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DAC for $1800 or less?

TAX TIME ....

For you rich guys it's time to put away the check book but for us poor guys it means TAX RETURN MONEY! I have most of my system in place and I'm ready to go after the source. I'm a Redbook CD lover and I have a few HDCD's as well.

So here it is :

I'm running an old(er) Rotel RCD-1070 with no outboard DAC. My plan is to spend now on a solid DAC and run the Rotel as a transport. I'll tell you ... the 1070 is built like a tank, it's media friendly and even takes a standard aftermarket power cable. I like the transport. In the long run I might step up and upgrade transport but that’s a ways off.

I need some suggestions on a used DAC - my top price is $1800 and I have been looking at Levinson 36s or 360. I might need to add a few more hundred to make it happen but I wanted to get some of your thoughts before I throw that much money around. Anyone out there love the Levinson DACs? Anyone hate them? Remember - it's mostly Redbook and the occasional HDCD. I'm going to play with SACD and DVD-A later but not with this system. Any preference between the 36s and 360? I have picked through some reviews but it's like reading reviews on Microsoft software ... it's a little glossy. I have yet to get a detailed list of the differences. The 360s is out of my ballpark. If you have other DACs in this price range ... lets hear it. I really love my system as it sits but I think the analog out of the source needs some love.

My current setup is a Modwright SWL 9.0SE Linestage, Mark Levinson 23.5, Paradigm Signature S4's ... cables are mostly Signal Cable Silver Resolution and the speaker cables are Signal Cable Ultra double runs. I am considering bi-amping the Paradigms with a second Mark Levinson amp - ML 27.5 for the upper end. I am waiting on a couple of cables from Frank - I will eventually replace ALL IC's with Silver Resolution and maybe even try out a set of Silver Resolution speaker cables. It's about the best cables that I can afford.

Let me hear your thoughts ... you all have been a lot of help in the past.
128x128horseface
plato
1,543 posts
 
I'm getting very impressive results out of a Benchmark DAC1. One Stereophile review said it was comparable to his Levinson DAC with the ML DAC edging it in the low bass.

I also use the SignalCable interconnects -- You've got to try the Silver Resolution speaker cables! I think you'll be very pleased with them if the ones you have now are the heavy-duty copper. You'll hear a lot more detail and still maintain a neutral, musical balance.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
You could go with a used Theta Digital DS Pro Generation V or Va for less than your budget.
55dok
162 posts
 
For this price range you can get a "new" source single CD player (unless your rotel is a multi disc player and you want multi disc capability). Why not get a used meridian 508.24,cary or wadia 301 cd player or a new modded eastsound E5? You will save the expense of buying a good digital or toslink cable out from your rotel. However, if you stay with the rotel transport you might want to add an ultrajitterbug between it and whatever dac you pick (unless it reclocks the signal) as reclocking and a good coaxial cable tamed a lot of harshness out of my system. There are plenty of fine dacs for $1800 or less that appear on audiogon; Dodson,Kora,etc.
bobgates
535 posts
 
The Bel Canto DAC-2.
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