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DAC recommendations for CDs in 2-channel system

Can anyone share suggestions for a DAC to go with the following setup:

Odyssey Audio Kismet monoblocks
Odyssey Audio Tempest pre-amp
Dual 1229 turntable with Shure V3
crappy CD player (used as a transport)
Schiit Modi Uber (current DAC, OK not great)
Klipsch Cornwall I speakers

I listen primarily to CDs and some vinyl at fairly low levels. The amps and preamp were recent major upgrades, so I'm thinking about getting a DAC that will hold its own with the new components.

I don't have a budget in mind, but prefer a high value for dollar. Thanks in advance!
scoran
audioengr
3,282 posts
 

Your "crappy" CD transport will do fine, as long as you add a good reclocker and a good S/PDIF cable. Then the disk does not matter, the transport does not matter.

Driving a new DAC with the stock transport will be disappointing IMO, no matter what you get, except maybe Benchmark DAC3. Too much jitter from the transport. Here is typical jitter from a transport, even a decent one:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=154408.0

The other advantage of the Synchro-Mesh reclocker is it upsamples to 24/96, so a better sounding digital filter will be used in the new DAC. IT also provides galvanic isolation, so the transport to DAC ground-loop is eliminated, lowering the noise floor.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

audioengr
3,282 posts
 
The nice thing about something like an Oppo 205 is that you get a better transport and don't have to deal with jitter reduction or digital interconnects and that potential added expense.
  

In your dreams.  It still benefits greatly from reclocking and good cables.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

scoran OP
10 posts
 
@audioengr - some questions, since you're covering topics I don't know much about:

- Whose filter and what method of filtering is used on the Synchro-Mesh reclocker?

- Do some DACs not play well with certain reclockers? I'm wondering about the upsampling feature and what to do if the DAC is doing the same thing.

- Why S/PDIF cable instead of Toslink from the CD player/transport to the DAC?

Finally, how much improvement am I likely to see from this approach vs. simply upgrading the DAC or using an Oppo multidisc player? The setup in my room is less than optimal - all of gear I mentioned in jammed into my 12' x 10' home office with wood floors, which I'm sure vibrate since the rack sits two feet directly in front of one of the Cornwalls.

I'm intrigued by what you're proposing, but just need to understand it a little better.
scoran OP
10 posts
 
@audioengr - one more question for you: my preamp (Odyssey Audio Tempest) has only analog RCA inputs. Reading the Six Moons review of your device (congrats, btw), it appears your device has only digital inputs and outputs. Will analog output from the DAC to the preamp reduce the performance gains of the Synchro-Mesh?
maxboy00's avatar
maxboy00
278 posts
 
Might want to take a look at Resonessence Labs DAC's, I'm using the Vertias, for CD play back and this DAC is a great little gem.  Good luck in your search.
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