Dac

VR3

I am thinking of keeping my Shanling - I like it to much, its sound and build - its look. They all appeal to me. However, I am pretty sure I can do better.

The ultimate goal I want to accomplish (always) is faster response, more definition, a blacker background, lower noise floor

And my question would simply be would a DAC do this for me over what the Shanling brings to the table?

Or does the clock and power supplies in the Shanling hinder that?

I need some education and thoughts!

BlueFox

Information is vital to making a good decision, and that information can come from other's experience, and other sources. I have no idea if this information is useful to you, but it certainly does not hurt to read this review. It certainly has me thinking of upgrading my DAC.

"Starting with the Alpha DAC decoding standard-resolution (44.1kHz/16-bit) sources from the music server, the Alpha DAC delivered some of the best-sounding CD playback I’ve heard. First, the Alpha DAC has that rare (and musically important) quality of resolving lots of information without sounding analytical, hyped, or “hi-fi-like.” The Alpha DAC presents to the listener a tremendous amount of low-level detail such as delicate spatial cues, the finely filigreed harmonic structure that defines instrumental timbres, and the gossamer-like quality of the very end of reverberation tails. Most digital products truncate this information, or present it as coarse and grainy rather than with a silk-like delicacy. A visual analogy is a pixilated image on a digital TV transmission with poor reception. The lower the signal level, the greater this effect.

The Alpha DAC is highly resolving at all signal levels, but it’s this ability to dig down into the lowermost levels that elevates its performance into the top level of digital playback. Just as important, the Alpha DAC doesn’t call attention to its resolution; rather, it is suave, understated, and refined. It’s the kind of resolution that conjures a vivid impression of the mechanism by which an instrument created a sound, the palpability of tone color, and the precise spatial relationships between instruments within a recorded acoustic. All this information is delivered in a completely natural and unforced way, fostering a tremendous sense of ease, relaxation, and musical involvement.

The Alpha DAC is also capable of huge dynamic contrasts, along with a lightning-fast portrayal of transient information. The music swings effortlessly from quiet to full-scale with tremendous speed, but with no sense of etch on the transient leading edges. The rest of my system is particularly adept dynamically (Spectral DMA-360 amplifiers, MIT Oracle MA interconnects and cable, and Wilson X-2 Series 2 loudspeakers) which allowed me to hear the full measure of the Alpha DAC’s extraordinary lifelike reproduction of transients, lack of smearing, and ability to present music’s dynamics intact."

"The Alpha DAC was so good it invited comparison with the best CD playback I’ve heard, the Spectral SDR-4000 Pro CD player."

http://www.avguide.com/review/berkeley-audio-design-alpha-dac

Early B.

FWIW -- I got a blacker background and lower noise floor when I introduced a Balanced Power Technologies 6-outlet power conditioner for around $200.

Sid -- I agree that your weak link is the CDP. The Shanling is good, but not great. There's no point simply using the Shanling as a transport, IMO. Sell it and buy another CDP. There are tons of options out there in your price range, and you're just gonna have to experiment. Just make a decision and go for it.

wizzy

One of these days when I make a run out to Charlotte would love to stop by and hear those super towers.

Aren't those built using the higher end SEAS drivers, including tweet?

W

Face

His speakers appear to use Seas Excel Magnesium woofers and the Millennium tweeter.

heiney9

Early B. wrote: »

FWIW -- I got a blacker background and lower noise floor when I introduced a Balanced Power Technologies 6-outlet power conditioner for around $200.

Sid -- I agree that your weak link is the CDP. The Shanling is good, but not great. There's no point simply using the Shanling as a transport, IMO. Sell it and buy another CDP. There are tons of options out there in your price range, and you're just gonna have to experiment. Just make a decision and go for it.

Couldn't disagree more..............there are some incredible sounding DAC's in your price range and most will stomp a stand alone cdp. If you like the look/build of the Shanling an external DAC is the way to go and you'll get better performance across the board.

H9

steveinaz

2 words: Benchmark Media

Spend the money and do it right the first time.