HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

_D_S_J_R_ wrote:Just get a Fiio or something until the Doc's musical one comes along.. Why buy all this flavour-of-the-moment that nobody's ever heard of and is all but impossible to sell once attention's moved on?

Dave you're welcome to try the DAC 3 which cost just over £100, George was happy for it to be demo'ed by anyone. I guess he'll compare against the new Metrum and decide if it's worth the extra. Why do you think it the flavour of the month, I've yet to see it really mentioned anywhere, only on here. Now if you're looking for flavour of the month what about this. https://kitsunehifi.com/product/springdacgreen/

_D_S_J_R_ wrote:Why buy all this flavour-of-the-moment that nobody's ever heard of and is all but impossible to sell once attention's moved on?

To we digi-philes the performance of a DAC is as important as, for example, a moving-coil cartridge & arm on a TT. The DAC defines the sound you get from digital sources and is the 'soul' of the installation. This is why I, for one, put so much attention into this specific component.

Having been very critical of the SW1X gear - it did introduce me to the concept of the NOS DAC and allowed me to discover a new-level of 'analogue-like' musical integrity. The digital audio area is still progressing in areas of technology - Metrum is an example of this, making their own conversion chips.

Relatively cheap components (Raspberry Pi, budget DAC's) can be easily acquired and played with: better PSU's, improved cables. It's a fun way of extending your hobby, comparing and improving things just for the fun of it.

Look at the in-depth discussions on here about TT arm-boards or cantilever alignments. Can't us geeks have some fun as well ?

Flavour-of-the-month or esoteric nirvana? Try this, the 'ZeroUno DAC'.



http://www.canever.eu/1/zerouno_dac_1040356.html

_D_S_J_R_ wrote:Just get a Fiio or something until the Doc's musical one comes along.. Why buy all this flavour-of-the-moment that nobody's ever heard of and is all but impossible to sell once attention's moved on?

I was being a bit facetious I suppose..

Digital kit doesn't NEED to cost the earth these days as it's practically all done on one chip now I understand. I believe many DAC chipsets have spare 'ports' in their pin structure for so-called 'audio designers' to design often inferior add-ons to made their DACs soumd 'different' to that intended by the engineers who designed the chips (obviously these chip designers don't have ears...).

I've been shown over the years, and most recently by the Doc, just how important a power supply is to even low voltage chips (my ton-up twin supplied old QED thingy started this ball rolling) and I await his little cheap-board based DAC box with keen interest.

A kit? DAC for a ton is one thing (and yes, I'd love to try it please), but as you've all posted, DACs costing thousands? Hell, even the technically excellent Benchmark has a huge 'intellectual profit' in it when you actually look inside and see what's in there - in my opinion.

_D_S_J_R_ wrote:Digital kit doesn't NEED to cost the earth these days.

So until 'Doc does Dac'...who, if anyone, is providing real value in this area?

Dave, pm me your address and I'll forward the DAC 3 to you.

Value is obviously an individual concept, but you could look at The Beresford Caiman SEG for £300, the Cambridge Dac Magic Plus for the same or the Cambridge Dac 100 for like half that. The DAC3 for around £100 and that's before you even get into 2nd hand.

Loads of choice.

George Hincapie wrote:Value is obviously an individual concept, but you could look at The Beresford Caiman SEG for £300, the Cambridge Dac Magic Plus for the same or the Cambridge Dac 100 for like half that. The DAC3 for around £100 and that's before you even get into 2nd hand.

Loads of choice.

Hi George. Has your Metrum landed yet?

savvypaul wrote:

George Hincapie wrote:Value is obviously an individual concept, but you could look at The Beresford Caiman SEG for £300, the Cambridge Dac Magic Plus for the same or the Cambridge Dac 100 for like half that. The DAC3 for around £100 and that's before you even get into 2nd hand.

Loads of choice.

Hi George. Has your Metrum landed yet?

Sadly not. I didn't realise they were made to order. It's been 3 weeks now I think. E-mail received from Igloo Audio yesterday:

Hi John,

I just received a response from MA saying they are shipping today.


“Hi Peter

A black one will be send today.
Met vriendelijke groet
Kind regards
Cees Ruijtenberg”


Historically this can take 2-3 days so I would imagine we can deliver to you mid next week or thereabouts. I’ll keep an eye on the tracking they provide and keep you informed.


Peter