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The DAC when money is no object

post #1 of 69
3/15/07 at 12:53am
Thread Starter 
If money were no object which DAC would you buy?
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post #2 of 69
3/15/07 at 1:43am
DCS SYSTEM or LAVRY GOLD or EMMLABS
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post #3 of 69
3/15/07 at 2:12am
ESOTERIC - D-03

http://www.musicdirect.com/products/...p?sku=AESOTD03

http://www.sixmoons.com/audioreviews...ric4/trio.html
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post #4 of 69
3/15/07 at 7:59am
I wouldn't plain and simple. If money were no object I would get a fantastic CDplayer and not worry about all the problems associated with having an external DAC.
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post #5 of 69
3/15/07 at 11:54am

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post #6 of 69
3/15/07 at 1:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Garbz View Post
I wouldn't plain and simple. If money were no object I would get a fantastic CDplayer and not worry about all the problems associated with having an external DAC.
I tend to agree. For me, it's all about the space savings of a one box no compromise CD player such as the Meridian 808i. It has both an AD/C and DA/C using Meridian's Resolution Enhancement Technology to 24bit/192kHz with custom Meridian 150MIP DSPs that have 48bits of internal precision and less than 90 picoseconds of jitter held to no more than 0.1 Hz. It also has standard unbalanced RCA analog inputs and S/PDIF coaxial as well as TOSLink digital inputs.

Pretty unique stuff in my opinion and I'm saving to buy it. I listened to both Apple's ALAC and FLAC files, some of which were securely ripped with accurate stream, and it was just sublime through the 808i S/PDIF input. This CD player makes the case against the need for separate DACs.
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post #7 of 69
3/15/07 at 1:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Welly Wu View Post
I listened to both Apple's ALAC and FLAC files, some of which were securely ripped with accurate stream, and it was just sublime through the 808i S/PDIF input. This CD player makes the case against the need for separate DACs.
Isn't that a bit of a contradiction in terms?
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post #8 of 69
3/15/07 at 2:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr_Sukebe View Post
Isn't that a bit of a contradiction in terms?
More like the 808i's input and transport are so good, there's no reason to rip for him/her.

I feel the same way, but I rip everything for convenience and serve it up through usb/optical and skip the mechanical transport step.
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post #9 of 69
3/15/07 at 2:28pm
ok, it's not a external DAC, but i guess it'll have to do.

http://www.spectralaudio.com/sdr-4000.htm
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post #10 of 69
3/15/07 at 2:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Garbz View Post
I wouldn't plain and simple. If money were no object I would get a fantastic CDplayer and not worry about all the problems associated with having an external DAC.
What problems do you associate with companies like EMM and Esoteric that use a 2 box solution?
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post #11 of 69
3/15/07 at 3:23pm
if money is no object- Boulder 2020, arguably the best DAC in the world. but at its price it should be....$37,000!
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post #12 of 69
3/15/07 at 3:23pm
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Originally Posted by NC1111 View Post
If money were no object which DAC would you buy?
Money no object? Then: Hello Accuphase! A DC-801 with DP-800 transport for me, please!

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini
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post #13 of 69
3/15/07 at 4:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by NanduAjit View Post
if money is no object- Boulder 2020, arguably the best DAC in the world. but at its price it should be....$37,000!
The Esoteric P-01/D-01 rings in at about $50K! I tried to go there, but my wife set the limit at the D-03/P-03.
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post #14 of 69
3/15/07 at 4:13pm
Two thoughts:

1) Even the most expensive DACs out there are doing a poor job of using their digital (S/PDIF, USB, etc.) inputs...the best is yet to come (and I don't know what that will be).

2) I've compared some very high-end DACs and found the differences to be minimal (a fact that most reviewers leave out as they search for words to describe the differences between two DACs). In my opinion your money will be much better spent on your headphones and/or speakers.
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post #15 of 69
3/15/07 at 4:35pm
I can't say I disagree with this. Once you level match, many differences become elusive. I always advise those on a budget to start with headphones/speakers. Other than source material, nothing is going to make a bigger difference.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scrith View Post
Two thoughts:

2) I've compared some very high-end DACs and found the differences to be minimal (a fact that most reviewers leave out as they search for words to describe the differences between two DACs). In my opinion your money will be much better spent on your headphones and/or speakers.
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