DAC help/questions

[charleyphogg]

Hi all,

I'm looking to draw on all of the experience here as to which direction I should go when I purchase my DAC. Basically, think about what you know now, if this was your first time putting your syatem together, which way would you go.

Firstly, with all of you having been there before, should I buy a cheap DAC now to hold me over until I can upgrade? Or would I be better off and holding out until I can get one in the $350-$500 range?

Also, since the Solo has such a wide freq. resonse, should I look for a DAC that also has as wide as possible freq. response?

I'm also unsure if it should be current or voltage out, or does it matter?


Should it be dc coupled output or not?

Also, what would be the best, most versatile lenght of I.C.'s. I know shorter is better, but also that lenght may not be long enough in future use, so what lenght would be a good compromise?


This will be running out of my pc and into my SOlo. What are prioties to me.... it must do 24/192 and have swappable opamps, I don;t have the equipment for surface mount.

Thats all I can think of right now.

Thanks

[Deleted]

charleyphogg
At the risk of dodging flack from Leo and Allan, I would suggest that unless you have a fair bit of experience, you will not be able to meet your requirements in your budget range by going the DIY DAC route. If I were you,and had to do it over again, I would look for an X-DAC V3 on eBay, and hope that I could find one within the target price range. I would then get a little Pinkie PSU, or build a dual regulated supply (preferably) I would replace all of the NE5532 analogue I.C.s with quality turned pin I.C. sockets, and fit (for starters) OPA2134 to all except the O/P stage devices, where I would first try an LM4562. ( or whatever it's new designation is !) This would then be evaluated for at least a month, before trying anything further.

SandyK

[charleyphogg]

Thanks for the reply Sandy. I do have experiemce with electronics, but unfortunately I don't have the physical and especially the mental capacity where that is much of an option. But it is something I would like to get into in the future.

Any idea on a rough ballpark figure on what the X-DAC V3 runs used? With the little Pinkie is that getting into the range of deminishing returns, or are you saying until the next step, if and when it comes?

Edit: I mean after the little pinkie.

[Deleted]

Charleyphogg
I don't know what the average price on ebay is, as I bought mine new.
I would suggest the Little Pinkie until the next step, if and when it comes.
SandyK

[charleyphogg]

thanks, think i double posted

[pagan]

Why must it do 24/192?
What source are you using?

the swappable opamps are a good idea, mainly look for "Dip 8" packages.
Most people can tell you what "they" like.
Best to hassle audio stores and test run different dac's, at lest so you'll have a reference base.

[Deleted]

Allan
Why stick to CD standards ? 24/192 will allow for higher quality home studio,or higher quality vinyl to CD archival. As well, BluRay and HD-DVD are using higher bit rate audio, although, whether you can readily access it or not, is a different thing !. The X-DAC V3 also upsamples CD to 24/192.
Alex

[pagan]

Alex
It depends on the upsampling methods used.

As of now, most people would be using cdroms, yes old 16/44k1.
So this should be the basis of reproduction.

Once the standard format is reproducing well, then move on.

As for DVD-A, SACD ?? I think they have both lost the battle,
To what?

"or higher quality vinyl to CD archival"
record 24/96 agree with this...

most recordings are already recorded 24/96, then smudged down to 16/44k1
But then the recordings are mastered at such a high volume.......it's a waste.

Until the recording companies release the 24/96 masters, then we'l have something to work with.

I'll agree with someone else's sig'''''

Bring back dynamic range........

[Deleted]

As of now, most people would be using cdroms, yes old 16/44k1.
So this should be the basis of reproduction.

Allan
I don't agree. Most people with PCs would be now using
DVD Roms. Decent DVD writers can now be obtained for <AU$50
Even the PC magazines changed to front cover DVDs over 12 months ago. Many people would also have several Music DVDs of their favourite artists. The minimum resolution would be
48KHZ 16bits.Even a music video with 48KHZ 16bit LPCM track can sound considerably better than the CD version , provided that it was sourced from the same master as the CD.
As for DVD-A and SACD, there are still plenty of releases by audiophile record compamies for classical and jazz. There are also quite a few DTS releases (still) which also incorporate one or 2 DVD-A segments.
Unfortunately, I have to agree with the rest you said, because
the record companies (in general) seem to think that most people listen to MegaPoop3 on buses and trains with in-ear headphones. At least that is what they would like them to do, so they can find a way to further cut costs, yet still maximise profits,
with small size downloads.
Alex

[charleyphogg]

I have quite a few 24 bit concerts. It is really the way the market is going, I just bought 2 cd's from amazon and the King Crimson Court of the Crimson King is remastered in 24 bit even. Also I'm into live recordings of "trader friendly" bands, both soundboard and audience recordings and they are also remastered from the original DAT to 24 bit. You would be amazed at the quality of the recordings even of stuff from the '60's.

I'm using my PC as my source. It's well worth it to me to have over 700GB of music at my finger tips???

I went out with my mom earlier, she's looking for a multidisc in dash changer, but anyway, I picked up some Monster Cable 400i I.C's, they really opened up the sound of my Solo.

From what I was able to find searching the net on used X-DAC V3, looks like they roughly are going for $600 give or take. I've got a few things coming up in the next couple of months so it will be awhile before i could drop that kind of coin.

Enjoy, Chris

[fanboi]

Chris,
have a look on fleabay for a Terratec Phase 26, this is a USB connected soundcard/input output interface, cost new from Terratec around 200 euros, does 24/96 has headphone output, phono input (for turntable direct if you go mad and buy one of those), optical and coaxial in and out and analogue out.
Or a Terratec DMX 6Fire (discontinued) internal PCI card and front bay patch panel as for the Phase 26 USB - I recently obtained one of these NIB from a seller in France for 125 euros plus postage.

[XTRProf]

Hi Chris,

My take. It will depend on your urge to upgrade. If u must have it now, then go for a cheap upsampling dac like the Zhaolu 3 although the Benchmark dac had beaten it hollow unmoded. If can hold out, save up and go for the good stuff. I chose the X-Dac V3 was because I got it a good package price and that dac is very similar to the other upsampling dacs like the Bel Canto and the Benchmark.

I will still go for the upsampling dacs as that's my kind of sound. Fast, not oversmooth and pratty. However, if you are looking for a smoother sound the NOS dacs will be a better dac. However, that's not my type of sound as I had listened to a Lite NOS dac 50 and Consonance NOS dac b4. Very very smooooooooooth and great for vocal and classical. For rock, sorry folks, I cannot hang onto the NOS paradigmn and have to jump overboard. Anyway, it's good to have a dac that can decode 192Khz 24bits as there are many studio masters that are done at 48 and 96 KHz 24 bits. I was blown away by the Donald Fagan - Morph The Cat DVD-A at 96KHz 24 bits loaned to me by a rock music fanatic. If you can can get hold of this DVD-A, my advice grab it. It's that great!

[charleyphogg]

Thanks for the input Fanboi and XTRProf. I think XTRProf hit the nail on the head, its going to depend on my urge to upgrade Patience will get me a fairly good( I hope ) DAC, and temptation will get me something to play with until then . I'm really satisfied with the soundcard i have. It's an X=Plosion with rolled opamps, forget which ones I have in it.

I'm not even half way through burn in yet. I've had for 9 days now, it sat 4 hours before I hooked it up, other then that its had music running through it for all of that except maybe an hour total.

I'll have to check that out, always have liked steely dan.

Enjoy