Function of a DAC ?

LitoZacky
LitoZacky Posts: 115
edited October 2010 in Troubleshooting
I wonder what a DAC does to the sound when we actually hear it and is there a better DAC under 2k that is better than the Peachtree Nova ?
Speaker: LSi 15
Pre/Pro: Pioneer VSX-9040
Amp: Emotiva XPA-2
Sub: Seaton Submersive HP
TV: Samsung PN50B550
DAC: soon-to-be EE Minimax Dac Plus
Post edited by LitoZacky on
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  • NeilGabriel
    NeilGabriel Posts: 1,487
    edited October 2010
    LitoZacky wrote: »
    I wonder what a DAC does to the sound when we actually hear it and is there a better DAC under 2k that is better than the Peachtree Nova ?

    Not sure about your question...are you wondering what a DAC is or how it works? Is this for a CD Player?
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited October 2010
    I have used Benchmarks' (Dac1 and DAC1/PRE) for 6 years, and been very pleased with their performance. I would have to own a MEGA-buck CD player to do better, plus I get the added benefit of running all my other sources thru it.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited October 2010
    IIRC, Mike owned a Peachtree Nova so maybe he'll chime in on its performance.

    As for me, I used to own a Peachtree Decco and I used it specifically for my digital media so I can't comment on how it sounded against other DACs. It did sound much better though than my friends Denon player (when bypassing the Denon's built-in DAC) :) I believe it was a DVD39xx
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  • LitoZacky
    LitoZacky Posts: 115
    edited October 2010
    I mean like a separate DAC,
    Comp-DAC-Amp-Speakers
    Speaker: LSi 15
    Pre/Pro: Pioneer VSX-9040
    Amp: Emotiva XPA-2
    Sub: Seaton Submersive HP
    TV: Samsung PN50B550
    DAC: soon-to-be EE Minimax Dac Plus
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited October 2010
    LitoZacky wrote: »
    I mean like a separate DAC,
    Comp-DAC-Amp-Speakers

    DAC - Digital to analog convertor. Ask the maunfacturer "what a DAC does to the sound when we actually hear it".

    For under 2K there are a lot of good DACs. The two DACs I own are under 2K and both do a great job. The Benchmark has already been mentioned. The Bryston is right at 2K, and I like it a bit more than my Benchmark.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • LitoZacky
    LitoZacky Posts: 115
    edited October 2010
    Is your Bryston the BDA-1 ?
    Speaker: LSi 15
    Pre/Pro: Pioneer VSX-9040
    Amp: Emotiva XPA-2
    Sub: Seaton Submersive HP
    TV: Samsung PN50B550
    DAC: soon-to-be EE Minimax Dac Plus
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited October 2010
    LitoZacky wrote: »
    Is your Bryston the BDA-1 ?

    Yes.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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