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New DAC

128.138.64.161
Posted on May 9, 2017 at 08:26:48
mtbikeNH
Audiophile

Posts: 246
Location: Kansas City
Joined: November 11, 2009
 So I started a thread a week or so ago about replacing my OPPO 105. I have since decided to keep the OPPO and purchase an external DAC. I will use the OPPO as a transport and to manage my digital collection. I would like to keep my budget under $2500.

I don't need the DAC to have volume control or act in any way as a preamp. Tell me why I do or don't need this to be DSD? If I look used what are some of the best to search for?

Thanks.

 

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RE: New DAC, posted on May 9, 2017 at 09:41:42
standingstones
Audiophile

Posts: 218
Location: Pennsylvania
Joined: February 14, 2005
 If you want to stay with Oppo, you could look at the Sonica DAC at $800.

 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 9, 2017 at 10:02:14
mtbikeNH
Audiophile

Posts: 246
Location: Kansas City
Joined: November 11, 2009
 I've read good things about this DAC, but I'm concerned it wouldn't be much different than the DAC in the 105.

 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 9, 2017 at 10:14:55
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46302
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
The only thing you can do is TRY a new DAC to see if you like it. There are some pricey DACs that sound pretty lame and others that are reasonably priced that are outstanding.

I wouldn't mind trying the Oppo Sonica DAC except for the fact that I had the Oppo HA-1 DAC/Headphone amp that wasn't quite right for me. It was a little lean, almost bright, not much warmth or 'meat' in the mids.

Is there something about your present Oppo 105 that you're trying to improve upon sonically?

You can find many outstanding DACs for well under $2500, but it would be tough to know what to get w/o trying it yourself. Schiit is a popular brand of modestly priced DACs. Same for Wyred4Sound and PS Audio. I'm sure I'm missing several others but the point is, you don't have to spend a ton of money these days to get an outstanding DAC.


 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 9, 2017 at 11:26:58
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 If they are still making the 1704 ladder dac at Audio-gd called the Master 7 for $2400 it is my favorite dac of all time. It will not do DSD but I don't see why you need dsd. The only downside is you have to buy it from China but that wasn't a problem for me
Alan

 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 9, 2017 at 12:28:47
mtbikeNH
Audiophile

Posts: 246
Location: Kansas City
Joined: November 11, 2009
 Abe,

Thanks for the reply. The short answer for what I want to improve is, less fatiguing, less bright, more depth and wider soundstage. Something closer to my vinyl gear. I never get tired listening to vinyl, but I do with the OPPO.

Some of my first decent gear was PS Audio, I always liked their sound.


 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 9, 2017 at 12:30:03
mtbikeNH
Audiophile

Posts: 246
Location: Kansas City
Joined: November 11, 2009
 Do you mind telling me what you like about the Audio-gd?

 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 9, 2017 at 13:29:28
Industrial
Audiophile

Posts: 46
Joined: March 20, 2010
 I really like my Audio Note dac zero. Much easier for me to listen to for long periods then my Benchmark. "Analog" type sound. Way more affordable then the other an dacs.

 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 9, 2017 at 13:53:15
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 Sure
There is a term we throw around called musicality. Hard to define but those who have this dac use that description a lot. Musical. It sounds in many ways like really good vinyl. Plenty of detail and resolution but it presents a very strong resemblance to a live performance. I also run the dac in non over sampling which adds to the vinyl like sound. It is incredibly dynamic with thunderous bass and beautiful extended highs. Once in a visit to my friend in Florida who has the same dac we brought it to a guys house who had the complete DCS stack. Listened for 4 hours.
He didn't say very much but my friend called me a month later to tell me the guy sold his DCS Dac and bought the master 7. By the way this dac is called a ladder dac or also a multi-bit dac. Most ladder dacs I have heard have similer sound to the Master 7. The master 7 will not do DSD if that is important to you. Also I don't know if Audio-GD is still making it because they are running out of the 1704 chip which is no longer made. I hope this helps. If you are ever in San Antonio Texas come on over. Also my friend in Sarasota Florida would be happy to give you a demo
Alan

 

1704K, posted on May 9, 2017 at 14:35:27
jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000
 mtbikeNH, I have yet to hear of anyone who bought a well-implemented DAC using the 1704K who regretted it. Note, that this DAC was used in a lot of the SOTA DACs over many, many years - including top end players from Burmester, Combak Reimyo, Esoteric, Krell, Mark Levinson, Naim, Pass Labs, Sim Audio, Wadia and several others, to name a few. The Linn CD12 also used these chips and is often touted as one of the best (and most 'vinyl' sounding) CD players of all time. It is also what I use in my DAC.

It is likely that good DACs using this chip will appreciate in value, much like good idler drive turntables of yore. Had I not bought my Lite Audio DAC, I would have bought an Audio-gd and it was a coin flip between them, or possibly an Aqua Audio model (the La Voce S2 is just within budget). There are few left in the supply chain, from what I can tell.


Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."


 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 9, 2017 at 20:23:08
zacster
Audiophile

Posts: 2179
Location: NYC
Joined: November 22, 2003
 I just said the same thing about my Oppo on the PC Audio forum below this one. Mine is an Oppo 93. It sounded good when I got it but I just stopped using it for audio as I suffered from listening fatigue after one or two CDs. That doesn't happen with vinyl.

I'm also on the lookout for a new DAC. I have a Dragonfly Black, and even that sounds better to me now than the Oppo. If the Oppo had a USB out I'd use the DFB with it.

I've never been able to understand who had the time to rip all of their CDs to a hard drive. I have a pretty meager collection and I never bothered.

 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 9, 2017 at 20:54:57
John Elison
Audiophile

Posts: 23900
Location: Central Kentucky
Joined: December 20, 2000
Contributor
  Since: January 29, 2004
 I ripped all my CDs to my hard drive using Exact Audio Copy (EAC). I had 500 and it took me a month, but it wasn't difficult. I'm retired so I had the time. It's certainly a lot more convenient listening to CDs in my Oppo BDP-105D from a USB flash drive plugged directly into my Oppo.

I got used to the sound of my Oppo and it sounds very musical to me now. When it was new, it sounded too soft and smooth. It made CDs sound like vinyl and it made my digital recordings of vinyl sound too much like vinyl to suit me. I felt it was "voiced" to sound like a vacuum tube component. However, after listening to it for a month or so, I got used to its sound quality and now I like it.

Good luck,
John Elison

 

"less fatiguing, less bright, more depth and wider soundstage", posted on May 9, 2017 at 23:27:57
marc g.
Audiophile

Posts: 3330
Location: New Orleans
Joined: October 14, 1999
 That perfectly describes what I heard with the Metrum Acoustics Hex, a non-oversampling type, in a friends system. I think I get a fair taste of that with the early, and much cheaper Mertum Octave. Had a Dodson DAC to compare with and the Octave was easier to listen to. Have you heard a NOS type DAC? Vinyl guy here too, BTW.

voolston - audiophile by day, music lover by night!

 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 10, 2017 at 00:59:41
AbeCollins
Audiophile

Posts: 46302
Location: USA
Joined: June 22, 2001
Contributor
  Since: February 2, 2002
Ripping CDs can be a chore but not too bad if you don't let yourself be overwhelmed before even starting. I began with a handful of my favorite CDs every few nights working my way through lesser favorites. It took a while but I did it in manageable chunks.



 

The Modwright option, posted on May 10, 2017 at 05:15:39
Dave Pogue
Audiophile

Posts: 11689
Location: DC Area
Joined: October 9, 2001
 For your $2500, you can do what i did -- send the 105 to Modwright and get back a unit that will do everything you say you want, and then some. Separate tubed power supply,
6SN7 tubes poking through the top of the 105, many other upgrades and improvements.. Modwright is a delight to work with and clearly respected by Oppo.

 

Schiit will let you try and return, posted on May 10, 2017 at 10:58:09
G Squared
Audiophile

Posts: 8491
Location: Washington, DC Metro Area
Joined: November 16, 2004
Contributor
  Since: May 23, 2023
 with a small restock fee. One of their multibit DACs may meet you need.
Gsquared

 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 10, 2017 at 20:05:20
Mel
Audiophile

Posts: 2993
Location: New York City Area
Joined: February 21, 2001
 Rick Shultz recommends the $1600 LKS MH-DA004 DAC. See the thread below.

 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 11, 2017 at 08:01:41
digepix
 I thought about upgrading my usb dac to something newer, better ie) more expensive. Transfering my 1000 or so cd's to a hard drive, back them up etc. Then after some deliberating I said nah, life's too short. I can find my cd's fairly easy, I listen to my stereo for fun and that doesn't sound like fun to me. So I'll listen to music on Spotify or stream Jazz24 through ok computer speakers and just be happy.

 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 11, 2017 at 08:41:59
milpai
Audiophile

Posts: 651
Location: Ohio
Joined: August 21, 2005
 How about the Holo Spring DAC that is R2R and can do DSD? It will also allow you to use your Oppo as a transport for SACDs. I believe, there is a interface you need to purchase to send DSD over HDMI to the Holo's IS2.

 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 11, 2017 at 09:55:09
jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000
 Has anyone actually heard this thing?


Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."


 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 12, 2017 at 05:56:10
milpai
Audiophile

Posts: 651
Location: Ohio
Joined: August 21, 2005
 There is actually a review on computeraudiophile.com

 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 12, 2017 at 08:06:42
Mel
Audiophile

Posts: 2993
Location: New York City Area
Joined: February 21, 2001
 "I believe, there is a interface you need to purchase to send DSD over HDMI to the Holo's IS2."

Any further info on this?

 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 15, 2017 at 16:04:13
Jeff Starr
Audiophile

Posts: 1574
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Joined: March 4, 2000
 If you have any components to trade in that listed for over $1200, PS Audio will allow you $1200 off their Directstream Jr.
That would be $300 over your budget, but you would have an upgradable DAC, that you would never need to replace.
And I would ask if they have any b-stock, that would get you closer to your budget.

 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 16, 2017 at 10:58:35
mtbikeNH
Audiophile

Posts: 246
Location: Kansas City
Joined: November 11, 2009
 For those who have been following this thread. After doing some research and listening at local dealers I have made a choice. I have ordered a Moon 280D DSD DAC. I hope to have it in my system in the next couple of weeks. I loved the quality of everything I fed it during my demo.

Thanks to all who responded.

 

Hope it works out for you. nt., posted on May 16, 2017 at 13:47:29
jusbe
Audiophile

Posts: 5950
Location: North Island
Joined: April 4, 2000
Big J

"... only a very few individuals understand as yet that personal salvation is a contradiction in terms."


 

RE: New DAC, posted on May 21, 2017 at 15:10:46
Crazy Dave
Audiophile

Posts: 14371
Location: East Coast
Joined: October 4, 2001
 Let us know how it works out!

Dave

 

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