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Jolida, Glass FX Tube DAC III vs Fusion DAC Pre

I am setting up a two channel system in a spare room in my new house. It will be 11 feet x 12 feet, carpeted. Most of my music is in digital (mp3, FLAC, etc) format. I plan on using my Windows computer as the "source". I may hook up a CD player or Phono at some point.

My amp will be a Parasound HCA-1500A, a solid state amp with 205 W/ch. This has more than enough power for the size room.

As far as speakers, I plan on going with bookshelfs, something in the $1500 range. I will probably look at something like the KEF LS-50s, Epos Elan 15, or something from Focal/JM Lab, PMC, PSB, B&W etc. Another option would be to steal the Meadowlark Kestrals from my home theater system.

The main question I have, is how to get the "music" from the digital source to the speakers. I don't want to spend more than about $1500 between PC out and AMP in.

All I really need is USB/Coax/SPDIF inputs, volume control, and RCA outs to the amp. I realize USB has a host of issues, so I would consider getting a USB/SPDIF converter such as the TeraLink X2, if that would help improve the sound.

I am leaning towards either the Jolida Glass FX Tube DAC III ($500), or the Jolida Fusion DAC Pre ($950). Is there a big difference in sound quality between the two? They use the same DACs and tubes. The Fusion adds Bluetooth, which I would use, and has more switching functionality. But as far as sound quality, can I get the Glass FX and put the extra 500 bucks toward the other components?

Glass FX + B&W PM1; or Fusion DAC Pre + B&W CM5?? These are the tradeoffs I am looking at.

Thanks if you read this far, I'd rather include more detail than less.

I listen to a mix of Jazz, Bluegrass, Classical, and everything else (Allison Krauss, Frank Zappa, Derek Trucks, Zakir Hussain, Art Blakey, Chris Thile, Joshua Redman, Kathleen Battle, Smashing Pumpkins...)
georgepv
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
First you need to realize that the Fusion is a preamp which would control volume to the amp plus has the built-in DAC. If you use the Glass FX DAC III, you will only be connected to the soundcard in your computer; it doesn't have the correct output to drive your amp.

And if you are planning to use a CDP later on, then you will need the preamp.
georgepv OP
15 posts
 
Thanks for the response. I guess I thought that since the Glass FX can switch between three digital sources, it kind of functions like a preamp.

Is the volume control on the Glass FX just for the headphone output then?

What other preamp/dac combos can people recommend? I like what I see in the Musical Fidelity MS1DAC. I guess the Peachtree Nova/pre falls into that category too.

One last question, do I need to get a USB/SPDIF converter? I really can't justify spending $1,000 on a Audiophilleo 2, when I'm only going to spend that much on the pre/dac itself. If I'm only spending $1,000 on the pre/dac, can I just forget about the converter for now?
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Yes, you will need a USB/SPDIF converter. The USB computer output goes to the converter, then you can use Toslink or Coaxial into the DAC/Pre. (Coax is preferred). Using USB directly into a DAC would make for poorer SQ and would not be an asynchronous signal.

There are many budget convertors available, here is just one example...
Peachtree

Is the volume control on the Glass FX just for the headphone output then

The only output is a headphone jack. I don't know if the output is high enough to use as a line level output, but if it were, it would not be the best choice for good SQ.

I'm not knowledgeable enough to make recommendations, but I am considering a Glass DAC for my system.
chrshanl37
835 posts
 
I'm pretty sure the new fx dac III has variable out put and thus can be used as a preamp.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
Chrshanl37 is correct. I see that the DAC III has RCA outputs and a volume knob in front.

I cant find any specs, but you will need to check the output impedance of the Jolida to see if it will match your Parasound's input impedance. Since the DAC III is not called a "DAC/Preamp," try calling Jolida MD to see if it will mate with your amp.
The Parasound HCA-1500A has 33 kohms input impedance.

Here's a good review...
[url]http://www.hifiwigwam.com/jolida-glass-fx-tube-dac-iii/[/url]
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