DAC Help . . .
SolidSqual
Posts: 5,218
Can anyone recommend a nice DAC in the $200-$300 range used or new?
Post edited by SolidSqual on
Comments
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You can get a nice EAD ( Enlightened Audio Design ) DSP-7000, Monarchy, Channel Island or a NOS ( None Over-Sampling ) DAC for that price. Good luck.
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I have a Theta Pro Progeny (bought Agon for $300) that I like. I think you can get Theta Pro Basics for around $300 as well.
Should also be some options from Musical Fidelity in that range.Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850 -
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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I take it that's a NON-OS Dac? Pony up some details, if you'd be so kind:)I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore -
Yep, NON-OS DAC. I don't know a lot about it, never even heard it, I've just seen a lot of satisfied people at audiogon that have. for the money it would be worth a try...zombie boy 2000 wrote: »I take it that's a NON-OS Dac? Pony up some details, if you'd be so kind:)
I still think one of you (Zombie or SolidSqual) should buy my Arcam CD73.
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 -
Once enough funds get cleared, either this or the Bada will be in the batter's box:) I haven't forgotten ya.I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
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ADCOM GDA-600 or -700. ~$230 on ebay. There was one on Audiogon that may still be there.HT
RTi70 mains
CSi30 center
RTi28 Rears
Velodyne CHT-12
H/K AVR-247
ADCOM GFA-7000
Samsung PN58B860
Playstation 3
2-Channel
Polk Audio LSi15's
Rotel RCD-1072
Nakamichi CA-5 Pre
ADCOM GFA-555
Signal Cable Analog II IC's
Signal Ultra Bi-Wire Speaker Cables -
+1 for Monarchy.
You get a lot of bang for your buck buying a used Moarchy dac. Of course the newer gens are a little bit better but not usually worth the extra cost
For example a 22A goes for between $200-300 and the 22C goes between $500-700 and there isn't a $300 to $400 difference in sound unless you are using other really great complimentary components.
YMMV
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
And the 18b can usually be had for around $185 -- with a built-in preamp to boot.I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
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a_mattison wrote: »ADCOM GDA-600 or -700. ~$230 on ebay. There was one on Audiogon that may still be there.
especially the 600. It has a very magical sound, everything so just sounds so good thru it. It's not your typical Adcom "house" sound, they did something right with this unit, can't put my finger on it, but it just sounds so good.
The 700 has HDCD but I'm told the 2 designs are slightly different and many prefer the PCM 63 Burr Brown chips in the 600 over the PCM 1702 Burr Brown chips in the 700. The difference is very slight and for some less critical listeners non-existent.
Another sleeper is the Aragon D2A and D2A2.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
zombie boy 2000 wrote: »And the 18b can usually be had for around $185 -- with a built-in preamp to boot.
Passive line stage pre amp section.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
especially the 600. It has a very magical sound, everything so just sounds so good thru it. It's not your typical Adcom "house" sound, they did something right with this unit, can't put my finger on it, but it just sounds so good.
The 700 has HDCD but I'm told the 2 designs are slightly different and many prefer the PCM 63 Burr Brown chips in the 600 over the PCM 1702 Burr Brown chips in the 700. The difference is very slight and for some less critical listeners non-existent.
Another sleeper is the Aragon D2A and D2A2.
H9
I purchased the ADCOM 700 DAC because it uses the PCM1702 chips. These are the same chips that are used in the Krell KAV300CD. So, I'm thinking if its good enough for Krell... its good enough for me. -
I purchased the ADCOM 700 DAC because it uses the PCM1702 chips. These are the same chips that are used in the Krell KAV300CD. So, I'm thinking if its good enough for Krell... its good enough for me.
I wholeheartedly agree, but I was specifically talking to one of the techs who originally worked at Adcom in New Jersey and he was telling me a bit about the 600 and 700 and their differences.
The BB PCM 1702 chipset has to be used if you are using the Pacific Micronics HDCD filter. You can't get HDCD using the older PCM63. In fact many designers still pefer the PCM63 to the newer PCM1702 as a matter of choice. Even Monarchy still uses the PCM63 in their latest dac the M24 which uses tubes for the dac output as well as a seperate tube section for the line stage preamp.
Bottom line is they are both excellent chipsets and if it's good enough for Krell than it's pretty damn good
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
This EAD 7000 might be worth a look.http://cgi.ebay.com/EAD-DSP-7000-D-to-A-converter-Enlightened-Audio-Design_W0QQitemZ120127561056QQcmdZViewItemTesting
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