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Bel Canto DAC3 or Cambridge Audio 840C?

Which is "better" as an outboard DAC? I love the fact that I'd be getting a CD player out of the 840C as well, but I listen to FLAC files from my file server a lot more.

I like a sound that is smooth, but detailed, on the warm side. Airy, liquid vocals are first priority. Classe, Bel Canto, Conrad Johnson tube pre-amps, newer Sonus Faber are my cup of tea, to give y'all an idea. I have an Audio Experience Symphonies Plus-R tube pre, Bel Canto S300, and Usher BE-718 speakers.
eugene81
eugene81 OP
270 posts
 
Sorry, not in the market right now. I'm sure somebody will snatch it up on the classifieds. Has anybody heard both the Tdac and the Bel Canto?
metman
233 posts
 
Here's a link in the AVS forum from someone last year comparing the Tadac to the Bel Canto 3 bear in mind this was the previous model Tadac. The Tdac is supposed to be much better. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=707173&page=142 Scroll down to Zissou's comments
metman
233 posts
 
Oops, here's the link http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=707173&page=142
eugene81 OP
270 posts
 
Well, to tide me over until I'm ready to go into the $1k range I got myself an MHDT Paradisea NOS DAC with a Tung Sol 2C51 tube, and my goodness I am really enjoying it! I now find myself loving the music again and not getting bogged down by the details! Granted my previous DAC (MSB Link III, and briefly the DAC in my Classe SSP-300 pre/proc) was a weak link in my system, but the kind of smooth, coherent, emotive sound that the Paradisea puts out really suits me. Now I remember why I cling to my tube pre-amp. The soundstage can be a little skewed IMO, and it's not the most detailed, but it doesn't really bother me.

I'd really be interested to read a comparison between the Havana and the TDac. I know there's a thread out there, but only one person had experience with both Havana and TDac (not TaDac).

I'm guess I'm just going to have to get all 3 (DAC3, Havana, TDac) and decide which one to keep.
chrissain
470 posts
 
Just for your info I just had an in home audition of the new dac3.5 VBS verses the dac three and it is no contest, the new generation wins big time, It is by far the best digital sound I have had at home. I am so confident in what I am hearing I would put the DAC3.5 vbs combo up against anything at any price, Its really that good. I have to admire john stronzers no bs approach to digital design, one of the best clocks money can buy, galvanized isolated inputs for low noise, reducing input jitter to almost immeasurable levels, pure class A output stage, and one of the most regulated power supplies in the industry. It all adds up to specs that could make sony blush, and a sound that is fantastic. well worth hearing one for yourself, happy listening, Chris
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