Which cd/dv mega changer using an outboard DAC?

Chantaipan, welcome to the madhouse! It would be an addiction if it wasn't so rewarding!

The DIP is a small box made by Monarchy audio. They can be found for sale regularly on this site, since they are very popular. You can also buy it new from Audio Advisor, and try it for 30 days.

It takes digital coax/toslink signal and re-clocks it removing quite a bit of jitter (a huge topic, with tons of info; some people on the net will tell you jitter is inaudible, but I don't think anyone on this forum will say that.)

It then allows you to output coax or balanced digital to your DAC.

If you get a used one, get at least the MkII DIP.
The new ones are 24/96 (note that the MkII only 16/44, but this is fine for CD's) so they can also be used on DID players for HT (DD, DTS). I have one of each, they both seem to work about the same for CD's. Changing the power on it improve the sound a bit as well.

I also recommend (for mega changer users) the Slink-e device. This let's you control your changer from your computer. It'll scan the player for you, get all the album/track info from the net, and let you create playlists, search for songs, and what not. But it only works with Sony S-link connections.

KP

KP, thanks. It sure is rewarding. Your experience is that it sounds better(more anologue) to connect the changer's toslink through the DIP, then coaxial cable to the DAC. So if I get a DVD mega changer, like the Kenwood DV5900 or the Pioneer Elite DVF-07, I should get the DID?!!!! Now I am wondering whether the CD or DVD sounds better as I am told by the salemen that the DVD will reveal more data than the CD; therefore it should be more revealing.

The DIP should help most dvd/cd players going to a DAC.
You might want to get it from AA where you can return it if you don't like it.

As far as DVD vs CD sounding better, it depends. I thought all my DVD players (using coax) sounder better (player-->DAC) than the regular Sony mega box (toslink).

However, with the setup (player--->DIP(s)--->DAC) they all sounded very similar.

The ES mega box (toslink) sounder better than any of the DVD players I tried (Sony, Toshiba, and I forgot the other one).

I know some DAC manufactures (BelCanto, for one) suggest you use a DVD player with Toslink going into the DAC. I can't comment on this from personal experience but user comments on this idea suggest that coax to DAC is better.

Also, the DVD w/o a DIP may sound better because DVD's have an output buffer (16k, I think, please correct me), that's supposed to reduce jitter. Once the DIP is in place, it should take care of most of the jitter issues. So, that would explain why the DVD players and the regular Sony sounded similar with the DIP in use.

KP

KP, I sure appreciate your sharing your experience. I have been bidding on a Kenwood cd4700 on ebay and will try it out with my DAC. Perhaps I'll get a DIP from AA and try to see if there's an improvement.

My pleasure, I love the mega box changers because you get to listen to so much music!
I'll post the results of any other tricks that improve the sound.

KP