[skeptic]

  I find the site the absolute worst performing website I have ever known as of late....

 
Probably worth pursuing in the feedback and bug report forum: http://www.head-fi.org/f/5620/feedback-bug-reports  
 
Adblock might also be worth a go.

 

[mikek200]

   
While I can't speak specifically to how that DAC sounds, I can note one thing: That Parasound Zdac is a multi-bit Delta-Sigma design (AD1853). It's likely a bit of a different animal compared to the r2r DAC's that have been under discussion.
 
The Parasound DACs that use Burr-Brown/Ultra Analog chips are the 1000, 1100HD, 1500, 1600HD, and 2000. 2000 uses Ultra Analog 20400A and is generally a bit pricier than the others in that series. IMO, YMMV, etc. - but I think that the Parasound that I've heard (1500 & 1600HD) sound better unmodded than the Adcom GDA-600/700 unmodded.
 
With some work, which is well documented across the web, the Adcoms can gain ground or reach parity. They shine with some opamp and cap swaps which help quite a bit with clarity and detail. (I plan on modding my GDA-600 sometime this summer if I get so motivated.) 

Excellent post Austin,
I will go over the Parasound dacs,that you recommend
What type of SQ does the Zdac have?=warm,neutral,bright??,I am not a modder,so?..with the exception of my Stax rig,if I have a choose,I'd go with a moderate,slightly warm ..SQ?
 
I'm making this purchase ,until,I get my Yiggy dac,so the dacs,I listed above,are to hold me over until the Yiggy gets here,-then the vintage dac goes to my son--I must say,I am very curious ,as to how they sound..???,especially,the Theta's
 
Mike

 

[Sonic Defender]

   
Probably worth pursuing in the feedback and bug report forum: http://www.head-fi.org/f/5620/feedback-bug-reports  
 
Adblock might also be worth a go.

Thanks, yes I was lazy posting here. Appreciate the nudge. I disabled animations and that is helping a little so far, lets see if it continues. Sorry for going OT.

 

[mulder01]

  That chasis is a standard stream com chasis - a lot of guys who build dedicate audio PC's use them - they are completely noisless
http://www.streacom.com/products/fc5-alpha-fanless-chassis/ 
 
I will be building one in the summer with the very same body except in silver. 
The deicated Audio PC that I heard at a meet this year was amazing. 
 
I had my laptop - a Lampi gen4 - and my WA5  vs  Dedicated Audio PC - Cuinis DAC - WA5
The result was that the Dedicated Audio Pc with the Cheap 250 euro Cuinis DAC clobbered the other setup.
Even when I swapped out the Cuinis for an Rdac the peformance was really close to the Laptop/Lampi  
 
 
Dedicated Audio PC's are the real deal - especially ones with their own power supplies but it can be tough to find someone who can put one together for you. I had to get a friend to source the parts and will work with hi on it come summer time. 

 
Wow that's a bit rude that they charge that much for something that's straight off the shelf

 

[magiccabbage]

   
Wow that's a bit rude that they charge that much for something that's straight off the shelf

The CAD company or Streamcom? 
 
They are some of the nicest chasis available (at least that i know of) and are fanless as well.
They might be a bit steep but I like how they look and wouldn't mind spending the extra few bucks for that 

 

[jsgraha]

That chasis is a standard stream com chasis - a lot of guys who build dedicate audio PC's use them - they are completely noisless
http://www.streacom.com/products/fc5-alpha-fanless-chassis/ 

I will be building one in the summer with the very same body except in silver. 
The deicated Audio PC that I heard at a meet this year was amazing. 

I had my laptop - a Lampi gen4 - and my WA5  vs  Dedicated Audio PC - Cuinis DAC - WA5
The result was that the Dedicated Audio Pc with the Cheap 250 euro Cuinis DAC clobbered the other setup.
Even when I swapped out the Cuinis for an Rdac the peformance was really close to the Laptop/Lampi  


Dedicated Audio PC's are the real deal - especially ones with their own power supplies but it can be tough to find someone who can put one together for you. I had to get a friend to source the parts and will work with hi on it come summer time. 

Yup, can't agree more. My most improvement on my setup came from dedicated audio pc with dedicated linear power supply, more than improvement from vali to stratus

 

[magiccabbage]

Yup, can't agree more. My most improvement on my setup came from dedicated audio pc with dedicated linear power supply, more than improvement from vali to stratus

Its amazing isnt it, and for around 1K the improvements over a laptop are incredible - unbelievable really 

 

[johnjen]

  This is a fresh Windows 7 install. I only use this machine to run JRiver for my drumming music and for reading this and very few other audio sites.

 I have found that after a fresh install is when a great deal of 'extraneous detritus' can be purged, especially from the registry.
 
Not to mention reducing the degree of fragmentation on the boot drive.
 
JJ

 

[estreeter]

Head-Fi is about the same for me as its ever been although occasionally the pages dont load properly - no graphics etc. MBP core i7 with 16GB RAM, FWIW. 

 

[jsgraha]

Its amazing isnt it, and for around 1K the improvements over a laptop are incredible - unbelievable really 

I think if someone would like to build a nice setup, using a nice dac, amp etc, it's best to avoid noisy pc and laptop. Imo, it will be a bottleneck on a whole setup. Maybe just use a nice cdp would be better. But as always, YMMV ...

 

[Currawong]

 

   
 
...DAC nobody here owns, just because it uses some vintage chips. 

 
Teradak has what looks like an old Parasound clone using PCM63s for only about $400 if you don't mind only 48k input.

 
Hi Amos,
 
     Do you have a link to this at 400USD - perhaps it went up after they decided it had a 'fever five drill reputation' : arguably the last thing I want in a DAC but clearly a selling point for some  
 
http://www.cart100.com/Product/15139446028/Marshal_TeraDak_fourth_version_of_the_PC/
 
Thanks 

 
http://www.teradak.com/products/21.html
 
This is what I was quoted. Please note that it may NOT be current as this was some months ago.  The DF1700 may be upgraded using the same upgrades as are available for Parasound and other DACs though they haven't tested them as working above 48k, so YMMV.
 
================================================================
(1) DIR9001+DF1700+PCM63P-K*2 +  BUF03+OPA627+AD797
      Paypal price $396 USD
(2) DIR9001+DF1700+PCM63P-K*4 +  BUF03+OPA627+AD797
      Paypal price $452 USD
(3) DIR9001+DF1700+PCM63P-K2*2 +  BUF03+OPA627+AD797
      Paypal price $452USD
(4) DIR9001+DF1700+PCM63P-K2*4 +  BUF03+OPA627+AD797
      Paypal price $509 USD
All of the chips except dir9001 are refurbished.  All of the prices DO NOT include shipping fee.

 

[haywood]

  Is there anyone who is familiar with this dac,and how does Parasound rank in comparison to say,Adcom?
I know,that the Theta's are in great demand.
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151640286282?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 
Any help/advice/opinions ,will be greatly appreciated

I don't think any of these vintage dacs had usb so if you see that present you can probably rule it out.

 

[ciphercomplete]

While I can't speak specifically to how that DAC sounds, I can note one thing: That Parasound Zdac is a multi-bit Delta-Sigma design (AD1853). It's likely a bit of a different animal compared to the r2r DAC's that have been under discussion.

The Parasound DACs that use Burr-Brown/Ultra Analog chips are the 1000, 1100HD, 1500, 1600HD, and 2000. 2000 uses Ultra Analog 20400A and is generally a bit pricier than the others in that series. IMO, YMMV, etc. - but I think that the Parasound that I've heard (1500 & 1600HD) sound better unmodded than the Adcom GDA-600/700 unmodded.

This one has been listed for a while now. Its been on my watch list for a month so it has been relisted a few times.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221712726393

 

[snip3r77]

http://www.teradak.com/products/21.html

This is what I was quoted. Please note that it may NOT be current as this was some months ago.  The DF1700 may be upgraded using the same upgrades as are available for Parasound and other DACs though they haven't tested them as working above 48k, so YMMV.

================================================================
(1) DIR9001+DF1700+PCM63P-K*2 +  BUF03+OPA627+AD797
      Paypal price $396 USD
(2) DIR9001+DF1700+PCM63P-K*4 +  BUF03+OPA627+AD797
      Paypal price $452 USD
(3) DIR9001+DF1700+PCM63P-K2*2 +  BUF03+OPA627+AD797
      Paypal price $452USD
(4) DIR9001+DF1700+PCM63P-K2*4 +  BUF03+OPA627+AD797
      Paypal price $509 USD
All of the chips except dir9001 are refurbished.  All of the prices DO NOT include shipping fee.

4pcs of PCM63P-K2 is pretty nice

 

[estreeter]

   
http://www.teradak.com/products/21.html
 
This is what I was quoted. Please note that it may NOT be current as this was some months ago.  The DF1700 may be upgraded using the same upgrades as are available for Parasound and other DACs though they haven't tested them as working above 48k, so YMMV.
 
================================================================
(1) DIR9001+DF1700+PCM63P-K*2 +  BUF03+OPA627+AD797
      Paypal price $396 USD
(2) DIR9001+DF1700+PCM63P-K*4 +  BUF03+OPA627+AD797
      Paypal price $452 USD
(3) DIR9001+DF1700+PCM63P-K2*2 +  BUF03+OPA627+AD797
      Paypal price $452USD
(4) DIR9001+DF1700+PCM63P-K2*4 +  BUF03+OPA627+AD797
      Paypal price $509 USD
All of the chips except dir9001 are refurbished.  All of the prices DO NOT include shipping fee.

 
Groovy - thanks for that - just not completely wild about their ordering system. Much prefer a cart but I guess if they're offering custom options they prefer to offer you those choices when you fire them off the initial email.