Cheap DACs

roscoeiii · « **Reply #60 on:** 19 Oct 2009, 01:19 am »

Yes, there is a lengthy thread on modding Beresfords over at the Art of Sound forum.

The Caiman has improvements to the DAC chip (Caiman= Wolfson WM8716 - 64x, 192KHz oversampling DAC chip; 7520=Burr Brown PCM1716 DAC Chip) as well as different op-amps (LM4562NA) than the 7520 uses (NE5532P).

Swapping the opamps is something anyone could do since the op-amps are socketed. The installation of the Wolfson DAC is for skilled solderers only.

lbryanray · « **Reply #61 on:** 23 Oct 2009, 02:41 am »

There's this one http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?product=15185&nav=features also.
Highly regarded on other forums. $200

Art_Chicago · « **Reply #62 on:** 25 Oct 2009, 01:04 pm »

Quote from: roscoeiii on 19 Oct 2009, 01:19 am

Yes, there is a lengthy thread on modding Beresfords over at the Art of Sound forum.

The Caiman has improvements to the DAC chip (Caiman= Wolfson WM8716 - 64x, 192KHz oversampling DAC chip; 7520=Burr Brown PCM1716 DAC Chip) as well as different op-amps (LM4562NA) than the 7520 uses (NE5532P).

Swapping the opamps is something anyone could do since the op-amps are socketed. The installation of the Wolfson DAC is for skilled solderers only.

Quote from: pardales on 19 Oct 2009, 12:34 am

Quote from: roscoeiii on 17 Oct 2009, 03:19 am
There's also the upgraded Beresdord Caiman, with a different DAC chip, op-amps and power supply. But it's moving a little outside your price range. Beresford 7520s can also be converted to Caimans by a skilled DIYer.

The 7520 I had did have the upgraded opamps, but not sure if it had any other upgrades of the Caiman. I had a chance to hear it with stock opamps first and then the upgraded ones, and the upgraded ones were a real improvement.

Guys, please describe the sound improvements from switching the op-amps in Beresford. I have got 7510 , but I could give a try.
Thank you

roscoeiii · « **Reply #63 on:** 25 Oct 2009, 03:16 pm »

Art, I'm here in Chicago and have a Caiman. Shoot me a PM if you want to set up a comparison.

-Roscoe

Art_Chicago · « **Reply #64 on:** 25 Oct 2009, 05:01 pm »

PM sent

hatehifi · « **Reply #65 on:** 25 Oct 2009, 10:30 pm »

Quote from: garyalex on 13 Oct 2009, 11:16 pm

You might want to consider the HRT Music Streamer. I have one and I think it sounds great. $100. Here's the 6moons review of the HRT+

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/streamer/streamer+.html

No need to mention background info but I hope to load my ~2,000CD collection to sell and live off my PC-based server (and vinyl). That I don't yet have a PC server (laptop, Dell D800) is a problem I hope can be fixed by support through the AC forum. But...

I'm looking at an HRT Music Streamer+ (as well as an Entreq Discovery USB cable) DAC right now. I've written a tad about it on my main-squeeze forum [LH] http://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?topic=1562.0 but can sum it up quick here:

I've heard none of the listed products on this topic except this one, The Streamer+. This $300 unit (USB-fed from a CD in my PC's drawer), immediately delivers a 'digital' sound which pars with if not rivals the best redbook CDP playback I've heard. And my MWI Sony9100ES SigTruth CDP is no slouch by a long shot. Srajan's call was, as the British say, spot on, IMHO.

bundee1 · « **Reply #66 on:** 26 Oct 2009, 03:45 am »

I have done some research this is what I found:

Quote

I have done some research this is what I found:

Quote

If you don't mind DAC from China(I think they are very good value for money) Qthere are many of them listed in Ebay. To name one see this website:

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/szem18

The Zero brand uses AD1852 Dac chip and the sound is very good for the price. There are many others, do a search and if you don't mind being a DIYer ie put the DAC in a box, there are ready made DAC boards based on AD1955, PCM1798 and AD1865 and others on Ebay.

I modded a zero to the max, the frankenmod had all caps bypassed with russian pio caps. I had the earth hdam, parts connexion knob, new alps pot, and the preamp and dac together sounded good. My system was all digital.
Sb3 to modded zero to mouse digital amp to jmlab chorus 706.

If you don't mind DAC from China(I think they are very good value for money) Qthere are many of them listed in Ebay. To name one see this website:

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/szem18

The Zero brand uses AD1852 Dac chip and the sound is very good for the price. There are many others, do a search and if you don't mind being a DIYer ie put the DAC in a box, there are ready made DAC boards based on AD1955, PCM1798 and AD1865 and others on Ebay.

roscoeiii · « **Reply #67 on:** 26 Oct 2009, 03:48 am »

And the forums on HeadFi are a great resource for determining the reliability of the Chinese eBay DACs.

howburger · « **Reply #68 on:** 27 Oct 2009, 08:34 pm »

Here is a link to a list of DACs from cheap to expensive. Pardon the link. Remove if necessary.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f46/all-dacs-money-can-buy-pt-2-a-325941/

Harold

philltubes · « **Reply #69 on:** 6 Nov 2009, 12:57 pm »

The Valab dac in stock form is excellent, do some mods such as adding some good coupling caps, quality I/V resistors, Lundahl transformer on the coax input, outboard power supply etc and you have a wonderful dac. You can go as far as you like with mods but really is special when upgraded. No opamps used in this dac may part of the reason it sounds so good. The outboard power supply is a major improvement also the input transformer. Go to Head-Fi under dedicated sources for a thread on doing mods.

Phill

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #70 on:** 6 Nov 2009, 01:46 pm »

Quote from: howburger on 27 Oct 2009, 08:34 pm

Here is a link to a list of DACs from cheap to expensive. Pardon the link. Remove if necessary.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f46/all-dacs-money-can-buy-pt-2-a-325941/

Harold

Wow - what an amazingly thorough list. That guy should be heartily congratulated for putting that together.

Thanks!

John

FOR SALE - Fully updated Superphon Dual Mono Preamp and DM200 Amp - $800 shipped http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=72676.new#new

dflee · « **Reply #71 on:** 6 Nov 2009, 07:07 pm »

Had a couple of conversations today with a repair shop gentleman and a computer friend. Both suggest a decent sound card put in the computer instead of a DAC. Prices have dropped dramatically for a good one and serves the same purpose. Guess I'll look that route also.

Don

dflee · « **Reply #72 on:** 10 Nov 2009, 12:12 am »

http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=products.family&ID=PCIinterfaces
If I'm reading this correctly, It will also take Mp3 and the like

Don

doctorcilantro · « **Reply #73 on:** 22 Dec 2009, 02:20 pm »

What about the Musiland and the HiFace which both do 24/192 and have coax and/or BNC.

srb · « **Reply #74 on:** 22 Dec 2009, 02:32 pm »

Quote from: doctorcilantro on 22 Dec 2009, 02:20 pm

What about the Musiland and the HiFace which both do 24/192 and have coax and/or BNC.

The M2Tech hiFace is a USB to S/PDIF converter which still requires a DAC. http://www.m2tech.biz/products.html

Steve

doctorcilantro · « **Reply #75 on:** 22 Dec 2009, 02:56 pm »

Duh. Sorry, that's what I'm using the Musiland for; have ti on the brain I guess. Handy units though.

goldlizsts · « **Reply #76 on:** 22 Dec 2009, 03:24 pm »

Quote from: mjosef on 17 Oct 2009, 05:20 am

Add also the MCM 7510 DAC, sometimes available for $90. or less....just chuck the supplied power cord/supply, and go battery or linear PS. Do a couple mods, and you got a decent DAC for less than 160.
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/50-7774

Did you mod the op-amps on the MCM? It's not easy on the MCM for us regular DIYers. Without replacing the op-amps, the MCM is very much so-so. The 7520 is easier (you're talking twice the money now!). Swapping a TH4032 in there, and it's much, much better than the 5532, or others (of course, the TH4032 has to be converted to fit the socket). Add a linear power supply on it, another notch better. Then, it's outside of Mariusz's objective in terms of $$$$.

coolsax · « **Reply #77 on:** 2 Feb 2010, 02:09 am »

i didn't see anyone mention this DAC
http://www.mavaudio.com/base/
Tube Magic D1 from Maverick Audio.
I haven't gotten around to getting a DAC in my system yet as i'm still a relative newbie but this one seems to get some good remarks for $200.

Mariusz · « **Reply #78 on:** 2 Feb 2010, 04:06 am »

That DAC looks really nice. Lots of features. Great price.
Would like to hear it tho.
Can not find any reviews or user comments.

Thanks for adding it to the list.

Mariusz

coolsax · « **Reply #79 on:** 2 Feb 2010, 04:10 am »

Well I know one of the guys on the polk forum tried it and liked it.. I think it might be the first DAC I try since it has a little tube preamp attached to it as well.