Topic: Rega DAC - Anyone have any experience?

[nickgregory]

I am in the process of getting one this week in my endless attempt to improve the sound of my digital end of my playback and get it close to my TT setup...Looking to put it in this chain:

Arcam DV135 / PC / Airport Express -> Rega DAC -> Arcam AVR300

if i can get it close to sounding as good as my vinyl rig I will be ecstatic:

Rega P3-24 / Benz micro cart -> Mussical Surroundings Phonomea II -> AVR 300

will post my thoughts when I get it setup, but if anyone has any real experience with the unit will be interested to hear it...

[OOK]

This might work better....  Putting a Jolida Tube Dac may give you the analog sound your looking for....

http://www.hideflifestyle.com/all-products/fx-tube-dac-iii-digital-to-analog-converter.html

[nickgregory]

thanks...I may look into that unit if the rega doesnt give me what I am looking for...should have it in hands this week.

[noahbickart]

The Airport express is not bit perfect and is limited to 16/44.1.

You might not be able to hear the difference, but based on specs, this is more of a weak point than a DAC

[nickgregory]

The Airport express is not bit perfect and is limited to 16/44.1.

You might not be able to hear the difference, but based on specs, this is more of a weak point than a DAC

yeah, definitely aware of the limitations with the airport express...really looking for feeding high sample rate files directly from pc...

[OOK]

You may want to change the airport express to this NAD unit.  It does 24bit/192. 

I don't have any expirence with the Airport Express or the NAD but my guess it the NAD is better quality and tailor made for music.  I could be wrong...  but for 150$ it might be worth the shot.

Actually I might end up trying the NAD myself.  I have avoided streaming from my desktop because of the powered monitors I have.  But it would be nice to listen from the stereo setup as well...20 feet away.

Peace OOK

[nickgregory]

wasnt aware of that unit...thanks!

[capnhook]

wasnt aware of that unit...thanks!

me either.....niiiice, thanks

[nickgregory]

So have had the Rega DAC in my system for a couple of weeks.  Overall thoughts, it really takes digital source files and gives it a much warmer sound.  Similarities to vinyl is the large soundstage/instrument separation and a much fuller sound.  Really comes closer to vinyl when comparing CDs to LPs (though to no ones surprise, vinyl still has the edge mainly due to an intangible I can't really explain...musicality would be the best word, but obviously meaningless ).

Bottom line though I am a huge fan of this unit...really opens CDs to me again (whereas I had written off that medium for vinyl completely before)...and it definitely gives a different presentation of digital files from my computer.  Everything from MP3s fed through the airport to 24/96 files from the PC directly all are improved over using the DAC in my Arcam CD player or Integrated.

End of the day this unit is really going to help me evolve my system as I am thinking the next step I take is to replace the Arcam integrated with a better 2 channel option (Tube or SS...not quite sure yet). 

[Chilly Brioschi]

This might work better....  Putting a Jolida Tube Dac may give you the analog sound your looking for....

http://www.hideflifestyle.com/all-products/fx-tube-dac-iii-digital-to-analog-converter.html

Perhaps it will do the trick, but it is worth saying that the vast majority of "the tube sound" occurs with the final output stage tubes and their soft compression.
The small, fast tubes, like the 12AX7, don't have as much of that characteristic.
As always, use your ears !