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CAL Gamma DAC

post #1 of 33
10/1/01 at 5:37pm
Thread Starter 
I'm considering it to upgrade the JVC XL-MC334BK 200-CD changer we have in the living room. My roommates and I listen to a lot of trance music (a.k.a. "club", "dance"), and we find the JVC is lean on the bass. The PlayStation 2 has a better sound....

I saw the California Audio Lab Gamma is available for $99. Now, that sounds like an incredible bargain to me. I listened to their Ikon MK2 cd player a lot, and I love it's warm, rich and detailed sound. I'm not expecting the same performance from a $99 DAC, but do you think it'd be a noticeable improvement over the cd changer's DAC?

From the reviews I read on SoundStage, it sounds like bass is one of this DAC strength.

Help me!
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post #2 of 33
10/1/01 at 6:12pm
Its an old DAC...I haven't heard it...but theres also the Art D/IO which is compared favorably to MSB LINK...if not other world class DAC's for that matter. I'm pretty sure the old aging Gamma wouldn't really be nearly comparable to the DAC offerings of late. I believe its a traditional 16 bit 44hz DAC, and definitely showing age.

The Art D/IO rave is something over at audio asylum. I was wondering if it would ever die down...but its still going pretty strong, so it seems the hype has some substance to it! I'll hopefully find out soon.

I haven't heard either (but will get my hands on the Art)...but from my standpoint, the Art seems like a stronger choice for the price. 2-3 weeks ago I would have thought the Art to be surrounded by too much hype...but 2-3 weeks have passed and you know, the hype hasn't died down...just more reports that this little unit rocks. And finally some headfizers got their hands on it too and can only agree!
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post #3 of 33
10/1/01 at 6:30pm
Well, conventional wisdom has the Gamma being not as good as a stock MSB Link DAC. CW also has the DI/O being better than a stock MSB Link DAC.
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post #4 of 33
10/1/01 at 7:40pm
Thread Starter 
The DIO does seem interesting and can be had for not much money. It outputs a signal at 7V. What would one use to bring it back down to 2V, and how much would such a widget cost?

Oh yeah, and I think it's output is 1/4", not RCA. Correct? Where could I find an adapter for that, and how much?

(Sounds like a little bit of work.. but it's probably worth it )

Thanks!
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post #5 of 33
10/1/01 at 7:58pm
I own a Gamma DAC. For $99 it sounds very smooth. However, there was an earlier thread that claimed you can buy an ART DIO for $122 plus change. At that price I would go for the DIO now. Why? Because even if you don't like it you could sell it for at least that.
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post #6 of 33
10/1/01 at 8:10pm
The 7 volts output can be a curse or boon depending on the subsequent components its hooked up to.

I asked Thomas about the issue of the D/IO's hot output with a skezeres amp. He said a 7 volt output was actually a very good matchup compared to 2 volt because the skezeres is a class-A design that uses no op-amps that would overload and has no gain.

Hmmm guess what my next purchases are gonna be?
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post #7 of 33
10/1/01 at 8:31pm
The 7 volt problem...

Boldercables offers two cables (or offered, and will in several weeks due to shortage of parts), the Type 1 (~$70) and Type 2 (~$150) Interconnects specifically for the DI/O... it has a voltage dividing network to reduce it to 2V... also it is 1/4" plug on one side since the DI/O's outputs are 1/4" plugs, not RCA jacks... (digital interfaces are rca though, 100 ohm I believe).
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post #8 of 33
10/1/01 at 8:31pm
www.boldercables.com has custom art di/o cables that reduce the voltage.
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post #9 of 33
10/1/01 at 8:37pm
Thread Starter 
Alright.. The DI/O looks very fine, but it's got many factors to think about.. So for now, back to my original question:

CAL Gamma, $99, worth it? Improvement over a JVC mega-changer DAC?

From the articles at SoundStage, the reviewer was saying that a cheap Sony CDP with the Gamma was at least as good as his $600 Rotel...
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post #10 of 33
10/1/01 at 9:34pm
Quote:
Originally posted by DesBen
Alright.. The DI/O looks very fine, but it's got many factors to think about.. So for now, back to my original question:

CAL Gamma, $99, worth it? Improvement over a JVC mega-changer DAC?

From the articles at SoundStage, the reviewer was saying that a cheap Sony CDP with the Gamma was at least as good as his $600 Rotel...
Answer yes. It sounds better using my Rotel RCD-855 as a transport compared to the Rotel's dual DAC's (But from 1992). However at this point if I could get the Art DIO for $122, that is the route I would take. TIOLI-IUTY.
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post #11 of 33
10/1/01 at 9:52pm
Thread Starter 
Well, $122 for the DIO (easier to find at $150 tho), + $70 for the 1/4" plug to RCA (with voltage gizmo). That's twice the price of the Gamma

But it does sound appealing. Much more modern, and better sound, so it seems.
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post #12 of 33
10/1/01 at 9:52pm
If you consider the Cal Gamma being a $600 rotel, the ART DI/O would be a $1200 Rotel, so... for $23 more, it is a no brainer...

But some how I doubt the gamma is that good anyway...
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post #13 of 33
10/1/01 at 10:21pm
Thread Starter 
The reviews I read were from 97. Back then, the Gamma costed $250. It might have influenced the reviewer to think it sounded like that much. But who knows?

CAL is a company known for making digital sound more analog, warm. This is certainly true for their ICON MK2. By the descriptions I read, the Gamma seemed to fit the description: musical, warm, detailed yet non-fatiguing treble.

The fact that it's now available for $99 doesn't mean it sounds bad. People used to think it was a great entry-level DAC back when it was $250...

Right now, the main thing preventing me to buy a DI/O is the cabling issue. The company that made the cable is out of stock, for who knows how long...
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post #14 of 33
10/1/01 at 11:15pm
Chych, I strongly doubt that the Art DI/O beats the Rotel 991. The 991 (and probably the 971 as well) likely beat the DI/O hands down -- I haven't heard them, but I think it's unrealistic to expect so much from that little DAC.
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post #15 of 33
10/1/01 at 11:24pm
Thread Starter 
Went to do some reading at the Asylum, and now, I NEED a DI/O.. +6 to your "bastard rating". All of you (besides DanG, no offence)
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