peanutbutterjam

Hi, someone at my area is selling his Theta DS-Pro Gen III DAC for $600, and the Wadia 12 DAC for $520. Any opinions on these 2 DACs? How would they compare with modern pieces of the that price? Thanks! Would love to hear some thoughts.

That was really one of the best reviews I've seen, and it has this air of sincerity that is so lacking mostly.

That's exactly what I thought too, but according to stereophile's Benchmark article, Stereophile: Benchmark DAC1 USB D/A processor & headphone amplifier What USB -> optical/coax SPDIF supports this (other than the empirical audio one)? I'm using a laptop which doesn't have any digital audio outs, so bascially USB is my only option.

Just curious, what is the technical aspects of this? Also how is it that most USB interfaces do not support any more than 16bit/48khz, but some few claim (e.g. Benchmark, BelCanto) claim that they can do 24bit/96kHz?

I guess it would make sense if Ray intended the user to put the PSU at the right of the amp. But that contradicts his efforts in making them stackable.

Hi guzziguy, I had exactly the same issue before with TOSLINK, though that was between my DAC and computer. My original cable had refused to lock in. I have since found another cable that works, and trying out some other cables from friends I can only conclude that there was some problem with the orginal cable, and thankfully not the jack on the DAC or com. Apparently the locking nub on the jack was too small. Hope yours turn out well too.

Is there any technical reason why it supposedly sounds better than foobar? From that site: There's a reason why foobar has a modular structure. I'm no programmer, but I doubt that guy is either. But heck its free to try.

I'm not too clear on this, but I read somewhere that the upsampling chip typically just adds in 8 extra bits of random data (for 16bit -> 24bit). Assuming this is true, this is why I thought it would be no different from using the DSP. I guess Wadia has some better algorithm than random?

Unfortunately that website only shows the 96kHz to 44.1kHz downsampling, is there anyway to make it show other rates? Does this plugin used in conjunction with a soundcard that supports the output sampling rate serve the same function as a upsampling chip/function?

About Vintage DACs, anyone heard of the Forte F50? I saw some ppl saying its good, but it practically didn't exist on the net.

Ok my bad I got it wrong then. Sorry for the confusion OP.

Um while this is definitely correct, I think that the term more describes the burson and audio-gd products. The term op-amp and discrete are quite an oxymoron, because opamp refers to the chip, and you can't have a discrete chip. So when ppl use the term "discrete opamp", I guess there are really saying "discrete replacement for an opamp chip", i.e. the burson and audio-gd products. Hope this helps.

Hey bro, let me put it this way. I don't believe in bashing ppl, even if their post sound extremely silly. I am just disappointed. I think the PS Digital Link DAC is very promising, heck that's why I asked about it. Ryan was then nice enough to come along and posted a link for that promotion. Of course I'm excited. And any review that comes out about it would command my attention. I don't place any bias on ppl, so I was prepared to read it even if its by you. Then you came along and posted that thing. Now I'm forced to take positive comments from your review with a pinch of salt, while giving greater weight the negetive ones. In short, instead of looking forward to a nice review by you which I can pretend to be balanced, I am now given a review that only allows me to decide whether the PS DL3 sucks or not, and NOT whether its good or not. Nothing against you, just disappointed.

How did you come to this conclusion? Which $5k DAC are you talking about? No offense here but what is the point of your post? This doesn't seem to lend your future impressions any weight at all. Maybe I'm the one who is reading this wrongly and talking too much. If this is so, may the mods kindly delete this. Regards.

Hi, I've been looking for some speakers for a while. And these popped out. However, my main 2 concerns are: 1. Lifespan. Apparently from what I've read, these speakers don't last long, with the delamination and whatsoever other issues. Frankly I don't know anything about them, but I was just concerned after reading through all the searches that popped out regarding issues with old planars. So how bad is it really? As in, does it really spoil so easily, and require high maintainance? And if so, is it easily repairable? 2. Performance. Now I know this is touchy, but while I've seen some great raving reviews about them, apparently there are some serious haters too. While I'm not surprised, since for everything there are their fan clubs and hate clubs, these ppl have pointed out flabby bass and what's not, but just REFUSE to give a comparison (i.e. bloated compared to what?). So in the more neutral opinion of ppl here, how does the maggies compare to other speakers of the price range? The seller is asking for $435 neg, which from a quick search seem to be quite an ok price (pls do let me know your experienced opinion though), but the condition is not great. The seller claims that its sonically fine, but says it "needs a glue job", whatever that means. I'll have to call him later, but assuming that this glue job is purely cosmetic, should I grab 'em? Thanks!

x2. I've gone one circle and no matter where I go, its back to my trusty first set of IEMs, ER-4. The bass punch is ok for me, though you definitely need to get a good seal to get any bass at all. Clarity is unrivaled. In fact I've liked them so much and am so sure that no other IEM will ever entice me again that I've went ahead and got some custom moulds for them. Definitely a small boost in seal and a large one in comfort. Well I'm new too, and i've got v nice suggestions from many ppl here, so go figure.

Its just hilarious. I find myself looking at the model the way someone would study a butterfly.

It was quite decent sounding at first, until the mention of "conservative white panties" (Ironically nothing conservative at all about the discussion of conservative underwear ) I guess this also illustrates another very good point, one man's meat is another's poison. Its worse than reading testimonials some times. You'd have to shift the positivity scale of the language drastically. Totally agree. Which is why I generally don't even bother reading through such reviews in a detailed fashion. I would certainly still read them, but its more for the discussion in matching or the rare comparisons, and I would breeze through all the nice descriptions about how his ears were tamed. Generally not too fruitful. Forums definitely give a better picture, if one screens properly through the fan clubs, etc.

Wow I think that would require an entire physics and engineering course. But well how about this: Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits (4th Edition): Paul R. Gray, Paul J. Hurst, Stephen H. Lewis, Robert G. Meyer Frankly I haven't read it since I haven't found the time but someone did recommend it to me. There's really a ton of material out if you're really interested in engineering.

Hi Icarium, could you share more about this? I don't have much experience with DACs, and am looking for one around this range (<1+k). Thanks for your input Ryan. I think the guy was trying to rip me off, considering the promotional price of the UL3. I think this question was excellently phrased. Friends have recommended me vintage equipment when I was looking for a budget amp, but when it comes to DACs and CDPs they seem to be pretty divided on this. The general consensus seem to be that there was definitely improvement on DAC technology over the last decade, but the question is what KIND of improvement is it exactly? Is it simply improvements to handle newer formats, or improvements in manufacturing technology to make the same thing smaller and cheaper, all of which are improvements which are at best controversial, or is it really a definite step forward in audio reproduction, e.g. jitter issues, etc? Hope this accurately summerises the point. Perhaps Ryan could shed some light on this? Thanks guys for the very informative inputs thus far.

Hmm I see. Unfortunately I have never heard the Jolida 100 so I can't really draw any conclusion... That vendor is asking for $550, would this be too much? I'm a bit hesitant because I don't know its value on the resale market if I decide that it isn't for me.

Hi, does anyone know what this is worth and how's its performance? I'm looking for a DAC, and this popped out. But a quick search turned up the newer models, I think this one is a very old model (I'm assuming the first). It has balanced outputs which is nice, but I was wondering about its performance... Thanks for your help HC!

Wud, I thought it sounded more like the Senn HD600. In any case you should mod it for best effects. How much was it? I can't find the auction.

Haha now THAT would be cool Hey can I check, that PSU is it the same as the one inside the com? This looks really interesting, cause I also have a CDrom drive and a PSU at hand. Has anyone tried this kit? I'm a bit hesistant cause I'm just getting started on electronics and it would be great to have someone to ask if I screw up This doesn't look too complicated so i'm hoping its not more than I can chew on.

Hm this is interesting, I'm guessing this is the answer: Quote from FS CDROM Controller - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio Hi swistak, the format of digital output is TTL . Because all the CD-ROM only provides TTL digital signal derectlly from the rear panel. But you can translate the TTL to SPDIF easilly, just add 3 passive resistors and capacitors. I wrote the circuit in my USER MANUAL for this CD-ROM controller, send me an email if you interest /quote That kit looks particularly interesting. Seems like you only need the kit and PSU and CDrom drive and that circuit to make a transport.