This is more a response to Whatjd above. My equipment is certainly not "high end" but it is decent enough to be pretty musical and reveal just about any change in equipment within the chain. I was literally shocked when my el-cheapo RCA 5223P DVD player easily outperformed my Arcam Alpha 8SE CD player (I owned the RCA for 8 months before even seriously comparing it because I figured the Arcam would be a lot better). My full review of the RCA (which is now a discontinued model unfortunately) is listed in the review section at Audio Asylum and I have been living quite happily with the RCA for about 2 months now, getting performance out of it that is probably somewhere between Arcam 8SE and Arcam 9 quality. Maybe it's just system "synergy"; I don't really know. The RCA is certainly not perfect-the tray is pretty flimsy and the player is somewhat noisy while playing (noticeable during some quiet passages-the rest of the build quality is quite good though and the player is much heaver and solid than the Toshibas for example and on a par with my Arcam), but I can live with all that after selling the Arcam for about twice what I paid for the RCA. Unfortunately, you can't really audition a lot of the cheaper DVD players before you buy, so it may be a matter of luck (?), but this has been an interesting experience, to say the least, for me.
2nd hand DAC for DVD/CD Player
I purchased a Pioneer DV-525K a few weeks ago to replace my ailing Sony ES. My current system is Musical Fidelity MA-65 monoblock (class a), C1 Carver Preamp, Celestion SL6si with Target Stands. When I plugged the Pioneer DVD DV-525 to my audio system and put a CD I was so disappointed with the sound!! bass is so lean and sound is so unrealistic compared it seems like it is the worse sounding CD player I have heared. I was considering a meridian, audio alchemy ddi, soundstream dac-1 or any dirt cheap dac, or musical fidelity x-dacs! What would be the best DAC under $150 used. Can a DAC really put my DVD player to life even when playing music CD's, will the 48khz DAC work with my 96-24 DVD player. I would appreciate any help since I am in-experienced when it comes to DACs. thanks.
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- 13 posts total
- 13 posts total