Guys:
IMHO, I wouldn't recommend spending the money on upgrading the DAC. I recently acquired a new MSB Link DAC III, with upsampling upgrade to 96mmz, and the upgraded Monolithic Power Supply. I'm using a Pioneer Elite DV09 as a Transport. I have not been able to identify any difference between listening to the DVD player direct and switching to the MSB output. Perhaps it's just that the Pioneer DACs are really good? Not sure. I've really tried to discern a difference, using my Sennhesier 600s and Musical Fidelity xCans v2 - couldn't find any difference though. Cabling between the Pioneer and my Preamp (Bryston BP20) is relatively cheap Monster cable RCA (551 I think, which is about $50). Cabling between the Pioneer and the MSB is a DH Labs DH60 Digital Cable (about $60), and cabling between the MSB and the preamp is .06Meter Cardas Golden Cross RCA ($460). Before I got the MSB I had a Bel Canto DAC 1. Here, I did notice a difference but it was so subtle, and not necessarily better - more polite and refined, but less dynamic/exciting. I'm happier without it. Overall, I'd recommend spending money elsewhere on your system - that's what I'll be doing from now on anyway. Let me know if you can think of anything I can do to get some more juice out of the MSB :-) I'm personally baffled at how these DACs, and high price CD players in general get recommended so ardently by mags like Stereophile. All my other analog stereo component upgrades have been easily noticeable and satisfying, but from my experience so far it will be really difficult to justify any new digital upgrades - perhaps something like a Naim CDX or BAT VK5 would do the trick, but I don't want to take the gamble. Anyway, let me know if you've any advice. Best of luck with your upgrade choices!
IMHO, I wouldn't recommend spending the money on upgrading the DAC. I recently acquired a new MSB Link DAC III, with upsampling upgrade to 96mmz, and the upgraded Monolithic Power Supply. I'm using a Pioneer Elite DV09 as a Transport. I have not been able to identify any difference between listening to the DVD player direct and switching to the MSB output. Perhaps it's just that the Pioneer DACs are really good? Not sure. I've really tried to discern a difference, using my Sennhesier 600s and Musical Fidelity xCans v2 - couldn't find any difference though. Cabling between the Pioneer and my Preamp (Bryston BP20) is relatively cheap Monster cable RCA (551 I think, which is about $50). Cabling between the Pioneer and the MSB is a DH Labs DH60 Digital Cable (about $60), and cabling between the MSB and the preamp is .06Meter Cardas Golden Cross RCA ($460). Before I got the MSB I had a Bel Canto DAC 1. Here, I did notice a difference but it was so subtle, and not necessarily better - more polite and refined, but less dynamic/exciting. I'm happier without it. Overall, I'd recommend spending money elsewhere on your system - that's what I'll be doing from now on anyway. Let me know if you can think of anything I can do to get some more juice out of the MSB :-) I'm personally baffled at how these DACs, and high price CD players in general get recommended so ardently by mags like Stereophile. All my other analog stereo component upgrades have been easily noticeable and satisfying, but from my experience so far it will be really difficult to justify any new digital upgrades - perhaps something like a Naim CDX or BAT VK5 would do the trick, but I don't want to take the gamble. Anyway, let me know if you've any advice. Best of luck with your upgrade choices!