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How much does DAC ‘Reality’ cost in 2017?




Thru our own efforts, some trial and some errors, copious amounts of dead presidents, and the efforts of those willing to lend their experience and tutelage to us, we have constructed strong, well balanced, highly resolving and quite engaging audio playback systems.


As a routinely insatiable lot, we’ve found analog simply is not enough for us even with the onset of Reel To Reel playback currently reentering the   neighborhood of high end audio.


Well, that and the fact many are better ‘taker outers’ than we are ‘putter backers’ of the discs, , tapes and LPs we own.


So we turn to the Digital landscape and therein we’ve done our due diligence and ripped all of our CD, DVD Audio, and Blue ray content into as high resolution as the software allows. We’ve used error correction. Been meticulous in choosing the file formats we will live with indefinitely. Amassed terra Bytes of data and thoughtfully stored it in a secure redundant fashion.


We’ve found our fad file managing and playback app, and keep seeking out the latest and greatest media managing software.


We are compelled to do so. It’s the law.

We feel the need for speed!


We thirst for convenience. We’re in a hurry! Time is crucial. We just want to kick back and click our way thru our libraries.


As we rapidly click along the avenues of our data banks, we laugh at the prospect of becoming afflicted with Attention Deficit Disorder.

Hah!

We’ve been patiently waiting for digital domains to catch up to analog performance levels and arguably they appear to have done at least that in recent years, and then some.


Currently, DSD, High res files, and streaming HD tunes have become commonplace or at least readily available via downloads and thru services, respectively.


DAC choices abound. No longer are we forced to ransom the first born, or the last born, depending on which is more the problem child or how attractive this prospect may be, to acquire outstanding digital playback...


Do we still find ourselves in need of the $10K, $20K or more DAC and clock arrangements to achieve sonic orgasms?


Is it possible now to plug and play new DACs into our systems for far less and get ‘goose bumps’? Are there readily achievable DAC options now that regularly put our Jaws onto our laps or the closest floor affordably?


Or must we still chase the upper ranges of MSB, EMM, Meitner, and DCS, etc., to finally put this endeavor to bed?


In essence, which DAC (s) in 2017 are undeniably capable of delivering the goods! Presence. Organics. Impact. Transparency. Detail. Resolution and all of it in a sensible well heeled fashion that places the artists in your home, or yourself at the recital venue across all the current digital formats?


What did you buy to solve the digital conversion conundrum?

Or what are you planning to buy to settle the DAC concern?


Lastly, for our dream sequence, what would you buy if you had $5K to $10K (more or less) to drop on digital conversion, not counting cabling?


Oh, yeah, and of course, for posterity, and me, (cause I’m going to need a new DAC) Why that one instead of some other?

…. Undying gratitude.
blindjim
blindjim OP
2,837 posts
 

blindjim > thanks. I kind of like it as it is in that all in one configuration pretty much. I’ll have to investigate it. I plan on buying another Oppo anyhow.


as much as dynamics and transparency are important to recreating sensible staging and musical involvement, they aren’t the end all be all properties source units MUST contain.

reality delivered as naturalness is the key for me. Always.

I’ll reiterate, which DACs outside this list, possess the high end credentials Digital converters are required to have so reality can then be achieved downstream?

As inexpensively as possible doesn’t mean merely the cheapest, it means what ever brings home the bacon and the associated expense for the ‘bacon’ to wind up in the bag.

What is your pick for a new DAC?

Oppo 205?
Modded Oppo 205?
Oppo DAC?
Berkely Reference DAC?
EMM Labs 2X?

Ag insider logo xs@2x
david_ten
2,509 posts
 
@blindjim     

What is ahead of the DAC, how it is delivered to the DAC, and how everything is powered is as important as the DAC itself. This will likely necessitate a significant spend as well.

(Note: I'm not referring to the quality of the file).


agitater
3 posts
 
The North Star Audio DACs do it for me. The Supremo is the top of the line. It's a stellar performer. It's as transparent to the source material as anything I can imagine, and more important, more transparent than anything else I've ever owned or auditioned.

The only competitor that sounds as good to my ears over the long term, is the Weiss DAC 501.

The Schiit Ygdrassil is also at the top of the class, as far as I'm concerned.

I've lived with all three DACs, listening to hundreds of hours of music. The North Star Supremo is my current choice for kind of the mountain. But - a big but - I'm not trading or selling the Weiss or the Schiit.

Superb second-bests for me - DACs that I'm using in secondary systems - include the Naim DAC V1 and the Chord Chordette 2Qute. Both DACs excel in smaller systems. The Naim DAC V1 is getting a stream from an iMac in a desktop workstation configuration. The V1 is feeding a Brio 2 (just came out, just showed up; replaces a Teac AI-501DA), driving a pair of Harbeth P3ES-2 speakers (I've had the speakers since 2002). It's a superb desktop system.

The Chord is being fed by a Sonos Connect in a bedroom system. The Chord is feeding a Hegel 80 that is driving a pair of Diapason Micra speakers. Sonic heaven. The Diapason Micras are astonishing in a small room.

All of these DACs let music fly, soar and excite. It's up to the amps and speakers to do the rest.

What DACs have I auditioned or purchased and then dumped? Lampizator, Accuphase DC37, Weiss DAC 202, Heed Thesis Alpha, Schiit Gungnir, MyTek Brooklyn, MyTek Manhattan II, PS Audio Direct Stream (although it was really, really great - the North Star Supremo seems better to my ears). From the underpriced Gungnir through the hilariously overpriced Accuphase, a lot of the differences between all of these DACs are very, very subtle. Of greatest importance - perhaps more than anything else - is total system synergy. The MyTek Manhattan II that sounded basically terrible in both of my main systems, sounded beyond superb when a friend tried it in his (Jeff Rowland, Harbeth 40.2, Auralic) main system. The difference in the DAC between his system and mine was night and day. I tried his Accuphase in my system and it sounded superb, but it was/is simply and grossly overpriced for a sometimes/sometimes not incremental improvement over my North Start Supremo and Weiss 501. 

System synergy is everything.
lalitk's avatar
lalitk
1,105 posts
 
@blindjim,

The only DAC I care to have or recommend for your exceptionally well balanced, most adequate resolving system is Meridian Ultra. 

https://www.meridian-audio.com/en/products/dacs/dacs/meridian-ultra/
blindjim OP
2,837 posts
 
david_ten > What is ahead of the DAC is as important as the DAC

blindjim > I’m fast coming to the same conclusion. On several planes. See current threads I’ve posted. Thanks. Your input is greatly welcomed.


Agitater > System synergy is everything.

Blindjim > you nailed it right there. Pretty much.
Despite the properties any DAC displays including the system of course, the variable no one accounts well for, or at all at times, is the owner’s preffs and how they hear the music.

That’s quite a DAC ology, thanks.


Lalitk > ….only DAC I care to recommend is Meridian Ultra

Blindjim > I’ll look into that one. you’re too kind, and my system’s present circumstance is pitiful by any account.

Whenever I figure out how to navigate this site better, I’ll update everything. I can’t even see how to PM someone or search the listings well.

In essence, I’m pretty much starting over, hence the various threads for acquiring current info on 2017’s more important items. Sure, I have enough to arrange a rudimentary outfit that is pleasant but nothing near any of my previous stereos. In due time, this one should easily best anything I’ve owned previously.

… were it only that if’s and but’s were candies and nuts.

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