I really don't think I want to get between Carl and Hagen, will try to keep my response relatively short. I strongly believe from all I hear, the BEST VALUE in a DAC at the present time to be the MUSE MODEL TWO with the AES/EBU and the 4th Order Reconstruction Filter option, or BETTER YET, the MODEL TWO PLUS on which these options are standard and also includes the MUSE I2S Interface as well. Both would afford you a future upgrade path to the TWO NINETY SIX (96kHz/24Bit) processor Muse offers. As a mate for the TWO PLUS, you may want to try and pick up a MUSE MODEL FIVE Transport. It also comes with the I2S connection and you would then have what I believe to be a vastly superior front end on which you can build the rest of your system. As for the Pre-Amp, I would strongly consider the MUSE MODEL THREE as well. Listing new under $2,000 it has enjoyed great acclaim as well, being compared by many as an equal with pieces several times it's price. There is also a stand alone power supply and display for the MODEL THREE available which I believe can be added at any time. In the used market I believe you should be able to go with all three pieces and most likely stay within your price range. I feel when putting together the front end of a system, perhaps staying with one highly acclaimed manufacturer, as Muse certainly is, makes a lot of sense. I find it hard to beleive that a marrying of these critical pieces of electronics in particular, would not have been of prime consideration in the mind and goals of a design engineer.
The best used preamp and d/a converter
My system consists of Revel's F-30 performa's and dual classe 100 amps, and a old Rotel Rsp960ax preamp and a denon cd player. I am definetly limited by the last two on that list and want to upgrade these components. I have been told the cp-50 or cp-60 would be a great preamp for my system and the theta IIIa converter with the data basic II transport would make a very nice system. I was just wondering what everyone else's thoughts are on this. Other recommenadtions would be helpfull. I am looking to spend about 1600 on the preamp, 900 d/a, and 450 on the transport. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks
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- 10 posts total
- 10 posts total