2. digital
  3. 1309813989

another thread on DACS/players...thoughts please

Looking to upgrade my digital front end...now PS Audio Perfect wave d/t...it sounds pretty good on the transport mode using I2S; but the DAC alone on my Qsonix server falls a bit short.
Units I'd like to consider:
Ayon CD-5S; tubed dac integrated preamp and transport
Accoustic Arts DAC mark IV
Weiss DAC 202; but none of my connections are Firewire; which is how many feels it sounds best
dCs Puccinni
Playback Design
Berkeley alpha
I'd like to try to eliminate my preamp; if the dac can run directly into amp with volume control. Only sources are transport; Qsonix digital music server; and Directv and Oppo 95 for combined home theater...no analog...amps are Bryston 28sst's...so this list is a mix of tubed dacs and ss...
Looking for something close to SOTA while keeping budget more upper real world of around $10-12k...presently using Purist audio aes digital cable
Thanks for chiming in; and enjoy the holiday weekend..

I'd like to hear from folks who have gone through this exercise before me; to learn from their evaluation process. I do have the Ayon piece being shipped for their two week in home audition; not arrived yet..
mribob
budt
157 posts
 
I am not sure this will get posted here but I will post it on other sites.Here is an interesting and enlightening read on J.Tinn and Emmlabs.
http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/oregon/ordce/3:2007cv00963/84055/181/0.pdf?1270846062
mribob OP
229 posts
 
to Teajay; and the other responders, many thanks for your suggestions and research.
I do need a dac to process the high res downloads; and prefer a volume control and remote control to allow switching sources, which seems to eliminate the AA tubed dac.
I'd like to have one integrated unit if possible; but a quality dac and transport are always possible if priced right.
Might also want to add an addtional new dac to the list;
Meitner MA-1 DAC; listed by Perrota consulting in Ct; description sounds interesting; and it's a bit less than dCs, and Playback Design...anyone heard or played with this unit?
picking up the Ayon tomorrow; more after a brief audition...thanks again for the comments.
tedmbrady
208 posts
 
Mribob,
Feel free to ping me about all the DACS I've demo'd. The Antelope Gold is quite amazing, really (after 800 hrs). As is the Metric Halo LIO-8/ULN-8. But the Gold is a direct-to-amp champ with the right synergy (as always), and I was in the "no way it replaces a world class preamp" camp.
antigrunge
74 posts
 
Got the Antelope Gold + Voltikus running off a mach2music server into my Wavac EC300B. It replaces my AudioAero Capitole SE with discrete output stage. World class resolution and musical flow!! I am after 300h truly over the moon and will never listen to a cd player again. The clarity and impulse speed as well as inner coherence of complex performances doesn't even compare and even on Vinyl there is a marked improvement in the preamp performance.
edorr
714 posts
 
Reviving this thread. I also currently use a perfectwave dac + bridge. Quite happy with the sonics but always on the lookout for improvement. I am particularly intruiged by the Antilope Gold + Voltikus, not least because it would allow me to take out my preamp (which will pay for the DAC), and run my multi channel system throught the analog input on the DAC in bypass mode (by setting to unity gain level). Any updates on the quest for a better DAC than the perfectwave?
More to discover