Home Source Components

I didn't see this posted anywhere already, but when I saw "balanced I/O" I immediately checked the price...bit steep though at around 600 Euro yet doesn't have Firewire. The VGA plug break-out cable will make DIY dead easy though, and it's not recessed like the Duet's. From: RME Delivers Babyface Audio Interface

A couple of highly respected members here have reccomended the DEQ2496 as a DAC. I am very interested and would like to hear some other opinions on this cool piece of equipment. I also do some home recording and can see where some of its feautures would help me there. My main concern is how it would sound as a DAC. I understand that being pro-audio gear vs. audiophile gear that it will probably be a little more cold and anylitical. But paired with my Bijou amp which is very warm and lush, though it might make a good combo. Anybody have some comments or reccomondations. I am looking for a desktop DAC. It does not need to be portable in any way. I would like …

hi, any good recommendations for a good amp or tube amp with sub outs and hopefully a good headphone output as well? good synergy with vinyl? thanks

I need to get a new DAC after damaging my E-MU 0404 USB dac. There are nice new (used) DACs out there for about 200 euro, the E-MU, the V-DAC, and the cambridge audio DAC magic. But there are also vintage DACs, like this ADCOM 700 (that someone seems to have done some strange mods to) [ATTACH=CONFIG]2965[/ATTACH] or the Parasound D/AC 1000, or this Orelle DAC [ATTACH=CONFIG]2964[/ATTACH] What do you people think? Should I go vintage or almost new?

When I try to reproduce 24 bits 96Mhz files the sound just goes on and off and when I check the DacMagic the 96 Mhz mark Led is blinking, which normally stays fixed indicating the frequency is reproducing. This makes me wonder if the Dacmagic really supports this kind of files or its my computer.. I limited on the computer the frequency to 48mhz and plays just fine... Any guesses

First Listen: Wadia 151 PowerDAC mini | AVguide Seems to make quite a lot of sense for desktop/second systems.

https://www.mhsecure.com/mhdirect/product.php?productid=49&cat=0&page=1 Wow UNL-8 without mic pre amps for $4K great price and now for those that wanted a stripped down version here it is. I love my Sonic 305 (ULN- but this is $2 less and the dac section is absolutely world class.

I would like to use the Pico amp/dac as a DAC, connected to my powered computer speakers. I tried measuring output voltage by connecting one of my multimeter (set to AC voltage) to the 1/8" output and the other to ground (while playing 60Hz tone through the computer but having no headphones/speakers plugged in). I was getting readings that were really low when the volume was low and it got about to 2V on high gain about 3 o'clock. Does this seem correct (who knows if I was doing it right)? I decided to trying using it as a DAC with the volume at 12 o'clock and and the gain on high. There seems to be enough volume for listening at my desk. Is there a correct setting…

Possibly. Stereophile: Channel D Pure Vinyl

Cartridge reco's for Technics owners typically fall into the Denon MC camp for compliance matching, and classic sonics. However, the Ortofon Concorde integrated shell/cartridge presents some interesting potential usability/setup benefits. Anyone have any experience with KAB's custom hi-fi version: Thoughts on the general subject? Thoughts on which stylus is best (STY20/30/40)?

I am looking for measurements of the voltage out level of various sources, commercial and otherwise. Nominally, sources are "line level", but this turns out to be a term without a lot of real adherence. Consumer gear is said to be at -10dBV, which equates with ~0.316V RMS, but most sources seem to run hotter than that. Pro gear has a US standard (+4dBu or ~1.228V RMS which is 1.78dBV) and a German one (+6dBu, 1.55V RMS or 3.78dBV). Notice that V RMS, dBV, dBu, and dB are all different things -- you can convert between some of them at dB dBu dBFS dBV to volts conversion - calculator volt volts to dBu and dBV dB mW - convert dB volt convertor converter calculation onli…

I bought and returned a Yamaha S1800 universal player (that apparently does pure DSD) because it was a joke. The regular CD layers sent from my Mac over optical to my Monarchy 18B beat it in every way--I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Is there any SA-CD player under $1000 (used or new) that can do things with SA-CD (greater detail, more realism, bigger soundstage) that the aging Monarchy 18B can't do with CD? I'd really appreciate your recommendations. I'm quite pleased with the front end of my system--Gilmore Lite and the 650s.

Why does the Assemblage dac I just bought say 2.7 on the front faceplate and 2.6 on the back ? Which is it? 2.6 or 2.7 ? I'll use this thread to post impressions later as well ...as soon as I can get a couple power cords from monoprice.

I own an NM24 DAC by Monarchy Audio. This unit sports a tube dac, an ss dac, and a tube line stage and has been my main dac for about 19 months. So far I have been very satisfied and recently I was thinking of a way to further improve its performance. Thus I thought of getting the Monarchy DIP/Upsampler. The DIP/Upsampler Combo sells for $399 and its specs are ... Decodes 16 to 24 Bits Inputs: Opto, Coax, AES/EBU Balanced Outputs: Coax, AES/EBU Balanced Upsamples from 44.1 to 48 or 96 Khz (user selectable) Outputs 24 Bits Has anyone here used one? Thanks.

Have any of you Parasound DAC owners tried these ASE-Audiotuning "upgrades"? http://www.audiotuning.de/english/index.html?1-54-digital.html

I'm looking a few different options. I'm looking for a [redacted] that let's the [redacted] do the heavy lifting and retain its signature sound. So I guess the [redacted] has to be clean and [redacted]. I'm looking at the [redacted], [redacted], [redacted] and also the [redacted]. What are your thoughts on my selection?

Computer audio novice trying to figure out whether an interim set up would work: If I get a MacMini could I use the USB connection on an Oppo BDP-83SE as an external DAC? OPPO BDP-83 Special Edition Blu-ray Disc Player If not, is there another way to use the player as a DAC for computer based audio until I move to an external DAC?

Anyone know where I could buy just the transport/laser replacement for the SA-11S1? My Marantz SA-11s1 is out of warranty and now it stops playing many CD's and SACD's. The problem is intermittent and if I go through some voodoo magic spell I (turn off, turn on, open the tray, close the tray) can eventually get it to play the CD. Apparently there is something wrong with the transport/pick-up. Could be as simple as an allignment? but it looks like I can't open the unit up. Anyone have any experience troubleshooting this unit? Sound is fantastic when it works - but lately I feel like throwing it out the window.

This one, "Taralabs"... Native 24bit 96k USB to Spdif I2S Converter for DAC - eBay (item 270517709517 end time Feb-17-10 17:30:38 PST) ... but I read "Teralabs". Whatever, it does use the Tenor chip, like the Prodigy Cube I am using now, but it is a simpler desing (no DAC inside so no line outs and no headphone out) with the option of off-board power supply. I am happy with my unit (does native 24/96 and changes the sampling frequency on the fly with foobar) save for a problem with some 24/88'2 files (does not recognise the 88'2 fq). But "no drivers" makes me happy... Anyone to test it? Padam were you not looking for something like that?

Hi folks, some of my local head caser point me to this site [url=http://cplay.sourceforge.net/pmwiki.php]cMP

Hello every one Like you know I was asking alternatives for the rs1,silly me... but now I completely threw that out of the window(yeah mexican you were right), they are definitely a keeper and I can relate to those of you who have been offended by comparing the rs1 with a ms1:palm:. Some already may know from the chat but I will give the details for those who don't. So a "random" stranger borrowed me an DacMagic and right from the beginning of the first music I was totally blown away by the quality of the sound, uh the details ..the details.. I was speechless .. warm sound ..everything sounded so right, the soundstage before didn't exist exist with the rs1 and now…

I ordered one of these DACses and will post impressions, pics, and random musings here.

5.1 Headphone experience *Foobar configuration for all stereo music files* - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio Sorry if the H-Scroll is a little off here. I hope this isn't bad form for me to post in regards to a thread at Head Fi like this and someone else's work but I certainly give Graphicism at Head-Fi full credit for this and if he posts here under a different screen name than kudos. I wanted to post this here just to match notes with the regulars around here and see if anyone else has tried this and what they think of it up or down. I went into it skeptical just because I tend to be pretty leery about post processing an…

Hello The player turns it off itself during playing ..after10 minutes or a few hours. The green light on left turns to red. Goes back to green by pressing on load, play or forward. Sometimes it is able to load the cd and play music. Many times, it's locked in. No control with remote. Impossible to reach Alex who did mods on it.

Has anyone heard one in it's final form? I'm looking to get a phono preamp instead of using the Metric Halo ADC. I liked the early ss prototype and have always liked Craig's gear. Any thoughts would be appreciated.