[jpelg]

I am looking for an amp+DAC combo. My goal is to have a compact, easily movable (not necessarily portable) setup including my PCDP with an optical out. I'd rather not have multiple devices, with a tangled set of medusa-like cables. Looks count. There are a few such currently on the market:

1. Most notably the Grace 901. I had a chance to see & listen to this at the NY meet last month, and this is really what I want. If not for the high price tag, I'd already be listening to it.

2. The Audio Technica AT-HA60 headphone amp. It has analog (regular RCA and balanced XLR) ins & outs, as well as optical in/outs with its own DAC. The price is reasonable, but it seems to be an unproven device here in the states. The fact that is has five headphone outs, seems to indicate that it's primary design goal was not audio quality, but I am not sure. I cannot even determine what kind of DAC circuitry is used. All the docs I can find are in Japanese. Anyone ever used this?

3. The forthcoming (but so far commercially unavailable to the general public) PDAC. I am awaiting with baited breath for this one.

Other options are linking an external DAC with an amp, of course. But these are not the most elegant of solutions. Connecting a Creek OBH-14 to one of their amps would be a the next best possibility if the OBH-14 were still being produced. The CAL Gamma with similiarly sized, quality amp is another. The venereble ART DI/O is always a good budget choice, but still not "elegant", especially when I take into consideration all the cables and converters to go from my PCDP mini-optical out.

Anyone have any suggestions or input on the possibilities I've already mentioned?

 

[antness]

The first thing that came to mind was the PDAC. If portability isn't an issue, there are many DAC boards and kits available out there, as well as DIY amps and kits, and these two devices could easily be combined in a single box eliminating the need for interconnects.

 

[wordsworth]

really know how you feel, I'm dying to know how good the PDAC is and whether it is going to go on sale or not.

antness has recommended the Art di/o and quite of few people seem to think it is a really good bargain buy plus it can be modded.

Still I think I will wait to see how good the PDAC is

Wordsworth

 

[kelly]

That Grace 901 thing is NOT small. I considered it myself. As you know, I'm currently using the modded ART DI/O and Corda and going back and forth with aos about his portable DAC (he has a name for it now, but it's difficult to say and not nearly as meaningful to me - and he rejected MY name ideas - ah well).

Anyway, try not to be too hastey. I'll try to be descriptive when I can be.

 

[eric343]

It's not a PDAC, it's a Sostenuto-1...

 

[kelly]

Quote:

Originally posted by eric343 It's not a PDAC, it's a Sostenuto-1...

Yeah, that. I wanted him to name it Supernaught.

 

[wordsworth]

Kelly, it would be great (and much appreciated) if and when you get hold of the TDACFNAPDAC (The DAC Formerly Known As PDAC) if you could compare it against your modded DI/O so as to know which is the superior and to what degree it is superior. I feel like I should have waited to get my amp as now I can't wait to get a DAC so my amp can be used the way it should be used with a line out not the headphone out.

wordsworth

 

[jpelg]

Quote:

That Grace 901 thing is NOT small

kelly, have you seen one? It is pretty small, but that is relative. I don't have the exact dimensions, but it is smaller than a notebook and not very high. Bigger than say, a Cosmic, but smaller than the amp portion of a Headmaster (sans remote). Still it is VERY easily transported (not portable though). While the quality components inside give it some surprising heft, it could be very easily toted in your backpack or messenger bag along with PCDP, full-size headphones and cables. Like I said, if it sold at half of it's list, it would be no question it would be my choice. At or near list, it is one of those things you have to ask yourself if the quality and elegance of a (close-to) perfect device is worth it.

Being a bit frustrated, I did some searching on old ART DI/O threads. For around $200 I can get a stock DI/O, optical-coax converter box, and cheap cables. This would make me ready for a decent amp, such as the Corda HA-1 (now at less than $300). Add in my Sony D-EJ721, and I have a nice transportable system for around five "big ones".

Alternatively, the AT-HA60 is only $389 - amp w/DAC. Nice price. But it is totally unproven.

Will the PDAC (okay, the Sostenuto-1) sell for less and sound as good? I hope so, and preliminary comments seem to indicate so. But I don't know if I can wait for the reviews and the lead time to order thereafter either. I have some Ety ER-4S' on the way, so I will probably make a move right after Christmas. Ugh!

 

[AndreYew]

Don't forget the Benchmark DAC1, which is unfortunately (??) so popular that it's sold out til the end of January or February:

Benchmark Media DAC1

Some comments from pros on the DAC1:

http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/news/comments.asp

--Andre

 

[kelly]

jpelg
Buy this DAC-1 thing and review it.

 

[aos]

I too am relying on Kelly to find out where the PDAC (Sostenuto-1) fits in the pecking order. He has the final version so he'll be the one to decide its fate.

 

[jpelg]

Quote:

Don't forget the Benchmark DAC1

Andre -

That looks great! I had not heard of that device before. I will try to contact the listed dealers in NY to see if they have it in stock. When you say that it is "sold out", do you mean in your area or in general? I guess it is pretty popular in pro circles already.

 

[AndreYew]

jpelg,

They have a note on their front page near the bottom saying that the DAC1 is sold out until the next production run comes in, which is after January.

You can order directly from Benchmark, but it may be worthwhile to call their dealers as they may have some remaining stock. I got an email from them a couple of days ago saying that they had 3 left from their current run, but that was a mass mailing, so they may be gone by now.

I recently had a chance to listen to one very briefly through a pair of Sennheiser HD-280s, with a Panasonic LA-95 portable DVD player as the source. I couldn't say much about its sound, except nothing was obviously wrong, but it was short, and under terrible and unfamiliar listening conditions. The unit itself feels very solid, and well-built. It looks much better in real life than the pictures on the Benchmark site, which isn't too bad in any case.

Let us know what you end up getting.

--Andre