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Best DAC from $1500 to $2500 (or so) Can anything beat the Eastern Electric Minimax? - Page 12

post #166 of 252
9/16/12 at 6:05am

Maybe you are picking a ideology over sound quality.

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post #167 of 252
9/16/12 at 7:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by paradoxper View Post

Why?

 

Because I think it sounds good.

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post #168 of 252
9/16/12 at 7:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jaycalgary View Post

Maybe you are picking a ideology over sound quality.

 

lol, I doubt that, but who knows. 

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post #169 of 252
9/16/12 at 7:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Monkey View Post

 

Because I think it sounds good.

Well yea. But in regards to upsampling: Do you find it to sound better than a purist approach?

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post #170 of 252
9/16/12 at 7:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by paradoxper View Post

Well yea. But in regards to upsampling: Do you find it to sound better than a purist approach?

 

I've found that I don't have a preference between the two.

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post #171 of 252
9/16/12 at 7:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Monkey View Post

 

I've found that I don't have a preference between the two.

Gotcha.

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post #172 of 252
9/16/12 at 7:50am

I would suggest you avoid optical.  Unless its a really good link extremely well implemented like the Audio Synthesis AY&T then in my experience not very good.

 

Also suggest you don't make an instant like/dislike out of the box.  Some of the best kit i''ve heard doesn't impress out of the box as it does not draw attention to itself.  Its only after you have listened for some time do you really appreciate how good or bad it may be. 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Solude View Post

Me too.  Probably take longer than usual because of the options available to feed it.  I'll start with the optical out of my PC, play around with sampling, might have to go to a USB>SPDIF, maybe not.  Of course if I plug it in and my reaction is ugh... well it'll be up again the same day.


Edited by complin - 9/16/12 at 7:52am
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post #173 of 252
9/16/12 at 8:06am

Its not a new unit so after it thermally stabilizes its on.  But yes it will go through my review process.  But if at the end of the review process it's clear that it doesn't belong with the DAC-2... gone.  I actually prefer optical glass for PC audio.  Coax and PC is a bad idea.  No data jitter but a butt ton of electrical jitter from the switching power supply.  That I don't have a coax connection also seals the deal.  Both the onboard and X-Fi use optical /shrug

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post #174 of 252
9/16/12 at 8:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Solude View Post

 butt ton 

 

 

This must mean an awful lot.  I laugh every time I see you write that.  It's cracks me up..

 

beerchug.gif

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post #175 of 252
9/16/12 at 9:01am

Yup :D  I forget where I found it originally but I'm pretty sure it was an RME product and jitter was 40ps data and 2000+ps electrical.

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post #176 of 252
9/16/12 at 9:03am

And the same cards optical was obviously 0ps electrical, toslink is either on or off, and slightly worse 60ish ps data.  This is in a time jitter boxes brought jitter DOWN to under 1000ps.

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post #177 of 252
9/16/12 at 11:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Monkey View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by paradoxper View Post

Well yea. But in regards to upsampling: Do you find it to sound better than a purist approach?

 

I've found that I don't have a preference between the two.

 

X2 on no preference, I've held onto my Bel Canto DAC2 for years because it sounds so good even though it doesn't work in my balanced system. It upsamples everything to 24/192.

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post #178 of 252
9/16/12 at 11:41pm

How about Weiss DAC-2?

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post #179 of 252
9/17/12 at 3:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Solude View Post
The Metrum Octave keeps crossing my path but I just don't see a $850 retail DAC smoking the entry level 'Stereophile Class A' cast of DACs.

 

It's a very good DAC, but ideally you need to use a good USB to S/PDIF unit with it.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Solude View Post

Its not a new unit so after it thermally stabilizes its on.  But yes it will go through my review process.  But if at the end of the review process it's clear that it doesn't belong with the DAC-2... gone.  I actually prefer optical glass for PC audio.  Coax and PC is a bad idea.  No data jitter but a butt ton of electrical jitter from the switching power supply.  That I don't have a coax connection also seals the deal.  Both the onboard and X-Fi use optical /shrug

 

Most USB to S/PDIF converters are isolated electrically, which solves this too. For $2k, I'd suggest an Octave + Audiophilleo 2 + Pure Power. As crazy as it might sound spending half your money on the digital transport, after a lot of experimentation, I don't feel it is crazy any longer. That is what you are paying for the $3k+ DACs anyhow: A much better digital implementation. It just happens to be in the box and not outside it.

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post #180 of 252
9/17/12 at 4:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hmouse View Post

How about Weiss DAC-2?


Very dated design at this point, outclassed by the 202 in every way. They are still going for a fair amount of money used, no idea why.

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