Bah! First the sub, now this...

Laugh all you want to Mark but at least 2 bake offs the DAC20 was comprehensibly thrashed by an Alpha 9 and an Entech 205.2 number cruncher. At Chris's bake off everyone (I'm sure he can tell us how many exactly) except one preferred the Alpha. At Rory's bake off the Entech was preferred by all 4 listeners. I sold my DAC20 because my Alpha out-performed it and replaced it with the Entech.

 

It was Robbo's bake-off. I just took the 9 along. It was Timpy, I think, who preferred the DAC20. The man of a thousand speakers

 

Chris,

the AA stuff you best listen to that first before saying you'll take it
The FMJ23 is what you need to listen too imho

 

I agree. It's finding one though!

 

I had an Arcam Alpha 6 CDP sometime ago and when I ran it thru a Tag DPA 32 it was wonderfull - when I ran it thru it's own Internal Dac it was KaK.

Anyhow I wasn't comparing the TAG DAC20.

I was commenting on Tagmclaren Being a Step backwards from Arcam.

That's like saying BMW is a step back from Ford.

How we laughed.

Chris will make his own mind up, I'm sure. But to not try the Tag CDT20 would be a crime.

 

And so it should. The Alpha 6/7/8 were part of the common herd. The Alpha 9 isn't. It's different and it's special and it trashed everything up to its price point (£800) and quite a few above it. It's a great shame that Arcam have decided to drop the RingDAC.

Eh? So every BMW is better than every Ford is it? A 3 Series Compact better than a Mondeo Ghia X. Don't make me laugh

 

Yes - quite correct . I'd take a 3 series Compact over any flavour of Mondeo every time.

Michael.

 

Me too, but I'm biased

 

Once upon a time there was a certain Sierra Cosworth...

 

ARH yes the cossie, a rehashed cortina with a blower another 8 valves, some Mag marelli IAW injection system, dodgy rear bushes, leccy windows and some rip snorting Carlos fandangos 15 inch alloys, and a jelly mould shape, rip me a new one boys!!!! whilst playing spot the head gasket receipts
F...............Fixed
O...............Or
R...............Repaired
D...............Daily

B................Brunhilda's
M................Muppet
W...............Wagon

 

Chris,

I am not sure I really get why you want another player. The Arcam should be easily repairable and you are very happy with it so why change? Just sent it off to Arcam and for I guess around £100 it'll be good as new.

However, If you do decide to change, I would certainly recommend you audition the Densen 400XS, as it is a great player as long as you pay attention to mains and supports (which you already do). I think it'd sound great in your system, although its not warm and cuddly sounding. Be aware that the earlier models had reliability issues so get a recent one.

Why not try out a s/h DAC64 with a cheapo DVD player on optical outputs (seriously). Now its not my cup of tea, but there are many happy users out there and who knows you may end up joining them!

Dont bother with the Audio Analogue, as its a bit refined and polite sounding for your tasted I feel.

Cheers, Robbo

 

Robbo,

You're being entirely too sensible. Obviously when a bit of kit breaks it's the perfect excuse to release some of that pent up upgraditis

Michael.

 

I would have to say yes. I'd have a BMW over a Ford any day.

Ford haven't made a decent car since the Modal T.

 

Yeah, Ford Focus RS, clearly pap, all cossies, them too, awful, GT40 , pap....err hang on...

Choosing BMW over a Ford makes sense until you start looking at the lower end of the price spectrum for the beemers IMHO, where you're faced with the prospect of an asthmatic 'poverty spec' 316i, or a V6 Mondeo with pretty much all the toys and niceties you'd want.

The BMW will still be regarded as better by the neighbours and down the golf club, but frankly its spanked in every other department by the Mondeo (purists will cry in favour for the rear wheel drive layout of the Beemer sure, but the drivetrain doesn't make up for the shocking engine compared with the decent lump in the Mondeo)l

 

also if you are 'blessed' with many offspring ford make a nifty galaxy whereas you're looking at an x5 maybe satisfying your needs for 2x the price. that and looking like a 2nd division footballers wife or kelly osbourne in the bimmer.

personally i'd take an unmolested escort cosworth over ANY bmw.

cheers



julian

 

Will, would agree about the poverty spec. I know someone who has a 316i - again, mainly just to say that he has a BMW. There are definate signs of cost cutting at the lower end of the range.

I'm convinced that my dad's 2.0 TCDi 135bhp Zetec Mondeo could give that 316i a good run for it's money!

 

BMW drivers are, by definition, arrogant t$ssers with an inferiority complex, so I don't think it's overly constructive debating with them.

 

nsherin,
my p reg rover would give a poverty spec 316 compact a run for it's money - for a start i'm comfortable driving the rover where the last 3 series i sat in (as a passenger mind) was a claustrophobic experience.

to get the analogy back on track though it's up to chris what he prefers and that seems to be the arcam / dcs sound that he currently has. he's listened to the audiolab already and dislikes it so it could be compared to a ferrari but if the man likes lambo's instead it makes no difference nothing but a lambo will do.
cheers


julian

 

Read that post again, then take a look in the mirror

Michael.

 

I drive an Audi

Never seem to have a problem with Audi drivers, nor Ford, Fiat or just about anything.

But what is it about BMW drivers that causes them to try racing anything on the road, change lanes in traffic whilst adjusting theirinadequate nads, and put their Police or Oakley shades on at the first radio report forcasting sunny intervals