Question about a DAC

jay3903
jay3903 Posts: 15
edited June 2007 in Electronics
I am looking at an Audio Alchemy Digital to Analog Converter, model v1 on Ebay. Is this a good entry level DAC. The current price is 25.00.

Thanks,

Jay :)
Post edited by jay3903 on
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  • I-SIG
    I-SIG Posts: 2,243
    edited June 2007
    For 25 clams, I'd check it out if I didn't already have a nice DAC.

    Wes
    Link: http://polkarmy.com/forums

    Sony 75" Bravia 4K | Polk Audio SDA-SRS's (w/RDO's & Vampire Posts) + SVS PC+ 25-31 | AudioQuest Granite (mids) + BWA Silver (highs) | Cary Audio CAD-200 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Rotel Michi P5 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Cambridge Audio azur 840C--Wadia 170i + iPod jammed w/ lossless audio--Oppo 970 | Pure|AV PF31d
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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited June 2007
    It's a no brainer for $25. If you don't like it... sell it.
    HT
    RTi70 mains
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    Velodyne CHT-12
    H/K AVR-247
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    Signal Cable Analog II IC's
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited June 2007
    $25 is less than the cost of shipping most of the gear I buy, how can you go wrong for the price of 1 Latte at Starsucks?
    V
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  • dragon1952
    dragon1952 Posts: 4,907
    edited June 2007
    Not to seem condescending, but the 'current price' on Ebay is actually pretty meaningless. :) That will probably go for up to $75 or $85 shipped, but even then that's not a lot of cash. I used to have one and they are fairly decent, but it is older technology. What are you thinking of hooking it up to?
    2 channel - Willsenton R8 tube integrated, Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE DAC, audio optimized NUC7i5, Windows 10 Pro/JRiver MC29/Fidelizer Plus 8.7 w/LPS and external SSD drive, PS Audio PerfectWave P3 regenerator, KEF R3 speakers, Rythmik F12SE subwoofer, Audioquest Diamond USB cable, Gabriel Gold IC's, Morrow Audio SP5 speaker cables. Computer - Windows 10/JRiver, Schiit Magni 3+/Modi 3+, Fostex PMO.4n monitors, Sennheiser HD600 headphones
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  • auto_pilot
    auto_pilot Posts: 256
    edited June 2007
    Newbie here...what is the advantage of a separate DAC? (don't mean to hijack)

    I thought recievers had DAC built in.
    Cambridge Audio AZUR 640R
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  • jay3903
    jay3903 Posts: 15
    edited June 2007
    I would be hooking it up to a Sony 300 disk changer.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited June 2007
    auto pilot, a seperate DAC are usually better built and sound better than the cheap DAC chips used in receivers.. and pre amps... it seriously can make a bad CD sound decent.

    I was skeptical till i bought one myself. it's the one piece of gear i'll never get rid of.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited June 2007
    http://cgi.ebay.com/Entech-Number-Cruncher-205-2-digital-to-analog-convert_W0QQitemZ290131950793QQihZ019QQcategoryZ14978QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

    Try this one... I just bought one from Polkmaniac and absolutely love it. There is a very clear difference between this DAC and the DAC in my H/K AVR635. Well worth the money.
    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
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  • SLOCOOKN
    SLOCOOKN Posts: 704
    edited June 2007
    (sounds of a police helicopter: We have a possible thread hijack in process on post #10.)

    Can a dac "process" sacd?
    :eek: From the bottom it looks like a steep incline, From the top another down hill slope of mine.:mad: But I know the equilibrium's there!:cool: .."Faith No More" :D
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  • auto_pilot
    auto_pilot Posts: 256
    edited June 2007
    danger boy wrote: »
    auto pilot, a seperate DAC are usually better built and sound better than the cheap DAC chips used in receivers.. and pre amps... it seriously can make a bad CD sound decent.

    I was skeptical till i bought one myself. it's the one piece of gear i'll never get rid of.

    What is a good price point that might be better than my DAC with my AVR? From what I've read it seems pretty decent.
    Cambridge Audio AZUR 640R
    KEF IQ2C Center, Fronts KEF IQ1 , Rears KEF Ci302Q
    Sub Outlaw LFM2
    Panasonic Plasma 1080i (50u)
    Sony DVP-NS70H (DVD)
    Belkin Pure Audio PF31 Line Conditioner
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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited June 2007
    auto_pilot wrote: »
    What is a good price point that might be better than my DAC with my AVR? From what I've read it seems pretty decent.

    See post #9
    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
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  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited June 2007
    I have never heard of a DAC that can process SACD. It can process the CD layer but not the SACD one.

    As for a good DAC making bad cds sound better, I find it to be just the opposite. IMO upgrading a DAC should be more revealing (removing the veil so to speak) and therefore make bad cds sound worse, and good better.
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
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  • Lowell_M
    Lowell_M Posts: 1,660
    edited June 2007
    Gaara wrote: »
    I have never heard of a DAC that can process SACD. It can process the CD layer but not the SACD one.

    As for a good DAC making bad cds sound better, I find it to be just the opposite. IMO upgrading a DAC should be more revealing (removing the veil so to speak) and therefore make bad cds sound worse, and good better.

    I have also found that every incremental improvement that I have made to my system has made bad CD's worse and good CD's so much sweeter.
    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
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter