Analog Lovers and Filterless DACs

I can recommend 2 sources:

1. Ack Dack v2.0 w/ high rez option. I love this DAC, sounds so good. I think a lot of why it sounds good is the battery power, which makes it super quiet and removes A/C noise from the equation. It's a bargain, and a ridiculous one if you consider you don't have to spend extra $$$ on power cables/conditioners. I have a used Dack 2.0 on the way.

2. Music Hall CD25 / Shanling / Onyx? - This CD player has been rebranded with many names, but I hear it's the same player. I have owned one for a long time, and just replaced its stock socketed opamps with OPA627's (about $100 and you just plug them in). It sounds very good for the money. My player was $600 or so new when I bought it, but I hear the same thing can be bought for around $300, thanks to cost savings from China.

Good luck.

Yeah, the USB dac fed from PC is a pretty convenient notion for some, but not practical for me. My computer is also used for business, and I don't want to use it for audio. I also have no inclination to invite Bill Gates & Friends into my listening room. The chore to burn 600 CDs into wave files isn't too thrilling either.

Matt, The Ack 2.0 is a good possibility. How do you compare its sound vs the other CDPs you mentioned? I've heard them & although I agree that they present good value vs. most conventional CDPs in their price range, I still can't forget that I'm hearing a "digital event" when I listen to them. If they are the most analog sounding in my price range(<$700), then I'm just not gonna be happy.

Can anyone else please comment on how the Acks, Nixons, etc. compare sonically to most other mainstream players? Thanks,
Spencer

Sbank,

Sorry posted my response in the wrong thread.

My Audio Mirror DAC combined with my Alesis Masterlink 9600 is a combination that has served me well. Both have been modified by TRL so they are no longer stock. The stock Audio Mirror was great, but now is even better. Considering the cost of the mods this set-up ran me $2500, $1400 without the mods.

I will actually be moving to a battery powered Sony DVP-NS900V modified by TRL shortly to compare against the existing set-up. I have heard this player (non-battery version) in another system and it is extremely musical. This CDP is non-os so that was a major reason I was willing to try it out.

You can try the Consonance CD-120 Linear or the tubed version. Both are 16 bit, non oversampling, non upsampling with no digital filters or opamps to get in the way. Its a one box solution that sounds great. I have the CD-120 Linear and love it. It only set me back $800.