DAC's (again!!) - Advice Needed

Sorry to bring this up again, be gentle!!

I am considering getting a cheap (£100-£150max) DAC to add to my CD6000 OSE and minidisc deck (possibly).

What suggestions do people have, I'll consider new, used, ex-dem, branded, unbranded, imported, anything really as long as its good.

Would prefer to avoid ebay if possible.

Obviously, if I won't notice a difference, let me know and I won't bother wasting my money!!

Thanks

Andrew

 

IMO to get a reall improvvment over your CD player you need a more expensive DAC.

unless you find some huge bargain.

some meridian 200 series perhaps.

 

You don't need an expensive DAC. See this thread

Michael.

 

However it is transport sensitive

 

Have a word with the chap who started this thread . The more who are interested the more likely it is to happen I guess

 

Thanks for the replies, I had seen the "Less is More" thread but the one on ebay at the moment is getting a little expensive, especially once I have added customs charges to it, do you think the seller has more of them that I could buy directly?

I'll have a work about the ISDac, bit over my budget at the moment, but I suppose I could ask if there are cheaper components or something to keep my costs down.

Are there any branded ones I should keep an eye out for, or would I be better off with one of these unknown/DIY ones?

Thanks

Andrew

 

There's always the superDAC of course, and you can mod it up when funds allow.

 

I have heard a lot about those, which places sell them?

My choices so far are the M-Audio, NOS (if I can buy directly) and a Meridian 200 series, have I missed any?

If there are any branded older ones, I'll sick a post up on AVforums or something, everyone seems to have them spare over there!!

These are on offer at the moment, http://www.octave-electronics.com/Kits/dac.shtml
Not sure what they are like though.

Thanks

Andrew

 

http://www.makingwavesaudio.com/productsearch.asp?name=M AUDIO SUPERDAC 24/96

Occasionally come up on ebay as well.

 

How would that one compare to:
1) the NOS
2) a Meridian 203
3) a DPA The Little bit
4) Musical Fidelity X-ACT

I chose these at random because they seem to sell for around the £100 mark, I have probably missed some, but no idea which ones.

Thanks

Andrew

 

I may well have a zero o/s dac, like Michael's, got one to try for some fun, you may be welcome to it if you can wait a few weeks.

 

I'm more than happy to wait a while, I won't actually have the money for a couple of weeks anyway (starting my new job).

Did you manage to buy it off ebay or directly?

Thanks

Andrew

 

Well I am waiting for mine to arrive, its still from the far east, more later, seems very professionally made.
Will be Happy to sell at cost price, too, so I have to go thro' the rigmarole of customs and all that.

keep you posted.

if Michael says these are better than a dac64, it will probably be better than the others, and worth a few hundred quid, since the 64 costs 2k.

the x-act I havn'te had xp of myself, I had the other 2 mf dacs, xdac and x24, not a lot between them, I would give the x24 a couple of % better but totally insignificant. They were typcially smooth and inoffensive.

dpa great reputation, now defunct so repairs are tricky.

there is always audio alchemy, too, but I didn't think too highly of the dac in box, dde's are better, a tad grainy at the top but huge sound.

 

Audio Alchemy stuff sounds great I had the Dacman for a while. You can't fix them if they break though. There might be a Pink Triangle Da Capo about at your price if you search and are patient

 

meridian 203 was ok... a little soft and warm for my tastes.... Audiolab DAC's are fairly good value secondhand if you can get a 1996 or later model. Good clean sound with plenty of dynamics and bass... and not too transport dependant.

Avoid the cheapo ones... like cambridge audio.... my £600 DVD player sounds better playing CD's that those bloody things... they sounded artificial and electronic.

 

I was tempted with the zero o/s one when I read the review here, but if you have no intention of keeping yours, I might as well save the hassle of customs etc.

I'll certainly keep an eye out for the others, but I don't think I have seen any of them on ebay or anywhere else so far.

Thanks

Andrew

 

The guy who sells the DAC I bought makes them and always has an auction going so if you miss this one (it has got a bit expensive) there's always another one down the line. However, it seems like interest in them has been whipped up now so it may be more difficult to pay as little as I did

Michael.

 

I have emailed the seller of those to see if he has another available (at the original price).

Will let you know what he says

Andrew

 

Anyone have any experience of these:
http://scott-nixon.com/dac.htm

They seem pretty cheap, especially if I buy my own box from maplin's

Andrew

There is also an audio alchemy on ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=81741&item=5734425769&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

Are these any good?

 

Hi,

May I ask WHY you want a DAC? What particular sonic changes do you expect/desire?

Generally the CD6000 has a lot of potential, sonically, if suitably modded. Maybe the 150 squid would be better put into that?

Ciao T