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Can anyone recommend a superior outboard Dac able to drive monoblock power amps directly for a Burmester 001 CD Player/Preamp? Thanks.
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I can recommend 3 Dimension Audio DAC18 for red book CD's.
If you are into high resolution audio (24 bits) We will introduce the 24 bits version in about a month.
Here is the link to latest review: http://www.dagogo.com/3DimensionAudioDAC18.html
Customer's testimonials are on our web site
Bryston's new BDA-1 is getting good reviews.
I have one on order and will be posting a review over on AudioCirle's Critics Corner Source forum
Hi Know Talent: I recently purchased a Bryston BCD-1 for my secondary system. The sonics are definitely "Class A" and is equal to or better then my 15K+ Burmester 001. You will not be disappointed. Best regards.
Edits: 03/02/09
I'm hoping the DAC will surpass the player as it utilizes dual CS4398 DACs (vs. a single CS4398 in the BCD) and synchronously upsamples to 176khz like the Meridian G08.
The digital filtering and analog output stage seem to be where the players in this price range define their "sound" as most are using off-the-shelf upsamplers and DACs.
I believe the newer G08.2 is utilizing some of the filter technology employed in the 808.2 to eliminate pre-ringing but I don't think this technology is owned outright by Meridian as the new $400 Cambridge Audio MagicDac also offers such a pre-ringing filter option...though probably not as "complex"???
I'd owned a Burmester 001 since 2001, which is a magnificent player, and since 2004, used it as a transport with a Zanden Signature DAC. This setup was beautiful. Natural sounding, non-fatiguing, with rich tonal color and beautiful timbres.
I've recently switched to a CEC TL51x transport as the Burmester had difficulty reading several CD's. I'd say that there is not much difference in sound, except perhaps a slight loss of "elegance", for want of a better word. No more CD reading issues, however. I'm really enjoying digital replay, and am off the upgrade train.
Weiss Medea/DAC1, 0.1 Ohm output impedance, 16.89V maximum output level from balanced outputs (measured by Stereophile); designed to drive a 600 Ohm load.
Also the upcoming PS Audio PerfectWave DAC is designed to be connected directly to power amps. From Paul McGowan about the PWD: "The actual output stage looks like a power amp. It is fully class A, runs on +/- 30 volts and can drive just about anything thrown at it. The output impedance is below 1 Ohm but we'll probably throw a 100 Ohm series resistor in there for safety."
Is the Perfectwave dac out yet?
but let's get real - not gonna happen.
Well, I wouldn't be so sure. Don't be fooled by the price difference, the 001 is a 9 year old CD player and its high price is due to the belt drive mechanism, the very nice case and very expensive German labor, not to mention Burmester is a status brand. While comparing a $3K DAC with a 12K Euro CD player may seem unreasonable, I learned not to be influenced by the status of a brand or the price tag of a component. This PS Audio DAC will truly be a high end piece with the latest digital technology and a very solid analog output stage.
I like Burmester products in general (I have their 051 integrated), but when it comes to digital their CD players wouldn't be my first choice (or any CD player in this day and age for that matter).
The point is you never know until you try...
I hope you agree that the Burmester 001 would be a respectable transport.
Without question! It just seems an investment not worth it IMO, to have a 12K Euro transport just to read CDs. From a mechanical point of view it's an exquisite machine, but to me it's just that, a very fine audio jewel just like a Zenith or Vacheron Constantin in the luxury watches market. From a purely performance point of view, no matter how sophisticated is the mechanism of a watch like that, it will never match the precision of a cheap quarts model. Likewise, in the digital audio world, I'm sure the new PS Audio PerfectWave Transport ($3K) will have much better measured performance, not to mention it will be able to read hi res WAV and FLAC files burned on a blank DVD, so there is no need of a PC anymore to listen to hi res files.
If I would be in your place I'd sell the Burmester CD player (not sure if it would be easy in this economy), I'd buy a PWT and pair it with the best DAC I could afford and like. But that's just me...
Just of curiosity, how will you control the volume if you connect directly the DAC to the power amps? It seems in this case you would need a DAC with an integrated volume control in it.
Absolutely. Preferably a unit with a variable output of 8 volts. The Burmester 001 is 5 years old and an upgrade is in order.
Edits: 02/04/09
My thanks to Sunya, Jovy and everyone else for their input. For your information, the 001 has a built-in active preamp with adjustable gain up to 8 volts in balanced mode which I use to directly drive a pair of Linn Klimax 500 Monoblocks. Please click on inmate systems under K for a breakdown of my main system, Again my thanks. Anxiously awaiting the marketing of the PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC. I would prefer the DCS Elgar but the price is prohibitive at this time.
Edits: 02/05/09 02/05/09 02/05/09
Kenneth, other options would be the Berkeley Alpha DAC, the Wadia models and the MSB models with the volume modules installed. The PWD, the Berkeley and the Wadias employ a digital volume control, but with upsampling and when listening to 24 bit material I don't think there would be any resolution loosing problems.
Also, check the Prism Orpheus multichannel AD/DA, it has a volume knob assignable to any or all the analogue outputs.
http://www.berkeleyaudiodesign.com/index.html
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/Berkeley-Audio-Design-Alpha-DAC-Review
http://www.wadia.com/products/decoding/
http://www.msbtech.com/products/productsHome.php
http://www.prismsound.com/music_recording/products_subs/orpheus/orpheus_home.php#surround
The Elgar you would have to buy used because it was discontinued when the Scarlatti line was introduced.
Have been advised that the DCS Scarlatti is not compatible with my existing PS Audio "multiwave" power regenerator and a preowned Elgar/Elgar + would be a better choice. Currently researching all other mentioned DAC's. Thanks for all your help.
Edits: 02/27/09 02/27/09
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