Which DAC should I buy?

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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited June 2009
    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.

    Congrats, Great deal.
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited June 2009
    Big Dawg wrote: »
    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.....

    Nope,, I googled,, one popped up on the Salem Oregon Craigslist,,e-mailed,spoke with the seller,,shipped out on Sat.,,,he even threw in a digital cable,,original owner.Can't wait to get it in the 1C rig.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited June 2009
    Nice Find.I bet you have a s**t eating grin on your face for getting it at that price.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited June 2009
    I do,,;) is there anything that I can do to tweak it,given it's age that would be cost/performance worthy?
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited June 2009
    Upgading the opamps in the analog stage and power supply decoupling caps are two possible tweaks.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited December 2009
    I guess that GV is not around anymore,,but thanks to your previous posts,and suggestions/help and understanding from Ben,,I finally got the correcdt parts for the op amp upgrade in,,and WOW,, what a difference.You made mention in a previous post than I cannot find now,,about bypassing to little thingys,, right at the output stage on the board,,filters??,, in order to bring out the "flavors" of the new op amps,, I'll keep searching IIRC they are J 500 and 501
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • backsigns
    backsigns Posts: 87
    edited December 2009
    George, I'd be very interested in hearing about the parts and upgrade of the 600:D
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited December 2009
    Lemme get home,, but the op opa's were obtained from here-- the price is for 1,,so in my case I had to buy 2--
    here you go--

    http://cimarrontechnology.com/twopre-mountedopa627auop-ampson020302adapterpnopa627au-020302s.aspx
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • backsigns
    backsigns Posts: 87
    edited December 2009
    Yeah, I would need two also, I have the same DAC. I was hoping for parts #'s and stuff, if you have it available. I am redoing my ancient equipment, and I would love to include this upgrade.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,259
    edited December 2009
    george daniel wrote: »
    Lemme get home,, but the op opa's were obtained from here-- the price is for 1,,so in my case I had to buy 2--
    here you go--

    http://cimarrontechnology.com/twopre-mountedopa627auop-ampson020302adapterpnopa627au-020302s.aspx

    George, that is AWESOME!!! Do you have a write up somewhere? I would love to upgrade my 600. Are the chip modules plug-n- play? Maybe you could provide some photos when you get a chance just so I have a reference. I'm on this ASAP as soon as I know what I'l looking for/doing.

    Thanks

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited December 2009
    Yep,, simply de-solde,and pop the browndogs in,solder and you are good,,, now if I had to do it over again,I would buy a socket, then bam,, you can roll opamps like tubes,but I was/am impatient so I just used the browndogs and soldered them in,and I'll say it again,, much improved dunamics overall,,the highs just sparkle,but not in a bright way,,it really is like something woke the adcom up,,much more lively/fast,,but still retains that analoggy sound,,I'll post some pics,,but trust me,,it's easy to do,,just need a good de-soldering tool,,and iron,,there is also a newer op amp--the burson, which is supposed to be very very good,,I'll post some pic's of mine in this thread in a few:)

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92617&highlight=george
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,259
    edited December 2009
    george daniel wrote: »
    Yep,, simply de-solde,and pop the browndogs in,solder and you are good,,, now if I had to do it over again,I would buy a socket, then bam,, you can roll opamps like tubes,but I was/am impatient so I just used the browndogs and soldered them in,and I'll say it again,, much improved dunamics overall,,the highs just sparkle,but not in a bright way,,it really is like something woke the adcom up,,much more lively/fast,,but still retains that analoggy sound,,I'll post some pics,,but trust me,,it's easy to do,,just need a good de-soldering tool,,and iron,,there is also a newer op amp--the burson, which is supposed to be very very good,,I'll post some pic's of mine in this thread in a few:)

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92617&highlight=george

    Sounds good. I just need a few photo's so I make sure I know what I'm looking at :p
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • backsigns
    backsigns Posts: 87
    edited December 2009
    What he said! And thanks!
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited December 2009
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Sounds good. I just need a few photo's so I make sure I know what I'm looking at :p

    these are supposed to be stellar,, i'm gonna put them in my CD player and do a comparasion,,hopefully

    http://www.bursonaudio.com/burson_opamp.htm
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,259
    edited December 2009
    Does anyone have a schematic for the GDA 600. I'd like to replace some of the caps as well w/Auricaps but since they are a bit pricey I don't want to replace caps that aren't in the signal path.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • backsigns
    backsigns Posts: 87
    edited December 2009
    I've got one, but I don't know how to get it to you, doh never mind I figured it out:rolleyes:

    How about sharing that info with me, since I can't tell the signal path from a hiking trail:D
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited December 2009
    heiney9 wrote: »
    Does anyone have a schematic for the GDA 600. I'd like to replace some of the caps as well w/Auricaps but since they are a bit pricey I don't want to replace caps that aren't in the signal path.

    That is next for me,,I was thinling either auri's or sonic's,,let me know which ones you come up with,,and I'll do the same.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,259
    edited December 2009
    george daniel wrote: »
    That is next for me,,I was thinling either auri's or sonic's,,let me know which ones you come up with,,and I'll do the same.

    Will do George. I really like the sound of the Auricaps in my Dared units, but either would be great. I'll look at $$$ and physical dimensions to decide. Keep me in the loop as I have a feeling you might get around to it a little quicker than me. :)

    The main thing I want to avoid it taking the really analog sound and making it to sterile. I'd like to see it open up just a bit and flesh out a bit more midrange and perhaps increase the attack of notes a bit. It's a very analog sounding DAC in stock form.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited December 2009
    H9-- I'm gonna let the opamps burn in a tad,, it stills sounds analog, but with more detail on the high end,,it is definately not as laid back,, more detailed without the "veiled" sound,for lack of a better word,,now I did swap transports,and it likes the Rotel 855--bone stock better,, so I'm thinking that I'm, gonna go with auricaps or something along that line. I also removed and jumped the high freq filters at the output stage. But overall the detail is much improved,,the wife(who has better ears than I) said that this is the best it has sounded yet,,I'll keep you posted as to the opa's as they burn in,,hopefully a tad more to the analog side.All for now--george
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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