[markC]

Has anyone compared a dac-60 to the jd-100?
A friend brought over his dac the other day which uses the BB 1730 dac chips, (which are similar to the 1704's), and it blew my jd-100 away in terms of resolution and upper end detail. Symbols and female vocals were so much better than my jd-100 that I've got to have that sound!

[capo]

The PCM1730 isn't similar to the PCM1704 in the Lite DAC 60:  completely different architectures.

The PCM1704 is a multi-bit laser trimmed DAC and the PCM1730 is a delta-sigma design.

For some comments, see the following for example:

http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=digital&n=117162&highlight=Thorsten&r=&session=

Another thought is to look at price.  The 1704s (two required) for a DAC costs $61.50 in small quantities , while the 1730 (one required) would cost $8.30.  The PCM1730 was a cheap part designed for cheap electronics, basically. 

There are other factors that make a good player other than the DAC chip, of course.  The digital input architecture, power supply quality and output stage quality make a big difference.  Tubed output DACs are going to sound different than solid state output, etc.

[markC]

Yes, I suppose I sort of oversimplified. I should have said similar in that they are both current output and require I/V conversion and have similar SNR and DR specs.

[capo]

If you like the Sigma-Delta sound you might consider a DAC with the PCM1794.  That DAC is a multibit/sigma-delta hybrid that some people really like.

What kind of CD player does your friend have?  It could have better digital input processing than yours resulting in less jitter, or it could have a different output stage that you might prefer.

[markC]

He built it himself. It does have differential output to opa627 then on to a 6n1p tube. He uses 2 1730's - one per channel. Thing is I can buy a dac-60 cheaper than we can build my friend's dac.

[capo]

The Lite DAC 60 is pretty nice with DIY cathode bypass added like in the Monarchy M24.

However, I'm thinking it might not be quite what you are looking for based on your comments.  I think probably a little too soft in the high end.  Just guessing, but the softness might be due to the passive I/V with fairly high resistor value.  But, dunno, you might like it -- the price is sure good and it is a quite decent DAC.

Also, it likes a really good transport/PC-Audio solution as it is very sensitive to the SPDIF input quality.  It doesn't have reclocking or anything like that.

How about building your friend's design with a PCM1794?

[markC]

Thanks for the input, Capo. I'm going to do some more research B4 shelling out my $$$.
By the way, I've also modded my JD - Hexfreds, power supply caps, coupling caps, and a sprinkle of Black Gates around the dac chip as well as a few Relcaps. Chassis damping and footers and....
I've come to the conclusion that it's not worth polishing the turd anymore.
Don't get me wrong- it's a very good player for the money, but alas, once hearing what I feel is better; it's time to move on.
I fear a re-visit to this situation with the Dac-60.

[capo]

I hear ya... 

Another idea to kick around:  the K&K RAKK DAC II digital board (uses PCM1794) with an Aikido output stage with John Broskie's board.  The Aikido with careful parts choices would probably be substantially cheaper than the K&K active output stage. 

The full K&K full monte DAC/active stage sounds pretty good, I bet, even though I have preferred the multibit DACs I've heard to delta-sigma.  I have the K&K Phono Stage and really dig it.

[markC]

Pretty kick ass specs for the 1794. Thanks for the tip.