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outboard DAC for CAL DX1 or new one box unit?

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Posted on March 27, 2000 at 11:02:04
Thur


 
Hi, has anyone paired an outboard DAC with the CAL DX1? When I first purchased this unit about 5 years ago, the dealer told me it would act as a fine transport. I suspect though, that technological advances have resulted in many fine single box players that may be better options. I have heard the CAL cl 15 and Arcam FMJ players and was quite impressed. My local dealers have pushed Naim, Audio Analogue and Metronome products and I have not yet auditioned these.
Amplification is via NAD 317. (to be upgraded soon)
Speakers are Proac studio 125. (still breaking in)
Music tastes run the gamut: classic rock, cajun, hip hop, "world music" (for lack of a better term), small jazz combo, chamber music, and female operatic voice.
Let's say I were to replace the DX1 with one of the above cdp in the $2-3K (USD) range. Would I be just as happy (with the sound) spending less money on an outboard DAC? If so, which products should I audition?

 

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Re: outboard DAC for CAL DX1 or new one box unit?, posted on March 27, 2000 at 21:55:53
Guru


 
The dx-1 is still exceptionalas a transport .Add a Cal Alpha tube dac for no more than $400. and you should be quite surprised in the improvement.Inexpensive Yugo tubes sound very nice with the Alpha.The Alpha is still being made and sells new for $1495.Replacing the NAD317 will improve your overall sound as well.If you would want to try another dac you will easily get your money back on a net sale.If you keep it,up the road you could get their 24/96 upgrade for $450.which has gotten rave owner reviews.

 

Re: outboard DAC for CAL DX1 or new one box unit?, posted on March 30, 2000 at 17:48:51
Jeff


 
I had a DX1 and I used CAL's Gamma dac with it. This was a small but worthwhile upgrade. I had some problems with the DX1 and upgraded to CAL's Delta transport. The Delta has the same transport as the DX1, but I believe the digital output circuitry is better. Anyway, I replaced the Gamma dac with a Camelot Arthur V3.0 MkII. This was a major upgrade. I just added an Audio Alchemy DTI V2.0 anti-jitter box, another small but worthwhile improvement. One advantage of this was that the DTI outputs I2S and the Arthur has inputs for I2S. If you decide to go with a dac, give some thought to buying a Monarchy DIP, to go between the DX1 and the dac. If you enter DIP in search on the inmates page, you will find a lot of good info. The recommendation of the CAL dac above would also work very well.

 

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