Best Integrated for SF Signum?

Dekay, I am getting very much interested in DAC 1. Now I even feel that it may be the first thing to do for my system. In addition to Rute's question, how much is it really (I saw some mint used one priced at 800 to 900 on Audiogon) new retail, and where? Thanks, Ken.

Hi Khokugo: $800.00 plus seems to be the going used price right now. I think that the list price is around $1300.00. If you search the web under "Bel Canto" and hifi you should be able to locate their website that will give you the specs as well as dealer information. I had really wanted to go with a good all in one unit like the Theta Miles or the Resolution Audio units, but even used they are very expensive and I felt this was the best way to go for my budget as I wanted a pair of new speakers as well. I am not certain what the upgrade path is with the Bel Canto but for now it suits our CD collection and should work well with my CAL player as a transport. Some people say that Bel Canto is slow to return calls and emails, but when I emailed them telling them up front that I was going to purchase a used unit they returned my email answering my questions the same day. This was my experience with them. I do believe that they are a small company and because of this may be overwhelmed with calls and emails at times. When it rains it pours.

Dekay, let me know how you think about it after you hook up Bel Canto (modified, I presume). Oh, I will let you know the outcome of bi-wiring experiment on my SF Signum once it has broken-in. Thanks again. Ken.

Hi Ken: I purchased the DAC without the new mods. I will wait for the dust to settle on the updated version before I consider the upgrade. The buzzwords "increased dynamics" do not do a lot for me as I would have to listen to why this is so and wonder if it is at the expense of smoothness. The smooth detailed sound and accurate (IMO) pitch, attack and decay is what first attracted me to the Bel Canto, other than the price. For example I prefer the sound of my stock (other than an upgraded PC) CAL Icon II to that of the later models (it sounds more musical to me). I will post in a month or two when I feel that I have it well integrated into my system. I will want to experiment with isolation devices and IC's as well, which take some time. Although I have only listened to your speakers once at a dealer, I liked them a lot. Small boxes with big quality sound always get my attention. I did not give them a lot of thought because they cost as much as my entire system. The bass that they did have for their size was also very nice, not "bumped" up like on many other small moniters and I could distinguish low electic bass notes (by pitch) just short of the low "E" in that listening room, which was pretty well setup. Anyway, as long as you do not get too wrapped up in the gear (once you get it properly set up, just forget about it for a while and enjoy the music), hard to do I know, I am certain that you will have fun with your Signum based system.

Dekay, did you compare with Perpetual Technologiy's P-3A? What do you think about it?