I'm looking for a very nice DAC....

Marbles · « **on:** 21 Nov 2003, 10:04 pm »

I'm currently in the market for a DAC. What would be high up on your list if you were going to buy one.

Price limit is up to $2000, but I would be very happy spending lots less.

Thanks

zybar · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Nov 2003, 10:11 pm »

Marbles,

I am quite happy with the Electrocompaniet ECD-1. Not that I am big fan of reviews, but here is a recent one on Stereotimes.com (www.stereotimes.com in the archives).

GW

Hantra · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 Nov 2003, 10:13 pm »

For $2,000, you might want to see if you can go hear a Northstar 24/192. That's a fine DAC, and it can be used with its own transport later with i2s out. It's a great DAC, and very close to a vinyl sound. Though it's not as nice as a much cheaper DAC that I like, I am not going to recommend it b/c you already know.

You could get into a Naim CD5 for that, which I think is an amazing player.

Other than that, I would check out the Electrocompaniet. Not sure that you can get a decent Audio Note for $2,000. Maybe Zybar can chime in with his impression of it. . .

HTH,

B

Hantra · « **Reply #3 on:** 21 Nov 2003, 10:14 pm »

Dang, Zybar beat me to it!

zybar · « **Reply #4 on:** 21 Nov 2003, 10:17 pm »

Marbles,

You can call me at home to discuss if you like:

845-228-0359.

George

jkelly · « **Reply #5 on:** 21 Nov 2003, 10:23 pm »

http://ack.dhs.org/

High performance - low cost!

Jeff

vpolineni · « **Reply #6 on:** 21 Nov 2003, 10:30 pm »

you have a preamp, so a birdland odeon with volume control may not be right for you.. although you can set it at a volume level birdland recommends to use with a preamp

you heard the empirical audio modded p-3a. what do you think of that?

Marbles · « **Reply #7 on:** 21 Nov 2003, 10:38 pm »

Quote from: vpolineni

you have a preamp, so a birdland odeon with volume control may not be right for you.. although you can set it at a volume level birdland recommends to use with a preamp

you heard the empirical audio modded p-3a. what do you think of that?

I really liked it, in fact I should have another demo of it the week after Thanksgiving. The one I heard did not have the clock upgrade, the one that is coming will have this upgrade.

So far that is the one to beat of the ones I've heard (which is a limited selection), but I haven't kept up with DACs recently, so I wanted to see what is out there.

zybar · « **Reply #8 on:** 21 Nov 2003, 10:40 pm »

My local dealer brought by the Birdland for me to audition and wouldn't you know it...

The darn thing didn't come with the BNC adapter so I couldn't connect it to my Sonic Frontiers SFT-1 transport.

Hopefully I will get to hear it next week.

GW

zybar · « **Reply #9 on:** 21 Nov 2003, 10:48 pm »

Robert,

I think it conveys the emotion and soul of the music very well. I am a tube guy and for me, it all about the emotional connection I make with the music.

It is hard for me to tell right now how tight the bass is. I have an almost 10db peak between 63-80Hz that is killing me!! My gut it that it will be tight and articulate once I solve my room problem.

I will have some bass traps in the next week or two and will be able to have a batter handle at that point. I do really like what is does for percussive instruments that don’t go deep (i.e. bongos, gourds, etc…).

I think this dac is excellent in the midrange at presenting vocals. Voices are very natural sounding with great detail and clarity.

If it helps, I found this dac/transport combo to sound better than the following in my system:

Metronome CD2V Sig
Audio Note 3.1CDx
Naim CD5 + Flatcap II
Modwright P3-A with Level 2 mods
Audio Research CD-3
Theta Miles (balanced)

GW

ZooDog · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Nov 2003, 03:44 am »

Hey Marbles,

I've got a nice Bolder-modded ART DIO I could sell you.

Actually, if you do find a DAC that sounds better than the ART I'd love to hear about it because the one you sold me is sounding awesome in my system. It completely blows away my old Cambride D500 in every way. I'm lovin' it.

Hantra · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 Nov 2003, 03:55 am »

Quote

The darn thing didn't come with the BNC adapter so I couldn't connect it to my Sonic Frontiers SFT-1 transport.

Z:

I thought you got an HDXV? Couldn't you use that to connect it? BTW, I was busy fighting the sub all night, so I didn't get a chance to hit you up. I'll call you tomorrow. . .

L8r,

B

zybar · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 Nov 2003, 04:09 am »

B,

I totally forgot that the cable is really a BNC cable and that it has adapters.

Thanks for the reminder!

I will contact my dealer and try to get the Birdland this weekend.

Will keep everybody posted

jcoat007 · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 Nov 2003, 08:31 am »

Empirical Audio modded P3A!

Marbles · « **Reply #14 on:** 22 Nov 2003, 12:10 pm »

Quote from: ZooDog

Hey Marbles,

I've got a nice Bolder-modded ART DIO I could sell you.

Actually, if you do find a DAC that sounds better than the ART I'd love to hear about it because the one you sold me is sounding awesome in my system. It completely blows away my old Cambride D500 in every way. I'm lovin' it.

Glad you're liking it. The only one that I've heard that I like better is the Empirical Audio modded Perp Tech P3a.

I have one coming next Monday or so (after Thanksgiving). The last one I heard did not have the Superclock upgrade, this one will. This is about a $1600 Dac used, and an $1800 new, so I think you got a STEAL

Enjoy.

Marbles · « **Reply #15 on:** 22 Nov 2003, 12:13 pm »

So far the list looks like:

Electrocompaniet ECD-1
Northstar 24/192
Naim CD5 (CDP)
Ack! dAck!
birdland odeon
Empirical Audio modded P3A
Scott Nixon Saru, TubeDac
Bolder Modded Mensa Plus

So far this list is for everyone, and not just me as I have heard and or owned some of the Dacs listed above.

Thanks for your contibutions. If you know of any other Dac's or CDP's you think would fit the bill, that's OK too.

Tbadder1 · « **Reply #16 on:** 22 Nov 2003, 03:02 pm »

I owned the Bel Canto DAC2 and really loved it. Very, very musical it beats the pants off the DAC in the Sony 777, the Kora Hermes, the stock Perpetual Tech (haven't heard the modded version, but trust Modwright implicitly). Used, I'd guess you could pick one up for 900 smackers. The great thing about it was that it played all kinds of music well. Don't mistake it for the Bel Canto 1.0 or 1.1, which were very romantic and sounded not so good with tube gear. The 2.0 is neutral, vivid, and lively--will make poor recordings sound poor. Just got a great review in 6moons if I recall correctly.

Peace Love Dope
Dan

doug s. · « **Reply #17 on:** 22 Nov 2003, 04:16 pm »

marbles, i dunno if ya ever followed the diy di/o mod stuff, but a lot of folk like the outboard transformer mods better than the standard op-amp mods (which is the path bolder cables followed). personally, i really like my diy op-amp modded di/o.

anyway, there's a guy that has had both the op-amp modded di/o, & the transformer-modded di/o. he prefers the tranny mod unit, for all but the most demanding huge-orchestra-type music, where he feels the tranny-modded unit gets a wee bit congested in the loud pasages. well, he came up w/another mod using an ina103 chip, which he feels is better than either the standard op-amp mod *or* the tranny mod - best of both worlds, w/all the detail & dynamics of the op-amp mod, & the all the smoothness & added soundstaging of the tranny mod. & it doesn't get congested when the music gets wild. i tink i'm about ready to buy another di/o & do it up - total cost should be ~$200. all the info on how to diy is on the yahoo diomods site, & on craig frazer's diomods site.

also, since my relative has moved all his gear over to my house, i will soon have the opportunity to plug his electrocompaniet 24/192 dac into my rig & get an impression. should be fun!

regards,

doug s.

Bob A (SD) · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 Nov 2003, 12:47 am »

I know others have already mentioned it, but the little dAck! from Chris Own's Ack Industries is phenomenal in addition to offering great bang for the buck. Well worth an audition -:)!

--Bob

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #19 on:** 23 Nov 2003, 03:46 pm »

Marbles,

As you already have the Sony DVP-S7700 transport, you can get it upgraded with true 192K outputs from MSB for $600.00. Then mate it to a Gold Link III and either standard upgraded power supply or new Gold power supply. There are dealers that save you 10% ($60.00) on the Sony mod if you send it to MSB thru them..do a little research.

I heard recently that the Gold Link III was discontinued but I'm sure plenty are out there (new and used). The Sony mod, Gold Link III and P1000 Power Base should be well under $2000.00 (the msrp on the Gold Link III seems to be hooey at $1895.00 or so). The new Gold Power Base (power supply) is another $400.00.

I have the same Sony transport with the Gold Link III and P1000 and it was under $2000.00. The 192K output and balanced IS2 connection to the DAC are truly wonderful and I can heartily recommend it...especially as you have the Sony transport ready and rarin' to go. MSB has a long history of producing some of the most cost effective digital components in the industry....I've found their customer service to be above par, too.

Good luck any way you go........................