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What transport for my Birdland DAC?

I recently picked up a Birdland Odeon AG with the reclocker upgrade. I added this to my Nad C321i deck used as transport. Since I am commited to the source before upgrading my amp, I imagine I should look for a new trasport as well.
I have read a few past threads that deal with issues like power supplies and clock upgrades in the transport but over all, I haven't got a clue what to look for.
I need some reccomendations for a budget of say under a grand used.
My system is: Nad C321i as trans.;
Audio magic sorcerer digital cable;
Birdland Odeon AG w/upgrade;
Audio magic Excalibur IC;
Nad C370 used as main only;
GMA europas;
Thanks in advance. Scott
abbeydog
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
It is difficult to beat an old Sony DVP-S7700 transport with the right mods. The clock in this one is virtually jitter-free. Better than most new CDP's.
abbeydog OP
70 posts
 
Thanks for the responses guys. I will check into those options and do some research on others as well.
Thanks again for your input.
Scott
dubzilla
67 posts
 
Scott, Keep us posted! We have almost identical systems, and I'd like to hear what you've come up with.

Regards, Esfand
abbeydog OP
70 posts
 
Dubzilla,
Actually next I have StarSound products on the way (hello Warren). Audio points for the Dac to replace the gummy bearlike Panda feet that came with the Birdland.
Also the very thin almost waferlike points for between the spkeakers and stands. Should be interesting.
I believe you have a Birdland dac also a C370 nad right? If so, I would be very interested to know if you run straight in to the main on the amp (bypassing the preamp).
Huge difference in clarity and transparency and the only way to go in my experience here. What did you find?
Check your system posts for more.
Scott
bombaywalla's avatar
bombaywalla
1,958 posts
 
This might be only partially relevant 'cuz I have a completely diff. system than what is being discussed here. However, my CDP also has the option of going direct to the amp.
I played around for a couple weeks with direct to the amp vs. thru my tube pre. What I concluded was going thru the tube pre was significantly better than going direct. I get better bass definition, better midrange & more tuneful high freq. I had to open up my CDP & adjust down the output voltage quite a bit before I got this result.
When I was using the default factory setting even when connected direct to the amp, the dig. vol. control was hovering around 50 (out of 100). This meant that the amp had too much gain. The sound was OK direct & much better than thru the pre. The pre volume control was close to zero!
Reducing the output voltage range helped a lot. The direct sound is significantly upgraded but still a bit lean vs. the thru-the-pre sound. I suppose the tubes give the overall sound that tube character that is so much more appealing.
YMMV. FWIW. IMHO.
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