[doug s.]

Well, it doesn't matter what I think anyway.
Certain people know more or think they do.
It's come down to all matter of taste.
I'll go beck to my lurking.

D

i agree.  but, my bias is that i am constantly amazed that people think spending a lot of money on a digital component will actually get them a lot better sound.  i recently went against my better judgment & purchased a great cdp to use as a transport.  (thanks, jtsnead - a new member here, who recently posted to the mid-atlantic circle.    )  the audio alchemy acd pro uses the pioneer stable platter mechanism, & i got one used at about twenty cents on the dollar of its retail price.  (which was $1200.)  it may offer a smidge better performance than the denon five disc changer i was using that set me back $80.  maybe - i'd really have to do a careful a-b to be sure.  and, my digital set-up has awreddy withstood challenges against far pricier spreads...  should i upgrade to a modded zhaolu dac, which would set me back ~$300?  i am on the fence - my modded di/o sounds damned decent.  for digital, i mean...   

ymmv,

doug s.

[bacobits1]

You really don't have to spend a lot of money on the whole system.
I like the KISS principal and usually works out. Less is more most of the time. My system just shrank from 5 to 3 pieces with the DAC. Not counting the Phono pre.
I have been doing this for 30 years and gone through some expensive equipment but that is also relative to some people. I know what I'm doing. "Opinions are like ass holes everyone has one"
I'm using a Vista Audio i34 integrated, El34 , tube pre is ECC832 based. This is one hell of a piece for $980.
NO Chinese!! I have seen how some of the Consonance Equipment has been made.
I've had all seperates for years mostly all tube. One of the nicest I liked was a MFA Magus B it was better than an Audible Illusions M3 I had. At that time I was also running a Sony SACD XA777es player. 
Current CD/DAC choice came from all the BS transport breakdowns out there I have read about. This is a sad state of affairs. 3 weeks of reading everything on all the boards. The Benchmark choice used ($700) came from these readings. I wasn't looking to spend $$. If I didn't like it I would just turn it over like everyone else. There are at least 5 on Agon right now. But I really like it. That may change later because we're all nuts. The setup is sounding excellent and I don't usually make mistakes.

And yes YMMV is the disclaimer.

D 

[renewutz]

@tanchiro58

Yes, i heard a former version of the DAC with the 1704 with a "tuned" Onkyo 7355 http://www.hoer-wege.de/cd_dx7355.htm with Horweges own battery-powered pre and advantage power-amps on a self built Manger/Peerless speaker - very fine and clear.
The hifi&records magazine testet his combi of Onkyo and DAC and said:- the onkyo as a transporter is one of the best they tested - the DAC is so near to the DCS as no other product at that moment.

For Stefan Horwege is, at this moment ( I phoned him a few days ago ) the CEC TL-51X http://www.hoer-wege.de/cd_cec.htm the best transporter for CDs - and of cause one of his DAC as the digital "maker".

So what do you mean, do I have to try the DACs, written in my opening, first - and then the Altman - or the Zhaolu or Citypulse.

Wait for answers

René
 

[tanchiro58]

So what do you mean, do I have to try the DACs, written in my opening, first - and then the Altman - or the Zhaolu or Citypulse.

Wait for answers Very Happy

Rene,

I did own and have not heard any of Benchmark DACs. Therefore, my choice is Altmann Attraction DAC is a way to go with (if you can afford to buy). I had own quite a few upsampling, oversampling and NOS DACs before and surely satisfied what I have own now. However, I will try the Hoerweger PM1704 because of the long life of NiH batteries. Have you or Herr Hoerweger tried computer lossless devices like Slim Devices Squeezebox or Duet as your transport to your DAC yet? Let me know.

Regards,
Tan

[renewutz]

I use a computer lessloss ( see my opening in this threat ) but didn´t tried it with the hoerwege.
I think Mr. Horwege tried it, because since 2 or 3 month he offers a usb-connection to be built in.
http://www.hoer-wege.de/usbin.htm

René

[tanchiro58]

Rene,

I do not really use USB connection directly from a computer or laptop. I have a Music server was built by my friend and fully loaded with musics. It is then connected to a wireless router which wirelessly connected to my SB3. The modded SB3 is connected to the modded Promitheus DAC (or Attraction DAC) via BNC (or RCA) connection. Then DAC to 8608 preamp to modded RWA Clari-T dual mono amp to modded VR1 monitors. This is one of my reconfigured living room system.

Tan