Cables and DAC..

admin_exported

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Hi,

Recently bought a marantz PM6003 and Monitor audio rx1 which I auditioned.

Im probably going to buy a DAC soon, could I please hear suggestions for under £200?

Plus, what sort of interconnections should i be looking at, i.e how expensive on the rca cables between the DAC and the amp? / Usb and coax cables to the DAC?

I have no experiece with DACs

Thanks in advance
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
What source will be providing the info/music to your DAC and what outputs does it have (i.e. USB/optical/coaxial etc...)?

I've been doing a lot of research on DAC's recently and have just bought an MF M1DAC but for your budget there are some very good ones available; just depends on the connection you need.

For instance the Arcam rDAC can be had for your budget 2nd hand; others would be the MF VDAC Mk II, Aune X1 DAC: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Headphone-Amplifier-Pre-amp-PCM1793-Supply/dp/B005ZH4VR6/ref=pd_cp_ce_2 , Audioengine D1 DAC: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Audioengine-Premium-24-bit-supplied-Bartletts/dp/B0079KWSF4/ref=pd_sim_sbs_ce_7 . The Nuforce Icon DAC could be worth looking into also as maybe a 2nd hand Emotiva XDA1 DAC too...

As for interconnects; a Chord Crimson Plus interconnect would be a good match for your system; no need to spend much more than that. As for the cables for DAC; it'll depend on lengths needed etc but again expensive ones arent worth it I dont think
 

idc

Well-known member
What will your source be?

The amp already has a headphone socket, so I suspect you would be better spending your money on a DAC alone. Many DACs have been combined with headphone amps, which means you are paying for a feature you do not need.

As for cables my view is that any old appropriate cable will do for both the digital and analogue connection.
 
isaacpickett95 said:
Hi,

Recently bought a marantz PM6003 and Monitor audio rx1 which I auditioned.

Im probably going to buy a DAC soon, could I please hear suggestions for under £200?

Plus, what sort of interconnections should i be looking at, i.e how expensive on the rca cables between the DAC and the amp? / Usb and coax cables to the DAC?

I have no experiece with DACs

Thanks in advance

Hi isaacpickett

Cambridge Audio DacMagic 100 is worth a look.

Btw, in addition to aftermarket i'll recommend that you also consider using basic RCA, USB and coaxial cables.

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Thanks for the responses,

the source will be a pc (spotify and streaming flac)

output from my computer can be eitehr optical or usb, although it would be nice to have both options.

I am also considering hooking up a cheap cd plaer i have via coax to improve the quality of that

cheers
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
I think then something like the Arcam rPAC or HRT USB Stramer DAC would be well suited

HRT: http://www.whathifi.com/review/hrt-music-streamer-ii

Arcam rPAC: http://www.arcam.co.uk/products,solo,DACs,rPAC.htm / http://www.trustedreviews.com/arcam-rpac_Portable-Audio_review

As for an optical DAC; I'd personally save expense and go for something like the Lindy DAC: http://www.whathifi.com/review/lindy-dac

I've got this; had it between my ATV2 and Arcam amp in the system listed in my sig and it was superb. Yes the MF M1DAC is a lot better but at x10 it's price that's to be expected

I've now got the Lindy DAC with my iMAC feeding my Audioengine A2's and it's superb. Sounds great and small enough to hide away!
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Thanks,

Im not sure about the lindy. Feeding the audioengine a2s not exactly a comparison for the MA RX1

But thanks for the response, the arcam rLink looks good - anyone heard this DAC?

Cheers
 

Craig M.

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personally, i'd go for an optical connection between pc and dac - no chance of noise/inteference being transmitted along the cable.
 

ISAC69

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I bought recently MUSICAL FIDELITY VDAC2 a very good DAC : worm ,detailed very good bass and mid - and not expensive .

I connect it to amp with Chord CrimsonPlus cabels , sound is great .
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Hi Isaacpicket,

After trawling through review after review, I took a chance on the maverick audio tubemagic D2, it has plenty of inputs,USB,optical,S/P DIF (for the cdp) and BNC coaxial, all support 24bit/96khz. As for outputs it has a solid state which has a clean, crisp sound, very detailed and it also has a tube out stage which has a more natural non fatiguing sound with a slightly bigger sound stage and again very detailed, it's also very easy to upgrade.

I had auditioned a cambridge audio dacmagic prior to getting the D2 and IMO the D2 was in another league, with the dacmagic my cdp (cambridge audio topaz cd10) had no improvement in sound quality while the D2 did.

I payed £175 for the D2 and I'm extremely pleased with it's performance especially for this price.

Happy hunting.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
isaacpickett95 said:
Thanks,

Im not sure about the lindy. Feeding the audioengine a2s not exactly a comparison for the MA RX1

But thanks for the response, the arcam rLink looks good - anyone heard this DAC?

Cheers

If you'd have read my post better you would have noticed this comment as well:

"I've got this; had it between my ATV2 and Arcam amp in the system listed in my sig and it was superb. Yes the MF M1DAC is a lot better but at x10 it's price that's to be expected"

For a system compromising of £1200 speakers and a, what was in its day a £1k amp; the Lindy DAC did VERY well indeed
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Both get great reviews

The HRT Streamer was great in my PC system (iMAC, NAD C320BEE, Acoustic Energy AE200 speakers) when I had it on demo for a few weeks but so was the Fubar Mk II & the Spitfire DAC...

I'd say you need to demo both before purchasing (or buy both and use the online 30day return clause)!
 

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