Lunchy
New member
Yep, it has tubed outputs and a AES/EBU and BNC input that are tubed for a total of three tubes. Here's a video of the internals...
Amr dp 777 - YouTube
Today's Best DACs at various price points...
- Thread starter Ritmo
- Start date
Yep, it has tubed outputs and a AES/EBU and BNC input that are tubed for a total of three tubes. Here's a video of the internals...
Amr dp 777 - YouTube
I am strictly a 16/44.1 guy...redbook. For the money and with some isolation-related tweaks and NOS tubes, I have found a second hand Zanden Transport/DAC to keep me happy for going on 6 years...I have compared with Audio Aero La Source, Esoteric X-01SE, and auditioned the ARC CD8, Metronome Kalista Ref/C2A, DCS Scarlatti full stack, Krell 505, Emm CDSA, Wadia s7i, Stahl-Tek. The only one to really tempt me was the Stahl-Tek Vekian duo, but did not do it. Have recently heard the Vivaldi which, imho, is superior to the Scarlatti in its handling or timing/tonality...just a gut instinct cannot say a real shoot-out, but instinctive and also based on someone who has done a shoot-out. (His conclusion is setup right...halcyonics isolation, precise voltage control via old PS Audio which allows for volt by volt output settings...the Scarlatti can match the Vivaldi. But I think the Vivaldi is more tolerant of set up relative to Scarlatti...and seems more easily to sound great, organic and INCREDIBLY detailed. But coming back to Zanden DAC...its only 16/44 but I love it because its a DAC, and redbook is cheap on Amazon, often much cheaper than mp3 file and I own the CD this way. And hi-res is changing a bit without sufficient material (for me) to want to invest just yet. Given all the variables in making a great system...I am very, very happy with Zanden digital 2nd hand (again, incl several critical isolation/NOS tube tweaks which make an incredible difference on bass solidity, slam where it now betters the Esoteric X-01SE and the Audio Aero La Source that were in my system)...and increased density of tone and decreased shimmer so as to allow for deeper note color and much more detail. My two cents. If you find one second hand, you can get lucky at (close to) the $5K mark people have been listing here.
LimaBeanLana
New member
does anybody know if there is an ableton thread located on this forum? i have alot of questions for some serious audiophiles but i just cant seem to find an audiophile willing to donate some time to teach e how to make some better professional recordings. thanks in advance guys.
My mint DEC 2009 MDA1000 arrived today. I am using the MCD1100 as a CD transport. Siltech Golden Ridge II AES/EBU and Princess XLRs right through C1000T and MC2301s. MDA1000 is configured with bypass ON.
Cables are new and still have to break in but boy what a substantial difference to the ESS9018 Sabre32 DAC in the MCD1100. Totally different presentation. MDA1000 has a greater holographic depth of presence and resolution. The bass levels are also significant. There seems to be a greater dynamic range. It is sweeter and more natural sounding.
Although McIntosh have done an excellent job smoothing the MCD1100 implementation of the Sabre32, it is a sharper and brighter DAC in comparison. This in turn is an attempt to resolve resolution that it cannot deliver.
McIntosh made a mistake by not continuing to build on top of the MDA1000 refinement. Sabre32 was an easy SDK cop out IMO. Glad to have the McIntosh MDA in the Arsenal and it really compliments the C1000 trio and MC2301s.
When the C1000P arrives, It will be nice to A/B switch but I can tell already the MDA1000 will get all the redbook and whatever PCM I can throw at it.
Sure you will not get today's USB, nor will you get 24/192 but you will get beautiful music. The MDA1000 still has the PCM DAC magic for whatever price you can find one for. I only wish McIntosh continued to develop it further because they were on a winner here.
At all price ranges over 10k - Lampizator Big 7 and Golden Gate
Everest Audio
New member
We have the brand new T+A DAC 8 DSD coming in shortly. A complete rework of their previous DAC 8 and supposedly a huge improvement...even though the previous version was very highly regarded. DSD and PCM conversion are kept completely separate. $5,600 CAD, so under $5K USD. We also have the latest Bel Canto DAC3.7 and it is an excellent piece. We haven't tried the Hegel HD30 yet, but the press on that piece has been outstanding.
Attachments
The T+A DAC 8 is trickle down from the flagship PDP3000HV I believe with their completely separate PCM and DSD sections. Very nice. I have the PDP3000HV and it sounds superb.
Everest Audio
New member
I'm sure that PDP3000HV is absolutely amazing Mike! The volume control implementation on the T+A DAC 8 DSD is supposed to be superb and sounds amazing driving an amp directly. That's how we'll be using it. I can update more once we get our hands on it.
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Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk
My first experience with an external DAC was the Modwright Elyse. My virgin ears were blown away. Then the EMM Labs DAC2X came along with its superior detail and sound stage only to be bettered by my current DAC, Lampizator's Golden Gate. More detail, dimension, with instruments sounding very natural/realistic. Any more exploration in this area will require a third job...
Man, this thread could keep going forever and ever and every day, week, month get a different answer as DAC technologies continue to evolve.
HiFi News this month has an interesting article on why many people prefer the sound of vinyl to digital. They stated that out-of-phase, low frequency noise creates a pleasing ambience is one reason not fully explored. They have someone (Engineer Doug Self) working on a filter to recreate this in digital. Should be interesting.
They also mentioned that as DAC's continue to evolve, developers are beginning to tackle the challenges of digital: listening irritations caused by jitter, extended odd-order distortions, granulation and modulation noise and arguably, the toughest challenge of them all - time domain distortions from primitive FIR digital oversampling filters.
Designers are turning to filters to tackle these problems associated with digital. They site the new Chord WTA filter, and other apodising and Bezier types of filters and the format of DSD to "close the gap" between the best in vinyl vs the best in digital. They note that it's digital trying to sound like vinyl, not the other way around.
HiFi News this month has an interesting article on why many people prefer the sound of vinyl to digital. They stated that out-of-phase, low frequency noise creates a pleasing ambience is one reason not fully explored. They have someone (Engineer Doug Self) working on a filter to recreate this in digital. Should be interesting.
They also mentioned that as DAC's continue to evolve, developers are beginning to tackle the challenges of digital: listening irritations caused by jitter, extended odd-order distortions, granulation and modulation noise and arguably, the toughest challenge of them all - time domain distortions from primitive FIR digital oversampling filters.
Designers are turning to filters to tackle these problems associated with digital. They site the new Chord WTA filter, and other apodising and Bezier types of filters and the format of DSD to "close the gap" between the best in vinyl vs the best in digital. They note that it's digital trying to sound like vinyl, not the other way around.
I use mch DACs. Not much selection, but my favorites (I've owned both) are below $5K the Exasound E28, and between $10-$15K NADAC mch (my current DAC). I use my Pacific Microsonics Model Two mostly to rip, but it is superb for stereo PCM file playback (I use Pyramix software and the Merging Mykerinos Card in a Zalman fanless case on Win XP.). Not as convenient to use (dual wire) and definitely NOT easy to find - only a couple hundred made and mostly found in recording studios (price used ?? $15-25K).
Larry
Larry
Kuoppis
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- Jan 19, 2015
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- 5,203
This is a quite fun thread, I would add a couple:
Below $5K - Ayre Codex, bettering the more expensive QB-9. And there is a new 5-series DAC on its way, which should improve again.
$5-10K - Meitner MA-1 (all same components as the dearer DAC2X, except motherboard and power supply); Total DAC.
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audioholic
New member
My vote goes to Nagra HD DAC. I don't remember being so happy and simply enjoying music with different digital sources such as my Music Player, Server (NAS) and a couple of different cd transports. Even streaming music Sonos (Deezer) is enjoyable.
FlexibleAudio
Member
Man, this thread could keep going forever and ever and every day, week, month get a different answer as DAC technologies continue to evolve.
HiFi News this month has an interesting article on why many people prefer the sound of vinyl to digital. They stated that out-of-phase, low frequency noise creates a pleasing ambience is one reason not fully explored. They have someone (Engineer Doug Self) working on a filter to recreate this in digital. Should be interesting.
They also mentioned that as DAC's continue to evolve, developers are beginning to tackle the challenges of digital: listening irritations caused by jitter, extended odd-order distortions, granulation and modulation noise and arguably, the toughest challenge of them all - time domain distortions from primitive FIR digital oversampling filters.
Designers are turning to filters to tackle these problems associated with digital. They site the new Chord WTA filter, and other apodising and Bezier types of filters and the format of DSD to "close the gap" between the best in vinyl vs the best in digital. They note that it's digital trying to sound like vinyl, not the other way around.
As I have mentioned before, I have a strong feeling this is a big part of the reason digital sounds different (note I did not say better) than vinyl. What else explains the clear correlation between clock speed and analog sound in digital playback.
audioholic
New member
Mike, I find you comments and explanations very enlightening, clear and entertaining. Thank you.
Me?
