Which DAC should I buy?

Big Dawg

An Onkyo universal DVD has just fallen into my hands and is on its way to me (DV-SP504). I want to get a DAC for it. I've narrowed the choices to the following (although I am open to similarly priced options):

used Parasound DAC-2000 $300
new Little Dot DAC - $250-300
new Musical Fidelity V-DAC $300
used Adcom GDA-6000 $100-150.

Anyone have experience with these? I'll need to buy without listening, although if I buy one of the used pieces it should be minimal risk.

Also, any recommendations as to which digital connection might give the best result?

Thanks!

thsmith

Here is a few on AUdiogon if you could stretch your budget a bit. Try making an offer, you have nothing to lose.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1250127031&/Cambridge-Audio-DAC-Magic

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1250260059&/Muse-Model-2

Big Dawg

Lasareath wrote: »

Hey Dawg,

Have you seen this site?

http://www.obadimports.com/page/page/4377355.htm

Sal

Sal,

Have you used any of those before? Any recommendations?

Mike

Big Dawg

thsmith wrote: »

Here is a few on AUdiogon if you could stretch your budget a bit. Try making an offer, you have nothing to lose.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1250127031&/Cambridge-Audio-DAC-Magic

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1250260059&/Muse-Model-2

The DAC Magic looks interesting - is it much better than the ones I've identified?

venomclan

DAC Magic

wizzy

Little Dot DAC more info here:

http://www.little-tube.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=548&mid=2400

Used Wolfson DAC

wizzy

thsmith wrote: »

Here is a few on AUdiogon if you could stretch your budget a bit. Try making an offer, you have nothing to lose.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1250127031&/Cambridge-Audio-DAC-Magic

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1250260059&/Muse-Model-2

Note you can buy a brand new DACMagic with warranty from spearit for $429, which is only about $40 more than the A'gon listing by the time you add S/H

W

nguyendot

I'm aiming for the V-DAC, though it's a bit ugly.

ward91

i know the cambridge dac is supposed to be good ;
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=320&Title=DacMagic
look at the review page

debussyj

I own both the PS Audio DL III and just picked up the Cambridge Dacmagic 2 weeks ago. I'm using the Dacmagic in my HT system and so far I really like it. I think it produces a nice across the board sound and I love playing with the different settings. I got a nice price for it on Audiogon. You should take a look there. My only negative is the unit physically gets hot when in use. Even hotter than my Mac Mini computer/server. I have a well ventilated cabinet too. I've been experimenting with sorbothane isolation feet to elevate the unit and get more air flow and that helps. Good Luck!

heiney9

The Adcom GDA600 will surprise you. If you are looking for a more open, analog sounding DAC this fits the bill. The newer inexpensive DAC's all seem to have that analytical, digital sound. Never been a fan of Wolfson DAC's.

FWIW

H9

strider

heiney9 wrote: »

The Adcom GDA600 will surprise you. If you are looking for a more open, analog sounding DAC this fits the bill. The newer inexpensive DAC's all seem to have that analytical, digital sound. Never been a fan of Wolfson DAC's.

FWIW

H9

So far the Pacific Valve Fathom I just got is anything but analytical. Non oversampling, eight TDA-1543 chips. I only have about four hours on it, though, so take my comments with a grain of salt for the time being.

AndyGwis

If you need another option, I have an older Theta DAC (Pro Progeny) I could let go for around $300. It retailed for $1200 a few years back and still looks and sounds great. I've used it with a bunch transports / players over the past few years and thought it improved the sound quality of each one.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77585

toobwacky

You might consider a Sony EP9ES. They can be found used between $100 and $150.

Not only is it a really good DAC, but a comprehensive processor that will give you volume, balance, quasi parametric EQ and, if you want it, surround sound processing all remote controllable.

I am so impressed by its sound and capabilities, that I bought 3 (2 are stored as back-ups) because I never want to be without one. BTW, I use it mostly for 2 channel music listening.

Systems

If you can snag a 600 for less than $200 I doubt you will be disappointed and the V-DAC at $300 looks interesting, at least on paper.The 600 uses what was then Burr Browns best dac chip the PCM63's which was the chip of choice for most of the hi end DAC's in the 90's.The all important analog stage is biased into class A (and directly coupled) aswell it has separate power supplies for the digital and analog sections.All in all a nice piece for what they can be had for.

The V-Dac uses Burr Brown's newer generation DSD1792 which is now one of the most widely used dac chips used in hi end CDP's and DAC's .It also incorporates a sample rate converter which not only upsamples the data, it reduces jitter.Unfortunatly I can't find any details about the analog sections design or the op amps they are using.For $300 it's may be a sleeper.

nspindel

I just got the Little Dot DAC and am EXTREMELY impressed. For the money, I don't see how this can be beat.

mizthuphee

hi all, does anybody in the forum have any experience on this dac? http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Vintage-Audio-Lab_Digital-to-Analog-Converter_W0QQ_fsubZ225604719QQ_sidZ314713499QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322#item3ef55d9964
I was contemplating on V-DAC, Beresford TC 7520 & Musiland MD10 but I bumped into this. The reviews are very intriguing, checkout Audiogon: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?rdgtl&1227383057
Even Steve of Empirical Audio said "It is great sounding with a low-jitter input" and for modders, he recommended..."3.3uFd V-Cap oils bypassed with .22uFd Sonicap Platinums. These require some weeks of break-in BTW. This will be a world-class DAC with these caps. Not as good as my Overdrive, but beating most DAC's in the $10K range"

kolyan2k

mizthuphee wrote: »

hi all, does anybody in the forum have any experience on this dac? http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Vintage-Audio-Lab_Digital-to-Analog-Converter_W0QQ_fsubZ225604719QQ_sidZ314713499QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322#item3ef55d9964
I was contemplating on V-DAC, Beresford TC 7520 & Musiland MD10 but I bumped into this. The reviews are very intriguing, checkout Audiogon: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?rdgtl&1227383057
Even Steve of Empirical Audio said "It is great sounding with a low-jitter input" and for modders, he recommended..."3.3uFd V-Cap oils bypassed with .22uFd Sonicap Platinums. These require some weeks of break-in BTW. This will be a world-class DAC with these caps. Not as good as my Overdrive, but beating most DAC's in the $10K range"

same design as DAC-AH from Pacific Valve

concealer404

debussyj wrote: »

I own both the PS Audio DL III and just picked up the Cambridge Dacmagic 2 weeks ago. I'm using the Dacmagic in my HT system and so far I really like it. I think it produces a nice across the board sound and I love playing with the different settings. I got a nice price for it on Audiogon. You should take a look there. My only negative is the unit physically gets hot when in use. Even hotter than my Mac Mini computer/server. I have a well ventilated cabinet too. I've been experimenting with sorbothane isolation feet to elevate the unit and get more air flow and that helps. Good Luck!

Extremely stupid question.... could you explain how the DAC is used in an HT scenario?

BlueFox

GV#27,

I went with your suggestion, and ordered a Bryston BDA-1. I was told it would take a couple of weeks since Bryston hand builds each unit, and tests it, before shipping. I am looking forward to hearing how it compares to the Benchmark Dac1 Pre it will replace.

Thanks for the recommendation.

Systems

concealer404 wrote: »

Extremely stupid question.... could you explain how the DAC is used in an HT scenario?

Well it would have to be 2 channel PCM because it can't decode Dolby Digital or DTS datastreams.

Systems

BlueFox wrote: »

GV#27,

I went with your suggestion, and ordered a Bryston BDA-1. I was told it would take a couple of weeks since Bryston hand builds each unit, and tests it, before shipping. I am looking forward to hearing how it compares to the Benchmark Dac1 Pre it will replace.

Thanks for the recommendation.

Hey Congrats and your welcome. I'm envious.Those are two heavy hitters so it will be interesting to get your feedback on that comparison.

debussyj

I'm basically using the Dacmagic for 2 channel listening with my Marantz receiver. I'm not using the onboard DAC of the Marantz for 2 channel. I have it connected to my Mac Mini computer, which is loaded with AIFF music files. I like having the ability to store lots of tunes in one place and use my Itouch as a remote control to play DJ. I also use it with my multi-room outdoor speakers as the only way to connect a device for multi-room is via analog. It works/sounds pretty good this way. DJ

debussyj

Hey Bluefox (Bud),

The Bryston has always intrigued me and was one of my first choices for DAC in my serious 2 channel room. From what I've heard, it blows away the PS Audio (without mods) and Dacmagic for sure. The only drag is, it isn't cheap. Let me know what you think of it. DJ

BlueFox

Colleen/GV#27

I will be more than happy to give my opinion of the Bryston, and how it compares to the Benchmark. Price wise it was only a couple of hundred more than the Benchmark at a shop I found online. So, even if it is only a little better than the Dac1, I will not have too much buyer’s remorse.

POIDOG

mizthuphee wrote: »

hi all, does anybody in the forum have any experience on this dac? http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Vintage-Audio-Lab_Digital-to-Analog-Converter_W0QQ_fsubZ225604719QQ_sidZ314713499QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322#item3ef55d9964


Yes. I recently purchased and paired it with a Sony SCD-CE775 and it greatly opened the sound stage and the Sony became less muffled. The design is very similiar to the PV Fathom. Would give the edge to the PV, however, the Valab price was too good to pass.

Bill

mizthuphee

Bill,
thanks for the reply. just curious, has the Valab been burned in? from what i've read, it need at least 200 hours to burn it in? it'll be interesting if your opinion will change when it is completely burned in. if you find time to post your observation, i'll appreciate it.

Pat

POIDOG

mizthuphee wrote: »

Bill,
thanks for the reply. just curious, has the Valab been burned in? from what i've read, it need at least 200 hours to burn it in? it'll be interesting if your opinion will change when it is completely burned in. if you find time to post your observation, i'll appreciate it.

Pat

Yes, I burned it in 24/7 for a week. Vintage Lab recommended 3 days. As time went by I began to pick up nuances never heard in my music before. Wait a minute those are the voices in my head Sorry, just kidding.
The bass is definitely tighter. Again, I think the PV Fathom has an edge, but not by much, especially when you consider the slight cost difference.

By the way I had to send the Fathom back, which is why I ended up with Valab. $200.00,free shipping, had in 3 days. :cool:

debussyj

Hey Bluefox (Bud),

So how's the Bryston working out for you? Any initial impressions?

DJ

george daniel

I just found a minty Adcom GDA 600for 100 smackers,,should be here in a day or two. I'm happy with that deal.

Big Dawg

george daniel wrote: »

I just found a minty Adcom GDA 600for 100 smackers,,should be here in a day or two. I'm happy with that deal.

Did you buy that on eBay? I saw a minty one there just too late for $100....

I'm jealous, but at least a Polkie got it.....