FS: Bel Canto DAC 1.1

tryrrthg

Home remodeling projects are forcing me to downsize my source components. For sale is my Bel Canto DAC 1.1. The DAC 1.1 is the DAC 1 with the upgraded power supply from the Bel Canto DAC2.

I bought this DAC at Audiogon in May of 2005, so I am at least the second owner. It has been used sparingly since I bought it. This is a great sounding DAC, especially at this price. The DAC is in great shape, I can’t find any notable marks on it, but I'd say an 8/10 (on audiogon scale), just to be safe.

I am listing it on Audiogon for $500 shipped, will do $475 shipped (lower 48 states) to Club Polk members.

Online Reviews of the DAC1:

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/belcanto_dac1.htm

http://www.onhifi.com/product/belcanto_dac1.htm

steveinaz

nice deal!!!

Skynut

Now for the big question.

If I understand this converts digital to analog right?
If so does it only work for music and audio or can it be used for dvd picture?
Am I totally off course?

tryrrthg

Skynut wrote:

Now for the big question.
If I understand this converts digital to analog right?

Correct, it can be connected to a CD player or DVD player (with digital outputs) to play 2 channel audio.

Skynut wrote:

Now for the big question.
If so does it only work for music and audio or can it be used for dvd picture?

Audio only.

reeltrouble1

Now I know your Nuts for sure!!!!!!!!!

They are for audio and this is a great deal from a long time member. This thing will blow the DAC's in the Onk 787 away. If I did not already have a DAC this one would be on my list.

RT1

Skynut

Nother question.
I assume you can use several of them for surround sound?

steveinaz

Not in the "HT" way. Surround formats are copy protected, therefore surround is not output on digital outs, only 2-channel. The only signal you get from a DVD digital out is down-mixed 2-channel.

Skynut

Thanks, these questions have been eating at me.

steveinaz

Bump...somebody needs to buy THIS.

tryrrthg

Thanks for the bump, Steve!

steveinaz

I think everybody is "Christmas broke"...LOL!

Skynut

I really want to try one of these but I just do not have a 2 channel set up.
I would love to hear what all the fuss is about.
Is there really that big of a difference over the stock dac?
$475.00 sounds reasonable.

steveinaz

$475 is a very good price. It depends on how good your current DAC's are. You should notice tighter/deeper bass, better midrange, and alot less high-end glare; probably better soundstage width & depth, but in a subtle way. What's your source now?

DAC's refine the sound, they don't make breath-taking changes to it. It's more about what they omit, rather than what they add. As far as I know, only speakers make that much of a substantial change.

I've heard the Bel Canto 2, it ran neck-in-neck with my Benchmark DAC1, it's a wonderful DAC that can help reduce digital glare and make CD's far more 3-dimensional and smooth.

Skynut

Thanks.
I will have to wait till I can afford a dedicated 2 channel rig.

Skynut

Outa curiosity whould this work with an I pod ?
Or any other digital media.
my friend has some sort of player that he recorded all his cd's onto and plays them in mpeg or something like that.
I am sure it has a digital output.

heiney9

Skynut wrote:

Outa curiosity whould this work with an I pod ?
Or any other digital media.
my friend has some sort of player that he recorded all his cd's onto and plays them in mpeg or something like that.
I am sure it has a digital output.

Sky, it would work, but since the Ipod format uses a compression scheme to store music it's rather self-defeating. IMO, spending $475 on a killer unit like this only to mate it with, at best, a mediocre source (Ipod) is a poor choice.

Sorry if I killed your sale Tryrrthg for the Ipod. Just calling them like I see them.

I can't believe no one has snagged this yet. There just aren't enough TRUE believers in what sepearate high quality DAC's can do.

SOMEONE buy this for you 2-ch system....you can't go wrong!!!!

H9

tryrrthg

heiney9 wrote:

Sorry if I killed your sale Tryrrthg for the Ipod. Just calling them like I see them.

No problem, as far as I know Ipods do not have a digital output anyway.

Skynut

Just curious, I don't even have an e-pod.
I was just interested if it would benifit digital music from other than cd's.

tryrrthg

Sale Pending to a LUCKY Club Polk member.

steveinaz

'bout time somebody jumped on this.