Or a tube preamp, I'm having a hard time 'wrapping my mind around' even the thought of driving 300Bs with ones and zeros.Originally Posted by Old Guy
GM
That's exactly why I'm in no hurry--I feel like we're at a point in time where if I wait a "little" longer this technology will be even better and the prices will go down further....
Being of "Sound" Mind
Or a tube preamp, I'm having a hard time 'wrapping my mind around' even the thought of driving 300Bs with ones and zeros.
GM
Loud is Beautiful if it's Clean! As always though, the usual disclaimers apply to this post's contents.
Alancohen, thank you for the link. I am, however, looking for objective tests on devices re accurate reproduction of source material.
I have concerns with subjective reviews which factor in a reviewers biases and are based on systems that are dissimilar to mine. There are just too many differing subjective opinions available to get a clear picture. Ultimately an audition is required but choosing what to audition is not made easy by the wide range of DACs available and very little audio performance data.
Consider this sort of test finding on a more expensive product: NwAvGuy: NuForce uDAC-2 Drama - a lot of reading but worthwhile.
I hope the DAC that you mentioned in your OP challenges the much higher priced products. It is hard to see real value in DACs that cost 100 times the price of the UCA202 when you consider that the technology is mature and the components and manufacturing are not expensive.
Opinion is only as valid as its verifiable supporting evidence.
Yet it seems that's where we're heading.
I have a decent TT, a great tube phono preamp and a great tube preamp. Soon I will have my 300B OTL monoblocks. When I have (make) the time to just sit and listen, I'm always spinning vinyl.
But streaming ones and zeros is very convenient and represents 80% of my listening time when I'm puttering around the house. Its also a great way to find new music. To not have that experience be as good as it can be would be a waste of all this other hardware.
There is plenty of objective testing. But the problem is most of these devices are so good these days that the results reside in the minutiae and is far too technical for me to comprehend. Once you get to this level, the differences lie in the subjective and what sounds best to the listener. I have to trust what I read from others more qualified than me and then trust my ears.
But if you want to read, this should get you started:
ADI - Analog Dialogue | Data Conversion Handbook
- - - Updated - - -
No doubt. But considering I have almost $5K invested in tube preamp, amps, front end and speakers. $750 sounds like a reasonable temperature to jump in the pool and get the most out of it. Especially when pundants I respect are claiming it sounds as good as units 5X the price.
I was going to buy the JKDAC32 at the end of last year, but he stopped selling them in December. I assume because he had the Ciunas on the bench, which represents the next level. These are almost at the point of being ready to ship so I'm getting in at the lead end of this stage of development. Like computers that improve quarterly, you need to get in somewhere and live with what you have until the tech justifies upgrading.
And the $$$ is not going to a big company with big overhead and big hype. It's one guy with a passion for advancing the technology through innovative ideas. I'm happy to support and reward that activity.
And I also have no problem sending it back if it doesn't fit the bill. $30 in shipping charges to get to demo it for 3 weeks is a good deal.
Last edited by alancohen; April 18th, 2013 at 09:09 AM.
Sounds like a great plan. I mainly listen to vinyl, CD's, and DVD's so I'm not in a rush but considering you're going to get a lot of use immediately out of whichever unit you buy your rationale makes total sense to me.....
Being of "Sound" Mind
I thought so.
I'm not the most frugal guy in the world, but I'm far from a spendthrift either. I like to do my research and then let things simmer for a while before taking the plunge. When I start hearing similar things from several unconnected sources I start paying attention. Heck, that's how I found Altec and haven't looked back.
It seems the trend of the ones and zeros crowd is to toss their CD players and move to dedicated music servers. Playing music files from memory instead of "on the fly" from disc has some distinct advantages. A big one is losing the motor. I'm using an early 2009 Mac Mini both as a player and a server. I prefer it in server mode when I'm doing some serious listening, since even the sound of the transport is audible.
The future will be local SS hard drives or remote servers where our music will be stored in the cloud. The technology of these D/A converters will allow for an almost analog musical experience. This will be invaluable since everything recorded in the past 20 (maybe 40) years was recorded as ones and zeros in the first place.
Last edited by alancohen; April 18th, 2013 at 03:26 PM.
AC sounds like a great unit, may want to check out the DR database to see whats coming through...I am sure what is stored in many instances will be from a cd type format, for convenience.... and at least you can check your ears or your space and ears....your 5000 system, may be great, dont know haven't heard it...A dac can fix somethings... I know one thing, with my Altecs it is all about system synergy, and source material...price has little to do with it for me..
Last edited by juniper; April 18th, 2013 at 06:50 PM.
The preamp is a kit and was 'only' $500. The front end is a Mac Mini, which runs $599, but I had my son's old one already. My 604Ds were $1100 w/ cabs. It's the 300B monoblocks at $2300 including (8) 300B tubes that is the lion share of the $$$.
So given that, $750 for a top shelf DAC is not out of place. This thing can do 32/192kHz sampling natively, possibly 384 in the new configuration. This makes it almost future proof, at least in my lifetime. Now all I need is source material that good.
Alancohen, thank you for the link to the ADI-Analog Dialogue/Data Conversion Handbook. I took the time to read it and it was time well spent.
For those who would prefer a summary of that reference, this article is close to the mark: http://www.clir.org/pubs/resources/a...s-pohlmann.pdf It also touches on methodical subjective auditioning.
Another good article(NASA): http://radhome.gsfc.nasa.gov/radhome...sis_Poivey.pdf
Opinion is only as valid as its verifiable supporting evidence.
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