Exteral DAC

[admin_exported]

I am looking to het a good external DAC to partner with my media PC. I'd like to play my lossless WAV music files through this DAC to replace and improve on the quality of my Arcam CD73 CD player.
I would welcome your suggestions. My budget is in the range of £1000

 

[nads]

so what will you be using to "play" the music? what software or an external player?

 

[chebby]

debt_collector:.... improve on the quality of my Arcam CD73 CD player.
I would welcome your suggestions. My budget is in the range of £1000

My old Arcam Solo-Mini CD section (based on CD73 clock and DAC) was easily outperformed by my Beresford TC-7520 connected via USB and using Apple Lossless on a laptop. That only cost around £185 (+ a tenner for some optional opamp upgrades.)

If you only want to match/exceed the CD73 performance then a TC-7520 or CA DacMagic (£230 I think) will both do the job and save you a fortune.

If you are determined to spend £1000 then a Benchmark DAC1 USB can be had for about £900 - £1000 depending on where you buy it - and has an awesome reputation.

 

[Anonymous]

As far as what source I would use to connect to the external DAC, I can use my Onkyo TX-NR 905 and a NAS drive to play the ripped sound files via a digital output to the external DAC. Alternatively, I can build a media PC to play the music and connect to the external DAC in the same way. Not sure which is best...

 

[nads]

one issue could be seeing what you are playing.

My media PC is more of a "server" it just sits there and i play the music via a sqeezebox controlled by either the squeeze box remote or by my iPhone. the SB then out puts to a DAC and then to the amp....

If you media PC is just that and you have a screen ...... some good software.... (i have no idea now).

 

[Anonymous]

The CA DacMagic may be the solution but I am not sure whether it will offer enough of an improvement on the Arcam CD73? The DAC1 USB could do the trick... Another option is the Cyrus DAC-X, has anyone auditioned it?

 

[John Duncan]

debt_collector:The CA DacMagic may be the solution but I am not sure whether it will offer enough of an improvement on the Arcam CD73?

See reply elsewhere, basically what Chebby said. It will - it beats my Primare D20, and (sorry Joel), the CD73 was pretty uninspiring to begin with.

 

[Anonymous]

It looks like the majority vote is for the Cambridge Audio DAC magic. You refer to a reply elsewhere comparing the DAC Magic with your Primere D20. Could you please respond with a link to this thread?
A further questions regarding the DAC Magic: What sounds better, connecting media centre to the DAC's USB or coaxial digital input? As far as I understand, one issue that affects quality in whether the player's and DAC's clocks are synchronized. Can I sync the two clocks somehow?

 

[Superaintit]

debt_collector:The CA DacMagic may be the solution but I am not sure whether it will offer enough of an improvement on the Arcam CD73? The DAC1 USB could do the trick... Another option is the Cyrus DAC-X, has anyone auditioned it?

I have listened to the CA DACmagic and the DAC X via a MF X-Can V3 and a Sennheiser HD 650. To me the dacmagic was good but the dac X a lot better. With better I mean, better seperation of instruments, more natural sounding and especially a lot more detailed. To me it is worth the difference in price. Secondly I auditioned the Benchmark dac with the same headphone but this time without the X-can as I liked the idea of ditching a box and still getting great quality sound. I didn't like what I heard at all. Given the choice a dac X would suit me best. Best listen for yourself. I for example prefer the X-can V3 over it's bigger brother the X-can V8.

 

[Anonymous]

It looks like people think that the DAC Magic is a good option but the Cyrus DAC X is better but it remains to be heard whether it is worth the difference in price. I'll have a listen and report back (-:

 

[John Duncan]

debt_collector:It looks like the majority vote is for the Cambridge Audio DAC magic. You refer to a reply elsewhere comparing the DAC Magic with your Primere D20. Could you please respond with a link to this thread?
A further questions regarding the DAC Magic: What sounds better, connecting media centre to the DAC's USB or coaxial digital input? As far as I understand, one issue that affects quality in whether the player's and DAC's clocks are synchronized. Can I sync the two clocks somehow?

It said "You could beat your CD73 with a £100 DAC, if you ask me. In ascending order of price, look at products from: M-Audio, Fubar, Beresford, DACMagic, then the sky's the limit - Cyrus, Stello, Benchmark, yadda yadda."

Big discussion about my first night with the DM here

Suffice to say a DAC (any of the above, not fussed) will sound pretty good against your CD player.

 

[Anonymous]

I will be able to pick up my Beresford 7520 tomorrow so should be able to post a comparison of it and the Cyrus DAC-XP in the next few days (after allowing for a bit of burn in). I've received the National Semiconductor op amps today so can check what it sounds like with the standard op amps and the upgraded ones and the DAC-XP.

I can't wait.