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Author Topic: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?  (Read 8678 times)

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Offline Nick's Picks

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Re: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?
« Reply #15 on: June 20, 2005, 08:42:42 AM »
how about a sony str-da2000es reciever?
you can probably find one in the 3-400 range.  use it just as a preamp/DAC combo and you wont find anything we are discussing in this thread that will touch it.

Offline Daryan

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Re: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?
« Reply #16 on: June 20, 2005, 09:33:14 AM »
I heard that fullcompass was trying to convince art to make one more run.  Whether that will happen or not was up in the air.  The ebay route is usually the best.  If you are handy with a soldering iron, I can dig up the mods that you can do yourself if you are into that kind of thing.  There is a seller on audiocircle.com, Danny Ritchie of GRresearch that has a "semi-mensa," the step up from the smart mod, for 250 shipped.  his e-mail I believe is danny@grresearch.com, or PM him on the audiocircle.

Danny has made it very clear that this is not true. Price is 400 which is still probably a good deal, just not quite the deal I'm looking for. Thanks for the info, though.  I'll probably get a new stock one and mod it later.


Danny makes a lot of things very clear, some of which are complete nonsense but that is a story for another day :-X

Wayne told me just yesterday that they may indeed get another run, but who knows, and quite frankly, doesn't matter.  They will replace it with something assumingly better!
Microtech Gefell 200/210->Zaolla Silverlines->Fostex FR-2 (oade modified plus other self mods)

Playback: Bolder modified Squeezebox SB3 (building linear power supply)->Bolder Cable Modified Panasonic XR-45 with bybee's->Bolder Nitro speaker cables->VMPS Audio super modified 626r's, VMPS Larger SUB, 1000w class AB sub amp
Tweaks: isolation and room treatments, silclear, BPT 1.5r Power Conditioner (modified), isoblocks, vibrapods, many others

Offline capnhook

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Re: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?
« Reply #17 on: June 20, 2005, 10:55:07 AM »
How about the Entech Number Cruncher?   :coolguy:

Edit: Sorry, only 16 bit
« Last Edit: June 20, 2005, 10:57:46 AM by capnhook »
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Offline macdaddy

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Re: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?
« Reply #18 on: June 20, 2005, 11:06:45 AM »
Quote
use it just as a preamp/DAC combo and you wont find anything we are discussing in this thread that will touch it.

that is a pretty bold statement, and one i dont know if i can agree with, seeing as how we have discussed a number of dac options in this thread, and not all of them in the $300 range...

that sony unit is good for the $$, but it certainly doesnt flat-out outclass the modded units we have been discussing...
« Last Edit: June 20, 2005, 12:53:48 PM by macdaddy »
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akg c422 > s42 > lunatec v2 > ad2k+ > roland r-44

Offline rustoleum

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Re: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?
« Reply #19 on: June 20, 2005, 12:49:43 PM »
Just called FullCompass and they were all out of stock... so off to ebay I went and grabbed a new one for 157.50 shipped.    Now, the big question... how long am I going to be able to hold out getting this thing modified.   >:D

Offline Nick's Picks

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Re: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?
« Reply #20 on: June 20, 2005, 11:02:30 PM »
listen to it stock for a while before you mod it.
maybe just get the smart mod first, then the mensa later on.

I hear these benefit greatly from good power cords (as well as power).

Offline Daryan

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Re: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?
« Reply #21 on: June 21, 2005, 07:09:20 AM »
External power supplies are what Wayne builds for these things to make them sound better fwiw.
Microtech Gefell 200/210->Zaolla Silverlines->Fostex FR-2 (oade modified plus other self mods)

Playback: Bolder modified Squeezebox SB3 (building linear power supply)->Bolder Cable Modified Panasonic XR-45 with bybee's->Bolder Nitro speaker cables->VMPS Audio super modified 626r's, VMPS Larger SUB, 1000w class AB sub amp
Tweaks: isolation and room treatments, silclear, BPT 1.5r Power Conditioner (modified), isoblocks, vibrapods, many others

Offline Nick's Picks

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Re: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?
« Reply #22 on: June 21, 2005, 07:12:00 AM »
thats one thing....
Wayne also does the full MODs as well.  There are other companies out there that do it also.

But, buy the time you buy the MENSA upgrade and a fat power supply for it.....then you are into the price range of other DACs that might catch ones interest....like a Bel Canto.

but, the DIO holds its own......do doubt.

Offline Daryan

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Re: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?
« Reply #23 on: June 21, 2005, 09:38:12 AM »
I would think the benchmark used may be in this ballpark as well.  I am curious nick, how do you think your digital am stacks up to seperates, and more importantly, in what price range?  I have a jones to go sperates, and was thinking a tube pre, a benchmark, and something based around the icepower amp modules, class d design for an amp, or possibly build one based on the ucd 400's.

Daryan
Microtech Gefell 200/210->Zaolla Silverlines->Fostex FR-2 (oade modified plus other self mods)

Playback: Bolder modified Squeezebox SB3 (building linear power supply)->Bolder Cable Modified Panasonic XR-45 with bybee's->Bolder Nitro speaker cables->VMPS Audio super modified 626r's, VMPS Larger SUB, 1000w class AB sub amp
Tweaks: isolation and room treatments, silclear, BPT 1.5r Power Conditioner (modified), isoblocks, vibrapods, many others

Offline macdaddy

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Re: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?
« Reply #24 on: June 21, 2005, 09:41:58 AM »
I would think the benchmark used may be in this ballpark as well.  I am curious nick, how do you think your digital am stacks up to seperates, and more importantly, in what price range?  I have a jones to go sperates, and was thinking a tube pre, a benchmark, and something based around the icepower amp modules, class d design for an amp, or possibly build one based on the ucd 400's.

Daryan

boy, that setup sounds like it is in the "200-300 dollar DAC recommendation" range :P

i mean, the pb forum aint that big... cant we start new threads when the topic you want to address threatens to usurp the topic at hand (listed in the thread title)..? tia.
-macdaddy ++

akg c422 > s42 > lunatec v2 > ad2k+ > roland r-44

Offline scervin

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Re: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?
« Reply #25 on: June 21, 2005, 09:48:02 AM »
I would think the benchmark used may be in this ballpark as well.  I am curious nick, how do you think your digital am stacks up to seperates, and more importantly, in what price range?  I have a jones to go sperates, and was thinking a tube pre, a benchmark, and something based around the icepower amp modules, class d design for an amp, or possibly build one based on the ucd 400's.

Daryan

I thought you were very happy with your modded receiver?  Why class D?

Offline Daryan

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Re: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?
« Reply #26 on: June 21, 2005, 10:06:14 AM »
I am extremely happy, but I am also a tinkerer, and want to always try something different.  I just happen to like class D amps, as I am able to get 500w for 750 bucks or so.

I will start another damn thread.  Thread highjacking is the rule around here isn't it? :P
Microtech Gefell 200/210->Zaolla Silverlines->Fostex FR-2 (oade modified plus other self mods)

Playback: Bolder modified Squeezebox SB3 (building linear power supply)->Bolder Cable Modified Panasonic XR-45 with bybee's->Bolder Nitro speaker cables->VMPS Audio super modified 626r's, VMPS Larger SUB, 1000w class AB sub amp
Tweaks: isolation and room treatments, silclear, BPT 1.5r Power Conditioner (modified), isoblocks, vibrapods, many others

Offline Nick's Picks

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Re: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?
« Reply #27 on: June 22, 2005, 07:29:58 AM »
the benchmark sells for $7-850 used.  never any cheaper.
and you dont need a preamp.

how do I think digital stacks up to seperates?
well, speaking from my Sonys perspective, it stacks up niceley.  Not enough power...cheap parts and construction...those are the downfalls.
its a nice dac with power.

I'd rather have seperates of my choice though.
:)

Offline Daryan

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Re: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?
« Reply #28 on: June 22, 2005, 09:40:30 AM »
The power thing is what is bothering me at the moment.  Must, have, more, power.  I may pickup a manley stingray and try that out with a benchmark sometime next month, or I may go hypex with an onix tube pre, who knows. 
Microtech Gefell 200/210->Zaolla Silverlines->Fostex FR-2 (oade modified plus other self mods)

Playback: Bolder modified Squeezebox SB3 (building linear power supply)->Bolder Cable Modified Panasonic XR-45 with bybee's->Bolder Nitro speaker cables->VMPS Audio super modified 626r's, VMPS Larger SUB, 1000w class AB sub amp
Tweaks: isolation and room treatments, silclear, BPT 1.5r Power Conditioner (modified), isoblocks, vibrapods, many others

Offline Nick's Picks

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Re: 200-300 dollar DAC recommendation?
« Reply #29 on: June 22, 2005, 09:23:35 PM »
the stingray ....though strong and punchy for its 40wpc.... is not what i'd call a "poweful amp"
i'm sure it would be glorious w/monitors in a medium sized room.

 

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