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2nd hand DAC for DVD/CD Player

I purchased a Pioneer DV-525K a few weeks ago to replace my ailing Sony ES. My current system is Musical Fidelity MA-65 monoblock (class a), C1 Carver Preamp, Celestion SL6si with Target Stands. When I plugged the Pioneer DVD DV-525 to my audio system and put a CD I was so disappointed with the sound!! bass is so lean and sound is so unrealistic compared it seems like it is the worse sounding CD player I have heared. I was considering a meridian, audio alchemy ddi, soundstream dac-1 or any dirt cheap dac, or musical fidelity x-dacs! What would be the best DAC under $150 used. Can a DAC really put my DVD player to life even when playing music CD's, will the 48khz DAC work with my 96-24 DVD player. I would appreciate any help since I am in-experienced when it comes to DACs. thanks.
eeugenio
whatjd
1,139 posts
 
I believe all audio manufacturers are in a strugle to survive (with the notable exception of Magnepan) and to do so have had to appear to be into home theater...so enters the growing possibility of customers with DVD players...and no CD player... I have had DACs from Bel Canto, MSB and Classe. I have used/tried the first two with both DVD players (Pioneer and Sony) and all three with CD players or transports from Wadia, Sony, Classe and Pioneer (stable platter type) and on 16/44 standard CD's the sound is poorer using a DVD as a transport. The Bel Canto also sounds better using the coax in if you are using a Cd player to feed it. The Toslink is the only way to go with a DVD...because the poor sound out of a DVD player is made more noticable with a coax cable. Plus part of this marketing is the 50 dollar Toslink cables compared to 200 to 400 dollars for a high-end coax cable. It is easier to sell 1200 dollar DACs if your customer feels they will get great sound with a 250 dollar DVD player and a 50 dollar cable.....than if you tell them to buy a great CD transport and high-end coax cable..that will total more than the DAC. The Toslink/DVD player thing is about sales.. and the home theater inroads into the former audio market.
bebo
12 posts
 
whatjd, I'm really glad to hear your opinion on this because I was just about to try a DVD player to feed my DAC. I probably will do a side by side comparison with my CD player (operating as a transport) but I've been reluctant to plunk down the $ for such a cheap looking, insubstancial piece of gear. I'm hoping that someone may eventually come out with a dedicated CD/DVD/DVD-A transport that will meet audiophile standards, but I haven't seen any yet.
kevperro
72 posts
 
Pertetual Technologies is going to offer a universtal transport. Sounds like it will be in the $1500 range. Kind of pricy for me. I just ordered all of their current stuff (DAC and Anti-jitter thingy) and was going to use them on my Pioneer DVD player. The only reason companies are recommending the DVD players as transports is because of the ability to read 24/96 format stuff. If you have a current CD collection I would just get a CD player for transport. I plan to some time in the near future and sell my DVD player.
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