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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2018 11:28:10 GMT
My first DAC was a Audio Alchemy Digital Decoding Engine v1.0 with the optional Power Station 2 power supply. This was a significant upgrade for my then CD Player (Marantz CD65IISE) and I bought it from an Hifi Shop in Brighton. I mistakenly swapped it a few years later for a full size Sony Mini Disc recorder.
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Post by Slinger on Oct 8, 2018 13:05:07 GMT
My foray into external DACs started relatively recently (2011) with the then newly-released TEAC UD-H01. I've since heard it described as "bland" but I disagree with that and it's still in use in my main (NVA/NAD) system. My second system (Pi/Primare) has been through several Chinese DACs, starting with the Breeze Audio SU4, then an SMSL Sanskrit 6 (now in use on my old "Music Studio" system) and ending up with the brilliant little SMSL M8.
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Post by John on Oct 8, 2018 13:09:54 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Oct 8, 2018 13:15:12 GMT
My first DAC was an Assemblage DAC 3, the clue in the name being that it was a kit that I built. It worked perfectly first time and was a very nice sounding unit with quite advanced 24/96 ability for its time.
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Post by zippy on Oct 8, 2018 16:20:06 GMT
A meridian I think - basically just a square box with an input and output socket. Fed from a Marantz CD player.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2018 18:37:02 GMT
A meridian I think - basically just a square box with an input and output socket. Fed from a Marantz CD player. 203 DAC to go with the 200 Transport?
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Post by ChrisB on Oct 8, 2018 19:36:01 GMT
I've never had a separate DAC in my main system. I use the digital inputs that my Accuphase CD player has to integrate other digital sources. I do own a couple of Stan's Beresford 7520 units, though, in other systems
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Post by tony on Oct 9, 2018 3:14:25 GMT
Cambridge audio dac magic....it bettered my naim 5 cd player with a squeeze box at a fraction of the cost.
then found out about Stans dacs.....never looked back
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Post by brettj on Oct 9, 2018 8:09:45 GMT
My first Dac was a second hand Denon DAC500 in 2008.
Have trouble selling my old gear. It's still sitting in my shed.
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Post by zippy on Oct 9, 2018 10:34:27 GMT
A meridian I think - basically just a square box with an input and output socket. Fed from a Marantz CD player. 203 DAC to go with the 200 Transport? That was the one - DAC only though as I felt nothing was wrong with the Marantz transport.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2018 11:21:42 GMT
My first true stand alone dac was back in 1997 at that time the Wadia 27 (at that point, later the ix with factory upgrades) was simply the most musically engaging digital front end available at that point, plus with a groovy bass to die for. The Matching transport was the 270 (later (SE version) with the upgraded stainless steel transport bridge and software) Still embarrasses a lot of high end dac's today in the sheer musicality stakes imho.
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Post by MartinT on Oct 19, 2018 5:43:40 GMT
I think I have owned every Beresford model DAC since the TC-7510. I modified the hell out of it and it gave me great sound for the time. I tried various coupling caps and other small mods on it. The great thing about all Beresford DACs is they are so affordable and there is so much written about them that extracting the best usually makes them punch well above their weight. Seen here, my old Caiman sitting on top of another of Stan's creations, though not bearing the Beresford name.
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Post by John on Oct 19, 2018 7:08:20 GMT
I tried quite a few Chinese DAC's over the years I finally feel like I settled and do not really see myself changing my SEG for a long time
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Post by puffin on Nov 3, 2018 19:20:50 GMT
My first Dac was a QED Digit with one Positron PS. My first CD player was a Philips DC610 MkII which was not bad. Was the QED any better? or just different?....can't remember now. HIfi World used to have DIY supplements and there was one to convert it to use 2 Positron's one for the Analogue and one for Digital. So out came the soldering iron and the purchase of a second Positron. This sounded better than with just one PS. The build quality was not good and the last time I tried it it was not too well (hiss/crackle) on one channel. I must dig(it) it out and see what it sounds like.....maybe after some fettling.
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Post by MartinT on Nov 3, 2018 22:13:11 GMT
My current DAC is a heavily modified Caiman SEG. This is an excellent DAC on an absolute basis and quite superb for the total outlay of some £400 excluding the 15V supercap power supply. It has been modified with superior decoupling caps, including some surface mount ones, better quality phono sockets, a Tentlabs superclock, SEG-30 firmware set to Mode 1 and Black Ravioli Pad feet.
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Post by suzywong on Feb 17, 2019 13:40:49 GMT
A meridian I think - basically just a square box with an input and output socket. Fed from a Marantz CD player. 203 DAC to go with the 200 Transport? Meridian 200-203, followed by a Meridian 263 - still in the Dining Room, then Linn Numerik (to go with the Karik in the Briks system), and then a Musical Fidelity V-DACii-VPSU for the Naim system. Looking into a change to the V-DAC, either a nDAC or a Caiman
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2019 13:58:59 GMT
Definitely try the Beresford SEG before going for the Naim. You’ll hopefully be surprised how good it really is.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 17, 2019 14:04:44 GMT
My new DAC is an LKS MH-DA004 with dual mono ESS9038 Sabres, femtoclock and a discrete output stage. It sounds incredible, with detail, soundstage, depth and striking dynamics. A beautifully made, little known, Chinese DAC which is great value for money.
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Post by suzywong on Feb 17, 2019 20:01:00 GMT
Now that does look nice. Did you get it via Amazon?
There does appear to be some cracking stuff coming out of China these days. Same with photographic gear. My Benro Gimbal tripod head for example. Sure, it’s a Wimberley knock-off, but I can’t fault the quality of the build and it was half the price.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 17, 2019 21:26:08 GMT
Yes, I bought it from Amazon.
There's a lot of great stuff as China appears to be the Japan of 40 years ago.
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