danny Richie]

Is there a plan to import DAC-68 as well?

Not interested. The DAC-68 just up-samples a 16 bit chip. It doesn't sound as good and it cost more money.

Also can Lite provide one with 2,preferrably 3 coxial inputs?

The stock units only come with one coaxial input. More could be added though if one were to want them bad enough.

He Art, didn't your DAC-60 replace about a 4 or 5 thousand dollar Cary unit? 

[arthurs]

It did, it beat up on a Cary 303/300 pretty good.  DAC60 modded by Danny, swapped in some nice amperex tubes, and added a Genesis digital Lens in front of my CEC transport and it is very very good.  All told, $2400 and some pretty damn fine digital....

[zybar]

It did, it beat up on a Cary 303/300 pretty good.  DAC60 modded by Danny, swapped in some nice amperex tubes, and added a Genesis digital Lens in front of my CEC transport and it is very very good.  All told, $2400 and some pretty damn fine digital....

Not suprised at all by that outcome.

I have never understood why the Cary cd players receive such critical praise.

George

[Charles Calkins]

Okay Arthurs!!
  What in the hell is a genisis digital lens?

               Cheers
                 Charlie

[GHM]

Hey Charlie here's a loooong review on it Genesis Technologies Digital Lens . This unit does a similar function as the Monarchy DIP 48/96 and the GW Labs DSP. As Arthur has found..these units work!!
I caught a great deal on a GW Labs DSP unit through the owner of the company. I'm not sure if he has more demos..but it won't hurt to try.

[hum4god]

Thanks Danny
i really appreciate it .
and also all the other ones that made it a lot harder not to immediatley order a modded lite.
i will give it another thought and let you know as soon as i have decided .
malcolm