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76.17.212.4
ntCut-Throat
Follow Ups:
One of my TADAC's died; replaced it with a Bifrost. (Paul's company is gone.) Not quite as warm, but more accurate. I'll receive my Peachtree idac on Tuesday for a comparison. My other TADAC is working fine, and on the used market, is a bargain. It has a vol. control and a "tubiness" control, which I've figured is nothing more than a variable feedback control: all in all, very versatile and musical.
Theoretically shouldn't all Dac's sound the same if they are not altering the original files?
~~~Our lunacies may be indulged a while longer
"Theoretically shouldn't all Dac's sound the same if they are not altering the original files?"
Uh, no..........
And most DACs do alter the files...... Only non-oversampling DACs don't, from a digital perspective.........
What makes DACs sound different? Analog output stages, bit linearity, digital filter algorithms, analog (physical) filtering, input bandwidth, impedance matching, RFI isolation, jitter preservation/rejection, etc., etc. ............
My CA DACMagic+ has 3 (count 'em......3) filter settings.
On good lossless files via USB, they are subtly different and no clear 'winner'.
At this time I can NOT recommend this piece. The frequency readout is on the fritz. I got it to work briefly last nite but no go today.
I've had 2 other CA pieces, BOTH of which were delivered with a defect. Though, in all fairness both other defects were a simple......plug in the ribbon cable......defects, most probably caused by being bounced around in shipping.
NO complaints sound-wise.
Too much is never enough
I had the same experience with Cambridge CDP's. I had 2 of the same model fail to read the disk within a year. I was sent a "third", but when I opened the box, it turned out to be the 500 series or companion integrated amp. I called and told them they had sent an integrated by mistake, but decided on the spot to ask if I could just keep the integrated and forget the CDP all together. They agreed since both were priced the same. Bottom line was at that point, I was very happy ( to say the least) to move on to a different brand of CDP anyway. But in all fairness, the little Cambridge integrated still performs well today.
Both my previous defective pieces were CA 840c players. The second, we fixed in the shop after opening it up and plugging in a ribbon cable. Fine after that.
The reason I got rid of my CD player was that I'm going mainly to computer as a source.
Also, it would appear that all or many of the CA players use the SAME transport by Sanyo. right from the 300 series to the 800 series. This is also off-putting. (SF101 or something)
If I were to buy a CD player again, that would be the #1 issue. 'Who makes the Transport?' I'd think the Philips CDM-1 or 'pro' series would be the way to go......and better supported, too.
Too much is never enough
.
"In this land right now, some are insane and they're in charge. To hell with poverty, we'll get drunk on cheap wine."
"Theoretically shouldn't all Dac's sound the same if they are not altering the original files?"
Do all DACs sound the same to you? What matters to you could be the motive for the weight given to theory.
I live in the boonies, nowhere I can go to hear them.
~~~
Our lunacies may be indulged a while longer
Perhaps then instead of learning about the differences between theoretical SQ and REAL SQ, you can sit behind a computer and add a pointless picture to every post, (then just repeat the same statement) to avoid going into detail and having a real discussion? After all, isn't it easier to postulate a series of childish, vague, unreasonable, negative, and cowardly assumptions based on no evidence?
"In this land right now, some are insane and they're in charge. To hell with poverty, we'll get drunk on cheap wine."
Edits: 06/11/12
I have to order them, listen to them and send them back, if I don't want to keep them. Yes, I have to pay for shipping and sometimes a re-stocking charge.
There is no other way to evaluate a DAC, without trying it in your own system, So living in the boonies is no disadvantage over the rest of us.
Cut-Throat
I guess if that is the only way, how do the manufacturers feel about returning a few to keep only one?
And you can't do that so easy with pre-owned equipment. Do you think a lot of people have time to do that findind a post office and stand in line thing?
Is that anyway to run a business. It for sure is not going to grow very fast, or offer good value to the consumer. Why can't Dac sellers have displays in local Apple stores, if there product is so great.
~~~
Our lunacies may be indulged a while longer
or....
Asking really, really, dumb questions.....
"In this land right now, some are insane and they're in charge. To hell with poverty, we'll get drunk on cheap wine."
nt
Cut-Throat
So, it's a full SACD/ CD player - but, its DACs can be accessed by other sources, like a computer, and its $999.00.
The SA8001 (which I own) was Stereophile Class A, and certainly sounds far better than the DacMagic. I haven't heard the SA8004 yet, but I'm going to give it a go.
The Ess sabre dacs in the Oppo 95It plays all, so no need for a digital(all though it has Estat/usb) input and does it all quite well.
I do have the Oppo 83, which is in my HT, so I'm somewhat familiar with the sound and product, although the 83 is the older basic iteration - I realize that the 95 you are referring to is a newer, audio-biased product.
If you like warmth with your detail - then the Rega DAC!
If you like detail and harmonic structure - then the Schiit Bifrost!
"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad"
Recently, I acquired two Schiit Bifrosts. They're both still in the "breaking in" stage, but already sounding wonderful. One is in the main system, and the other is in the laptop's setup.Back in the mid '90s (until just last year, when I sold it), I had a Michael Yee DA-1 (purchased used - under $1000). It uses the Philips TDA-1541a chipset. It too, is a wonderful sounding DAC, and it's now owned by another inmate, who claims to be enjoying it immensely.
I've only really heard a couple other systems that employed external DACs, but with such different components and speakers than my own, I couldn't possibly offer a meaningful comparison. Therefore, no pronouncement of "Best" from me. For now, I'm just very happy with my two Bifrosts! :)
Edits: 06/08/12
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