Best output for Chord DAC 64

[Fickle-Friend]

I've come have a Chord 64 DAC. I would like general comments on this baby? How do people here rate it?

Also there are a pleathora of output options. Whats the best out? Im thinking BNC at the moment?

Thanks

 

[recstar24]

Dude, some of your equipment i haven't even had or thought of in my dreams!

You've got some insane equipment, you are officially my idol to say the least, i only know of one other person that had the chord so hopefully they can come by this thread.

 

[Fickle-Friend]

<takes a bow>

 

[kuma]

Fickle-friend,

I have had the DAC64 and used it with the Ikemi's transport amongst others.

I have utelised the BNC, albeit with an adaptor, but honestly, I could not hear any difference.

Different coax cable options made more of difference in terms of how it sounded.

The one you have is a new one or older unit, (in which case, the polarity is reversed)?

 

[Glassman]

I'd be really happy for insides shots if it's even remotely possible.. plz

 

[jjcha]

Given I use the Chord Blu, I have to use the dual BNC connectors to the DAC64 in order to take advantage of the full upsampling of the transport. I use van den Hul digital cables, largely because they were recommended by my dealer as decent for the money.

I have fed it with a cheap TOSLink cable from my iRiver or M-Audio Transit, but that was just largely for fun and not real serious testing/listening.

Unfortunately my source is currently in storage, awaiting shipment to the States, so I can't really test out.

GoRedWings19 might have an opinion, as I believe he used the DAC64 for a while.

Best regards,

-Jason

 

[Fickle-Friend]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuma Fickle-friend, I have had the DAC64 and used it with the Ikemi's transport amongst others. I have utelised the BNC, albeit with an adaptor, but honestly, I could not hear any difference. Different coax cable options made more of difference in terms of how it sounded. The one you have is a new one or older unit, (in which case, the polarity is reversed)?

Hello Kuma its a MKII version. Im thinking about a Chord Signature BNC cable simply cos im a show off! How did the Ikemi fare as a transport? I actually thought the Cyrus cd8x + PSXr combination blew the Ikemi out of the water! What are your views on a good transport? The Matching Blu transport is like 4k I think

 

[Fickle-Friend]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjcha Given I use the Chord Blu, I have to use the dual BNC connectors to the DAC64 in order to take advantage of the full upsampling of the transport. I use van den Hul digital cables, largely because they were recommended by my dealer as decent for the money. I have fed it with a cheap TOSLink cable from my iRiver or M-Audio Transit, but that was just largely for fun and not real serious testing/listening. Unfortunately my source is currently in storage, awaiting shipment to the States, so I can't really test out. GoRedWings19 might have an opinion, as I believe he used the DAC64 for a while. Best regards, -Jason

Jason just curious as to your setup?? Specifically your speakers??

 

[jjcha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fickle-Friend Jason just curious as to your setup?? Specifically your speakers??

I'm moving from Tokyo to New York, so I just sold my speakers. I used to have the Sonus Faber Cremona Auditors, fed by a Pathos Logos and the Chord combo as source. At the time, I was looking for something that was very musical, with clean treble and nice bass, and selected all the components to maximize that.

Well, that and all the components had to look ultra-sexy and impress all the women I brought to the apartment. Seriously, you tell a Japanese girl something's from Italy, and they get all impressed.

Best,

-Jason

Postscript: FYI - the matching Blu is about double the price of the DAC64. Kinda odd, spending more for a transport. But that's what Chord decided to do.

 

[kuma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fickle-Friend How did the Ikemi fare as a transport? I actually thought the Cyrus cd8x + PSXr combination blew the Ikemi out of the water! What are your views on a good transport? The Matching Blu transport is like 4k I think

Fickel-Friend,

The Ikemi's transport is pretty decent.
I'd think that Cyrus and Linn have a different house shoud rather than which is better.

On the whole, I am not too keen on the seprate transport thing. I prefer HD based * transport* than many hi-end ones.

That said, using the transport from the same manufactures would ensure better compatibility assuming you like what they offer sonically.

 

[GoRedwings19]

Fickle friend>I have owned the Version 1 and 2 dac. My cd player (transport) at the time was a cyrus CD7+psx-r. They were both connected using Russ Andrews reference power leads. The digital cable for both occasions was Van der Hul Ultimate the first.

Does your Ikemi have dual digital coax out? If I remember correctly the linn I used before did. THe cyrus cd7 has twin digital outputs. I don't know if the newer cd8 has though.

You will need to use this feature with chord dac 64 version 2. If you can only use one output then you will hear very little difference between the cyrus onboard dac and the chord dac.

If not then a version 1 chordac would be better in this regards. I found the chord dac version 1 very detailed and I loved it. Although the buffered output took me a while to get use to. I.e when you press any button to do with disc access there would be sound playing for a further 5 seconds even if the disc was stopped.

But here's the real ass muncher. When I owned the version 2 I did not know about the twin digital inputs were needed to be used for upsampling. So I believed I could hear no difference between the onboard dac and the chord dac so I sold it!!!! Duhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

Believe me I am still kicking myself to this day. I only realised this mistake when I bought the DCS purcell/delius and was reading thru the manual and realised twin bnc connections are used for upsampling...crappers

To rub salt, vineagar and a splashing of caustic soda into the wound I got talking to JJcha as I noticed his system and then my nightmare dumbass self realised I never used the upsampling of my chord dac 64 version 2. What a meatstick.

If I didn't have my present setup then I would seriously reconsider a cyrus CD7 and chord dac version 2 again. Or failing that a Marantz cd7. Which reminds me... JJcha>are then any used marantz cd7 going for cheap in Japan. That would be a nice addition to my setup.

 

[Fickle-Friend]

So if i didnt use the BNC connection and say i used the toslink instead, would I get upsampling?

My Ikemi has only 1 BNC so im a bit stuck here. How much is a blu now i wonder?

 

[GoRedwings19]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fickle-Friend So if i didnt use the BNC connection and say i used the toslink instead, would I get upsampling? My Ikemi has only 1 BNC so im a bit stuck here. How much is a blu now i wonder?

What would be a better suggestion is to search out the cyrus cd7 or cd8 and then audition it. IIRC you live in the UK????

Go to sevenoaks or audio T or similar and lend a cyrus cd player. Now I know the CD7 have twin Digital outs in the form of RCA connections. Then connect it via RCA>BNC adaptors to both inputs. See how well that does to your Ikemi. Then if you are happy sell the Ikemi.

A chord Blu on the used market for 240v operation is gonna cost an arm and a leg. I think retail is £4000@ but you might get lucky and get it £2800-3000...if your lucky, that is.

 

[Fickle-Friend]

Your not gonna believe this? I just sold a Cyrus CD 8 last month!

 

[GoRedwings19]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fickle-Friend Your not gonna believe this? I just sold a Cyrus CD 8 last month!

Well the cyrus CD8 should have a similar configuration to a CD7. The thing you need to check is whether both the digital outputs, output a signal at the same time. If so this would be ideal for use as a transport for the Chord Dac version 2.

At the moment though I think you will find there will be no worthwhile differences when you connect the ikemi to a chord dac version 2. Keep me updated on how it does..

I would rather get the cd7 than the Cd8. Why? Because you are gonna bypass the cd8's internal dac anyway. So you might save yourself a bit of money and go with the cd7.

Which reminds me. When I had the version 1 of the chord dac 64 I couldn't help myself using my playstation 2 and dvd player as disc transports. But with the cd7 the combo was really good.