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Originally Posted by roker /img/forum/go_quote.gif
What would be a better option around the 300 price point? (please no "look for a used _____" answer)
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I do not think you are going to find a better option at this price.
The notion that the VDAC is not the best for rock is simply false in my experience, as I stated above. I'm a rock drummer, have been for years, and also play the piano, all rock, and so I require that my stereo must really perform in the PRaT (pacing, rhythm and timing) department. The VDAC sounds absolutely fantastic, including in these categories.
I note that it improves dramatically with a quality transport (I switched from a cheap Toshiba DVD player to a Pioneer Elite PD-65 and the difference was startling), but I did not notice any problems with PRaT even when I used the cheap DVD player as transport.
One thing DID screw up my PRaT: I tried a super expensive neato whiz-bang audiophile digital cable, which killed the music's rhythm, but this was the fault of the cable, NOT the VDAC. That cable somehow "disconnected" the timing of the bass from the treble. I could hear everything nicely, but it was utterly boring. I replaced the offending cable with a simple Radio Shack coax and everything is back to normal. Perhaps the people who are complaining about the VDAC's rhythm are using similar goofed-up cables.
As for a mini-review, I find that the VDAC's primary benefit is to present ALL of the music, in a musical, human, natural-sounding fashion, including truly deep bass, space, air, and treble detail, but without the "digital", hard, harsh, crunchy sound that often disrupts the treble and upper midrange of CD playback.
Hukk