Question for all Crack/S.E.X. owners, what DAC are you using?
- Thread starter mcandmar
- Start date
PassionForSound
New member
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.
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.
mcandmar
New member
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.
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.
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) word clock and then into a Monarchy Audio NM-24 tube DAC 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.
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.
Oberst Oswald
New member
Stello DA-100
Bill Chase
New member
I use a Mytek 192.
Natural Sound
New member
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
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
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
