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Marantz HD-DAC1 vs Bel Canto DAC 1.x/2.x/3.x?

Hi,

Has anyone had the chance to compare the Marantz HD-DAC1 to any of the Bel Canto DACs?

The Marantz is $800, plays DSD, and has a headphone amplifier. It has a line out (into a preamp) and variable line out (hence can be used as a preamp).

The Bel Cantos range from $1,500-$4,500. No headphone amp. The amplification is digital (hence digital preamp), and feeds the amp directly.

Has anyone had a chance to listen to both makes and give some feedback as to the audio quality and characteristics differences?

Thanks!
zordex
chayro
2,987 posts
 
Coli said: "DAC is one place where price has nothing to do with sound quality. See if you can find out which DAC chip they use, as all DAC using the same chip sounds alike."

I think many digital designers would disagree with that statement. Just for example - Lampizator, who builds some very good dacs, states on his website that the chip is 10% of the sound. But that's his opinion, of course.
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
986 posts
 
Then again, others have said, "The transport is 80% of the sound." So, spend less on the dac but more on the transport?
Would the Marantz with a venerable transport such as the Esoteric VRDS Neo, sound better than the Bel Canto with the same transport? As always, the proof is in the listening.
coli
291 posts
 
One thing that helps a lot is a pro grade reclocker, eg: mutec smart clock, then add in balanced power and they really all sound pretty much the same as long as they use the same $5 DAC chip. The only place in DAC world that may be worth the dollar are custom DAC chips.
jon2020's avatar
jon2020
986 posts
 
Hi Zordex,
What are you using as transport?
J.
zordex OP
3 posts
 
This is fed from a PC using foobar.
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