new DAC...

hi, I've been looking at the current crop of DAC's on ebay (http://electronics.search.ebay.co.u...refZC12QQfromZR8QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsacatZ14969) and are there any that stand out..??

I don't really wanna pay over 300...
I was bidding for the MF a3.24 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5799277339&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEDW:IT&rd=1) but my highest bid was 273...

 

Hi Mr Cat,

I had a conversation with the technician at MF about a fortnight ago about their DACs. The X-DAC V3 apparently has the same dac used in their X-RAY V3 CD player, and is sonically identical. The V3 CD player retails at £900, but the X-DAC V3 is a lot cheaper at £500. I have came across a few X-DAC V3s lately, and you should be able to find one ex-dem or ex-display for £400. Obviously this is more than you are wanting to pay, but I would recommend waiting till you can part with the extra outlay, and go for the V3.

Obviously the newer X-DAC V3 is far superior to the ones we have (the original X-DAC).

I am very happy with my X-DAC, but if I was to upgrade my source, the V3 would be my choice.

 

Many dealers offer home trial for a couple days against a credit card or cash deposit.
Good way to find out which DAC gels with your system.

 

Mr. Cat,

Certainly worth trying in home before buying (unless you can buy at a really good price). I demoed the current MF X-DAC earlier this year and was happy to hand it back. It's presentation was not at all what I was looking for - very 'sparkly' at the top and a bit ponderous down below (IMHO, in my system etc).

Regards,

Stuart.

 

Your best bet is probably a NONOS DAC, like an Ack dAck!

 

NOS-DACs are good.

 

I can possibly get a MF a3.24 for about 330..?? - what do ya think..?

 

It would be a very minor upgrade, methinks...

 

Cat, past arguments aside, if someone gave me £350 to spend on a dac, the A3.24 would be very high on the list. I'd also look out for a DAC20 or Meridian 563/606.

Remember that the A3.24 has a MUCH better power supply stage than the X-DAC V3 (which comes with a $5 wall wart supply as standard). It needs the X-PSU V3 to really sing, which almost doubles the price

DT

 

cheers for that, I think I'll take him up on his offer then...

hopefully I'll get over 100 for mine...!

 

you can actually buy the Musical Fidelity X-DAC V3 on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Musical-Fidel...5802949912QQcategoryZ3272QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

I rang sevenoaks (who are the seller) asking them if they'd accept 300 (as you do) but the guy said no...and that he'd accept 400, but it's only 500 new!
he said he's confident that it would sell a lot more than I was offerering...

 

I've bought the MF a3.24 dac...

 

Congrats!

 

Nice one mate, i'll look forward to reading your thoughts. Where did you buy it from? eBay?

 

yeah, from e-bay - originally it went up for bid, then the guy who won dropped out, then it was relisted, but the winner had bid on another dac (which he also won, and subsequently bought), so, I'm buying on the second chance option...

 

This review says that the DAC 's 1792 chip, outperforms the one in the CDP (which is a 1738 chip).

While another review tells/confirms (see 'Boxing clever') that adding of a DAC to the CDP provides for improvement.

MF crowd better share the same lunchroom during the working week.

 

yeah, here;s a couple of reviews on mine -

http://www.hifichoice.co.uk/review_read.asp?ID=2642

http://www.stereophile.com/digitalsourcereviews/561/

 

How does it work in your system, Mr. Cat. Does it give the improvement you're looking for?

 

I haven't got it yet - just found out I won it when I came into work this morning...the seller only accepts cheque, so, I'm looking at next week I guess...