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NOS DAC or CDP?

Recently I had to get rid of two of my CDPs (Jolida JD-100 and NAD C542) for finacial reasons. In doing so, I've had to go back to using my old Onkyo DX-C540 changer. Now it's not a bad sounding player for what it is, which is a Mid-FI changer circa late 90s. But both the NAD and Jolida certainly bested it in all areas of performance, and yes, I'm missing that level of performance. In any case am thinking down the road of either getting another CDP (possibly another NAD or used Jolida) or maybe going the NOS DAC route. I'm thinking of going the NOS DAC route as the Onkyo DOES have a optical output, and I think that it might make a decent transport, and give me changer capabilities. In addition, from what I've been reading the NOS DAC would probably give me the warm, musical presentation that I enjoyed with both the NAD and Jolida players. Also it appears that many of the NOS DACs fall within the "price point" that I would like to keep (less than $500). BTW, I consider myself more a "music lover" than an "audiophile", and going the DAC route would certainly be something new for me. Anyway, appreciate thoughs and suggestions from the community on which road they might go down and why they so. Thanks.
cleaneduphippy
akai
2 posts
 
Look at Valab NOS DAC on the Bay at $200 shipped, I use it at my office streaming Pandora or FM stations as well as playing music from my PC through a USB port. I hooked it up to my vintage McIntosh MAC 1900 receiver and it sounds really good (Monitor Audio bookshelf speakers).

It runs a little hot, also can pop when turn on/off. But it sounds really good with my Mc.

At home, I am using DACMagic from Cambridge Audio, $400 from Audio Advisor. You can occasionally get one for less on Agon. I feed it to my McIntosh MA6600 to my B&W speakers. While these are two different systems (should not be used to compare DAC, I prefer the system at work with the NOS DAC.

DACMagic is a nicer with Upsampling ++ Filters, Balanced out, etc. I also saw "litte dot" with USB port on the Bay, but the listing expired, quite an interesting DAC for about $310 shipped, you can choose to either oversample or NOS, it runs 24/44.1 or 24/192. The Valab is 16/44.1 (most USBs limit is 16/44.1 except Benchmark at $1300, its USB goes up to 24/192).

I really like the Valab, the DACMagic is a very popular unit that they run out of stock quite frequently.

mP
greeni
92 posts
 
Valab is a musical sounding NOS DAC for $200 shipped. There is a review here on audiogon and also lots of discussion on Head-Fi.
cleaneduphippy OP
323 posts
 
First of all thanks for the responds so far (and please keep them coming). First of all if I go the NOS DAC route, I would be running the DAC between the changer/transport and my amp (Jolida 502a), basically not thinking of going the computer route (call me "old fashion"). Btw, I've heard of the Valab and the Paradisea, and have been reading the various reviews and comments on those units. I also wandered over to the Pacific Valve and Audio site, to check out some their offerings.

Here's the four I'd most likely be interested in.

Pacfic Valve Fathom DAC
Giga Lab Moon DAC
Lite DAC AH
DAC AH Modified

So curious on whether anybody has an experience with these units, or even dealing with Pacific Valve and Electric and what their thoughs might be. Again, thanks.
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,433 posts
 
Cleaneduphippy - NOS DAC is sensitive to jitter and will sound better with good transport. I would avoid using optical unless you need to break ground loops.

I use upsampling-jitter rejecting DAC (Benchmark DAC1)with the cheapest transport I could find ($70 DVD player) and I like the sound a lot (plus DVD players have great tracking).
cleaneduphippy OP
323 posts
 
" I would avoid using optical unless you need to break ground loops."

Unfortunately, the digital output on my changer is an opitical one. Amd yes I understand that NOS DACs are senitive to jitter, but how would one determine in advance whether ones transport is "jittery"? Fact of the matter is, if I go the NOS VAC route, then I understand I'll be buying in addition to the DAC, an upgraded power cable and the optical (Toslink) connection, now if I have to add another transport, than chances are I'll go the CDP route. Basically I'm trying to work with what I got.

Btw, curious on the sound of the Benchmark DAC. I generally go for a warmer, more analog type of sound than an analytical one, of course I do have tubes in my system, so perhaps my worries are unfounded.
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