Seperate Dac - ?

VR3
VR3 Posts: 28,793
edited December 2004 in Electronics
The thought of a new CDP has crossed my mind, however - I don't believe I will be able to purchase one anytime soon, so I am looking for the next best thing, right?

Basically I am looking for a dac that is 50-100 dollars that will make my Denon DCM-280 sound better! :p

I dont know what kind of Dac the Denon uses now, but hopefully someone does and can help me out here...

50-100 dollars shipped to my door, anything in that range?
- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
Post edited by VR3 on
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Comments

  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited December 2004
    The Denon has dual 18 or 20 Bit Burr Brown's if recall correctly. You aren't going to find anything for under $200 that is going to be a substantial improvement.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,793
    edited December 2004
    Mother effer... LOL

    Ok, well what do you think would be better suited?

    1) Better CDP

    OR

    2) Better wiring? Power cables, IC - etc
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • mrmusicman
    mrmusicman Posts: 303
    edited December 2004
    #1...just my .02
    Outlaw 990 Processor
    Outlaw 755 Amp
    Denon 2900 dvd-sacd
    Dishnetwork HD-Dvr
    55" Sony LCD RPTV
    Lsi 9-fronts
    Lsic-center
    Rt55i- surrounds
    Velodyne cht-10 sub

    2007 Dodge Quad cab
    Kenwood Excelon KDC-X891
    JL Audio 300/V2
    Polk Audio SR 6500 - Fronts
    Polk Audio DB651 - Rear
    2 -10" Treo Subs
    Interfire IB 2600C sub amp
    Sirius Sat radio
    Ipod connection
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  • fireshoes
    fireshoes Posts: 3,167
    edited December 2004
    Time to try a single disc player/transport.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,793
    edited December 2004
    Depends on how much money I come across in the next while...

    Cambridge Azur 540!!!!
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • HBombToo
    HBombToo Posts: 5,256
    edited December 2004
    Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
    Mother effer...

    watch your language young man.

    My Audio Research Lab DAC5 sounds real nice:D

    Twin
    ***WAREMTAE***
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,793
    edited December 2004
    Ha!

    Or maybe....

    AMC CD8b

    Isnt there a NAD player out there comparable? Anymore...
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • tryrrthg
    tryrrthg Posts: 1,896
    edited December 2004
    I've read about a lot of people getting good results with this DAC. A lot of them are modifying them though. You can find used ones at audiogon for around $100.

    http://www.zzounds.com/item--ARTDIO
    Sony KDL-40V2500 HDTV, Rotel RSX-1067 Receiver, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray, Slim Devices Squeezebox, Polk RTi6, CSi3 & R15, DIY sub with Atlas 15
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2004
    The NAD C541i is a very nice player.
    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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  • Shell
    Shell Posts: 134
    edited December 2004
    DCM-280 has the Burr-Brown 18-Bit D/A Converters (PCM-1716), my Denon DCM-380 has Burr-Brown 20-Bit D/A Converters (PCM-1748) which sounds pretty good to me.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,793
    edited December 2004
    The Denon, don't get me wrong....

    It is a great player - but I am getting rid of the weakest links in my system, and the Denon is the weakest component. After I address it - I plan on upgrading the power cables on the components, doubt I will upgrade ICs and speaker wire...dont find it worth it, bleh...

    Thanks Steve, will give that one a look...

    Are the old Cambridge CD players the D300 and 500 (or whatever) as good as the new 540 and 640?
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • LuSh
    LuSh Posts: 887
    edited December 2004
    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlplay&1108213395

    If you can find an older Meilor Bitstream DAC from Museatex grab it, it will still destory most digital gear made today for under $3k in its Upgrade II form. They sell used for about $300. If not grab the Rega.
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  • izafar
    izafar Posts: 819
    edited December 2004
    Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3
    Ha!

    Or maybe....

    AMC CD8b


    DCM-280 has the same DAC as AMC CD8b. AMC might still sound better if it has better clock and OP Amps
    -izafar

    Goldenear Technology Triton 1 - Benchmark AHB2 - Benchmark LA4 - Auralic Vega - Auralic Aries Mini - Marantz TT-15S1 - Clearaudio Nano
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited December 2004
    Originally posted by Vr3MxStyler2k3

    Are the old Cambridge CD players the D300 and 500 (or whatever) as good as the new 540 and 640?

    If you go with the "SE" versions. Don't waste your time with the D300SE, get the 500SE--hell the 500SE goes for under $200 on Ebay typically. One sold about a week ago for $179, and it was mint.
    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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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited December 2004
    Start hunting them down, Sid. You probably won't find something better but the sound will definitely be different. I had a lot of fun with my Audio Alchemy stuff. Less detail than my NAD but a lot of bloom in the mids and powerful bass. Take a look at jitter reducers too. They help quite a bit.

    Maurice
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