I am in general agreement that modern CD players and DACs that use newer 24-bit DAC chips and recent digital filters will sound better than many older technology DACs now selling for 1/4th original price. Why do you think they are selling for only 1/4th original price? We don't see that kind of depreciation in components that use somewhat stable technology like preamps, speakers, and amps. The electronics used in these components haven't changed much in decades but digital electronics continue to move forward and improve quickly forcing older and very expensive digital components to drop in value more than any other item in the audiophile equipment rack. Many new $1000 DAC's or $1500 CD players can outperform their $4000 counterparts of only a few years past.
New DAC versus higher end used DAC?
Does anyone have direct experience comparing the previous generation of high end DAC (especially Muse model 2 plus, Meridian 563 and Timbre TT-1) with newer units like the Bel Canto (1 or 1.1) or the PT-3A.
I'm trying to upgrade my front end by spending as little as possible and some of the non-24/96 DACs which were very well received can be bought for1/4 of their original price. Or am I being foolish, are the new units so much better that a new $700 unit outperforms what was a 2-4K one three or four years ago?
I'm planning on using an ARCAM Alpha 7se I already own as transport (it has the same transport as the Alpha 9se). I have the Musical Fidelity A3cr amp and pre. TMC White and Yellow interconnects Analysis Plus oval 9 and 12 in a biwire run as speaker cable to Magnepan 1.5/QRs. Power is filtered by a Monster HTS-2000 and I have a mix of Stealth HAC, Kimber PowerKord and Dedicated Audio pds one power cords.
Help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
I'm trying to upgrade my front end by spending as little as possible and some of the non-24/96 DACs which were very well received can be bought for1/4 of their original price. Or am I being foolish, are the new units so much better that a new $700 unit outperforms what was a 2-4K one three or four years ago?
I'm planning on using an ARCAM Alpha 7se I already own as transport (it has the same transport as the Alpha 9se). I have the Musical Fidelity A3cr amp and pre. TMC White and Yellow interconnects Analysis Plus oval 9 and 12 in a biwire run as speaker cable to Magnepan 1.5/QRs. Power is filtered by a Monster HTS-2000 and I have a mix of Stealth HAC, Kimber PowerKord and Dedicated Audio pds one power cords.
Help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.