Bel Canto DAC-1: Transport? Cable?

The Pioneer DVD525 and 414 with toslink cables are or were recommended by Bel Canto as cost effective transports. If you are playing DVD's, CDR's or intend to play 24/96K discs, then you would obviously need to use a DVD player that outputs 24/96 and can play cdr's. However, if you only intend to play regular CD's, I would suggest you proceed with caution in getting a DVD player. I have read a thread on another website where some DVD player owners complained about noisy transports and clicking noises between tracks. If you go to the EVS website (tweakaudio.com), you will see that a modified Sony CD player is preferred as a transport over a DVD player for sound quality on CD's. I use a Parasound cd 2000 transport with a Harmonic Tech copper cable feeding a AA DTI PRO with a Madrigal cable feeding the Bel Canto dac. I use Harmonic Tech truthlink cables on the Bel Canto to my preamp. I have no interest in auditioning any more transports or dacs. The only set up I have heard that rivals what I have is a much more expensive Theta Transport with a Theta Gen Va dac.

Kasboot: There was information suggesting that the best results are with at least 2m long optical cable. Have you checked this? Other Pioneers are good as well. 626 is a very good unit and you can get it at a very good price. Interesting to note this unit has two digital outs that might allow you to have the DVD and PCM processed separately if you need it...

I used to have the Pioneer Elite DV05 and Bel Canto Combo, and I remember the reason I bought the Pioneer instead of the Sony was that the Pioneer is the only DVD player that actually outputs a true 24/96 Khz on its digital out which is awesome if you have Checsky 24/96 DADs. Other players including the Sony and Denon DVD5000 converts the 96 Khz signal to 44 Khz on it's digital output. I can be wrong so check out the specs to make sure.Regarding optical cable I used a transparent high performance toslink and it worked really great.

happy listening Rmml