Bottlehead Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: mcandmar on October 23, 2013, 08:47:13 PM
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I'm really just looking for ideas here so i'm curious to hear what source everyone is using.
Also interested to hear from Vinyl junkies too..
Cheers,
Mark
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I was using an Audio-gd NFB-5.2 (now for sale if anyone's interested) which was great due to it's variable line-out.
I've now moved to a Matrix X-Sabre which is a musical implementation of the (in)famous ES9018 chip - often cold and analytically presented, but super detailed and musical in the X-Sabre setup - a perfect compliment to the Crack and S.E.X. It has actually brought the performance of the 2 amps closer together I think because the extra detail improves the Crack's sound.
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I use a Musical Fidelity V-DAC MkII for digital and Cambridge Audio 640P for vinyl. Eventually I want to build a Bottlehead Reduction.
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I use a Xiang Sheng DAC 01A. Very nice, has vacuum tube output. Cheap too - :)
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My main LP playing equipment ...
Me too! It was such a pain until I got this handy accessory!
Otherwise...Computer => SqueezeBox => Channel Islands DAC => Crack
Cheers,
Geary
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Bump for more options.. :)
I'm finding it very hard to find a direction to go looking for a DAC. My only reference is an ODAC which i bought because it was clearly a no brainer for the cost, and i really cannot fault it. I just want something that is neutral to output a line level signal with no bells or whistles or frills whatsoever. Finding something, and justifying something more expensive than the ODAC is proving very difficult. Unfortunately i don't have the option of listening to any other equipment to hear the difference in higher end DAC's. Or maybe that is a blessing in disguise..
I should probably just buy another ODAC, stuff it inside the S.E.X amp and call it a day.
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I don't think I would stuff any DAC inside the sex amp. There could be noise problems that would handicap the DAC and the S.E.X. amp. You might want to do what I am doing - waiting patiently on the Bottlehead DAC.
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I use a DIY Buffalo III DAC.
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My main LP playing equipment ...
Me too! It was such a pain until I got this handy accessory!
Otherwise...Computer => SqueezeBox => Channel Islands DAC => Crack
Cheers,
Geary
What is the cost of that accessory? :P
Computer - SqueezeBox - Emotiva XDA-1 - Crack.
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Owning two Cracks w/Speedball I use two different DACs with each system. For my System I, I first run my digital audio into a DIP Combo (http://www.monarchyaudio.com/DIP_Combo_Main_frame.htm (http://www.monarchyaudio.com/DIP_Combo_Main_frame.htm)) word clock and then into a Monarchy Audio NM-24 tube DAC http://www.monarchyaudio.com/NM24_Main_Frame.htm (http://www.monarchyaudio.com/NM24_Main_Frame.htm). The NM-24 is a lot of bang for the buck and is very easy to mod (mine was modded by the Monarchy.) I actually got both and a couple of SM-70 MK II mono blocks, and some other gear for building the Monarchy site. CC, the owner, is now a one man operation and just does the work as a retirement hobby. Anyone in the Bay area should look him up. He is a very gracious human being, and has more gear/components in his huge warehouse than he knows what to do with. I am sure he could supply any DIYer with any component that he/she needed. I always make it a point to spend a day or two with him when I visit SFO.
For my other system, it will become my BH system once I test the Foreplay III and the two Paramount's, I use a highly modded E-Mu 0404. I swapped out most of the caps and put better OP amps in it. There are a couple of things I still want to do with it, but for the money (even when purchased new) it is a decent DAC with USB, TOSLink and SPDIF capabilities. There are a couple now on eBay for as low as $50.
I use Amarra Symphony on both systems. A Macmini (Lion) drives one, and a MBP (Lion) the other.
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I use a DIY Buffalo III DAC.
Now that looks interesting, like a Lego kit for grown ups. Definitely going to do more research into this one..
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Computer - Squeezebox - Lite DAC modified by Pacific Valve (2x 6DJ8's) - Crack.
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Stello DA-100
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I use a Mytek 192.
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PSA PWD II
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Halide DAC HD. Really like the sound, fun to listen to. I think you can try one and send it back if it doesn't please you.
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I'm using a Micromega MyDAC while I wait for the bottlehead DAC.
http://www.micromega-hifi.com/en/products/my-range/mydac (http://www.micromega-hifi.com/en/products/my-range/mydac)
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I can heartily second the recommendation for the Halide DAC HD -- nothing at all you can mess with on that one -- even includes a very nice usb cable and interconnects -- extremely good tone and a real winner.
Also the MyDac, and iFi iDAC and especially with the iUSB and their twin headed usb cable, and if you're feeling a bit more flush, the Metrum Octave II -- very analog sound and nicely improved over the original, which was a really good dac too -- and you can probably find an original octave for a good price but you'll still need a good usb-spdif converter (but here I cannot recommend the Halide converter as it just falls way short of waht the octave can do.)
HTH,
Jim
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I really enjoy the sound through the MHDT Paradisea. Unfortunately it's no longer offered but it could turn up on Audiogon. It offers a nice, warm, non-fatiguing sound through the S.E.X.
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I really enjoy the sound through the MHDT Paradisea. Unfortunately it's no longer offered but it could turn up on Audiogon. It offers a nice, warm, non-fatiguing sound through the S.E.X.
Did you ever finish the Audio Note DAC 2.1 Level B you were building back in April?
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I love how everybody has a different suggestion that i have never heard of. No Sheeples here :)
Keep it coming...
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I built a SEX but gave it to my brother. I currently use a Stereomour with a really Shiity DAC. (Bifrost and I love it, but only have my Mac Pro's stock output to compare to it. It sounds worlds better than stock apple. Way seriously)
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I built a SEX but gave it to my brother. I currently use a Stereomour with a really Shiity DAC. (Bifrost and I love it, but only have my Mac Pro's stock output to compare to it. It sounds worlds better than stock apple. Way seriously)
I thought the Bifrost (especially with their upgrade option) was fairly highly regarded?
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When my Crack isn't being fed by my vinyl rig I have a NuForce icon udac-2. I really like it. I did a write up on it on my blog if you care to check it out.
http://hasafraker.com/post/3810968801/nuforce-icon-udac-2
To me it sounds very good, and was quite affordable, it's sharp looking, small footprint. Really no complaints at all. I took it to work and let a couple of my buddies listen to it and they were impressed with it as well.
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Great blog, hasafraker!
I particularly like the coffee content and that sweet looking Alfa!
You sound like my kind of dude! ;)
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Good god that Alfa is just pornographic. I always wanted to build a GTA replica out of a Junior with a twin webber 2.0 motor, but ended up restoring a 2002 instead. Close, but no cigar.
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New Crack/Speedball builder here and absolutely loving this thing :) Impatiently waiting for my Tung-Sol JAN-5998. Going to grab some new output caps and pot too.
I'm currently using an old Denon receiver as my DAC, which is surprisingly ok so far. I know the Crack deserves a much better DAC, so I've narrowed down my options to:
- Halide HD DAC
- Schitt Bifrost with upgrades
- Asus Xonar Essence One (watching a local one on Ebay that's going for cheap)
- Waiting for Bottlehead DAC
The convenience of the Halide is certainly appealing. My aim here is best bang-for-buck, just like the Crack.
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Arghh, a pic of an Alfa always makes me pine for my 69 GTV autocrosser. And on top of that the GTA has to be red like mine was. Nice blog! BTW, try Espresso Vivace Dolce beans.
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'61 alfa romeo giulietta spider veloce with 1440cc barrels and pistons..Lordy what a car!
I still dream about it on occasion.
Youth is definitely wasted on the young.