Conference hips::uk_audioo

    sounds like an excellent idea to me as the pioneer LD player is
    supposed to make an excellent CD transport. I noticed that Russ Andrews
    (RATA) does his own version of this player with upgraded analogue
    section.
    
    Most DACS I've seen only seem to feature an electrical connection ,
    including my Kelvin DAC, but I think the Meridian and Micromega dacs
    have optical. I noticed an EMF Crystal DAC reviewed in last months HiFi
    World for circa #500 quid which wwas said to be rather good. I've also
    noticed that Pink Triangle are bringing out a cheaper version of the
    DeCapo DAC which is supposed to be something else. If you had an
    electrical connection you could borrow mine. A word of warning though,
    I found that some DACS simply don't work with certain players, they
    don't lock-on. it goes without saying to try any DACS with YOUR cd
    video player.

    I wasn't aware the DAC's had an elctrical connection - makes sense
    though. 
    
    The DAC I was considering was the QED Opto Digit with an
    optical input as well as electrical. It retails at circa �160 and has
    an optional PSU at �80. From what I understand, this is meant to be
    quite good. Anyone have one? 
    
    Really what I want to know is if I buy a DAC and use it as outlined,
    will it sound better than the Marantz CD52SE (�300)? After buying the
    DAC, the PSU and the Audioquest cable (total �340) it will be more
    expensive than the Marantz. I think what I'm really after is someone to
    say "God, it'll sound good!" :-)
    
    Dave
     

    impossible to say , but I would expect it to sound better as the
    quality of the pioneer transport is far better due to it having to
    spin-up large-heavy laserdiscs (that is what RATA says anyway).
    
    the QED DAC is supposed to sound very good and difficult to beat at
    under #500.
    
    I did'nt realise there was an optical Digit, i'm obviously not buying
    the right magazines.

    I suppose it's all down to listening to the various options. One thing,
    what does RATA stand for?
    
    Yes, there is an an Opto Digit. At �30 more than the normal Digit, it
    adds a Toslink optical connection, whatever that is. Any ideas?
    
    Thanks, Dave.
    

    It should be better! But remember you are trying to get away with as
    little money as possible for the DAC..............have you considered a
    2nd hand Meridian DAC? Robust, good sound and accepts a fairly wide
    range of transports.
    
    Just a hint about the 75ohn coaxial cable between the DAC and the
    Tranport........try different makes out and also the direction of the
    cable!!(I do not jest!)........I just bouaght an EAD DAC in the US and
    two StarightWire cables..........the expensive MagaLink($150) sounded
    terrible whilst its cheaper sibling($50) was just clear as a bell. I
    had assumed the arrows indicted signal
    direction...........nope.......around the other way it was no longer
    smeared anf muffled. 
    
    My layman's explanation is..............???.....no idea but believe it
    is not a minor difference. The silly thing is the cable is only
    carrying digits, not even analogue!
    
    The major cable players are SILTECH, AUDIOQUEST, STRAIGHTWIRE, XLO. BY
    BTW, we compared the EAD with the Cambridge3 single unit players's own
    DAC quite and improvement in the bass up to mid mid range but is it
    worth the money........I don't think so.
    
    Suck it and see and write us a report on your findings.
    
    I also asked this question earlier in the conference but had no takers,
    my present limited experience says you have to spend serious money on a
    serious DAC to get wild improvement eg Audiolab 8000DAC.
    
    Try the 2nd hand route,.....less to lose
    
    cheers fjeff
    
    IPS:I'll try my EAD out on my Sony MDP650 Laser unit next week...it
    goes thru" a Yamaha A1000 as well..........stay tuned

    It took a while to get back to this note ....but.....after many months
    of trying and other things.............
    
    I recommend buying a laser disk transport and putting it thru'  a DAC!
    A bit like turntables................the better transport improves
    inner detail, imaging, depth. The DAC is important but the transport
    seems to affect the above much much more! 
    
    A cheap transport won't be improved by a great DAC but a great
    transport sounds remarkable via a cheap DAC.
    
    you can email me anytime for further discussion.....I have tested EAD
    DAC and Laser Disc Transport, Sony LD transport, TEAC P500/D500,
    Pioneer PD75 cd player and the Cambridge Cd player as well as their
    DAC.
    
    cheers folks
    
    fjeff