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Affordable anti-jitter device

Hi all,

I've recently consolodated to a universal player to conserve my limited shelf space. For redbook I use my universal (a Denon 1920) as a transport and have it outputting to a Musical Fidelity X-ACT DAC.

I feel like I lost a small amount of "luster" when I switched transports (though not nearly as much as I'd feared I would). My question - would an anti-jitter device help me?

If so, a local store has an Audio Alchemy DTI for $99, is that my best bet? What other affordable ones are out there?

My system and budget are decidedly mid-fi, so < $200 would be ideal.
hudsonhawk
raytheprinter's avatar
raytheprinter
1,234 posts
 
Monarchy Classic DIP,works great in my system,all around improvement!
avguygeorge
2,300 posts
 
Like many here I have had the original AA DTI / the DTI pro / the Pro 32 / A Meridian 518 / A digital lense / the Purcell upsampler and I think they are all bandaids. When you find the right solution, I think it will be a one-box,one.
rja's avatar
rja
2,370 posts
 
If you go with an Audio Alchemy check out the DTI Pro32.
hudsonhawk OP
137 posts
 
OK, thank you all so much for your wealth of insight. I'm starting to agree with those of you who said that I may be trying to fix something that's not worth fixing.

If I were to take this money and instead use it to uprgrade my DAC, what DACs in the sub-$300 range give me the best performance for the bucks? Should I go for an older DAC? For example, the MF X-DAC (the round one), the CAL Sigma Tube DAC, and the Arcam Black Box 50 all sell for that price but are all around 10 years old at this point.

Or should I go for something like Scott Nixon's Chibi with a battery pack? I know there are a few "homebrew"-style DACs in that price range as well.

Given all the kind words for the Monarchy DIP, that's something I will definitely get once I have settled on the DAC I like (unless I get one that reclocks of course).

Thanks again,

Scott
seandtaylor99
1,262 posts
 
I think you'd be better aiming for a reclocking DAC such as the benchmark. You get state of the art reclocking and a state of the art DAC. Used they run about $700, which is not too far above your budget for DAC and DIP.

My own setup is a Monarchy DIP classic feeding a Monarchy 22A DAC, and I'm very pleased with the sound. The combo comes in at around $450 used. It is pretty much comparable with my Rega P3/goldring 1042, if that gives you any indication, and not far behind the Benchmark DAC.

Monarchy DACs are somewhat out of fashion, but, having removed the lid from mine it seems like a very solid design with top quality components (like PCM63K DACs) that used to sell for $1000. You can pick them up now for $200-$300. However they are sensitive to jitter and benefit greatly from the addition of the DIP.
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