Ha! Gotham GAC-1 review........

[John Duncan]

al7478:JohnDuncan:al7478:shameless bump cuz of my edit above, regarding testing equipment with the dac.

sorry, that barely coherent.

barely, but we gotcha

Group test of budget(ish) DACs, 18th September.........

cheers, but was wondering what level of kit the beresford was tested with. ive heard it can improve a much better system than my decidedly budget system, but ive no idea meself.
yeah, hoping they might mention it (though my begging for the Cambridge review has yet to come to fruition).

 

[gwynne61]

Out of interest, which kit was used to test the Gothams also?

 

[Simon Lucas]

We used our Naim CD3/Naim 555 CD player, Bryston BP26/Bryston 4BSST amplification and ATC SCM50 loudspeakers reference system, and also hooked together a Marantz CD5003 CD player, Rotel RA-04 amplifier and Dali Lektor 1 loudspeakers as a more price-appropriate set-up.

 

[John Duncan]

And you personally thought it was a two-star product?

 

[Simon Lucas]

As you know, John, the two-star verdict is an editorial rather than a personal opinion.
Having said that, I had no problem at all with it scoring two.

 

[Alec]

and the beresford...?

 

[John Duncan]

Simon Lucas:As you know, John, the two-star verdict is an editorial rather than a personal opinion.
Having said that, I had no problem at all with it scoring two.

Yes I know it's a consensus, but personal opinions add weight to that rather than detract from it, IMO.

 

[Anonymous]

The Beresford DAC was tested with the Bryston reference amps and ATC speakers, using the Cyrus CD8se as a transport. It was also used with a laptop and a Marantz PM6002 and Monitor Audio BR2s. We reviewed the Beresford as part of a round-up so in comparison terms the most useful testing was done with the more expensive reference kit, but all our testing led us to conclude that the Beresford can improve a budget set-up considerably. Worth also noting, though, that the Cambridge Audio DAC in the same test was excellent - of course, it is nearly twice the price (so not as great value), but in absolute terms it was the best sounding DAC in the test.

 

[Clare Newsome]

There you go - and even a Magic DAC review preview for JD....

 

[John Duncan]

Clare Newsome:There you go - and even a Magic DAC review preview for JD....

(wets self, whets credit card)

 

[Gerrardasnails]

dominic dawes:The Beresford DAC was tested with the Bryston reference amps and ATC speakers, using the Cyrus CD8se as a transport. It was also used with a laptop and a Marantz PM6002 and Monitor Audio BR2s. We reviewed the Beresford as part of a round-up so in comparison terms the most useful testing was done with the more expensive reference kit, but all our testing led us to conclude that the Beresford can improve a budget set-up considerably. Worth also noting, though, that the Cambridge Audio DAC in the same test was excellent - of course, it is nearly twice the price (so not as great value), but in absolute terms it was the best sounding DAC in the test.

That's good to hear. So Dom, do you think the CA DAC will give me an improved sound from my Arcam DV27A - I will be able to use balanced connections to my amp as well.

 

[Alec]

dominic dawes - many thanks, sir!

So you tested it with price appropriate kit. intriguing to know what itd sound like with kit nearer mid-range.

 

[Cypher]

Simon,

How are the Dali Lektor 1 speakers ? Any good ?

 

[Clare Newsome]

Well, i'm not Simon, but I can confirm the Dali Lektor 1's are good - full review in next week's issue.

 

[Cypher]

Great ! Thanks Clare.

 

[John Duncan]

Looking forward to that one........

 

[gwynne61]

Simon Lucas:We used our Naim CD3/Naim 555 CD player, Bryston BP26/Bryston 4BSST amplification and ATC SCM50 loudspeakers reference system, and also hooked together a Marantz CD5003 CD player, Rotel RA-04 amplifier and Dali Lektor 1 loudspeakers as a more price-appropriate set-up.

This may be a daft question, but was the cable more at home in the reference or the budget setup or did it fall well short of the mark in both?

 

[Simon Lucas]

gwynne61:Simon Lucas:We used our Naim CD3/Naim 555 CD player, Bryston BP26/Bryston 4BSST amplification and ATC SCM50 loudspeakers reference system, and also hooked together a Marantz CD5003 CD player, Rotel RA-04 amplifier and Dali Lektor 1 loudspeakers as a more price-appropriate set-up.

This may be a daft question, but was the cable more at home in the reference or the budget setup or did it fall well short of the mark in both?

The GAC-1 demonstrated its superiority to 'freebies' in both systems but, even in the 'budget' set-up, it was well short of what we'd expected. It was one of the least dignified amendments to the reference system that I've ever heard.

 

[Anonymous]

I have only joined the site 5 minutes ago after being a reader of what hifi years and years ago, I have just purchased this cable off of the ebay site after searching for a cable to connect my Ipod to my Pre TAG Audiolab 8000s, I considered buying dedicated docks by Arcam and Cambridge Audio but thought id give this cable a go.

I have paid £15.00 for it on Ebay and by the sounds of what the reviews say in their feedbacks its good quality and a great cable which cannot be touched under £100.00, now reading What Hi Fi review ( which I happened on by chance whilst doing a web search ) I find the cable is basically rubbish ( by what the reviewer says ).

My point is this is it rubbish or isnt it, would any owners of the cable allay any anxiety I feel by saying its good value and does what it says on Ebay?, I mean all them positive feedbacks cant be wrong?

 

[Simon Lucas]

Wayne C:
is it rubbish or isnt it?


It is. Relatively speaking.

 

[John Duncan]

Wayne C:My point is this is it rubbish or isnt it, would any owners of the cable allay any anxiety I feel by saying its good value and does what it says on Ebay?, I mean all them positive feedbacks cant be wrong?

I have them in my Primare system, and have heard no positive benefit in using 50 quid Chord cables in their place (on the contray, subjectively). This review has of course made me wonder whether I should instead be using 100 quid or 200 quid Chord cable, but I still say they're good value. Course, I don't do this for a living.

 

[John Duncan]

Simon Lucas:Wayne C:
is it rubbish or isnt it?


It is. Relatively speaking.

Relative to the 20k reference system?

 

[Anonymous]

So if its so rubbish how come many people seem to be happy iwth it?, they make cables with the Naim Connector on the end and em to have sold shed loads of them?, surely if the sound is so poor as ( your review suggest?) then the 1000 buyers many of them Naim owners ( for Ipod Connection ) would have said complete and utter tosh in their feedbacks on ebay?, but none have so what do you say about that?, I mean a 1000 people must swing the debate a bit over a hand full of reviewers?.

I am only using this to connect my ipod via the headphone socket to my aux input on the 8000s, I thought the Arcam dock was very expensive and you have to buy interconnects on top!.

 

[professorhat]

I'd be very worried if WHF let what 1000 people said colour their own review of the product...

 

[Anonymous]

Do what hi fi still do them blind test things, where no one knows which thing they are testing?, I mean £15.00 is hardly anything to spend on a cable and I know the Ipod isnt that brilliant Sound wise.

This cable even though I haven't heard it or seen it looks well made, I once talked to a didtingushed Hifi manufacturer who said he had made a cable which basically cost a couple of quid which blew away a £500 one, so surely cables and cable debate is all subjective?.

I used to put my heart and soul into what What Hi fi said and for many years bought product after product which got 5 stars, I mean What Hi FI does have alot of say when punters buy stuff?, and a Negative result whether Just or Not can really affect things.

PS I dont work in Hi Fi I just like listening to Music