Upgrade DAC or Buy New

Thanks for the info, Stereo. The funny thing is I'm awaiting delivery of Audio Mirror's SET 45 amps which are supposed to arrive tomorrow. I couldn't replace the Tact with another preamp, as I'm using the Tact for digital room correction and crossovers. All I can do is add an analog preamp like the T-61 after Tact and before the amps like this: CD Transport -> Tact -> Outboard DAC -> Active Preamp -> Amps.

I'm also looking more closely at the possibility of upgrading my outboard DAC for a higher voltage level which would eliminate the need for an active preamp. I've been noticing that there are several high end DAC manufactures that think the Burr Brown 1704 (which I have in my DAC) was the most musical DAC made (it first came out in 1998) and are still using it in their products. I do really like the sound of my DAC, but it does not currently provide enough output voltage, which was the original reason for this thread.

The 1704 is a very good dac chip. My favorite is the BB TDA1541A/S2. Zanden uses the same chip in their dac. I am in the process of finishing a TDA1541A dac kit. I am using in the mean time a NAD T585 which is really amazing me. It may be the best $500.00 I've ever spent on a player or any component.

Your gonna love those Audio Mirror amps! I was so close to getting them, but was afraid they wouldn't drive my speakers well enough so I went with 350 watt mono block class D amps.

"It may be the best $500.00 I've ever spent on a player or any component."

Isn't it great in the world of megabuck electronics when you find a sleeper?!?

"Your gonna love those Audio Mirror amps!"

I certainly hope so! I really wanted to try the SET route, but needed something that had more than just a few watts. How do like the class D stuff? I had thought about it, but decided to stick with tubes for now.

I had Ric at EVS build me a set of monos using UCD700 modules and a standard power supply. They sound great. They are so effortless and fast. I had the Pp1 sent back to Vlad at Audio Mirror and updated with a new volume pot and some black gate caps and the preamp and amps work great together. I was using an Onix xcd-99 cd player and just didn't like it. I got the T585 a few month ago and the system really sings now. The one other component that I thought was a no brainier was ProAc Response 1s. Those speakers with a sub where unbelievable.

My other suggestion for a new digital unit may be a Timbre dac. I think it is a TT-1. They were $4k years ago and about $600-700 used now. The reviews are really good and they go fast here.