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Tranport and wire for Bel Canto DAC1

I am seeking recommendations for a transport to drive a Bel Canto DAC1. I would also be curious as to what interconnect people are using to connect their tranports to the DAC1. Are people getting better sound using coax or Tos Link interconnects?

I am currently using the coax digital out from an Arcam Alpha 8. The Bel Canto feeds a Mod Squad (McCormack) Deluxe Line Drive (passive preamp), which feed a McCormack DNA 0.5 Rev B. A Llano Design Trinity 100 hybrid amp is on order. I am still playing with inteconnects and cables. Currently, I am using a Synergistic Research first generation Digital Corridor between the Arcam and the Bel Canto.
jstein
5 responses Add your response
jsteinbd06
3 posts
 
I left the speakers out of my system description. They are Wilson Benesch Act Ones.
tom_nice
387 posts
 
Toslink should not be in your audio picture. Neither, in my opinion (after using Wadia and Altis Altimate models) should ST-optical. Coax should be on BNC connectors but industry standard has gone to RCA. Some makers try to have a true 75 ohm cable anyway. Stealth Varidig doubtless does this best, and is a great cable in other ways. See it and other Stealth cables at www.interlinkhouse.com. Note their 30-day money-back guarantee. On any Stealth cables, you can hardly go wrong, since you can send them back. But chances are 90 to 1 that you won't want to.
phild
603 posts
 
I'm not positive about this, but I think Bel Canto designed their DAC to work best with a toslink cable. You can go to www.belcantodesigns.com and ask them yourself. I'm sure they could recommend a transport too. I've called them before and they're helpful.
jack_n_roberts's avatar
jack_n_roberts
27 posts
 
Don't use toslink. I've tried. Don't use a DVD player either. This combination may be a cheep solution but not a good one. I use a pioneer elite for a transport with a Harmonic Tech platinum coax. The best upgrade there is for the BelCanto is a powersnake.
audiokinesis
2,737 posts
 
I use the Pioneer 525 DVD player with a DAC1. The data is first downloaded into 16 megabytes of RAM before being output, which effectively reclocks it. This is why BEl Canto recommends a DVD player. I tried the Toslink and coax, and the Toslink was more musical. I know this goes against all our prejudices, but this combination works. I replaced a well-respected CD player with this combo - sold my CD player for $2500+ on Audiogon. The Pioneer/Bel Canto was considerably more musical.
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