New or Old DAC

Jmcgrogan2:

"Remember- no one puts Tubes, fancy caps or resistors in the Digital to Analog Converter, these Premium parts go in the Analog Output Stage."

Sorry to disagree, my Space Tech Lab DA-64XT DAC utilizes an STR-104 Tube Rectifier. This Rectifier does have two very, very large Tubes that supply power to all of the components within the DAC.

No problem with you disagreeing with me Pettyofficer, that's part of what makes this hobby fun. FWIW, your tube rectification is in the power supply section, which is also analog based, not in the digital or digital to analog conversion stage. Yes, it may supply power to that stage, but it is in the analog domain, and it supplies power to the analog output stage too.

I don't even own a DAC anymore, I gave up on digital seperates about 8 years ago when I rediscovered vinyl. I do own a highly modified cd player though. It's a $3.5K cd player with about $4K worth of mods in it, all in the power supply, input/output hardware, wiring and analog output stage (which has a dual triode tube buffer stage). It still has the same DAC's. I've owned this for a couple of years now, and I can't say that I've heard anything new from digital that would cause me to run out and spend mucho dinero on a new one.

That's just me though, whatever gets YOUR toes tapping is YOUR own personal answer.

Cheers,
John

Digital or Digital to Analog Conversion Stages run off of what power source, Pyramid Power, or a real tiny Zero Point Module (imported from Stargate Atlantis from another Galaxy somewhere no-less). Must be one hell of an Import Tax. Since when is Direct Current, "Analog Based"? There are Direct Current Power Supplies to Digital Microprocessors, unless these things run off of a vacuum.

Isn't there a trial period with the Benchmark DACs? If so, it would be interesting to compare with your Theta.

Jmcgrogan2- I am still awaiting an answer! How is A.C. Current that has been Rectified to D.C. Current, and is Voltage Regulated, and now supplies Analog as well as Digital Stages, Analog Based? Direct Current is Direct Current regardless if it is supplying Analog or Digital Stages, perhaps at a different Voltage, but it is still Direct Current! What is your basis of, "Analog Based" in Direct Current?