So I was going to sell my Cary Audio Xciter DAC since
1. out of the box, the resolution (soundwise) on the Wyred4Sound DAC-2 that I got to replace it was slightly better
2. the Xciter's USB interface is its weak point, the W4S has asynchronous and is capable of 192
3. no remote (yes manufacturers, not all of us sit 2' from our gear).
In fact I HAD sold it, but the guy wanted $150 off AFTER the sale which I found weird, so I had him return it.
In the meantime I had added an Audiophilleo 2 to my W4S DAC-2. It did make the sound somewhat better on DAC-2. I had been pondering an Ayre QB-9 but had barely seen any difference between that (granted the original QB-9 version) and the W4S DAC-2 and the Audiophileo 2 in 3 weeks of testing.
Still that setup prompted me to this start thread. So many DACs to try
In the meantime I said to myself hmm if the Audiophilleo 2 has reputedly reduced jitter so much, what if I attach it to the Cary DAC, that has pretty good output stages right? Now my Cary SLP-03 was nowhere near as good as my Ayre K-5xeMP and like the SLP-03, the SLP-03 was an entry level Cary. I expected this to be disappointing. But, no whomp, there it is! Bass.
But no there it is base, a better soundstage It's all good.
I'll keep the W4S for TV and other lower fi sources and keep the Cary DAC on for computer sound.
Given how little the Cary Xciter is selling for these days, if you are interested in a USB DAC, this turned out to be a good way to go.
I guess the lesson is, check what's in your basement first, eh?
1. out of the box, the resolution (soundwise) on the Wyred4Sound DAC-2 that I got to replace it was slightly better
2. the Xciter's USB interface is its weak point, the W4S has asynchronous and is capable of 192
3. no remote (yes manufacturers, not all of us sit 2' from our gear).
In fact I HAD sold it, but the guy wanted $150 off AFTER the sale which I found weird, so I had him return it.
In the meantime I had added an Audiophilleo 2 to my W4S DAC-2. It did make the sound somewhat better on DAC-2. I had been pondering an Ayre QB-9 but had barely seen any difference between that (granted the original QB-9 version) and the W4S DAC-2 and the Audiophileo 2 in 3 weeks of testing.
Still that setup prompted me to this start thread. So many DACs to try
In the meantime I said to myself hmm if the Audiophilleo 2 has reputedly reduced jitter so much, what if I attach it to the Cary DAC, that has pretty good output stages right? Now my Cary SLP-03 was nowhere near as good as my Ayre K-5xeMP and like the SLP-03, the SLP-03 was an entry level Cary. I expected this to be disappointing. But, no whomp, there it is! Bass.
But no there it is base, a better soundstage It's all good.
I'll keep the W4S for TV and other lower fi sources and keep the Cary DAC on for computer sound.
Given how little the Cary Xciter is selling for these days, if you are interested in a USB DAC, this turned out to be a good way to go.
I guess the lesson is, check what's in your basement first, eh?