General DAC Questions/Tech Thread

[spritzer]

I could use a "cheap" balanced dac for testing amps so if Nate doesn't want it then I'm interested.

[n_maher]

I could use a "cheap" balanced dac for testing amps so if Nate doesn't want it then I'm interested.

The Parasound is all yours.

[spritzer]

Thanks, I dropped Scott a PM.

[digger945]

Thanks, I dropped Scott a PM.

Padam and Birgir, I am having trouble forwarding Pms atm(doesn't recognise the user names when forwarding to multiple users)

We'll get something worked out soon I'm sure:)

[spritzer]

My email address was in the last PM I sent you so we can just use that.

[VPI]

A Sabre DAC in a Rx size and form factor would be interesting.

Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio - View Single Post - ALO USB DAC

[cetoole]

The Sabre is, in many ways, an ideal portable DAC chip. So much functionality all in one.

[CherryBomb]

Any opinions about the Adcom GDA-700? I'm considering it since I need a DAC for the office, and like the Burr-Brown 1702 chip paired with PMD100 filter. I'd get another Parasound, but I can't find one. Is the Adcom with $200?

[jinp6301]

A Sabre DAC in a Rx size and form factor would be interesting.

Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio - View Single Post - ALO USB DAC

The uDac from nuforce has a sabre dac already iirc

[The Monkey]

Have any of you heard and LOVED a DAC with the Sabre chipses yet?

[atothex]

I haven't heard the Sabres much, but I'm so annoyed by the kids on Twisted Pear's jock. I know it's fun to build stuff yourself, and the Buffalo32 is probably a nice enough DAC, but some of them think it's like this holy grail of DACness and pair it with the Beta22 like it's some kind of ultimate unbeatable setup. It just feels like they're just extrapolating the Beta22's rep to anything else that's DIY. Yeah OK I'm sure it's nicer than whatever junk they had before... that doesn't really tell me anything.

[spritzer]

Any opinions about the Adcom GDA-700? I'm considering it since I need a DAC for the office, and like the Burr-Brown 1702 chip paired with PMD100 filter. I'd get another Parasound, but I can't find one. Is the Adcom with $200?

I can tell you once my unit arrives. I do think the Adcom needs to be modded as the caps used are cheap and nasty plus the opamps (whatever they really are) sure can be bettered. This isn't going to cost more than 100$ though and could turn it into something very nice indeed.

Edited January 31, 2010 by spritzer

[manaox2]

I haven't heard the Sabres much, but I'm so annoyed by the kids on Twisted Pear's jock. I know it's fun to build stuff yourself, and the Buffalo32 is probably a nice enough DAC, but some of them think it's like this holy grail of DACness and pair it with the Beta22 like it's some kind of ultimate unbeatable setup. It just feels like they're just extrapolating the Beta22's rep to anything else that's DIY. Yeah OK I'm sure it's nicer than whatever junk they had before... that doesn't really tell me anything.

I bet that combo is not bad though I'm sure its beatable judging by the TPA Buffalo24, its probably worth listening to.

[Beefy]

Have any of you heard and LOVED a DAC with the Sabre chipses yet?

I haven't heard the Sabres much, but I'm so annoyed by the kids on Twisted Pear's jock. I know it's fun to build stuff yourself, and the Buffalo32 is probably a nice enough DAC, but some of them think it's like this holy grail of DACness and pair it with the Beta22 like it's some kind of ultimate unbeatable setup. It just feels like they're just extrapolating the Beta22's rep to anything else that's DIY. Yeah OK I'm sure it's nicer than whatever junk they had before... that doesn't really tell me anything.

My Buffalo is still better than anything else I have listened to, but like the other kids I certainly haven't listened to anything that could qualify as a holy grail either. I guess that helps diddly squat, really.

[padam]

Since I got the Parasound on the way, I will need to find a USB -> S/PDIF converter but I don't need 24/96 (or more) capability anymore. I wonder whether the HiFace is the one to go for or it is just the hype of the month and I am better off with something cheap but I would rather avoid something that is crippling the performance of everything else in the system. I also wonder, is it possible to mod the Parasound to have BNC input?

[spritzer]

BNC input shouldn't be a problem since it is 75ohm just like the RCA's. I'm certainly going to add one on the Adcom GDA-700.

[atothex]

I bet that combo is not bad though I'm sure its beatable judging by the TPA Buffalo24, its probably worth listening to.

My Buffalo is still better than anything else I have listened to, but like the other kids I certainly haven't listened to anything that could qualify as a holy grail either. I guess that helps diddly squat, really.

I'm sure it's pretty good; I've heard the original Buffalo. I'm not railing against the Buffalo32 at all. It's just that sometimes people clearly let their enthusiasm/pride cloud their judgment.

Like the whole "$500 in parts makes it automatically equal to any <$2500 commercial product." Really?

[padam]

So that's (supposedly) settled, the only thing remaining now is a BNC cable

The Buffalo II will be out in a month btw, but it seems that it will not be available as a complete kit at the beginning.

[spritzer]

The BNC cable is simple, just get a 75ohm coax and some 75ohm BNC's. There is also a 50ohm version so stay away from that.

[CherryBomb]

Just bought an Adcom. I'm not expecting it to be as good as the Parasound since the internal components are not supposed to be as high end (is this true?), but I do hope it will be better than most contemporary sub-$1000 DACs.

[spritzer]

The PSU is pretty simple but the chips are all good and that Ultra Analog jitter reducer is interesting. I'm going to buy the schematics from Adcom to see if I can dig up something more about that UA piece of kit. The rest of the DAC isn't bad by any means but could do with some light mods, i.e. about 50 2.2uf/50V caps and some 2200uf/63V units to start with.

[manaox2]

I'm sure it's pretty good; I've heard the original Buffalo. I'm not railing against the Buffalo32 at all. It's just that sometimes people clearly let their enthusiasm/pride cloud their judgment.

Like the whole "$500 in parts makes it automatically equal to any <$2500 commercial product." Really?

Oh yeah I get that. I am honestly only hoping it makes a good contender in the best out of any balanced source under $1000 market. I think it may do that.

[Dusty Chalk]

Since people have essentially rebuilt the M-Audio Sonica/Transit, one could mod that for the BNC jack, couldn't one?

Have any of you heard and LOVED a DAC with the Sabre chipses yet?

Does the Oppo BDP-83-SE count? It doesn't have the Sabre DAC in it, but it does have another one. (Um, right?)

[cetoole]

Just bought an Adcom. I'm not expecting it to be as good as the Parasound since the internal components are not supposed to be as high end (is this true?), but I do hope it will be better than most contemporary sub-$1000 DACs.

Which Adcom? I have schematics for the GDA600 and GCD750. Neither have any UA dejitter thingie though.

[CherryBomb]

Adcom GDA-700. I know it has the burr brown dac and pmd100 filter, but I'm unaware of a dejitter thingy. I hope jitter isnn't an issue, since the guy I bought it from on audiogon also had a monarchy DIP for sale. Hopefully these two things are unrelated.