Topic: best recomendation for an affordable DAC?

[audBall]

Mine has all that with an extra coax.  I believe there was a revision to the original unit.

[it-goes-to-eleven]

Anyone else notice the DSD page on the Mytek website? Interesting to hear their thoughts on it as well.

It has been there for a couple years. DSD is going nowhere fast.

[jerryfreak]

i have a mytek stereo 96 i might part with if somebody wants it.

[MattD]

where the Mytek fails me is the lack of selectable digital inputs.  that is why I 86'd the Grace ...which was the best front end i've had to date.  I need separate and selectable Toslink / Coax / AES inputs.  especially the varied s/dif inputs.  thats how I need to roll...dig ?

I hope that fuckn' Apogee blows my mind.

Um, the mytek sitting on my rack has 4 digital inputs: 2 coax, 1 AES, 1 optical SPDIF.

[Nick's Picks]

the specs I read didn't seem to show that many...
ah well.  I still need to hear one.

[Gutbucket]

Cool logo Nick.

[Brian]

any DAC with 2 optical inputs?

anybody use optical to coax converter boxes in their setup?

if so, recommendations?

edit: or a 2 or 3 opti in / 1 opti out switching box?

[som]

Might be another interesting and affordable option:

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=47989.0

[Tim]

any DAC with 2 optical inputs?

anybody use optical to coax converter boxes in their setup?

if so, recommendations?

edit: or a 2 or 3 opti in / 1 opti out switching box?

I've never heard an optical cable that I thought sounded good in my system.

[Brian]

any DAC with 2 optical inputs?

anybody use optical to coax converter boxes in their setup?

if so, recommendations?

edit: or a 2 or 3 opti in / 1 opti out switching box?

I've never heard an optical cable that I thought sounded good in my system.

how so? it's a digital cable.  too much jitter? i wasn't planning on going with a cheapo cable so i'm curious if anybody else shares your thoughts.

i'm trying to avoid an AVR and my new tv's digital audio out is optical

[Brian Skalinder]

anybody use optical to coax converter boxes in their setup?

I used the Hosa ODL-312 for recording and converting AES > S/PDIF optical.  Hosa also makes the ODL-276A for S/PDIF coax <--> S/PDIF optical.  Uses a 9v DC wallwart.  If you're running 24-bit, get the -276A, I believe the -276 isn't rated for 24-bit.

[Brian]

anybody use optical to coax converter boxes in their setup?

I used the Hosa ODL-312 for recording and converting AES > S/PDIF optical.  Hosa also makes the ODL-276A for S/PDIF coax <--> S/PDIF optical.  Uses a 9v DC wallwart.  If you're running 24-bit, get the -276A, I believe the -276 isn't rated for 24-bit.

i saw that 276a and that is the model rated for 24/96.  that looks like what i need unless i decide to go with a passive optical switcher.  the hosa definitely seems like a higher quality device and i know it has a good rep here for tapers who used it with their rigs before optical connections were more utilized by various converters

[Tim]

how so? it's a digital cable.  too much jitter? i wasn't planning on going with a cheapo cable so i'm curious if anybody else shares your thoughts.

perhaps it was jitter but the Bel Canto's are well known for their low jitter.

I've used a few types of cables, ranging from around $20 to close to $100

[Brian]

can you explain the differences you heard?

clarity or lack thereof?

frequency response?  (lows/mids/highs)

what cables did you try??

[Tim]

lack of clarity, smearing in the high end. It wasn't subtle either

I don't recall the cable brands at this point, sorry I suck   they were purchased from a local hi-fi shop

I haven't run an optical cable in over a year because of this. I don't think I'm the only person to hear issues with optical cables - I know digital is supposed to be digital but....