|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 11:13:11 GMT -6
Post by Johnkenn on Dec 13, 2013 11:13:11 GMT -6
I got my hands on an Emotiva DC-1 DAC ($499!)...and I'm telling you, it is a serious piece of equipment. Been comparing it to my Symphony - which I've come to believe is hyped a little on top - and I have to say I might like it just as well. The Symphony might be a little more complex in the high mids - but maybe that's just saying it's a little more forward there. It's very much in the same league as the Symphony - and as far as listening to music, the Emotiva might be the more pleasing of the two. It has certainly gotten me thinking about replacing the Symphony...Maybe a Burl and then some piece that I could use to connect to the computer...
Any other experiences with different DAC's - even audiophile - that really blew you away?
|
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 12:00:48 GMT -6
Post by tonycamphd on Dec 13, 2013 12:00:48 GMT -6
black lion audio white sparrow...
Jk, you should give the ross martin a spin and let us know if we should buy one 8)
|
|
|
|
Post by Bob Olhsson on Dec 13, 2013 12:51:33 GMT -6
A great D to A (and A to D) stops you from trying to fix what ain't broke!
|
|
|
|
Post by cowboycoalminer on Dec 13, 2013 13:10:11 GMT -6
A great D to A (and A to D) stops you from trying to fix what ain't broke! This here might the truest saying I've ever read about conversion. I'd bet 2/3rds of that which gets tweaked in a mix doesn't need to be. Nothing is more rewarding than recording it right then leaving it alone. |
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 13:12:51 GMT -6
Post by cowboycoalminer on Dec 13, 2013 13:12:51 GMT -6
By the way, JK, any old interface will do for connecting the Burl (or other) converter. Somebody would probably give you an old Mbox that's in a closet.
|
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 13:25:31 GMT -6
Post by sozocaps on Dec 13, 2013 13:25:31 GMT -6
I like my Mini Dac... colored, puncy, but I like the presentation ALOT.
|
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 14:23:24 GMT -6
Post by Johnkenn on Dec 13, 2013 14:23:24 GMT -6
By the way, JK, any old interface will do for connecting the Burl (or other) converter. Somebody would probably give you an old Mbox that's in a closet. Yep - all I would need would be something that has an optical out to go to my Headphone cue system. |
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 14:27:33 GMT -6
Post by Johnkenn on Dec 13, 2013 14:27:33 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 14:33:26 GMT -6
Post by Johnkenn on Dec 13, 2013 14:33:26 GMT -6
Actually, I'd have to get something with an AES connection to connect the Burl. Ugh...not sure if it's worth the trouble.
|
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 14:37:20 GMT -6
Post by Johnkenn on Dec 13, 2013 14:37:20 GMT -6
Oh - wait...the Burl has SPDIF...Lust back on.
|
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 14:41:18 GMT -6
Post by popmann on Dec 13, 2013 14:41:18 GMT -6
By the way, JK, any old interface will do for connecting the Burl (or other) converter. Somebody would probably give you an old Mbox that's in a closet. Yep - all I would need would be something that has an optical out to go to my Headphone cue system. Actually, that gets trickier....because what you're asking is for an interface to use coax for input and optical for output. Which isn't standard issue. I don't know any 2ch AD (as opposed to DA) that uses optical ports. Just wanted to throw that in. It's the reason I am shopping for the two ch AD...is not about the system I have NOW...but, about the ability to get any $100 USB box with coax SPDIF and connect my (as yet unbought) AD for tracking and my Benchmark DAC1 for feeding the monitors and controlling their volume. Which brings me too...Benchmark. Changed my mixing for the better. For simply listening? Fine-better than cheapo players, but...My "audiophile" (hate that word) Oppo universal player/DAC sounds MUCH kinder on redbook audio. In fact, on it...the difference in 44.1 and 192khz (and everywhere in between) is truly subtle. Not so on the Benchmark. I here the jagged high end of 44, and can compensate. It's a philisophical difference-not unlike studio monitors versus speakers for listening. It's not about better/worse--they're two completely different use cases with two different goals. I was willing to pay for the Oppo because it makes my 2500 (?) CDs sound much better....it doesn't do DICK for my SACDs and DVDA, which sounded every bit as good on a decade old "then universal" Pioneer Elite optical drive. But, it allows for file playback, asynchronous DAC over USB (for a computer), AND DVDA and SACD AND makes redbook audio sound marvelous. Not to mention it allows digital attenuation of the DAC outputs, so new crushfests are killing the preamp they feed. Anyway-it's a mistake, IMO, to think that music playback for production and enjoyment take the same gear. In an ideal world where all music releases are done to audiophile standards...sure...but, that's not the reality of music recordings. |
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 14:49:58 GMT -6
Post by popmann on Dec 13, 2013 14:49:58 GMT -6
Oh - wait...the Burl has SPDIF...Lust back on. BTW...AES and SPDIF are mostly interchangeable for the purposes of a 2 ch unit and not a long cable run or grand interlocking digital clock set up...you would just need to find a RCA to XLR adapter. Almost all interfaces have a "consumer/professional" setting for the SPDIF...professional sets it to AES. Just saying...they're not really completely different standards. Larvy makes mention of the fact that all his AES units work as SPDIF with said adapter. There MAY be some situation I've not hit where that's not the case...but, it's not like ADAT and SPDIF and MADI are three completely different in compatible standards...coax (RCA jack) SPDIF and AES are like kissing cousins. |
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 15:00:56 GMT -6
Post by Johnkenn on Dec 13, 2013 15:00:56 GMT -6
Yep - all I would need would be something that has an optical out to go to my Headphone cue system. Actually, that gets trickier....because what you're asking is for an interface to use coax for input and optical for output. Which isn't standard issue. I don't know any 2ch AD (as opposed to DA) that uses optical ports. Not sure if I follow. I would need to go SPDIF OUT to the IN of - say - a Scarlet interface. Then SPDIF OUT of the Scarlet to the IN of the DAC. However, I would use the ADAT out of the Scarlet to go to the Hearback system. Several of the units I've used have worked fine that way (Hilo, Symphony), but I guess that would be a prerequisite. |
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 16:40:42 GMT -6
Post by popmann on Dec 13, 2013 16:40:42 GMT -6
Sorry--I see now the Hearback is ADAT...so, sure...I'm tracking, we were just discussing SPDIF and you threw in "optical", which can also carry spdif, but it's usually an either/or coax OR optical scenario...doesn't matter...it's ADAT, that's simultaneous in a lot of them--though, it should be noted my old Echo was either/or...and the Steinberg units have 8ch digital, so while you can do a TOTAL of 8 channels, you basically lose 2 on the ADAT side to use SPDIF...
You're fine...I didn't get that the HEarback was ADAT optical...not SPDIF optical.
|
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 16:50:49 GMT -6
Post by Johnkenn on Dec 13, 2013 16:50:49 GMT -6
Word...Popmann...you need a picture...
|
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 17:14:11 GMT -6
Post by popmann on Dec 13, 2013 17:14:11 GMT -6
Done...taken special just to go with my new title!! You can barely see the pony tail, though...I was gonna make a joke in the other thread about if you go to a "PurpleSite" function and need to identify BobO, he's the only one with longer hair than me.
|
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 17:18:54 GMT -6
Post by Johnkenn on Dec 13, 2013 17:18:54 GMT -6
Nice...
|
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 13, 2013 19:29:23 GMT -6
Post by Johnkenn on Dec 13, 2013 19:29:23 GMT -6
black lion audio white sparrow... Jk, you should give the ross martin a spin and let us know if we should buy one 8) I'd actually really like to hear the Black Lion DAC |
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 14, 2013 11:26:10 GMT -6
Post by Bob Olhsson on Dec 14, 2013 11:26:10 GMT -6
I have a Benchmark DAC-1 and am paranoid of replacing it because it reveals so many problems. The only gotcha with the original DAC-1 is that it wants to see a pretty high impedance load or it gets a bit cloudy sounding. This is why opinions about it are all over the map. I have their 4 channel A to D here too which is really good. Some other Benchmark users have included Doug Sax, Abbey Road mastering, Skywalker Ranch and Ken Love at MasterMix.
|
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 14, 2013 15:57:47 GMT -6
Post by popmann on Dec 14, 2013 15:57:47 GMT -6
And me.  Irony is, I mainly got it for the analog attenuator. I got it inexpensively used for less than a good monitor controller...and set up Cubase to do the mono collapse, dim, and switch to the little computer speakers...I really had no expectation it would be much of an "upgraded DA"-just certainly not worse and with a way to attenuate dynamically on the analog side like my old Akai did...mixes came quicker overnight. It also allowed an easy way to reverse engineer the Akai mixer--I fed Cubase and the Akai into the different ins of the Benchmark with the same tracks...moved and measured...played...etc...until I figured out how to dup the sound of that mixer in software. |
|
|
|
Post by scumbum on Dec 14, 2013 17:27:10 GMT -6
Get the Ross Martin DAC .
I just got mine today , it took I think 2 Months ??
Cost me like $260 and it sounds awesome !
Totally Mastering Grade DAC ......not that I've had many to compare , but with the Ross Martian you hear everything .
|
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 15, 2013 9:19:38 GMT -6
Post by lolo on Dec 15, 2013 9:19:38 GMT -6
If the Ross Martin DAC is as good as the Ross Martin ADC then it must be killer.
|
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 15, 2013 9:25:25 GMT -6
Post by lolo on Dec 15, 2013 9:25:25 GMT -6
By the way, JK, any old interface will do for connecting the Burl (or other) converter. Somebody would probably give you an old Mbox that's in a closet. Yep - all I would need would be something that has an optical out to go to my Headphone cue system. Just grab a steiny MR816 again. Perfect for this. 8 I/O, wc, spdif and adat. and a great reverb for tracking. these go for cheap 2nd hand, and it is a pretty solid interface. |
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 15, 2013 9:46:58 GMT -6
Post by Johnkenn on Dec 15, 2013 9:46:58 GMT -6
But it's Firewire...need the FW for my UAD...
|
|
|
|
DAC's
Dec 15, 2013 12:56:09 GMT -6
Post by cowboycoalminer on Dec 15, 2013 12:56:09 GMT -6
Doesn't the Ross Martin work in standalone via SPIDIF?
|
|
