Finally putting it all on a harddrive . . .

SolidSqual
SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
edited September 2008 in Electronics
Being Law School and working and volunteering in a campaign, it feels like the only thing I'm not doing is having a baby (unless my girlfriend tells me otherwise.)

At any rate, I need a good DAC to feed my Squeezebox. The utility of this combo is undeniable at this point and a welcome luxury to help me be a little lazier when I come home. After all, lifting those CD on and off that Raysonic is hard work.

So, any recs for a good (perferably tube DAC) for under $1,200?) Not sure if I'm going to sell the CDP or not but who knows.
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,117
    edited September 2008
    Didn't you already have the CA 840C? That is the perfect solution for your needs.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited September 2008
    Both of these CDP's have a digital in, plus fixed and adjustable output, so they could replace your preamp also.

    http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/1219.asp

    http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/1105.asp
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited September 2008
    Face wrote: »
    Both of these CDP's have a digital in, plus fixed and adjustable output, so they could replace your preamp also.

    http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/1219.asp

    http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/1105.asp

    That's a little out of my price range.
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  • tryrrthg
    tryrrthg Posts: 1,896
    edited September 2008
    you could get the Musical Fidelity Xv3 series with DAC, power supply, and tube buffer. Or the MF X-DACv8.
    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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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited September 2008
    tryrrthg wrote: »
    you could get the Musical Fidelity Xv3 series with DAC, power supply, and tube buffer. Or the MF X-DACv8.

    Which combo would sound better, do ya' think?

    Right now this idea and the 840C sound lie good options.
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  • tryrrthg
    tryrrthg Posts: 1,896
    edited September 2008
    The Xv3 series might be a better value since it is an older, discontinued model, but who knows... I've had the MF A3cr DAC and it was fantastic. the X-DACv3 was supposed to be better than the A3, if you had the outboard power supply.

    I haven't read anything about the v8 stuff...

    EDIT: at least with the v3 stuff you could buy one piece at a time and see if they are worth it or are your cup of tea. You've already had the CA player and from what I remember it didn't completely float your boat...
    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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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited September 2008
    tryrrthg wrote: »
    The Xv3 series might be a better value since it is an older, discontinued model, but who knows... I've had the MF A3cr DAC and it was fantastic. the X-DACv3 was supposed to be better than the A3, if you had the outboard power supply.

    I haven't read anything about the v8 stuff...

    EDIT: at least with the v3 stuff you could buy one piece at a time and see if they are worth it or are your cup of tea. You've already had the CA player and from what I remember it didn't completely float your boat...

    Yeah, the CA840C was a great CDP, but my CD128 beats it. I may give MF a try.
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  • lakesailor
    lakesailor Posts: 319
    edited September 2008
    SolidSqual wrote: »
    Being Law School and working and volunteering in a campaign, it feels like the only thing I'm not doing is having a baby (unless my girlfriend tells me otherwise.)

    At any rate, I need a good DAC to feed my Squeezebox. The utility of this combo is undeniable at this point and a welcome luxury to help me be a little lazier when I come home. After all, lifting those CD on and off that Raysonic is hard work.

    So, any recs for a good (perferably tube DAC) for under $1,200?) Not sure if I'm going to sell the CDP or not but who knows.


    The PS Audio Digital Link 3 and the Benchmark both are great DAC's for around $1K. Not tube; but still very good. You can always get a tube buffer to try as well the Chinese ones typically sell for $ 150-200 new.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited September 2008
    I really like the specs of this MF XDac v.8. Anyone have experience with this thing?
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  • doctorcilantro
    doctorcilantro Posts: 2,028
    edited September 2008
    Tube....Scott Nixon, somewhat little known, but killer stuff for the price.

    SS....the Lavry DA-10.

    My theory, keep SS from DAC to pre, until power, then tubes.

    DC
    For Sale 2019:
    Tortuga Audio LDR passive preamp
    Decware EL34 amp
    Allnic H-1201 phono
    Zu Union Cubes
    iFi iDSD DAC, .5m UBS, iFI Gemini cable, Oyaide Tunami XLR 1.3M, Oyaide Tunami Speaker wire 1.5M, Beyerdynamic DT1990 headphones, PS Audio P3 power center

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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited September 2008
    I ended up buying a MHDT Havana. This will be my first genuine piece of Chi Fi and my first NOS. I'm excited.
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