Tascam DA-3000

Bruce Brown from Puget Sound Studios did an interesting test of 5 A to D converters. This was a DSD comparison. He put the files blind on his website and people downloaded and listened. The thread is long, but interesting to skim through. He provided files from a Merging Horus, Grimm AD1, EMM Labs ADC8, Korg MR-2000(modded) and a Tascam DS-3000. There are some passing very positive comments on the Aye QA-9. There are lots of opinions, but the Merging and Grimm generally came out on top. The Tascam was generally on the bottom. Clearly in this test, price mattered.

Bruce Brown Comparison

Steve over at Decware has a modded DA3000 (ZDSD). He had Jensen make special output transformers that are internally mounted. They are coupled to the balanced output stage and convert to unbalanced for output. This allows for the same voltage output as balanced with a pot to adjust the out voltage. There are some positive reviews of the mod on his forum.

http://www.decware.com/newsite/ZDSD.html

jwm

There is nothing wrong with my system, except perhaps it is to good at resolving details.

All you have to do is hook up headphones to the Tascam to hear how bad it is. I also have an early production unit because the date programmed in was 6/28/2013!

Rodge827

Unfortunately, the transformers only impact the output of the D/A stage, and have no impact on the input analog buffers (all those op amps) coupled to each other with electrolytic caps. Those buffers are between you signal source and what gets digitally recorded.

I can see their argument about the digital hardware only recording without the need for a computer. I may keep it just for that, but still use an Ayre or Benchmark to run digital into the Tascam bypassing its input stages. Although its kind of expensive substitute for a computer these days.

DTC:

I suspect the Ayre will work fine. I am leaning toward keeping the Tascam for simply converting digital from an Ayre QA-9 or maybe a Benchmark ADC1 to .wav files, because the variables of the computer conversions of USB data streams are eliminated.

I think Audio Advisor carries Benchmark and maybe I can get one to try out. If it does not work, I'd be back to finding and (paying for) the Ayre.