Another DAC thread:PS3+DAC=Goodness?

thsmith

I am interest in your feedback on 3 questions. I use my PS3 as my CDP connected to my AVR. I know a better CDP is probably best solution but that is not going to happen right now. I would run optical from PS3 to DAC and analog from DAC to AVR.

Digital SQ currently is good, I think Vinyl is better in my system and looking for digital SQ improvement.

I have read some of the threads on DACs here which most of the technical terms escape me and the general thoughts are you need to spend greater than $1000 for a good DAC.

According to Denon this is the technical infor on my AVRs DAC
24-bit/192-kHz DACs – Burr-Brown PCM-1791 DSD-1608
24-bit/192-kHz DACs - Analog Devices
Analog-to-Digital Conversion - Bit Depth/Sampling Rate 24-bit/96kHz Burr-Brown PCM-1803


Would a DAC like the ones listed below make a nice improvement is SQ for the money?

Opinions of these DACs?

For the same $$ ballpark as the DACs below is there another I should consider?

Musical Fidelity x-dac v3
Cambridge Audio DACMagic
Adcom GDA-700

Thanks for your input/feedback

Systems

Keep in mind that you can't judge the quality of a DAC just from the part#of the actual chip used.The analog output stage and the power supply/regulator schemes will have a big influence on the final SQ achieved.

thsmith

Agree but I am hoping that someone with more knowledge about DACs than me (which is easy since I have little knowledge) can make recommendations.

Systems

The Adcom GDA600, Monarchy 18 and 22 are other worthwhile candidates.The Benchmark DAC1 is the DAC in the $1000 range.

thsmith

Thanks GV#27. Should I expect an improved musical SQ with any of these?

I can get the Adcom 600 for $175, fair price ?

A Monarchy 22B upgraded with Burr Brown's PCM1704K 24/96 for about $600, fair price?

The DAC1 seem to have revisions, is there are particular series that should be avoided ?

Systems

thsmith wrote: »

Thanks GV#27. Should I expect an improved musical SQ with any of these?

vs using a PS3 as your CDP ,one would hope so.

I can get the Adcom 600 for $175, fair price ?

Yes

A Monarchy 22B upgraded with Burr Brown's PCM1704K 24/96 for about $600, fair price?

IMO thats maybe abit high but not unreasonable

The DAC1 seem to have revisions, is there are particular series that should be avoided ?

All the revisions are based on the same D/A section, some just adding features like USB capability and preamp functions.I understand that there some differences in the IC op amps used in the analog sections,but by all accounts all rev's are excellent performers.

BlueFox

The Cambridge-Audio DacMagic was reviewed 2-3 months ago in stereophile, and the reviewer said it was equal to the Cambridge-Audio 840C CD player in sound quality. Incidentally, the reviewer used a 15 year old Marantz CD player as the digital transport.

thsmith

Thanks

Any additional feedback?

fbm211

If I were to do it all over again I would have waited and saved up enough to get the Benchmark DAC-1. That said my GDA-600 is still a fine DAC as many will tell you. You can find the DAC-1 for around 675.00 at times on audiogon...The PS audio Digital link III is a good choice too.

Face

The DacMagic does sound very similar to the 840C. I have both, but haven't compared them in the same rig yet.

It's phase and filter functions also make it very versatile.

thsmith

fbm211 wrote: »

If I were to do it all over again I would have waited and saved up enough to get the Benchmark DAC-1. That said my GDA-600 is still a fine DAC as many will tell you. You can find the DAC-1 for around 675.00 at times on audiogon...The PS audio Digital link III is a good choice too.

I keep back to something I read earlier about only crying once. The Benchmark is haunting me.

bigred7078

my buddy just got a Music Hall 25.2 DAC. We did some extensive listening with it, and he did a blind test with me listening to it. It was so incredibly easy to pick out when the external DAC was being used because the mids popped, the soundstage widened and drew forward. It was actually pretty amazing. It retails for about $600.