[McPanse]

Bonus points if you help me spend less.

I have a Little Dot MKIV tube amp and a pair of DT-880 and HD-600 headphones. Now I need to upgrade my sources.

I'm using the Airport Express as a music server and a Pioneer universal DVD player running through a Citypulse 7.2 DAC. The 7.2 doesn't work with the AE optical output, so I'm searching for a new DAC.

I've got a few ideas about how to proceed, but would like to hear yours.

What would you do in my shoes?

Spend my whole budget on a DAC like the Benchmark DAC 1 and shelve the CDP upgrade for now?

Buy a $300 to $500 CD player and use what's left for a toslink DAC to pair with the Airport Express?

Buy the Cambridge Audio Azur 740C CD player, which also doubles as a DAC?

Wait for the reviews on the $400 Cambridge dacmagic and buy a refurb Marantz CD5001 and spend the other $400 on music, books and other necessities?

Let's hear some ideas for fleshing out my deliberately modest, small footprint system.

[Loftprojection]

Buy an Imod from Red Wine Audio.  I use that with a set of AudioTechnica W5000 and an Yamamoto HA-02 amp, audio nirvana.    With a good interconnect cable I'm sure the Imod will sound as good if not better then anything you listed or you would get for around $1000.

No need for CDs anymore, no need for a DAC anymore and you save a bundle.  Can I get a certain percentage of that saving? 

[WGH]

I would never buy an expensive CD player again. The transport or laser always died after a few years and left me with a nice looking door stop.

Have you tried an Audio Authority 977R optical-to-coax converter for less than $100?
You would then have $900 to spend on music, books and other stuff.

Wayne

[McPanse]

Good suggestion, Wayne. I probably should have mentioned that the Citypulse is returnable and that an optic-to-coax adapter did not solve the problem.

Thanks, too, for the iMod suggestion. I've been through too many iPods in the last few years to put so much money into what I've discovered is a fairly expendable device. Also, the user interface on my 4th Gen 80GB is a hard-to-use relic compared to the iPod Touch/iTunes Remote combo.

And Wayne, your comments speak to my extreme hesitation to go with something like the Cambridge 740c -- I can foresee the transport failing WAY before a standalone DAC would fail. Sure, I could still use the 740 as a DAC, but it would cause me no small amount of psychic distress to keep it sitting their with a disabled transport.

So let's rule out the 740 unless somebody has a super compelling argument for keeping it in the running...

[JerryM]

How about just a bit more than $1000.00?

Get an Insight DAC from Audio by Van Alstine. He also carries the above-mentioned optical/coax converter. Get yourself a digital coax cable from Blue Jeans Cable. Hook it all up and you're good to go!!   

Just adding it up, I came to around $1020.00 shipped. Not a bad deal at all. Check out Frank's forum here under Audio by Van Alstine. There is plenty written about the new Insight line.

Have fun,
Jerry

[McPanse]

From what I've read, the Insight might be overkill for my admittedly modest set up. I strongly suspect I'd be very pleased with the playback performance of something as inexpensive as the Marantz CD5003. So, again, it's the Airport Express driving this DAC decision. All the DAC must do is bring the Airport Express' playback up to the level of the CD5003.

Can't tell from your signature, Jerry, whether or not you are passing the Airport Express through a DAC... 

[WGH]

...the Citypulse is returnable and that an optic-to-coax adapter did not solve the problem.

Well, darn that Airport Express.

I was going to suggest the AVA Insight DAC, but decided to go cheap first. I got one, it is very nice but it does max out your budget. Like the Citypulse, it is returnable, though  I think very few people return AVA gear after listening to it. Take a look at what is for sale on Audiogon, there are always Benchmark DAC's but very few pieces of AVA equipment show up and they always command top dollar.

If you want to go with tubes, I have a NOS Scott Nixon TubeDAC with 3xAC power supply. PM me if interested. Don't know how it compares to a Marantz CD5003.

Wayne

[JerryM]

All the DAC must do is bring the Airport Express' playback up to the level of the CD5003.

Can't tell from your signature, Jerry, whether or not you are passing the Airport Express through a DAC... 

The AE is currently running through a modded Channel Islands Audio VDA=1. I hooked this up just to see if the talk is true that the internal DAC of an AE sucks. It does. An AVA DAC is next up.
However, with an outstanding DAC, a CDP becomes a transport. Why do you want the AE to only be as good as a transport? If I had a grand to spend, I would go as big as I could on  something that would make the most sonic impact possible. Going forward, it would provide a foot print of a less modest system.
That's just MHO.
Happy listening with whatever you choose,  
Jerry

[wilsynet]

The AE as a transport isn't very good, but it sure is convenient.  If you want to keep using the AE, consider the Monarchy Audio DIP:

http://www.monarchyaudio.com/DIP.htm

The classic version for $249 is a non-upsampling reclocker that should significantly reduce the jitter from the AE and that in turn will let your outboard DAC sound its best.  If you want to keep the CityPulse 7.2, then this is all you need as the reclocker converts optical to coaxial.

Personally, I don't care for either the CityPulse or the Benchmark house sound as they are both thin and overly analytical to my ears.  I'd go for the MHDT Paridisea+ or an AudioSector USB or SPDIF from Peter Daniels.

[t-head]

Peter will install a toslink input on his DAC for a bit extra...I highly recommend this solution for $400~. With the remaining cash buy a larger HD...or two...or 3.

[tvyankee]

hello

buy this dac.  http://www.aprilmusic.com/main/sub02_02_02.html     $695.00

not because i sell it but because for the money i have never heard anything beat it. and buy yourself a refurb apple tv for 199.00 and  just kick back and rock out.

oh yeah,  still have a $100.00 bucks left over for some beer.

have fun.

[McPanse]

Peter will install a toslink input on his DAC for a bit extra...I highly recommend this solution for $400~. With the remaining cash buy a larger HD...or two...or 3.

You've lost me. Who's Peter again and what does he sell?

AudioMagus is talking up their new magiDAC, which leaves the tubes, transistors and opamps out of the final output stage, using a custom-built Onetics transformer instead. I have no idea why I should care about this, but they are promising sonic bliss for around under $500. The toslink version, however, is not due out until November, assuming everything goes as planned. And that's a big assumption given that they are trying to build this thing entirely in the U.S. Still, I respect what they're doing and am willing to give them a chance. In the meantime, I placed a cancelable pre-order today for Cambrige Audio's under $400 DACmagic, which offers all the connectivity I need and the same DACs they use in their Azur 740C line (I'm sure there are differences beyond the absence of a CD transport to explain the $600 lower price!).

[McPanse]

Stello is definitely in the running, especially if what AudioMagus comes up with pushes past $500!

Any thoughts about synergy? I'd say I'd prefer a system that's more musical than analytical. I'm using a Little Dot MKIV with stock tubes for my headphone amps. As for cans, I'm trying to decide between the Beyer DT-880s, the Senn HD-600s and the HD-650s. I will have all three in the house by next week. I'll probably keep one of the Senns and send the rest back.

[tvyankee]

well if you like musical, in my own opinion i would not buy the benchmark.i know people will say i'm crazy but i have never heard that dac sound good.  i even had one in house and i thought it really wasn't meant for hifi.  just my 2cents

good luck

[t-head]

Peter will install a toslink input on his DAC for a bit extra...I highly recommend this solution for $400~. With the remaining cash buy a larger HD...or two...or 3.

You've lost me. Who's Peter again and what does he sell?

AudioMagus is talking up their new magiDAC, which leaves the tubes, transistors and opamps out of the final output stage, using a custom-built Onetics transformer instead. I have no idea why I should care about this, but they are promising sonic bliss for around under $500. The toslink version, however, is not due out until November, assuming everything goes as planned. And that's a big assumption given that they are trying to build this thing entirely in the U.S. Still, I respect what they're doing and am willing to give them a chance. In the meantime, I placed a cancelable pre-order today for Cambrige Audio's under $400 DACmagic, which offers all the connectivity I need and the same DACs they use in their Azur 740C line (I'm sure there are differences beyond the absence of a CD transport to explain the $600 lower price!).

'Peter' is Peter Daniel, a Canadian selling 'gainclone amps' and NOS DAC kits and assembles them as well for the DIY challenged. I own one of his USB DACs and like it very much and I am not alone in singing its praises...a toslink input option is offered...mail Peter at phdaniel@sympatico.ca for complete details and pricing. I would characterize his DAC as musical, engaging and dynamic.

The magiDac is a modded PopPulse 707 DAC that was conceived by Michael Mardis of Sonic Impulse T-amp fame. The opamp buffer of the 707 is replaced by 2 transformers, 2 resistors and 2 caps (at last look) on a new OEM board. I have heard the magiDAC...it is very smooth (analogue ?) sounding and enjoyable. I know Mike Wyatt and the gang at audiomagus, including the new addition, Michael Mardis. They sell good products for the money. I would say the most prominant character of their magiDAC is its 'smoothness'. I also know Bud Purvine of Onetics who makes the transformers used in the old upgrade and present iteration...he makes great transformers (particularly output for audio and guitar amps) with attention to wide bandwidth. He is a great guy, 'audiophool', and a friend.

All that said, if you need a DAC that has detail, slam and musicality soon, contact Peter. If you are intrigued by the smooth presentation of the transformer output and can wait for the toslink unit, order one now (Mike, if you are reading I am still waiting for my promised board).

I am happy with my PD USB DAC, and drool over his Integrated amp with USB input (3875 gainclone + USB DAC + pot)...$1500+...if I had the $$$, and a bright system, I might try the magiDAC...may still if Mike Wyatt is good to his word...Hi, Mike!...

t

[wilsynet]

I second the glowing recommendation of the Peter Daniels AudioSector DAC.  The drawback to his DAC is that it only takes one input, whether that's SPDIF coaxial, optical, or USB.  What you're getting is a minimalist DAC that makes few sonic compromises.  Peter will sell you the DAC for the cost of the DIY kit plus a reasonable assembly fee if you want him to assemble it for you.

It is a NOS DAC, it is very musical, and sacrifices only a little in the way of detail and dynamics while presenting a very organic, natural sound.  On balance, I have found it superior to Benchmark, the Electrocompaniet ECD-1, the iRoc USB DAC, the Citypulse, the Zhaolu, the Channel Islands, and I could probably find a few more to add to the list.

Of course, another solution is to scrounge together an old PC, setup iTunes, get yourself an iPod Touch, get the USB version of the AudioSector DAC, install the iTunes remote software on the iPod Touch, and I think you would have yourself an even better music system.  USB, in my opinion, is superior to SPDIF, and you won't need any jitter reducing component.

I have not heard the Stello, but I recall many posts singing its praises.  It's certainly more flexible than the AudioSector DAC, has built-in jitter reducing functionality, and has a wealth of inputs, including USB.

tvyankee: I notice that the Stello has an upsampling switch.  Does that mean it has an upsampling mode as well as a zero-oversampling mode?  Also, is the USB input a USB -> I2S implementation, or does it convert USB -> SPDIF -> I2S?

[McPanse]

Of course, another solution is to scrounge together an old PC, setup iTunes, get yourself an iPod Touch, get the USB version of the AudioSector DAC, install the iTunes remote software on the iPod Touch, and I think you would have yourself an even better music system.  USB, in my opinion, is superior to SPDIF, and you won't need any jitter reducing component.

I like your thinking, but one of my firm requirements for this secondary system is that it have a very compact footprint. This is both an aesthetic and space consideration. So a dedicated 'on site' music server is out. I'm afraid I'm stuck with the Airport Express streaming music from either the Mac in the home office or my laptop. I also have an Apple Time Capsule (wireless base station and hard drive all in one) anchoring the network, so my connection is rock solid. There are always compromises in this hobby and SPDIF is one I can live with for this setup.
 
I'm down with the iPod Touch and Remote, though. I've been using it for a month or better. Love the interface. Switching back and forth between my laptop library and desktop library could not be easier.