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Will A new DAC improve the sound of my Cary 306/200 CD Player

I have a Cary 306/200 CD Player which I purchased in 2003 for about $5000.00.
I am happy with said player, but would it make sense, since DACS have vastly improved over the past few years to
bypass the current DAC and purchase a DAC, in the $1000.00 range, such as the Mytec Liberty Dac to improve the sound. I am happy with the transport and my rationale is that for $1000.00 or so, I can essentially greatly improve my sound for a modest investment. Appreciate any recommendations, as well as any thoughts regarding my reasoning. The
question is would bypassing the old DAC with something up to date, make a big difference therefore justifying the
expense?
128x128kjl1065
boxer12
8,656 posts
 
I'd recommend trying an Audio Alchemy DDP-1 with the PS5 power supply. I've been running this combination for about a year & it is remarkable for the money. I placed a link below in case you're interested.

https://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=1ALDDP1P5

 
oldears
386 posts
 
Note that you are not listening to the DAC, but the output stage. You may be able to find a more modern DAC, but you will have to pay a lot for an output stage which betters the one in your CARY.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
kjl1065
Will A new DAC improve the sound of my Cary 306/200 CD Player

No, not for PCM Redbook, unless you spend quite a bit on the newer discrete R2R dacs, like a Holo Spring, or Denafrips Terminator, TotalDac ect ect.

Your Cary has 8 x PCM1704 d/a converters (best there was) and a PMD200 hdcd filter chip (aslo best there was), this is about as good as you can get for R2R Multibit PCM replay.

I had the similar 303/200, about the only thing you can do is get some one who’s good, to improve the I/V stage and output buffer, this will really make it sing.

I did a whole thread on this at diyAudio using zero feedback stacked AD844 transconductance chips for I/V duties and OPA627 output buffer, it was very good in the end.
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-line-level/227677-using-ad844.html

And go direct to poweramp and use the volume control it’s got.

PS get a new spare laser/mech for it before they’re obsolete. Philips VAM1202
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2053587.m570.l1313.TR3.TRC2.A0.H0.TRS0&_n...

Also, do not sell this machine, I had to get a  $20k LINN CD12 before I could better my mod'ed 303/200 and no dac that plays DSD (Delta Sigma based) can touch it for PCM REDBOOK replay

Cheers George

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