Are "vintage" DAC's worthwhile, or is this a tech that does not age well

@jasonbourne52:

" All competently-designed DACs will sound alike. This applies to ones from 20+ years ago to the present"

Huh ? When I was shopping for DACs, I did home-demos of DACs from PS Audio, Heed, Metrum, COS and Aqua and was shocked by the dramatic differences in resolution and tonality. These differences appeared to have little to do with price (Units ranged in price from 1K to 6K).

I'm scratching my head as to how you could possibly arrive at such a conclusion. Or is it your contention that one must spend over 6K to get a "Competently designed" DAC?  

yes -- this is a pretty good thread, with some good knowledge and perspectives that may useful to many - especially for those who don’t need more modern usb based connectivity

of course like with most well populated a-gon threads, you have to filter out a minority of the posts that are patently ridiculous, trolling, and/or just plain ignorant

"Acoustic is the sleeping princess in Audio, but all people are looking for one of the working 7 dwarves...."

Very well said, mahgister!

Midareff1 said:

”Where I think you will find significant differences are not necessarily confined to tonality, the differences are quite apparent in the sound-stage presentation. Width and depth of the stage ... the definition of performers outline and their location in the performance, not only side to side but front to back and their isolation from each other within the performance, as well as the layering of depth of stage. These are the areas I have noticed huge improvements in with one of today’s top DACs while still using the same amps, speakers and pre-amp as I did 25 years ago.”

To that I say:

I still use my Theta Pro Basic II fed by a Rega Planet through a Genesis Time Lens I put together in the early 90’s. For USB, I use a Gustard D-D converter via AESBU to the Genesis from my Mac-Mini. Where the Theta stood out and got my purchase was stage depth, width, performer location, separation and ambience. After listening to it and several others, I was sold.

Any DAC that accomplishes these things is a very good DAC indeed irrespective of age. I would also add, when I bought the Genesis, it took the Theta to an entirely higher level. Retrieval is the only word I can think to describe it. Going through my tubed system to the Maggies, the synergy is magical. I can put a performer right in the room which is what distinguishes the Theta.

I have listened to many modern DACs in my system in the intervening years that equal the Theta in tonality but precious few that rival its air. For me, getting that right is the holy grail. When accomplished, the DAC simply disappears. Some can hear this, others can’t, I suppose. In my experience, those who say DACs sound the same cannot it seems. I stay out of that.

For the newer DACs that did get it right, I could not justify the price to upgrade. The differences were just too inconsequential. The Theta holds its own and sounds pretty darned good for the price I paid and the years I have enjoyed it.

Getting a good vintage DAC is not a bad value proposition in my book.

Thanks, Midareff1, for the summation.

Very nice thread, indeed! I'm learning a lot!

So, high end vintage dac can sound as good as contemporary equally or mid priced ones.

But... how would compare a mid-fi vintage dac to one of the cheap nowadays?

Being (very) specific: I'm using a Sony blue ray player (BDP S480) to play redbook CDs to my system. Found a guy selling a new old stock MSB Link DAC III (plain, with the wall mart e no Nelson upgrades, not like @wturkey) for the same price as a new SMLS m3.

Not considering the usb port on SMLS m3, which would/could improve the sound quality? Vintage MSB Link DAC III, contemporary SMSL M3, or the built in DAC on the blue ray player?

Thank you for the shared knowledge and opinions! Greetings from Brazil ;)