Opera's DAC

[Morph201]

Could someone give me a reference point for the OPERA's DAC? As far as CDP (i.e. NAD, Arcam, Rega even, etc..) where does it fall??

 

[granodemostasa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morph201 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Could someone give me a reference point for the OPERA's DAC? As far as CDP (i.e. NAD, Arcam, Rega even, etc..) where does it fall??

I thought it around where the Modded Zhaolu dac or Benchmark Dac-1 stand; certainly good enough for most people's needs, but not quite as impressive when compared to vda-2 and stello.

 

[cooperpwc]

Excellent thread. I have been wondering the same thing. Specifically, will it match the Micro DAC? (Not sure how to assess that in relation to the Modded Zhaolu dac or Benchmark Dac-1 examples.)

 

[spraggih]

So less than Lavry DA-10, Stello and others ... but on par with any DAC less than $500 USD.

Hmm... This is a very interesting thread. IIRC the Opera uses a PCM2704 chip for USB "conversion"-- and uses a PCM1794 for DAC...

Any news on these chips? Checking TI's site and it just gives technical data. How does this chip fit into the other DAC players? Also if I may ask does the Opera DAC do anything for jitter? Does it accept all forms of upsampling? e.g., 96, 192?

I also read from one head-fier that the DAC chip in the Opera sounds boring

How does a DAC sound boring-- headphones I could see with their decay approach; amplifiers I could see maybe-- but a DAC? There is a really good thread here.... BUT I WANT MORE INFO (sorry for yelling).

Quote:

Originally Posted by skylab No. The Opera uses a PCM1794 DAC. In the Opera the PCM2704 is used only at a USB>SPDIF converter, not as the DAC.

Link to good thread--> http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?p=2955528

 

[spraggih]

Quote:

Originally Posted by granodemostasa /img/forum/go_quote.gif I thought it around where the Modded Zhaolu dac or Benchmark Dac-1 stand; certainly good enough for most people's needs, but not quite as impressive when compared to vda-2 and stello.

Bold-added - interesting point - I further digged into the VDA2 and found it uses the same DAC chip as the Opera-- but it uses from the VDA2 write-up a very different approach to filtering and music play. I guess that makes the difference. Possibly the DAC chip (as I thought) does not matter all that much.

Link to VDA2 write-up --> http://www.ciaudio.com/vda2.html

 

[granodemostasa]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spraggih /img/forum/go_quote.gif Bold-added - interesting point - I further digged into the VDA2 and found it uses the same DAC chip as the Opera-- but it uses from the VDA2 write-up a very different approach to filtering and music play. I guess that makes the difference. Possibly the DAC chip (as I thought) does not matter all that much. Link to VDA2 write-up --> http://www.ciaudio.com/vda2.html

Yea... just goes to show you that the dac chip isn't everything that characterizes the sound..

as for "boring;" both the VDA-2 and Opera's dac could be considered a little less than musically involving when compared to the Stello dacs (which is what Kitaoji was comparing to when she said that). what I like about the VDA-2 isn't it's "musicality" but it's ability to analyze music without sounding like it's trying too hard, it is very clear, precise, detailed and textured.

 

[SK138]

This is PERFECT description of VDA2/VAC1 combo

I have a bass "heavy" tube config on my MPX3 and it has perfect synergy (for me) with HD650. If Opera sounds similar to VDA2...it's a bargain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by granodemostasa /img/forum/go_quote.gif .... I like about the VDA-2 isn't it's "musicality" but it's ability to analyze music without sounding like it's trying too hard, it is very clear, precise, detailed and textured.