Do you have a DAC in your rack?

tonyv1

More info
Straight from Audiolab.com:
Jitter - A tendency towards lack of synchronization caused by electrical changes. Technically the unexpected (and unwanted) phase shift of digital pulses over a transmission medium. A discrepancy between when a digital edge transition is supposed to occur and when it actually does occur - think of it as nervous digital, or maybe a digital analogy to wow and flutter.

HBombToo

Originally posted by tonyv1

think of it as nervous digital

Perfect!

H

jrausch

-Joe

Take another look at that Dodson. The DAC is in the shielded box to reduce any interferance with the power supply. The man who designed these DAC's is no spring chicken.

"Ralph Dodson is a retired scientist from the “secret” black box division of General Dynamics. He has, as he says, spent at least half of a lifetime designing digital circuits for warplanes and missiles as well as space rockets. Rather than sitting on a San Diego beach among other retirees, he’s putting this tremendous experience to use in designing one of the finest digital products I’ve seen."

"a Faraday shield protects the whole digital section and the circuit boards are 4-layered, using fully differential paths inside the boards; these aspects protect the signal from undue outside interferences. Dodson obviously carefully picked the algorithm options to give the desired Dodson specifications."


Although SACD players may be cheaper it also means I would have to replace my entire collection of 250 CD's with SACD versions if they even are available. Add the cost of doing that and a used Dodson seems to be the better bargain. For those with small CD collections it's no big loss to buy a SACD player. The SACD players that upsample old 16/44.1 CD's like the Dodson are way out of most sane people's budgets.

Frank Z

Originally posted by jrausch
FrankZ,


We should hook up some time for beer and Demo's. I have a great 2/ch Lsi rig with a nice parasound DAC. I will be working for Soundtrack in the near future and would like to get some opinions on Pioneer elite in a home setting. Let me know if you’re down.
Aurora, CO

Jrausch,
I'm not much of a drinking man but your welcome to come by. I tried to send you an email but it seems you have not enabled that function in your profile. Weekends work for me.

jrausch

-Frank


I changed my profile to show e-mail. A future weekend would be cool. I'll bring everthing but the Lsi's since we both have the same model.

-Jer

joe logston

hi jrausch, you are right it is isolated in the box, though on mine aragon d2a i can keep the power spply 6' away plus the processer is isolated in the box to,used it could be had for $300 or $400 be sure it haves the upgrade power supply ( ips ) in the pyrmid box not the small square box.
frank & jeausch, had to ask, i wish i can come over to and join in on a demo
but vegas is to far from you guys.

Frank Z

Originally posted by joe logston
frank & jeausch, had to ask, i wish i can come over to and join in on a demo
but vegas is to far from you guys.

Joe,
Come on over...We'll get all liquored up on near-beer!

joe logston

ok wish i could got to get to work late now be on later bye

George Grand

I have an Audio Alchemy DDE V1.0 that I've used since 1994, getting fed from the legendary CD-3400 Radio Shack portable as a transport only. Dick Sequerra, the guy who made some of the finest FM tuners known to man, described this Radio Shack as a absolute giant killer. The Rat Shack/Audio Alchemy combo is "sweeter" than any other cd player, or combo that I've heard. It only lacks the "slam" factor need for rock. So I don't use it for rock, or Telarcs. For jazz (REAL jazz, not the smooth-ola sonic wallpaper), and some non-Telarc symphonic pieces, it is a major player. The Rat Shack sounds its cleanest when using batteries rather than the big custom-made power supply that I got for it (this Rat Shack started up a cottage industry for tweaks), but I use the power supply more often than not.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grand's)

madmax

George,
How did you end up scoring a CD-3400? I've looked around for years after reading the articles!
madmax

madmax

Originally posted by freid


Hey Madmax,
How would you rate the DV-47Ai for 2ch music.

Thanks

I'm still afraid to rate it because it sounds so much different than my turntable and my Luxman CD player. The bass is stronger and tighter, the highs seem a little more harsh but more detailed and the midrange is down a notch. (note that my turntable and Luxman are extremely close to each other in sound). Let's put it this way, the Luxman is going to be hooked up as well until I can figure out which one is more truthful. Sorry, I guess this doesn't help you much. I had hoped the DV-47Ai would be the flat out winner but many things are better while some are worse. Right now I think the frequency response of the turntable and Luxman is flatter and the DV-47Ai is much more detailed. I'm too confused to give a real review. I'm sure the DV-47Ai would win out for most people.
madmax

joe logston

hi madmax, try to relign your speakers and your highs will come into focus and you will get cleaner highs, dacs players need the speakers to be set almost perfect. dats give a almost perfect sound so your speaker need to be set perfect. try it.

HBombToo

Originally posted by F1nut
"A real good high-end player will have better clocks than the cheaper players, but even some better players will benefit from an external DAC or a upgrade to a super clock.

I hear smoother base with the Dac than I do with whats in the h/k.

call me Bombed:rolleyes:

HBombToo

Originally posted by madmax001


Right now I think the frequency response of the turntable and Luxman is flatter and the DV-47Ai is much more detailed.

its not a lower snr?

so i'll ask a question... from what i have read the 45 has has a different vidio circuit. The 45 has a 10 bit DAC and the 47 is 12, so why the 300 dollar difference?

Bombed

madmax

I have moved and re-moved everything. I'll take the advice and move around a little more though. $300 difference? I have no clue. I will say that I got mine for $700 on line and feel it was an excellent deal for the performance. As I said, I'm still a little confused and will keep up with changes until I get it as right as I can. I wasn't putting down the DV-47Ai, just stating that I have not decided what I think about it yet given my setup. I do find it odd that the frequency response is so different than my turntable and luxman CD player which happen to be the same. In no way am I putting down the DV-47Ai, yet. Next month though, who knows.
madmax

weiser

I plan on purchasing a Sonic Frontiers D/A converter and am trying to get my head around the installation path. In my system the Sonic Frontiers D/A will accept the signal from my Marantz DV4200 digital coaxial output thus disabling the dvd player to transport only. From the D/A converter you are left with L/R RCA ( or XLR Balanced ) outputs to ? I am presently using my Marantz receiver as a pre-amp for 2 channel listening ( Anthem tube amp into pre-outs of receiver ). I assume that I would hook the D/A into the Main-Ins L/R of receiver or?

You have not lived until you have heard a good EL-34 tube amp!
Can't wait to buy the Jolida tube cd player and Sonic Frontiers pre-amp but until then.......................................

madmax

Originally posted by weiser
You have not lived until you have heard a good EL-34 tube amp!

I've lived, I know what you are saying.
madmax

weiser

In reply to my last post yesterday!

Or am I better off buying a separate cd player like the Jolida tube 100?

polkatese

ok, here I go again...

Just want to see what people says about outboard DAC and whether it is a wise investment. I have read two brand that seems to get a lot of rave reviews: Musical Fidelity 3.24 upsampling DAC and Bel Canto DAC2. I am leaning towards MF since I am not willing to spend too much bookoo for this experience. It will be paired with Sony XA3ES. The dealer that I was dealing with actually advise me to reconsider and go with a universal players (he suggested Marantz DV-8400, even though I mentioned the objective, that is to breath a second life to my Sony CDP) He felt that at that price, the investment might be better spend into a more updated inboard DAC. So, here I am reaching out and rehearse what you guys recommend to be a prudent man approach for the cure this disease??

On a separate note, for the fun on it, I've been comparing and trying to hear the difference between HDCD player and non. I use my Denon 3800 (HDCD) and Philips SACD-1000 (non HDCD) and use a HDCD encoded redbook to hear the difference. Sadly, I failed to hear difference that I would say worth the efforts. After an hour of going back and forth, I can't really say HDCD is actually make a difference, or I felt that what I heard, if there is any difference, seem to be more placebo than reality (or maybe I was just tired and start hearing things that were there in both cases). Is this what it amounts to or I am missing something? I use discrete analog output in both cases. I am most interested to hear your opinion. For the test, I use Pieces of Dreams HDCD-Acquinted with the night Pieces of Dreams HDCD-Acquinted with the night thanks all...

dcarlson

I can't say anything about DACs.

Do you have any other HDCDs to test with? Neil Young - Silver and Gold is excellently recorded.

polkatese

derick,
I don't have that cd....

danger boy

My long awaited DAC for my rack should (should) arrive on Thurs. I'll hook it up and find out whether it makes a difference in my system or not. I suspect it will. from what i've been reading and stuff.

FYI the DAC is a California Audio Labs Alpha Tube DAC circa 1995 or 96

Al

dcarlson

Here's a list of all HDCDs, I think.

dcarlson

Here's a list of all HDCDs, I think.

dcarlson

Whoops, a little trigger happy here.

http://www.hdcd.com/music_catalog/music.asp?action=AtoZ&alph=All&submit=1

polkatese

Thanks for the list, bud! I'll go through it and see if I can revisit my experiment with a difference album.

Al,
do let us know how you like your new DAC, Cal Audio has also been mentioned favorably...

HBombToo

Originally posted by danger boy
My long awaited DAC for my rack should (should) arrive on Thurs. I'll hook it up and find out whether it makes a difference in my system or not. I suspect it will. from what i've been reading and stuff.

FYI the DAC is a California Audio Labs Alpha Tube DAC circa 1995 or 96

Al

With a BIG PLEASE... do provide a review because I have been tracking that very same DAC on audiogon and would LOVE to have 1!!!!

You LUCKY DOG! You should be very pleased with Cal Audio!!!!

HBomb

Tour2ma

Cal Audio... very sweet...

Just getting into the DAC and jitter reduction trials here. Audio Alchemy DTE and DTI V1.0's have arrived. Also nabbed an AA transport and Controller. Sweet old equipment from the company that shot DACs' price/ performance curve all to hell.

We shall see...

George Grand

Max,

I bought the Rat Shack CD-3400 new from Rat Shack in 1994.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grand's)

danger boy

The DAC arrived today as promised. Yeah baby!

FYI. I had a root canal today.. so i'm way looped up on antibiotics and pain killers. Gotta love that Hydrocodone for pain

Anyway. The DAC was home when I got home. I was moving slow.. but I had to take the cover off to install the tubes. Very easy to do... remove the screws, lift the cover off.. install tubes.. simple.

I wired the DAC from my existing DVD player (Toshiba SD4700) using a moster coax digital cable to the rear of the DAC. The DAC defaults to the coax when you turn it on anyway.

Once everything was hooked up.. I hit the rear on/off button... then you have to take it out of stand by. It takes about 1 minute for it to warm up and go thur it's own protection circuit check before you will hear any sounds.

First off I listened to Coldplays A Rush of Blood to the Head.. hmmmm? Where is the bass? Then I remembered that particular CD lacks bass anyway. So out with it. I replaced it with the other Coldplay CD Parachutes.. ahhhhhh, bass is back and plenty of it. At this point I had to turn down my sub way down... as it seemed the Cal Audio Alpha tube DAC added a little, not much more bass.

It also felt like I had lost a slight amount of openness too. The soundstage on the left and right speakers seems to have narrowed a bit. Not bad.. but I did have to toe in the right speaker just a little bit more.

What i really noticed more than anything.. is that my brightness problem that you may have read from another post was still there.. although not as harsh as before. still a tinge bright... but that's not because of the DAC, it's coming from some other place in my system.

Now for the good part. I am hearing things from CD's that i've never heard before. ... and it's great. The DAC brought to the front.. subtle instruments, background voices, singers, and a more lively wall of sound if you will. Music now seems complete.. it opened up the highs without adding brightness. Before my CD's sounded muddy.. now they are more clean and clear sounding. It's like there is better seperation from the upper frequencies now.

Like I read on the audioreview site when doing my homework on DAC's. Several people there mentioned that they have now been listening to their CD's again.. and rediscovering them all over again. I can certainly agree with that.

Although I've only had it a few hours at this time.. I feel that it was worth adding it to my system and it will remain there for CD two channel listening.

Did it give me the "wow" factor? No, it didn't. BUt it did make an improvement in the sound quality.. and bottom line that is where I needed to be.. cleaner and clearer sound.

Can I recommened everyone get an external DAC? No, but it you want to get a more full and complete listening experience from your redbook CD's. It will be worth it to add a DAC. Especially if you listen to music as much as I do.

Finally. While in my system I do use quality interconnects... today i used only poorly build left and right interconnects, I found in the closet. I didn't have any good ones laying around. Once I do get some decent interconnects.. it may open up even more. If it doesn't... then i'm not in any way unhappy about the purchase.

In case you're wondering how much it cost. This one cost me $350 + $25 shipping. Retailed for $1400 back in 1994 when it was new. It's 18 bit resolution, 64 times oversampling rate, 8 seperate regulated power supplies, two Mullard tubes. 1 happy owner. ha ha ha.