Upsampling DACS: Take the Pepsi Challenge

DCS is the way to go- period! Listen and you will believe - just gotta save up now...

I have been trying out a Dodson DA217 MkIID upsampling DAC in my system and it sounds fantastic. It has MUCH better soundstaging, tonal balance (musicality), bass and treble extension, and resolution than my current Mark Levinson 36. The difference is dramatic and made my whole system sound better! I have a system with mostly Mark Levinson equipment and bi-amped Vandersteen 3A Signature speakers. It would have been better if I could have arranged a comparison of the Dodson with an M-L 360S or a dCS combo, but I couldn't arrange it in time. If anyone has an opportunity to do this, I would be interested in hearing of their results. I did compare the 3560S with a dCS Purcell/Delius combo, and I thought that the latter sounded better, but only marginally.

Carl, in your opinion, what DACs have well-designed analog circuitry?

I've not analized a lot of them, or taken them apart. I only know that you should look at the analog line level output section seriously, and that a compromised one usually bespeaks a philosophy based on compromise.

I would like to second Kweifi. I just bought a Dodson with the 24/96 upsampling upgrade. I'm using my SCD-1 as a transport. The Dodson has taken a very good- sounding CDP and given it an expanded sounstage,greater detail and a "sparkle" that I now see was missing. All for $2500 (used). David