A relief for me; if there would have been an new model, I would have considered upgrading. But Rega doesn't usually release new models that quick, the DAC is only available for about a half year.
You won't regret it Warren, I 'm listening at it right now, and as always I love that full satisfying natural music pouring out of my speakers. For me it completely ended that nagging feeling something is fundamentally wrong with digital music.
One thing I never seemed to get with the Rega DAC, though.
No matter what I do with the filters, it never seems to make the slightest bit of change to the sound. Am I doing something wrong with it, then?
Oh, interestingly too, I've observed that it tends to sound a lot better at ungodly hours (better extension, punch and dynamics) in the morning where I live (2 to 5AM, to be exact). That means to say (empirically) that the Rega definitely benefits from a mains upgrade of sorts. However, there have been some that I've spoken to that say using a mains conditioner might compromise on the dynamics and make the sound too restrained instead. Your thoughts, guys?
When I auditioned it, that was my experience as well. Of course, I wasn't familiar with its sound yet, but when I switched to other filters for a tiny amount of time, I really couldn't tell a difference.
After that I kept it on filter one for the whole time.
"However, there have been some that I've spoken to that say using a mains conditioner might compromise on the dynamics and make the sound too restrained instead. Your thoughts, guys? "
I think people who complain about a power conditioner compromising on dynamics are talking about using them with a high-current-demand power amplifier playing big speakers.
For a DAC, I don't see much downside. It might not fix everything, as the RFI from most people's usage (all their TV's and computers & refrigerators etc) could be everywhere in the day. A power conditioner & filter might help some of it but not everything. A simple fix; there are metallic covers for unconnected inputs which, otherwise, are perfectly effective portals to let in RF.
Most people in a city feel that the best, clearest & warmest sound is late at night.
The Rega DAC is certainly very sensitive to mains pollution. What doesn't help is the very cheap powercord (unshielded?), replacing it with a sensible Belden cable made a benificial difference in my system. Pity about the stupid, copletely incourant cloverleaf plug, I needed a converter.
I don't seem to be able to find any high quality C5 powercord either. I do question Rega's decision in having C5 female plug instead of the standard IEC type.
I ended up buying a C5 IEC converter plug. I have to prop it up with wooden clothes pins because I was afraid the weight of the converter and the cable was going to torque down on the input connector. Heh.
Enjoy! But let me warn you for one disadvantage; you'll never stop wondering why this magnificant DAC doesn't get more attention here. At least, that is how it is for me.
One thing I never seemed to get with the Rega DAC, though.
No matter what I do with the filters, it never seems to make the slightest bit of change to the sound. Am I doing something wrong with it, then?
Oh, interestingly too, I've observed that it tends to sound a lot better at ungodly hours (better extension, punch and dynamics) in the morning where I live (2 to 5AM, to be exact). That means to say (empirically) that the Rega definitely benefits from a mains upgrade of sorts. However, there have been some that I've spoken to that say using a mains conditioner might compromise on the dynamics and make the sound too restrained instead. Your thoughts, guys?
When I was in America I would note heavy improvements the hours between 1 am and 6 am in my system. This is the time when the grid is under less load. The next step for me is a Richard Gray Substation and a power regenerator.
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