$500 PC? Bah! I'm a professional photographer - I NEED a top-end Mac. Give me OS X and at least a Conroe, or better yet two Woodcrests. I don't know a single pro photog who uses Windows, and I wouldn't touch it with a 10' pole. Sorry if that offends, but I have strong feelings on the subject. Fifteen years, and no AV software and no viruses, spyware or adware, ever... Don't get me started - wrong forum.
Thanks for the Art/Dio suggestion. I'd never heard of them. I've also heard good things about the CAL Sigma tube DAC in that price range (used). But, to be honest, I'm not in the market for either a Planet 2000 or an outboard DAC right now: new Macs will be announced August 7. Around $150 to upgrade my 8024 to a 2496 is about the limit for the time being. Curious whether that would be worth it.
I'll post again after a buddy comes over (soon, I hope) and we do a proper A-B DAC test with the 8024 in and out of the signal path with EQ turned off. Of course, comparison with the built-in DAC in a $200 HK CD changer is not exactly going to be a tough challenge.
I'm trying very hard to be satisfied with what I've got and keep my aspirations modest. Otherwise, the weapons race can go on forever. I bought all my Adcom and Martin Logan gear a few months ago to replace an HK receiver and a pair of Mission 772s. What I've got now is better than I had dreamed I'd be able to afford in this decade. Gotta keep that in perspective (he said as visions of the lovely Planet 2000 danced in his head). :-) / :-(
Thanks for the Art/Dio suggestion. I'd never heard of them. I've also heard good things about the CAL Sigma tube DAC in that price range (used). But, to be honest, I'm not in the market for either a Planet 2000 or an outboard DAC right now: new Macs will be announced August 7. Around $150 to upgrade my 8024 to a 2496 is about the limit for the time being. Curious whether that would be worth it.
I'll post again after a buddy comes over (soon, I hope) and we do a proper A-B DAC test with the 8024 in and out of the signal path with EQ turned off. Of course, comparison with the built-in DAC in a $200 HK CD changer is not exactly going to be a tough challenge.
I'm trying very hard to be satisfied with what I've got and keep my aspirations modest. Otherwise, the weapons race can go on forever. I bought all my Adcom and Martin Logan gear a few months ago to replace an HK receiver and a pair of Mission 772s. What I've got now is better than I had dreamed I'd be able to afford in this decade. Gotta keep that in perspective (he said as visions of the lovely Planet 2000 danced in his head). :-) / :-(