[mk351e]

Like many people, I am a fan of Audio GD gear, and would really love to buy a PCM1704UK based DAC and balanced amp, but it's just too expensive. By the time you add a balanced amp, Audio GD's current cheapest option is $1,308 plus shipping, PayPal, and any upgrades you may want, bringing your total to $1400-$1500. It's still a great value, but for many of us, it's just too much. Audio GD has never made an all in one unit with this chip, except the current Reference 10.32, but that's even more money. It's still a great value, it's just too much. To make the problem worse, Audio GD gear using this chip RARELY shows up for sale, so used gear really isn't an option. I've had a wanted ad posted for 3 months now, and well, I still don't have what I want(!).
 
For the past couple of years I have asked Kingwa to make an all in one unit based on the PCM1704, but he has not. So, I am taking matters in to my own hands now, because I think lots of people will buy this if he makes it. So, let's prove me right!
 
PLEASE cast your vote, it's free!! =)
 
 
Wishlist:
 
- 4 pieces PCM1704UK (not 8, to save cost)
- ACSS, TCXO, USB 32
- use only one R core transformer to save cost
- use chassis from NFB-10ES because it has lots of space and looks nice?
- use chassis from latest NFB10, with remote control?
- optical, coax, USB inputs - only 1 each?
- ACSS, XLR, RCA outputs
- single ended and balanced headphone out
- DSP version 5?
- Fully discrete, NO SMD parts!
- Cost: maybe $1000 USD?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Quote:

Cast your vote for an affordable Audio GD PCM1704UK all in one unit!

 
 

- Cost: maybe $1000 USD?

 
I though the economy isn't all that good? Or is it inflation?

 

[mk351e]

Yea, I think I went a little too high on the price thing, BUT, I realize these chips are crazy expensive, like $70 each x 4 = $280, and that's just for the chips! I really should have said like $800 or so, but it appears that I'm the only one interested in this anyway, so it doesn't seem to matter!

 

[reiserFS]

You can't power a fully discrete design and 4 PCM1704UKs with just one transformer.

 

[mk351e]

Well that stinks

Vote yes anyway

 

[HaVoC-28]

Quote:

You can't power a fully discrete design and 4 PCM1704UKs with just one transformer.

so what is REF5.32  / SA-1.32 ?

 

[mk351e]

SA1.32 is NOT balanced (see product description), and the answer to your question is in the original post.

 

[HaVoC-28]

Quote:

SA1.32 is NOT balanced (see product description), and the answer to your question is in the original post.

 
reiserFS just say : "You can't power a fully discrete design and 4 PCM1704UKs with just one transformer." wich is wrong .
 
 
And just choose a more powerfull Rcore transformer to supply both dac section and amp section . The REF5.32 draws 20W , there are tranformer that can ouput much more than this .

 

[runswithaliens]

The OP is asking for something that Audio-GD already makes: The Reference 10.32, but instead of the asking price, he basically wants it for nearly half-price.  Keep dreaming.
 

 

[mk351e]

Yes, I am asking for that; a scaled down version of that. Why is this so hard to understand?? Is it really that outlandish to think that if it were made with a lower quality case, 1/3 the number of transformers, half the number of dac chips, and maybe even lower quality components, that it would cost less money??

 

[mk351e]

It's amazing to see just how many people respond without actually reading the post they're responding to. Oh well, that's what I get for adding a poll and asking people to vote I guess! Wait a minute, I only got 6 votes!

 

[kn19h7]

Not interested in that particular chip, but using out-of-production stuffs in some compromised design doesn't seem meaningful to me, can say a waste actually

 

[mk351e]

Thanks for that!

 

[steve2151]

You might want to keep an eye out for a used DAC-19. Those were $640 new and came with 2 PCM1704 chips. You can pair that with the current SA-31 amp or old C2.1 amp for a decent single ended stack at around $1000.

 

[Clemmaster]

PCM1704UK sucks: it's way overpriced and sound too dark 

 

Spoiler: Warning%3A%20Spoiler!

 
I vote for a all-in-one SA ("diamond difference") + ES9018 single ended unit. Like a NFB-1.32 + SA-31 combo. 

 
This would be much cheaper alternative which would get you a very big  & organic sound (the SA-31 is fantastic here) and great technicalities (NFB-1.32).
The PCM1704UK from Audio-GD are too dark, even for the HE-500.
 
Even better, if Audio-GD could source the Metrum NOS OEM board and put their USB-32 module and SA amp in that, we'd get a killer combo with all the goods the PCM1704 has to offer with the ES9018 tonality: live and smooth (at least in A-GD implementations).