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In Reply to: I could really use a DAC suggestion! posted by budburma on April 20, 2007 at 10:15:23:
Kudos on seeing the future.Am I missing something?? I looked on Carys site, but I didn't see the 306/200. I thought it had digital ins? If that is true, then why not use it?
If not, you may want to look at some USB dacs, like the Wavelength brick or cosecant.
Empirical audio has some usb spdif convertors or usb to i2s convertors that you may want to look at for getting from the PC to whatever dac you choose.
Follow Ups:
You are right downrazor, and I have a little egg on my face to prove it. The 306/200 does have digital ins....(and the manual is on the cary site under the customer service tab i think). Getting rid of the cdp along with going hard drive my just be tossing out the baby with the bathwater, but it's pretty tempting.I like the simplicity of the AA pre/dac and the size and sound of the Audio Note, but I have only heard it in an all AN system. Pretty amazing in that scenario though.
As for cabling, I am in serious need of schooling, but you are the second to mention Empirical Audio. I do have some past experience with them and it is memorable as mostly positive as for the air and overall presentation...a little thin to my memory, but it was some time ago in a different system, etc. Excelsior service also sticks in my mind.
Have you checked out the iphone music (ipod portion) interface. Man, is that slick. The interface is all that has been missing and Mac seems to tap into that in spades for the consumer...
Well if you are really hell-bent on spending big dough :), you could add the Audiomat Maestro to your list... NOS, and uses the same DACs as your Cary.It might not be quite as warm though, but is apparently so good, you probably won't notice. Reviews here:
http://www.mutine.com/Pages/info_presse_en.html#Ususal disclaimer: I have no connection to Mutine, Audiomat, or the review rags.
SOunds like a serious case of salmanella brewing...There is something to be said for simplicity.
I didn't go the external dac route, opting instead for a Pro sound card.
But, before my computer days, I did buy an external dac (Birdland Audio Odeon AG) that had a pre built in. Unless you have Vinyl or some other source, I just never saw the reason to add some other gear in the chain, and more cables.
Right now, I run right out of the PC into the power amps, and have no desire to get a pre amp (when you are triamping using the pc as a digital crossover, you would need 3 pres).
FOr a transport, you may want to look at the Zere One audio peice. It is a custome built PC for audio purposes. But if you are comfortable with PCs, then it should be pretty easy to make one alot cheaper.
As for the iPhone, I think it is slick, but tiny for controlling a pc. I use a wireless touch screen from Viewsonic, and love it. Chek out my system and it shows a pict of the viewsonic piece. Also, controlling a pc with a blue tooth PDA is farily easy these days, and may be cheaper than the iPhone.
Please note, that I wasn't talking about Emperical for cabling (not that theirs is bad or anything) but for getting the digital signal out of the PC. They have a few devices that connect to the PC with USB and outputs SPDIF (coax). One even outputs i2s which is supposed to be better than SPDIF if your dac can take it.
Lynx makes a PCI card that outputs AES/ EBU digital that is supposed to be stellar. Some are using a chaintec 710 I believe taht is cheap but good.
YOu should try the PC with the Cary if you dig how it sounds. before buying a whole other dac...or send it to me if you do pull the trigger on a dac :)
If you are buying a mac, than you should look at the Wavelength products. Their Dacs seem to be built with the computer in mind, and macs specifically.
From a NOS pespective Audio Note is a pioneer. Along with Shigaraki (47 Labs) they have a lot of experience in these designs. However, lots of newcomers to the market. I have a TRL modded Audio Mirror that is great with an active preamp (1.5V output). Other OS DACs are out there including Scott Nixin, Altmann, Paradisea, Lite, etc.
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