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Musical Fidelity V-DAC vs. Spitfire/Supplier Duo

I'm looking to try and upgrade Redbook listening using my Oppo BDP-83 as a transport. I'm on limited funds and am considering two options as of yet. Musical Fidelity's V-DAC or the Spitfire/Supplier Duo. I've read good reviews of the V-DAC, but I'm hesitant about the "wall wort" power supply. Specs on the Spitfire/Supplier Duo look promising and I like the beefier power supply option, just not sure about quality.
Am I placing too much of an emphasis on the power supply of the V-DAC? Or am I tossing dollars to the wind at this price point to try and improve the Oppo's stereo listening?
Thanks for any input and hopefully, personal experience with either of these DACs.
powerwindow
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
According to a test in the current HIFICRITIC the V-DAC outperformed several others including the Cambridge Audio and the Benchmark DAC1 Pre (42 to 24 in their scoring system. I have found specs almost totally useless as the better companies are always conservative and the worse companies exaggerate shamelessly. Apparently the wall plug did not have a serious effect, they recommend the V-DAC highly and as they take no ads they have no motive not to be accurate.
powerwindow OP
5 posts
 
Thanks Stanwal. I'll track down that review.
powerwindow OP
5 posts
 
Stanwal, I could not read the review online, but assume it was the article relating to the 6 DACs. It seemed it was geared toward computer sound systems. Does it seem the V-DAC could still be promising for an external DAC w/ my Oppo BDP-83?
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
Yes. They say " even using a cheap CD player as an optical source over S/PDIF, jidder is still comparable to the best CD players we have ever tested. These are remarkably good results.----to say that I was surprised by the V-DACs performance is an understatement: I was actually quite shocked that this innocuous little box with its small plug type power supply could produce such a high quality sound----commonly associated with 1000+ pound cost devices.-----With great sound and exemplary measured performance , its easy to use and easy to buy. Its just excellent value for money and highly recommended." The 42 rating was with good associated equipment, it scored lower with typical computer equipment as did the others tested. They don't publish reviews on line as the sale of magazines is their sole source of revenue as they don't sell ads. I have found their reviews to be accurate in every case I could check myself. I would get it myself except I already have several I paid much more for which are as good.
powerwindow OP
5 posts
 
Stanwal,
Thanks so much for posting some of the atricle's contents. I realy think I'm leaning towards getting one. It seems like it may be money well spent. I guess I'm just a little leary of this price point for external DACs, but I'm kinda stuck to the ~$350 price point. Hopefully it can offer some improvement over the Oppo's analog stereo out. As is, the Oppo is not terrible or anything, I'm just attempting to try and enter higher quality playback at a lower quality budget. I'm just not sure it can be done.
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