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Have DAC’s improved for Redbook CD playback?

So I’m contemplating getting a new DAC or DAC-pre. I own an Oppo BDP-83SE player, a Theta DS Pro Basic IIIA DAC and a Logitech Trandporter. I still use my DAC unit’s for Redbook playback.

Have DAC’s improved for Redbook CD playback?
128x128celander

Showing 4 responses by georgehifi

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georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
The distortion and S/N of modern D/A chips is much improved over that of 10 years ago.
Yes, that may have improved with Delta Sigma, but they sound bland, and musically disconnected.

Proof is in what mahler123 heard in his above post compared to the old PS Digital Link MkIII.
We all know that amps can be vanishingly low in distortion just by dumping a s**t load of global feedback around them, and that totally stuffs up the sound. BUT HEY! IT MEASURES WELL!! so it must sound better?? not likely.
Compared to a little local feedback instead as Nelson Pass, Dan Agostino ect ect ect do.

Cheers George

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
mahler123
So I dusted off the PS Audio DAC and it was a Wow! moment. The Node2 just snapped into focus.



Data: PS AUDIO DL THREE 2 x PCM1702-J – DF1700P / PMD100 a DAC
  
PCM1702 R2R Multibit dac
After listening to Delta Sigma converters with those Oppo's that came after the PS DL III, welcome back to to the sound of r2r multibit, your hearing pcm as it’s supposed to be converted. And that an just ok one, imagine what a PCM1704 based one or even the new discrete ones are like.

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
sell off my digital front end for now.

Please PM me with a price for the Theta DS Pro Basic IIIA

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

Have DAC’s improved for Redbook CD playback?
celander


Your THETA DS PRO BASIC III has 4 x PCM1702-K R2R Multibit d/a converters in it, one of the best R2R Multibit d/a converters before they stopped production because of the high cost of manufacturing them.

Then the majority of dac and cdp makers went to the far cheaper to manufacturer Delta Sigma converter, which does sacd and dsd, but myself and many others view it as not as good for Redbook pcm conversion, as it’s not "bit perfect" just a "facsimile" of the real thing, sure they sound sweet and smooth but there’s no jump or boogie factor that gives music life like the R2R Multibit dacs can.

My advise to you, keep your Theta DS pro for RedBook pcm 16/44 or 24/96 and don’t forget DXD as DXD is the ultimate and it’s pcm.

And if you want to listen to Sacd or DSD get a Delta Sigma based player/dac


Cheers George

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