You could pair the Valab DAC with something like the Monarchy DIP. The Monarchy DIP is a jitter reduction device that is used between the transport and DAC. Good news is that you could get both and still be within your budget. However, its another piece in the chain and requires additional cables.
NOS DAC or CDP?
Recently I had to get rid of two of my CDPs (Jolida JD-100 and NAD C542) for finacial reasons. In doing so, I've had to go back to using my old Onkyo DX-C540 changer. Now it's not a bad sounding player for what it is, which is a Mid-FI changer circa late 90s. But both the NAD and Jolida certainly bested it in all areas of performance, and yes, I'm missing that level of performance. In any case am thinking down the road of either getting another CDP (possibly another NAD or used Jolida) or maybe going the NOS DAC route. I'm thinking of going the NOS DAC route as the Onkyo DOES have a optical output, and I think that it might make a decent transport, and give me changer capabilities. In addition, from what I've been reading the NOS DAC would probably give me the warm, musical presentation that I enjoyed with both the NAD and Jolida players. Also it appears that many of the NOS DACs fall within the "price point" that I would like to keep (less than $500). BTW, I consider myself more a "music lover" than an "audiophile", and going the DAC route would certainly be something new for me. Anyway, appreciate thoughs and suggestions from the community on which road they might go down and why they so. Thanks.
Showing 3 responses by clio09
I still am a big fan of NOS DACs even though I'm not using one right now. I don't agree with everything Muralman said about OS DACs, because again a lot is based on design. In my case my transport is slaved to my OS DAC so jitter is not really an issue. I do agree that NOS DACs have a very organic or natural sound to them. Closest thing to analog IMO, but again if the design is done right. Audio Note and 47 Labs make some very nice NOS DACs, but they are out of the OPs budget. |
I can respect Muralman's opinions because I also felt that way at one time, but again there are benefits to OS designs IMO as well. Here is some interesting reading I have come across over the years (yes, perhaps embellished with some marketing language but I'm going to assume we're wise enough to read between the lines): Lessloss Slaving (read through a few pages) Lessloss Jitter (follow the steps under the diagram) 47 Labs NOS Digital Diversions All of this really just supports the fact that there is more than one way to do digital right. |