Best used dac under $2000

I read the Bel Canto has jitter reduction circuitry built in; I have also read using multiple jitter reducing devices can be beneficial, however as we all know, creating a long chain in a signal path is not necessarily a good idea. So, if using the Bel Canto would one want to use a Monarchy DIP as well? I own the DIP and am a little leery about adding another link to the chain. Suggestions….?

I have been very trusting when buying used gear (no reason not to be with 99% of the members at AudioGon) but would be very nervous about a product reselling at such a reduced price. I have a long ways to go before I can call my system complete; I just want my source gear on par with my other gear, and the Bel Canto, Chord or Kora would do that…and then some.

Look Ma, no politics here :p

Mdomnick,

I would recommend going straight from your source into
the Bel Canto... as you read it does have jitter reduction..
Im not sure about the Chord or Kora... I would guess that they do also.

You could always try your Monarchy in the chain. But i dont
think you would need it anymore.

you don't want circuitry that does jitter reduction. you want a transport that doesn't put out jitter. fix your problems at the source!

a great truism in audio is simplicity is good. simple = soundlabs (no x-overs), OTLs, and by all means, nothing in the signal path!

the entec dac is a killer at used prices (its @ 8 yrs old i think). circuitry by demian martin (spectral) and chassis by andy payor (rockport). i've seen 1 for sale in 1.5 yrs on this board. i bought mine from a guy who upgraded (?) to a lindemann...numerous parties think this dac is still better...and speaking as someone who used to own a BC 1.1, its not even close...all BCs (or any other dac's) upsampling jitter reduction whatever is not what makes great sound. all that shit makes is decent (non-offending) sound, but it will NEVER be accurate or world class (again, see law of simplicity).

and fwiw, a great front end doesn't really require system matching like amp-speaker, or pre-amp.

rhyno

Rhyno,

Maybe you can explain to us what the Entec does...
If it doesnt upsample or reduce jitter what does it
do? And please feel free to get as technical as you
can for us...
And what is the difference between a 1k CD with a good
DAC and a 5k CD player?

4 power supplies w/ proper shielding...that's a large part of it. digital (as well noted by bob crump) has the effect of self-polluting AC / DC. noise from the clock & the DACs has the very real effect of compromising sound elsewhere by noise going back into the transformer, and back into AC or into the other windings of the transformer (hard to believe, but true). ---this is why you see ric schultz of tweakaudio always put more power supplies in a mod.

excellent parts / board / layout. ---one cap in there is $75 (little teflon job). layout is impeccable. very! short signal path.

chassis by andy payor. almost(!) immune to vibration and external RFI / EMI. ---go kick a rockport antares if you dare...that's what the chassis to this dac feels like.

listening: i've heard it against the lindy, and i'll take the entec myself. the lindy is nice no question, but a little too sweet / rolled off for my liking. the entec (w/ mods by TG Audio) is voiced to sound like a rockport turntable (as that's what TG audio uses for vinyl). they got very close...

check the old reviews of components of merit by bound for sound.

rhyno