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MF V-DAC and power supply

I know this is a very elementary question for most of you buy I'm hoping you will help. I have a pretty good basic system with:

1. Cary SLP-94 Preamp
2. Balanced Audio Technology VK200 Amplifier (SS)
3. Tube Audio Design 60 Amplifier (tube)
4. Rega P3-24 with TTPSU, upgrade subplatter (Groovetracer) and counterweight (Mitchell), Herbie's mat, Clearaudio Virtuoso cartridge
5. Cambridge Audio 650 CD player

I want to get into PC audio, so.......I ripped all my CDs into Itunes Apple Lossless. And now am at a loss (less)

I am thinking about buying a Musical Fidelity V-DAC with a power supply upgrade and using it to to play the files through my system. My questions:

1. Is the MF V-DAC good enough? That is, will I be satisfied with the sound through the system that I have or do I need something better?
2. Do I need to do anything other than hook the V-DAC through the usb port on my laptop and hit play? Or, do I need to do more in relation to lossless or to playing the damn thing?

Thanks for any help you are willing to give.
6. Acoustic Zen Adagio Speakers
gmsasso

Showing 3 responses by stanwal

stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
Yes it is good enough, I use it with a fairly expensive/exotic system and works very well. A friend just got one also. I use the ""Little Pinkie" power supply with it and recommend it as well. To get better costs a lot more according to my own experience and HIFICRITIC tests; they take no ads and assign numerical ratings to the products they test for comparison purposes. The V-DAC was not only better than competing products like the DAC Magic [ which is quite good itself] but considerably better than much more expensive products like the Benchmark DAC. In any case you can order one with return privileges from Music Direct or Audio Advisor.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
My current system is Gamut L5s with 2 REL Stadium subs, CJ 350 amp, Audia Flight Pre, Meridian 200 transport and V-DAC with Little Pinkie with Oyaide PC and either Transparent Reference or VDH TFU digital cable. I just got a CD , Roadhouses and Automobiles by Chris Jones, from Stockfisch in Germany; the electric bass is so good its scary, I think this is probably the best CD I have heard; the V-DAC has no trouble with the bottom end and these are subs with output below 20 Hz. The V-DAC is not a USB powered device and is very good with the standard wall wart but considerably better with the LP.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
I think you will find that the Mac is not nearly as good as higher priced gear designed from the ground up for audio use. From everything I hear from sources I trust getting good sound from downloads is a fairly difficult and expensive proposition. As to the sound of the V-DAC, I recently had a chance to do an A-B with my back up dac, an Audio Synthesis DAX with a Ayon CD-5. All 4 of us agreed that the DAX was better although the owner of the CD-5 later recanted after rereading all the glowing reviews the CD-5 had received. The current CD-5 is in the area of $10,000 so price isn't everything. The DAX and V-DAC are close in sound but I usually listen to the V-DAC.
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