jcmusic Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 I am looking at getting an outboard tubed dac, and would like some feedback from you guys. Let's say under $1500. Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeW Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 The Modified Liteaudio DAC is pretty good for < $800 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 I have one of these. If you're interested in trying it out let me know and Ill send it to you for an audition. It is very nice. If you like it send me 250.00 and keep it or send it back. Just trying to clear out all the stuff I am not using! I think I paid 400 for it. Let me know if youre interested. http://www.geocities.com/mhdtlab/renaissance.htm Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
consistent Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 Forget about tube or SS go where the sound is. I got one of these http://www.mother-of-tone.com/attraction.htm and I have never looked back. A MAZE ING! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedball Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 I'd love to give a Benchmark or tubed Monarchy a try. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 A TUBED DAC? Why not a tubed PC while you are at it. I LOVE my ST80 amp and Super PAS4i preamp, but the rational behind a tubed computer component eludes me. Regards, Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leok Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 The "tubed" portion is the audio output buffer and sometimes the current to Voltage stage. The tube versions are running class A and have a good chance of sounding better than the sloppy (and cheap) work done with op-amps on many DACs. Leo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 In that case, it would be an issue of whether they sound 10 times the price better than my Card Deluxe (which $tereophile compared favorably to a 15k Mark Levinson). I am skeptical, at best. Actually, I am also completely satisfied with the sound from my M-Audio Audiophile USB for which I paid 125.00. On my own recordings, I hear nothing except what I heard in the hall. For me, that is the definition of price-point efficiency. My DAC is preamped (as are all my critical sources) by tubes, but I still cannot see any advantage at any point prior to that. JMHO. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 DAC-68, on sale for $700 http://www.pacificvalve.us/Category.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 dac-192 if you can spring 1700, and don't need a tubed dac http://eshop.diyclub.biz/product_info.php?cPath=23_170&products_id=372 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 As a point of refernece, Might as well throw this link up as well. samples up to 768khz. List price is $8000. Retail in the $6200 range. Used ones, unfortunately are still not below $5500. http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/mcprod/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=19&cat=Sources&prodid=1016&product=MDA1000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjgeraci Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 I think there are far more people in here running tubed CDPs as opposed to tube DACs. For vinyl, I can't imagine needing any additional tubes other than your pre and amp. Of course, that's only one person's opinion. Carl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 This upsampler (to be used with an existing DAC) is an intresting item. $410 http://www.pacificvalve.us/LITEModel1.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 Some DAC talk http://victrolax.blogspot.com/2007/02/those-new-chips.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 "For vinyl, I can't imagine needing any additional tubes other than your pre and amp" you're right, you don't need a DAC for vinly. Maybe a pop, click, impulse noise reduction unit. I used ot have one made by SAE and it worked pretty good. It dropped record pops and clicks buy about 20db. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcmusic Posted March 31, 2007 Author Share Posted March 31, 2007 Hello Josh, Yes I would be interested in auditioning your DAC, I am curious though why are you not using it? Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilbert Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 Forget about tube or SS go where the sound is. I got one of these http://www.mother-of-tone.com/attraction.htm and I have never looked back. A MAZE ING! Thanks for the info.... I did a little reading on this interesting little bugger, and are apparently quite successful. Interesting to say the least. Even offers a host of options. . Not cheap though. YEOWZA... Looking throught th rest of the replies, this one looks dirt cheap. Ouch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audio Flynn Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 I get very little fatigue with multiple hours of listening to the MSB DAC running at 24/96 upsampled. Jittery instuments like cymbals have nice realism in my system. It may not be the end all but used you can get this performance for less than 500 usd most weeks off of Audiogon http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1180304087 http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1178480553 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshnich Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 Tell you the truth I dont think that the I have experienced a great deal of improvement in sound. I find the DAC very pleasing and very nice. Different but not better. I have a modded CD player and I also have an unmodded version of the same CD player. I would say that I prefer the modded CD player to the DAC and the Dac is preferred over the stock CD player. Its all so confusing! I think that you will like it. Email with your address etc and Ill send it your way. Again no pressure if you like it great if not just send it back. My best friend, Chris King on the forum is using it as we speak. i think that he has found it to be an improvement in his system. Again its a matter of matching and mixing. Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcmusic Posted April 1, 2007 Author Share Posted April 1, 2007 Josh you have a PM. Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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