Good Entry-Level DAC

dhjjones,

I run my CD Player (and my Rega RP3) through a Sonographe SC-1 Preamp and a Counterpoint SA12 amp and Cabasse Galiote speakers.

Most of the system's 25-30 years old, but I do like it. I'm upgrading in small pieces. Added a phono preamp last year (Project Tube Box) and had the CAL DAC in for some years....

I'm thinking hard of going with used for another DAC. Are there sellers who'll accept returns?

G

PS- Did you mean 'Commensurate'?

Yes I did, sorry about that. There are dealers who take new returns. I think The Music Room has a return policy on used. 

True a DAC does not extract information out of a recording anymore than a preamp or an amp does, but a DAC does have an analog output I believe? Wouldn’t one agree better preamps and amplifiers that have a lower noise floor pass more information through or not hidden under noise... micro dynamics don’t improve? Why are some systems enjoyable at low volume levels over other systems? If a DAC has an analog output stage then why would it be different from a preamp? Guess I should have stated it differently than extracting, but I am hearing micro detail that is lost on the DAC in my Cambridge; oh it’s there likely but it’s being masked to a point one has to try much harder to hear a pianist say move about on their bench where on the RME it’s more pronounced and it’s not because it has a forward sound or the volume is cranked up. I’m sure it has much to do with jitter, the clocks and just an overall lower noise floor. I’m using the same cables both digital and power so what is it then? I’m not understanding how DAC’s don’t change anything but only sound different, but preamps and amps on the other hand do.

Yes, DACs have an analog output and the noise floor can be measured on those outputs. No matter how much noise comes in on the digital side if the DAC measures noise at inaudible levels on the analog side then it’s doing job and is a well designed DAC. That’s why reclockers and supposedly noise lowering cables are irrelevant for well designed DACs. Say I use a lousy cable with no shielding and the noisiest computer I can find to feed a DAC and the noise is ridiculous coming into the digital side yet when it leaves the analog outputs it measures - 120db and is inaudible to humans and then use the best cables I can find and clean the digital before entering the DAC yet the analog side measures -121db was all that cost worth -1 db that’s completely inaudible anyway? It’s not 1980 anymore even a well designed $250 DACs can handle a lot of noise.

Try a Topping D90 from Apos Audio.  Price matching and returns are allowed and they double the warranty.  I added this to the Bluesound Node 2i and changes were significant.  Better resolution and detail.  Better bass.  Better everything in my case.  For less than $700 it is worth a try.