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The DAC when money is no object - Page 4

post #46 of 69
7/31/07 at 9:20pm
dCS Elgar x2
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post #47 of 69
10/3/07 at 5:03am
The Burmester looks.... complicated. O_o
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post #48 of 69
10/3/07 at 7:37am
Don't you find it interesting that the only person who's responded on this thread, and can afford ultra high-end gear has an Esoteric unit listed in his sig. To me that suggests that they're rather good. Having heard an X-01 and X-03, I can see why. The X01 I heard was simply awesome.

Having said all of that, I don't want to go back to using disks again, and love the versatility of streaming my whole music collection from my PC to my SB+ (heavily modded SB). So I'd happily consider an Esoteric DAC, but wouldn't be adding the transport to go with it as I think it would just gather dust.
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post #49 of 69
10/3/07 at 8:16am
Cost no object, I'd get Gordon Rankin from Wavelength to max out one of his Ultimate DACs for me - probably with some TDA1541S2's and balanced output.

I've bought a Wavelength Crimson pretty much on trust on some reviews in Audio Asylum and of the lower priced Cosecant compared to an AMR CD-7. In addition to it's (to me) incredible looks, it does sound amazing, in as far as my gear can discern its abilities (SinglePower Supra XLR otw :P). It uses a proprietary USB connection that incorporates error correction. Concept and more info is here: http://www.usbdacs.com/Concept.html
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post #50 of 69
10/3/07 at 12:48pm
If money was no object, I don't know which DAC or CD player I would buy. But the search for it would be fun!
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post #51 of 69
10/3/07 at 6:16pm

Probably my last ever cd-player - pure musical enjoyment at it's best!
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post #52 of 69
10/3/07 at 8:03pm
Stock Benchmark DAC1 USB - which I already have ! It's affordable but has no compromises in sound quality nor resolution!
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post #53 of 69
10/3/07 at 8:50pm
dCs Scarlatti

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post #54 of 69
10/3/07 at 10:12pm
Is "no DAC" an option? The idea popped into my mind when I saw this thread, and then I thought of how. Someone please correct me if this would not work. Is it possible to run the digital output from a transport directly into a digital amp? Then, on to speakers or headphones??

Laz
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post #55 of 69
10/3/07 at 10:34pm
Only if the amp has on onboard DAC.
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post #56 of 69
10/3/07 at 10:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lazarus Short View Post
Is "no DAC" an option? The idea popped into my mind when I saw this thread, and then I thought of how. Someone please correct me if this would not work. Is it possible to run the digital output from a transport directly into a digital amp? Then, on to speakers or headphones??

Laz
Well, since sound waves are analog, you still have to convert the bitstream into a waveform somewhere along the route. Unless you want to listen to the "sound" of a square wave
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post #57 of 69
10/3/07 at 11:29pm
you can have no DAC if you use vinyl or tape

however, out of a CD or other digital media some sort of digital to analog conversion must happen be it from a dedicated external DAC or integrated chipset

we cannot hear digital, must be in the form of analog waves
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post #58 of 69
10/4/07 at 3:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jahn View Post
ok, it's not a external DAC, but i guess it'll have to do.

http://www.spectralaudio.com/sdr-4000.htm
Brilliantly chosen, though I wouldn't kick the SDR-3000/2000Pro combo out of bed.
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post #59 of 69
10/4/07 at 6:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lazarus Short View Post
Is "no DAC" an option? The idea popped into my mind when I saw this thread, and then I thought of how. Someone please correct me if this would not work. Is it possible to run the digital output from a transport directly into a digital amp? Then, on to speakers or headphones??

Laz
Not possible with normal PCM format (used by CDs and DVDs), but with SACD it should be possible since it uses PDM, similar to what Class D amps use. Whether it would sound good is another question.
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post #60 of 69
10/4/07 at 7:18am
I'd just buy a Chord Red Reference, I guess..

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