Home Source Components

Well I just sold off all my old stuff and I am without a system and have a handful of cash. My budget is $1000. I am considering these: 1. a new Lavry DA10 - $975 2. a used, modded Benchmark DAC1 - $825 AudiogoN ForSale: Benchmark DAC1 silver 3. A modded bel canto DAC2+ - $750 on head-fi here: FS: bel canto DAC2+ (Legendary Edwood balanced mod) - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio 4. A used, unmodded Benchmark DAC1 - $760 AudiogoN ForSale: Benchmark dac1 blk non-usb 5. Other suggestions? thank you! I was really leaning to the Lavry for a while but now I am not quite sure. Tell me what you think.

I did promise some internal pics a long time ago but here they finally are. I did manage to fuck up the shots of the other side of the board so only the top part shown. The SR-X Mk3 Pro used to show just how tiny this DAC is. Not that many parts used but the quality is very high indeed.

About three or four years ago, I laid eyes on this cute(at that time) disc transport and thought of how expensive and useless it was- yet there was something in me that yearned for it ever since. I finally found a mint one in original box with remote and literature and could no longer resist finishing my digital rig. The thing is not cute. It is much bigger than I had ever imagined. It was made before I began middle school. It is just shy of 15 lbs, and is about 14" wide, 6" high, and 9.75" deep. The front panel is clean, with power button, red fluorescent display and buttons made of "flexible aluminum membrane." The controls are very unique feeling. They are li…

Ok, after the wife of all people told me to get the records and turntable out, not used since the 80's... here is where we stand, remember this was bought on a high school/college student budget... Technics SL-D3 mechanically still works Cartridge: ADC PSX-30 stylus is slightly bent Denon 3806 Receiver has phono input (MM type?) Where do I start to get going fast, and get the most improvement for the least $$ ?? I am thinking a new cartridge may be the first step.... Suggestions?? New name (analPete??)

So I finally have space for my TT, and I have my Denon DL-103 all set up, but I have no phono pre! If there's a really really good option for $500 that kills everything under I'll go over budget, but otherwise I'd rather not. Any suggestions?

I'm new to head case so take it easy on me folks. I've read a bunch of posts and it seems like a great place to call home! I think I'm going to buy the TTVKJ/Millet 307A tomorrow having never heard it but having done my homework and knowing that I have Todd's permission to take a 30 day trial and his guarantee that there's no chance I'll return it. I'm looking for something full, involving, resolving well so many of the things said already in this thread. I primarily listen to accousitc music emphasizing voice and guitar (Did someone mention Sam Phillips and "Fan Dance?" That's a perfect example!) and jazz, and I want to experience all the life in the music as well …

My apl denon 3910 arrived today, early impressions are extremely positive, it might be the best digital I've heard. I've attached some pics, including some internal shots. Some of the pcb and parts added are mounted in what I'd call a questionable fashion using some sort of epoxy looking material. It does sound really fantastic though.

Finally got it

Headamp Pico vs. Headroom Single-Ended Desktop with DAC Surely someone has had the opportunity to do a shoot out between these two, or has heard both and has a firm enough memory to compare them? Though I don't really have a practical use for either of them, these all in one headphone-centric units just fascinate me.

Fungi!! Anyone know what's so new about this? SE-200PCI LTD All I know is that it is similar to the SE-200PCI and it is limited edition.

From reading the WTB: PS1 thread, I did a little research and found out that people like the sound from the PS1. I even found this... Dynavox Dynastation Dynavox Dynastation 2 Is it me or is this rediculous? A $6000 CDP based on the PS1 system? Does anything justify the price? What is so appealing about the PS1 sound anyways? pic of the dynastation

Has anyone ever built and/or heard one of these? It looks pretty interesting to me, having transformer coupled output and all.

Anyone tried this transformer coupled DAC?? Audiomagus - high end not high priced audio products Should I get it and add an amp like CKKIII or SOHA II over Pico?

Now that both the Wavelength Cosecant USB DAC v3 (now with ASYNC mode) and the Benchmark USB DAC 1 and DAC 1-PRE support 24-bit audio at sample rates up to 96 kHz without the installation of any drivers or other special software. I am having a hard time choosing between them. My primary headphones are the Ultrasone UE 9 and the Grado GS 1000. Has anyone out there heard both side to side at any of the meets??? Are there specific advantages of one over the other? Why did Benchmark choose not to implement the asynchronous mode of USB ? Is this really a better way to go? There is a big price diff between the two and the Benchmark gives you a preamp and headphone amps to…

I'm contemplating picking up a Transporter (which I can get a discount on), but would consider other options up to $1400 (to then use with a Squeezebox). All my music is streamed and it would be to the Extreme Platinum and/or srm-007t in my sig. Any other DACs you would recommend? Had the DA10 recently, and while I liked its signature, looking for something new.

Continuation from THIS thread. Thanks! The noise floor/pops/clicks has nothing to do with the actual rig. The noise floor/pops/clicks mainly depend on your cart and the quality of the vinyl. The vinyl in this case was good at best. FAR from mint. I have to go out right now, but later I will post some examples of mint vinyl on a very high-end rig and some cheap poor man's rig. One clip was transferred on an $18,000.00 turntable. One was done on a used $35.00 turntable and $80.00 cart. The others were transferred on complete rigs that cost $2,000.00 at most. Which is which? All of the vinyl was either mint or near mint. This is why I think some vin…

DAC1 PRE - Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. I have never heard a DAC1, and I get the impression that they are generally frowned upon here at Head-Case, while the rest of the audio world seems to be impressed. The review of the new Benchmark DAC1 PRE in the most recent Hi-Fi news was nothing short of glowing. Ken Kessler couldn't seem to find enough good things to say about this unit, including that it made one recording "...sound as lush and room-filling as a mint original vinyl pressing." So anyone heard one of these? Its level of functionality truly is enticing at its price tag of $1575.

Stereophile blog entry Google

I'll put up unresized images either when I can access my FTP or when Head-Case makes the switch to the new forum software.

As promised here are some pics of the first reference level CDP Sony ever made, well one half of it. Released in 1987 it's built to a standard Sony can only dream off today with solid copper panels and huge transformers for it's meager 25w draw.

Yes, no, maybe?

Well my Northstar M192 MKII arrived today, took a little while to start using it though as I was having problems with my Squeezebox. So for now I'm using it with the EMU 0404 USB via foobar and ASIO output. I'm using the rca outputs till my new balanced cables from Nate arrive . I'll post pics later but here's some early impressions: detail retrival is good resolution and extension are very good tonality seems pretty accurate soundstage (especially depth) are excellent That's about it for now I'll add more as time goes on. Hi-rez pics here 1280x1024 pics are attached below

http://www.dagogo.com/CambridgeAzur840C.html "That

I'm considering getting a cheap cd player/transport so I can conveniently put on discs without the need to rip them first. I would be feeding (probably) the toslink to my miniDAC and from there balanced out to my Beta22. The player would need to sound at least as good as the ripped CD's do when fed from my H120s' toslink out. The player doesn't need to be portable and the only format it will need to play are redbook standard CD's. I've tried using my cheap technics system but that is thin and tinny compared to my H120. Are there players that fit this bill ? I will be saving up for a Cambridge Audio 840C in my future but as this will likely take until the winter…

http://www.musicdirect.com/product/73106 Am I correct in assuming that I can connect a turntable and headphones to this phono amp and be able to use it without my reciever connected? If so, what are your opinions of it based on sq or value, or is there someting better that would allow me to do the same thing. I do wish it was MC instead of MM but oh well. I have an old Dual 721 that I wouldn't mind moving to my office, but really don't want to have to deal with the reciever and speakers in there also. Thanks