Dac Magic or Beresford TC-7510

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Which of these would sound the best with a NAD C326BEE and monitor audio BR5. I know these are about the same price but i cannot try both of them out and buy the one that sounds the best as i cannot afford to purchase both.

So what are the postive and negatives of each. As i know there are die hard fans of each

 

[Anonymous]

To be, or not to be...

Seriously though, I doubt anyone can give you a meaningful answer to that question (which sounds best). This is complete conjecture on my part, since I haven't heard the Beresford, but I doubt there's much in it.

DacMagic Pros - Looks nicer (seriously guys, that Beresford has looks that even its mother would struggle to love), more to fiddle with (filter settings and reverse polarity) shiny lights to tell you exactly what's going on as the regards digital signal, can go out tomorrow and buy it off the shelf if you're the impatient type.

Beresford Pros - Cheaper, build in headphone amp, preamp out (if that matters to you), upgrade potential as regards swapping op amps (according to reports).

I'm totally shallow and went on looks.

What are you going to feed it, by the way?

 

[Anonymous]

The source will be a xps-m1330 running windows 7. And i will be using media centre for TV and AIFF files in iTunes for music. I will hopefully be replacing the laptop with a media centre pc soon

 

[Anonymous]

and im not too bothered about the look of the beresford, as ill probably make a custom facia, as i have access to a laser cutter at college

 

[Alec]

tractorboy:

DacMagic Pros - Looks nicer (seriously guys, that Beresford has looks that even its mother would struggle to love), more to fiddle with (filter settings and reverse polarity)...

Its not taht bad, and yes, ive seen the cambridge up close.

Reverse polarity? Beam me up, Julian!

 

[chebby]

Skip the Beresford TC-7510 and get the TC-7520. (Far better quality)

If you can afford £200 - £230 for a DacMagic then you can afford £185 for the TC-7520

 

[John Duncan]

chebby:
Skip the Beresford TC-7510 and get the TC-7520. (Far better quality)

If you can afford £200 - £230 for a DacMagic then you can afford £185 for the TC-7520

Agreed if you don't need balanced outputs, specially if you can make a custom fascia (like to see that when you're done...)

 

[lordmortlock]

chebby:
Skip the Beresford TC-7510 and get the TC-7520. (Far better quality)

If you can afford £200 - £230 for a DacMagic then you can afford £185 for the TC-7520

Agreed. As much as I love my 7510 I get a hum from the volume when used as a pre amp.

 

[John Duncan]

lordmortlock:I get a hum from the volume when used as a pre amp.

Not sitting on top of an amp or CD player is it?

 

[PJPro]

Might be an earthing issue?

 

[lordmortlock]

JohnDuncan:lordmortlock:I get a hum from the volume when used as a pre amp.

Not sitting on top of an amp or CD player is it?

Both actually!

Should I move it?

EDIT I should add only temporarily - having a right old move about since the arrival of the quads

 

[John Duncan]

lordmortlock:JohnDuncan:lordmortlock:I get a hum from the volume when used as a pre amp.

Not sitting on top of an amp or CD player is it?

Both actually!

Should I move it?

Worth experimenting, certainly - preamps are delicate and if they're sitting on top of a whacking great toroidal transformer...

 

[lordmortlock]

JohnDuncan:lordmortlock:JohnDuncan:lordmortlock:I get a hum from the volume when used as a pre amp.

Not sitting on top of an amp or CD player is it?

Both actually!

Should I move it?

Worth experimenting, certainly - preamps are delicate and if they're sitting on top of a whacking great toroidal transformer...

Got ya.