DAC -- decision nearly made (well, thought it was)

[olblueyez]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrarroyo /img/forum/go_quote.gif You could be right, or the dac may indeed be better. Perhaps you could borrow or buy all three to test them out and give us your opinion of their sound.

I thought that is what Head-fi was for, finding people who have the knowledge you speak of. I am also confident in my assement that the Stello is a better product then the bersford.

 

[mrarroyo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by olblueyez /img/forum/go_quote.gif I thought that is what Head-fi was for, finding people who have the knowledge you speak of. I am also confident in my assement that the Stello is a better product then the bersford.

Better is both relative as well as subjective. Are we talking about better components, or better sound? As you know better components do not necessarily translate to a better sound.

If we are talking about better sound then only the end user can decide by himself/herself. What may be good to me may be bad to you, or vice-versa.

Finally IMO, an assessment of what sounds better is meaningless unless the person has had a chance to compare both products side by side preferably in the convenience of their home. Until that happens the best a person has is either an opinion or perhaps a theory.

Since I have not listened to the Stello side by side w/ the TC7520 I can not make any assessment on sound quality. We may want to think that the higher priced unit should sound better, however that is not always the case.

I really wish I had the money to buy both to test, but now the wallet is totally destroyed.

 

[olblueyez]

Im in DC, anyone in the metro area with a beresford wanna do a comparison? Anyone honestly think the results could swing either way? If so let me know. We can use my dac and king cobra IC's for the comparison.

 

[Hellenback]

Man, I thought I was confused before dropping in here! There has not been one helpful comment or legitimate comparison made that would help me decide how to spend my (very limited) resources to improve the sound of my computer/CD based setup. I'm ready to call it all subjective and be happy with the $39 Headstage line-dac I am using at the moment!
So much for getting help from a forum! Peace out.

 

[anadin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by olblueyez /img/forum/go_quote.gif I thought that is what Head-fi was for, finding people who have the knowledge you speak of. I am also confident in my assement that the Stello is a better product then the bersford.

I owned a Stello DA100 Signature and used it in both SE and Balanced operation.

I am now the owner of a Beresford TC-7520 which cost a fraction of what the Stello did.

My conclusion is the Beresford TC-7520 has the better SQ and I am 100% confident in that statement.

 

[olblueyez]

Quote:

Originally Posted by anadin /img/forum/go_quote.gif I owned a Stello DA100 Signature and used it in both SE and Balanced operation. I am now the owner of a Beresford TC-7520 which cost a fraction of what the Stello did. My conclusion is the Beresford TC-7520 has the better SQ and I am 100% confident in that statement.

You also made a simular case for the V-Dac and I see that is now gone. Fool some you may, fool me you will not.

 

[anadin]

I simply don't keep a DAC forever whats your problem.

The stello cost me £650 and the Beresford cost me £170.

The Beresford sounds better to me.

 

[dreamwhisper]

anadin, how long did you own the Stello and MF DAC's for?
long enough or them to fully burn in?

and seriously, why are we so appalled that something can sound better and be less expensive?!
paying more isn't always the answer...

 

[anadin]

Tell that to olblueyez.

 

[mrarroyo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellenback /img/forum/go_quote.gif Man, I thought I was confused before dropping in here! There has not been one helpful comment or legitimate comparison made that would help me decide how to spend my (very limited) resources to improve the sound of my computer/CD based setup. I'm ready to call it all subjective and be happy with the $39 Headstage line-dac I am using at the moment! So much for getting help from a forum! Peace out.

Sorry you feel that way, although I can understand your frustration in too many posts criticizing this or that. Specially frustrating since most have not heard the dac side by side w/ another to make a valid comparison. Sure hope someone chimes in soon enough w/ a side by side ...

 

[ChroniCali]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellenback /img/forum/go_quote.gif Man, I thought I was confused before dropping in here! There has not been one helpful comment or legitimate comparison made that would help me decide how to spend my (very limited) resources to improve the sound of my computer/CD based setup. I'm ready to call it all subjective and be happy with the $39 Headstage line-dac I am using at the moment! So much for getting help from a forum! Peace out.

I feel you... I am kind of confused now too.

 

[That dude]

I'm in the same situation as the OP and I thought I'd do a bit of research before biting the bullet which is why I ended up here. I've even asked stanley if I should get the 7510 or the 7520 even if I didn't need the USB function. (he recommended me the 7520). I really do hope someone will post confidently that "the beresford DACs are awesome for the price, well built and have good customer service".

I mean if there's nothing wrong with the product or after sales service, who cares if Stanley self promotes? I'm only interested in getting the best DAC in the same price bracket.

 

[bobsmith]

Quote:

Originally Posted by That dude /img/forum/go_quote.gif I really do hope someone will post confidently that "the beresford DACs are awesome for the price, well built and have good customer service". I mean if there's nothing wrong with the product or after sales service, who cares if Stanley self promotes? I'm only interested in getting the best DAC in the same price bracket.

The problem is that now we know that Beresford is using fake identities to promote his product, everything anyone says or has ever said about the product is suspect. So even if someone did post "confidently" about it, unless it is someone I know personally or whose credibility was otherwise beyond reproach, I would assume the post was a fraud. For me at least, this means that Beresford DACs are no longer under consideration as a practical matter.

On top of that, personally I would much rather spend a little bit extra for a DAC made by someone with ethical business practices. Honesty has a value that I am happy to pay for...

 

[thedauntlessone]

The beresford DAC has been around for awhile so if it is such a good product that it can out-perform a Stello DA100, someone else would've made the point already.

 

[That dude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobsmith /img/forum/go_quote.gif The problem is that now we know that Beresford is using fake identities to promote his product, everything anyone says or has ever said about the product is suspect. So even if someone did post "confidently" about it, unless it is someone I know personally or whose credibility was otherwise beyond reproach, I would assume the post was a fraud. For me at least, this means that Beresford DACs are no longer under consideration as a practical matter. On top of that, personally I would much rather spend a little bit extra for a DAC made by someone with ethical business practices. Honesty has a value that I am happy to pay for...

I get where you're coming from, however price is an issue for me. Can you recommend a few alternatives that ship worldwide? Thanks. (I did not consider the beresford till recently I found a local store which sells it)