Advice on Dacs please

[Effem]

I agree with Tony that there is nowt wrong with 16 bit 44.1khz provided it's properly implemented.

Just bought an old Wadia 12 DAC and this baby can show the new kids on the block a thing or two I will say though it's very particular about what cables it wants to get the best out of it, as wet string and cheapo interconnects just aint man enough!

 

[wadia-miester]

Frank,

Put some decent power into the 12, and it'll really wake up sir

 

[Effem]

Too right Tony

Put a silver power cord on it yesterday and it's really cookin' now :MILD:

This week I'll crack the lid off and see what can be done inside :JOEL:

 

[wadia-miester]

I meant a good lead Frank

This should help also Frank Wadia 12 bottom of the page. T.

 

[Effem]

I already have Tony, before I whacked in the power cord

I bought some fantastic cable in from the states to use as a co-ax lead. Silver plated with Kapton and Teflon dielectric and it's tiny being only 2mm. Finally found an AT&T glass lead from a seller in Germany which should be here this week and I'm keen to hear how this performs.

 

[wadia-miester]

Its not bad Frank, but there is better

 

[pariahuk]

Id like some general comments on the Chord DAC 64?

 

[rsand]

Id like some general comments on the Chord DAC 64?

https://www.audio-forums.com/as-rediect/showthread.php?t=8806

 

[Lt Cdr Data]

its ok, bit better than a marantz, high output makes it sound better tahn it is, hardish glassy digital mid can make it a bit unpleasant to my ears.

 

[badchamp]

DAC 64 I used to have one. In my system it did good hi-fi and looked good, the 4 sec buffer took a bit of getting used to (odd having music continuing after you've taken the CD out!) .It did OK but in the pursuit of music I went to one of these

There's also some chat about the DAC 64 here. Otherwise a search on ZG shold turn up a number of threads dealing with the 64.

 

[Joe]

Id like some general comments on the Chord DAC 64?

I'm using one, with an ageing Arcam Alpha CDP as transport.

It sounds excellent to my ears, presenting a wide and deep musical 'image' with plenty of detail combined with a non-fatiguing sound quality. Sort of analogue-like, but not to the extent of being over-soft.

The only downside is that it does, as someone commented, have a high output, so I'm currently investigating ways of attenuating the signal to give me a bit more control over the volume. The Rothwell attenuators had a negative effect on sound quality, so next up are some attenuated phono leads.

I should add that I've not heard some of the alternatives mentioned, such as the NOS DAC, but the DAC 64 comfotrably betters any others I've heard.