Thoughts on a bunch of DACs (and why delta-sigma kinda sucks, just to get you to think about stuff)

[mikek200]

  So there is the Teradak new hardware/old chip PCM63 DAC around $4-500.
 
Can anyone recommend other PCM63 based NEW DAC units under $500 ?

Why must it be ..a PCM63 chip???

 

[jacal01]

  Also, bear in mind that with most dacs, you will need to put a usb hub in between the camera connection kit and dac, because apple has software crippled its devices to display an error message suggesting that non-apple licensed dacs draw too much power.  I forget which iOS update brought this about, but many people suddenly could not use usb dacs with their iphones etc. that had worked the night before.
 
As a further consideration - mobile devices connected to usb dacs via otg usb or the camera connection kit may or may not preserve the original sample rate.  I know many samsung android phones output everything at 48k, like the kmixer, to the extent they support otg usb out of the box without root.  Can't recall whether iphones preserve or alter the sample rate when hooked up via the cck.

 
Big source of angst around here was that the Apple device iOS limited output audio digital files to 14 bit/48 kHz, the sole exception maybe being the Macbook at 21/96, for some reason.  I don't know if that ever got changed since the advent of the Lightning 2 connector.

 

[Sonic Defender]

  Why must it be ..a PCM63 chip???

The chip is supposed to have the ability to be used in an architecture that yields a very pleasant sounding DAC if memory serves me. Ultimately as I'm sure this is common knowledge it comes down to the totality of the implementation if the DAC has the sound the buyer wants.

 

[Sonic Defender]

Now I need to get a DAC that's Non Over Simplifying too?

Ha ha, too funny.

 

[mikek200]

 
The chip is supposed to have the ability to be used in an architecture that yields a very pleasant sounding DAC if memory serves me. Ultimately as I'm sure this is common knowledge it comes down to the totality of the implementation if the DAC has the sound the buyer wants.

Yes,I know that
My question is why specially ,the PCM63..they're other excellent chips as well
When I had the Theta Basic III,I had the PCM 1702,and the SQ was outstanding..
Maybe,as you say,it had something to do with the implementation?
 
I have a Sonic Frontiers Transdac coming in ,with the same chip..pcm1702
If it gives me 1/2 the sq of the Theta,I'll be a happy camper
 
Mike

 

[AustinValentine]

PCM63 hasn't been in production for quite some time. Neither has PCM1702. PCM1704 went out of production relatively recently, but there is enough new inventory back stock still available that we'll likely see new production DACs (such as Audio-GD's) using them for a few more years at least. 

 

[mikek200]

  PCM63 hasn't been in production for quite some time. Neither has PCM1702. PCM1704 went out of production relatively recently, but there is enough new inventory back stock still available that we'll likely see new production DACs (such as Audio-GD's) using them for a few more years at least. 

Not sure if its fact or fiction..,I heard that Audio-GD bought all the PCM1704 chips they could get their hands on..??
So,you are probably right.

 

[hodgjy]

  Not sure if its fact or fiction..,I heard that Audio-GD bought all the PCM1704 chips they could get their hands on..??
So,you are probably right.

The PCM1704 is, and will only become more, the Tung-Sol 5998 tube. Every NOS will be bought up, and eventually pulls from decommissioned gear will happen. I would be very skeptical of quality in a few years time. 

 

[mikek200]

Maybe there will be more usage with the AD5791..??????? ,which could be a very good thing/????

 

[juanitox]

  So there is the Teradak new hardware/old chip PCM63 DAC around $4-500.
 
Can anyone recommend other PCM63 based NEW DAC units under $500 ?

there is a Stax dac talent ( PCM63)   here on the sale/trade forum , very musical dac..

 

[mikek200]

 
there is a Stax dac talent ( PCM63)   here on the sale/trade forum , very musical dac..

Can you supply us with a link??

 

[juanitox]

sorry , i just see the thread is closed. don't tell if it solded   http://www.head-fi.org/t/764926/fs-ft-stax-dac-talent

 

[LingLing1337]

Theta in the house. the gap between this and my pwd2 is way smaller than it should be, I expected the DSPro to get blown out of the water. For critical listening and my most resolving upstream gear, the PWD2 is the winner, but the DSPro will definitely stay in a secondary system as a solid alternative to a modern DAC in the $500 range. If you can find one I'd highly recommend it. Im sure the later generations of DSPro only get better.

 

[hans030390]

What source are you using to feed the DACs, and what amps and headphones or speakers are you using for comparison?

 

[LingLing1337]

Pc as source, so I wonder how it would do with a decent usb-> coax would do for the sound. Speakers include Cambridge s30, scansonic mb2.5, senn hd700, grado sr80i. For the cambridge and grado it doesnt feel like anything is missing. It takes the higher end gear to really reproduce the extra detail and resolution of the pwd2