Any experience of Planet 2000 with Bel Canto DAC2?

I have almost exactly what you're proposing... I have a Planet 2000 with Analysis Plus Digital Oval cable and a Bel Canto DAC 1.1 - it is a truly awesome combo for the money. The Digital Oval is a great match in this setup. It blew away the LAT International DI-20 and Harmonic Technology Cyberlink Copper - both less expensive by a small margin, but the performance margin was ridiculous. I also use a Z-Squared Au/Au digital cable with this sytem, which gives more detail than the Analysis Plus but otherwise gives a similar presentation - lots of detail, good bass, not sizzly.

Just for kicks, I inserted a Sonic Frontiers Ultra Jitterbug between the Planet 2000 and the Bel Canto 1.1 - it brought out much more clarify and depth to the music, and more impact. So despite the "reduced jitter timing circuit" etc. in the Bel Canto 1.1, I found that an outboard jitter device really made a difference as well. I wonder how much this is true for the DAC 2.

One final note, I really liked the Nordost Shiva as a power cord for the Planet 2000 when I used its analog outs - it gave more detail and slam. Analysis Plus power oval is also not a bad match, but gives up a fair bit of ground to the Nordost in detail. I haven't bothered to compare power cables on the 2000 since switching to using it as a transport - I couldn't even be sure what is hooked up to it at the moment. I'm sure it makes a small difference, but less so than when the analog outs are involved.

If anything, I can tell you that I'm VERY happy with a setup almost exactly as you've proposed. You will get alot more bass and better timing/ pace (and obviously way more detail) with the Bel Canto DAC over the Planet 2k's analog outputs. In my system, there is a definite synergy in this combo.

Rest of system: Klipsch La Scala, Quicksilver Horn Monos, Acurus ACT3 pre/pro, Tice Powerblock 3CHP, Analysis Plus Oval 9 speaker cables, Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval ICs, Kimber Select 1010 ICs, so on, so forth.

My pleasure to comment! If you get a chance to try one, based on your preferences, you may really enjoy the Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval interconnects. They're about $250 or so used for a 1m pair.

The Hero is a very timbrally pleasant sounding cable, but I think it attenuates high-frequency detail to some degree, and bass can be a little round when compared to dead neutral. This can make them sound on the "soft" side, and this makes them a very popular choice as a non-harsh sounding cable. For the pleasantness of the cure, however, some detail may be sacrificed.

The Analysis Plus should be a little tighter in bass, a little more neutral overall, and give more high-freq. detail without going so far as to sound shrill. I've definitely got a system (horns) where I notice "harsh" very quickly, and found the Analysis Plus to be just the right amount of detail without the harshness.

So along with the DAC (which would be a big upgrade, and the Bel Canto sounds like a good fit for your preferences), experimenting further with the interconnects could also yield some incremental improvements toward the sound you're looking for. At any rate, it doesn't cost much to try (as long as you don't step all the way onto the merry-go-round!)

To follow up on my earlier comments, I did try different power cables on the Planet 2000 the other day, using it as a transport. Wow - they make a much bigger difference than I would ever have expected. I was quite surprised. A transport just sends 0s and 1s... but something quite audible is going on nonetheless.

I tried these from my collection:
Analysis Plus Power Oval - good all around, a little more bass bloom than the others. Could easily live with it and love it - it's what I'd been using here.

Nordost Shiva - more detailed and quieter. Bass more tactile and defined, though with less overall LF output in quantity, but not lesser in reach (less bloom, and more true sounding.) Clearer, more articulate and impactful. This one gets swapped in for the next long haul.

Signal Cable Magic Power - respectable for the bargain price, but ponderously slow compared to the other two.

Mdp0430 - the Planet 2000 was "glue" in my system using its internal DACs, taming my Klipsch La Scalas with their sweetness. But as I've discovered, the same tonal balance is also achieved using the Bel Canto DAC with the Planet 2000 as a transport. Given the difference in sounds using different power cords when using the 2k strictly as a transport, it's clear to me that the inbuilt DACs of the Planet 2000 aren't the only thing that defines its unique sound.

I'm interested to hear your impressions of the DAC2, I may eventually do the same.