Should I get a new DAC?

[Kent10]

Hi All,

 

I am new to “high-end” audio but not to audio in general.  I own hundreds of CDs and LP’s and recently my dad gave me his “high-end” stereo.  It is old from the 90’s, however.  I just replaced the cartridge with a Linn Adikt and am looking at DACs wondering if I can improve the CD sound quality.  I am not necessarily disappointed with it but I often wonder how much better it can be.

 

I have the following components:

 

B&W Matrix 802 series 3 Speakers

Linn Basik Turntable with Akito Tonearm

Linn Adikt Cartridge

Bryston 4B Power Amplifier

Bryston 12B Pre-Amplifier

Museatex Melior DAC (Bitstream)

Museatex Melior FM Tuner

TEAC V - 8000S Stereo Cassette Deck

Sony 5 CD Changer CDP-CE375

VPI HW - 17 Record Cleaner

 

I am wondering if a new DAC will improve the sound of my CDs.  The Museatex Bitstream is from the 90’s and was never updated.  There were updates that could be done at the company for several hundred dollars.  These updates were supposed to make tremendous improvements so I thought I might get them done.  But then I considered a more modern DAC thinking they have probably come a long way.  Am I correct?

 

I have read so many reviews about the Gustard R26, almost all positive.  But I also considered the Denafrips Pontus II 12th which costs just a little more.  Most of my CDs are classical, in case that matters.  But I am enjoying the new system so much I plan on listening to many different types of music.  My LPs are mostly classical as well but with hundreds of jazz that my dad gave me. 

 

With the components I listed, would a Gustard R26 help my system?  I also realize I can use it for more than just my CDs such as streaming but haven’t explored those ways yet.

 

And then there are external clocks that I have been reading about which can make the Gustard R26 sound even better.  Worth it?  Maybe later.

 

If I find a used R26, should I consider it?  Any problems with older used models?  I should be able to update the firmware myself.

 

Thanks very much for any help.

 

Kent

 

[muon*]

Another DAC to consider is the new GIESELER AUDIO Kompakt II TDA1541A, yes it uses the old but famous TDA1541A chip, but Clay has done a great job with implementation and the sound is very good with plenty of detail, but with that very natural sound the chip is famous for.

 

About it here

Owners thread here

 

[Guest]

to the forum...

 

It all comes down to what you are prepared to spend, so what is your budget?

 

Are you looking to continue using CDs or will you look at ripping them?  And while streaming is not yet on your radar, you should factor that into your thinking.  As for clocks, yes, it can improve things, at the cost of complicating the setup?  You may have come across DDC (Digital to Digital Converter, e.g. Denafrips  Hermes), which will make things even more complicated!!!  Or go simple with a streamer/DAC which has digital inputs for your CD player (and bypass interconnect challenges between streamer & DAC, clocks etc..)

 

Apologies for so many questions, but they are some of the issues which you should be considering besides just changing DACs...

[Kent10]

Thanks, Ian.  I'll take a look at the TDA1540D DAC.

 

Snoop.  Thanks.  I have so many CD's that yes I plan on using them but plan on looking into streaming in the future.  I do belong to Spotify and listen to some on my computer.  If I can listen to those on the stereo then sound will be so much better.  I haven't looked into other services yet.  I know the R26 has a streamer but also realize I can do better with an external if I really like streaming to the stereo.  That will complicate things, yes.  If I like it enough and want to do better, I am willing to spend more to upgrade.

 

I wasn't planning to go above the $2000 US for a DAC but if I knew I would be getting a lot extra I might consider it.  So far from my reading the Gustard R26 seems to be the sweet spot.  In other words, only something a lot more expensive might get me a little more of something.  So I was thinking of the R26 and then upgrading from there such as with an external clock and now I have been reading about purple fuses, still researching that to see if that is a worthwhile upgrade.  And the rest of my system such as the speakers, while I know they are good ones, maybe I wouldn't be able to take advantage of a top of the line DAC costing $5000 - $10,000.  Might need new speakers then too? 

 

Thanks for the welcome and I appreciate your help.

[Guest]

Suggest you also explore the following streamer/DACs, all of which can take digital inputs.

Auralic Altair G1.1 , HifiRose RS250A, Matrix Audio Element i2, NAD C658

 

I am an advocate of simple setups, but I think I am swimming against the tide when you are thinking about external clocks etc..

[muon*]

4 hours ago, Kent10 said:

Thanks, Ian.  I'll take a look at the TDA1540D DAC.

 

Snoop.  Thanks.  I have so many CD's that yes I plan on using them but plan on looking into streaming in the future.  I do belong to Spotify and listen to some on my computer.  If I can listen to those on the stereo then sound will be so much better.  I haven't looked into other services yet.  I know the R26 has a streamer but also realize I can do better with an external if I really like streaming to the stereo.  That will complicate things, yes.  If I like it enough and want to do better, I am willing to spend more to upgrade.

 

I wasn't planning to go above the $2000 US for a DAC but if I knew I would be getting a lot extra I might consider it.  So far from my reading the Gustard R26 seems to be the sweet spot.  In other words, only something a lot more expensive might get me a little more of something.  So I was thinking of the R26 and then upgrading from there such as with an external clock and now I have been reading about purple fuses, still researching that to see if that is a worthwhile upgrade.  And the rest of my system such as the speakers, while I know they are good ones, maybe I wouldn't be able to take advantage of a top of the line DAC costing $5000 - $10,000.  Might need new speakers then too? 

 

Thanks for the welcome and I appreciate your help.

Ah, TDA1541A that is

 

I have a TDA1540D DAC, it was not a good as Clay's TDA1541A DAC.

 

I think TDA1541A is what you meant anyway.

 

[Kent10]

1 minute ago, muon* said:

Ah, TDA1541A that is

 

I have a TDA1540D DAC, it was not a good as Clay's TDA1541A DAC.

 

I think TDA1541A is what you meant anyway.

 

Oh yes.  Thanks.  I must have copied the model # from your specs rather than from your suggestion.

[Kent10]

28 minutes ago, Snoopy8 said:

Suggest you also explore the following streamer/DACs, all of which can take digital inputs.

Auralic Altair G1.1 , HifiRose RS250A, Matrix Audio Element i2, NAD C658

 

I am an advocate of simple setups, but I think I am swimming against the tide when you are thinking about external clocks etc..

Lots to review and think about.  Thanks.  I just watched this review.   The Auralic is a very nice all in one and favorably compared (as a DAC) with the Gustard R26.

 

Edited August 20, 2023 by Kent10

[muon*]

12 minutes ago, Kent10 said:

Oh yes.  Thanks.  I must have copied the model # from your specs rather than from your suggestion.

If I had the budget both would read the same

[Guest]

5 hours ago, Kent10 said:

Lots to review and think about.  Thanks.  I just watched this review.   The Auralic is a very nice all in one and favorably compared (as a DAC) with the Gustard R26.

 

I agree the Auralic Altair G1.1 is a good buy. I recommended the G1 to someone who had spent years trying to stitch together a streamer, DAC and interconnect (which is a lot harder than people realise, let alone admit!).

 

Do have an audition if you can...

[Kent10]

I have an update.  First of all, thanks for everyone’s suggestions.  I have been researching a lot more.  Then the Gustard R26 went on sale so with all the good reviews I decided to get it as an upgrade to the old DAC I have.  I was going to use it with my Sony CD player which is also old.  So someone recommended I get a new CD transport.  I started researching those and was very surprised to find out how important they are to the sound.  Here I thought they just spin the CD and the quality of sound was from the DAC.

 

I was all set to get the Cambridge Audio CXC Series 2 for about $600 US.  But I kept hearing about Jay’s Audio and how much better they were.  OK can I afford $2500 for the CDT2 MK3.  That would really be stretching it but oh the sound must be amazing.  I haven’t even bought it yet but was losing sleep trying to figure out how to pay for it and how to tell my wife.

 

Kept reading… The Jay’s Audio CDT3 MK3 for $5000 is way better yet.  I probably would never need to buy another transport and the CD’s would sound as close as can be to my LP’s.  So lost a lot of sleep last night deciding what to do but I think I am going to go for it.  Sell a few things not audio related to afford it.  The reviews are amazing and I must stop here.

 

I also bought the Synergistic Research Purple fuse for the R26.  Will take a lot of burn in like everything else but it is supposed to make a “substantial difference.”  One thing I wondered was the direction to install it.  The Gustard fuses and other brands have arrows but the SR does not.  They say to try it in both directions to see which is best.  I wonder if that will be obvious.  But I also wonder if the direction is so important for the SR fuse, wouldn’t it be for the other brands too.  I wonder if turning the original Gustard fuse around might improve some R26’s.  Then I wondered would an SR Purple installed in the “wrong” direction sound better than the ordinal Gustard installed in the correct direction.  Who knows?

 

The R26 has some sort of streaming so I can try it and perhaps in the future I will get into streaming more and get a dedicated streamer if the R26 is lacking.

 

I have emailed the Jay’s Audio distributor to make sure the R26 is compatible with the CDT3 MK3.  They have a list of tested DACs in their manual but the Gustards are not listed there.  Still waiting but perhaps someone here knows.  I would assume it would be fine but would like confirmation before spending the $5000.

 

Then I will have to figure out which is the best connection (DAC to transport) to use.  I2S?  I don’t know anything about it.  Is it just an HDMI cord?  Is that the best connection to use?  And should I get the best quality cable I can find?  I have seen some replace the power cord for the R26.  I wonder how important that is.  Will have to research more.

 

Thanks again!

 

[Guest]

On 20/08/2023 at 2:31 PM, Snoopy8 said:

Are you looking to continue using CDs or will you look at ripping them?  

I did ask about CDs right at the beginning.   Would have saved a few cycles and got to CD transports earlier!

 

24 minutes ago, Kent10 said:

Then I will have to figure out which is the best connection (DAC to transport) to use.  I2S?  I don’t know anything about it.  Is it just an HDMI cord?  Is that the best connection to use?  And should I get the best quality cable I can find? 

The best connection is i2S. While it uses a similar connector to HDMI, the cabling is slightly different.  And there are a few variations of i2S and you will need to research whether both boxes use or can be configured to use the same config. And cables matter.

[muon*]

Some makers use a different pin out for their i2s/HDMI connection, hopefully the Gustard's pin out is the same as the Jay's transport.

 

If they are compatible any HDMI cables will work

 

I'm using a discontinued new old stock ETI HDMI cable with my i2s/HDMI connection between my Chinese transport and DAC, don't have the budget for anything fancier and the ETI one seems pretty good compared to Belkin and what not.

[muon*]

11 minutes ago, Snoopy8 said:

The best connection is i2S. While it uses a similar connector to HDMI, the cabling is slightly different.

Only different as in dedicatedly made HDMI cables for i2s/HDMI will have less wires as only 5 are needed.

[Kent10]

The R26 and the CDT3 MK3

 

The R26 has all the usual digital inputs (optical, coaxial and USB) plus the least common AES and I2S via HDMI

 

The CDT3-MK3  Digital Output: COAX (RCA/BNC) 2v @ 75ohm ; AES/EBU 5V @110ohm

I2S Output: HDMI i2s LVDS, RJ45 i2s LVCMOS

[Guest]

1 hour ago, muon* said:

Some makers use a different pin out for their i2s/HDMI connection, hopefully the Gustard's pin out is the same as the Jay's transport.

@Kent10  unlike other digital connections which are standard, you need to check whether the i2S connections are compatible.  And yes, you should make the effort because i2S is significantly better...

[muon*]

"For what it's worth, the I2s on the Jay's CD2 MK3 is a perfect match to the Gustard X26 PRO."

 

Mentioned by someone here https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/gustard-r26

 

SO that's promising.

 

Edit: so anyone reading knows, i2s via HDMI is totally different to HDMI, with i2s via HDMI It's still i2s signal and not HDMI.

Edited August 24, 2023 by muon*

[muon*]

The Gustard i2s pin out is as so.

 

 

 

[Kent10]

Thanks guys.  Yes promising if the X26 pro is the same as the Jay's CDT2.

 

I found this on a CDT3 MK3 review.  “The I2S pin-out conforms to what Jay’s own DAC, Denafrips, Solo Audio, PS Audio and Singxer run.”   Source https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/jaysx2/

 

So now I need to find the pin-out of these to see if it matches the pin-out of the Gustard.  Still waiting to hear from Jay's Audio US distributor. 

[Kent10]

Wow 649 euros.  A lot are talking about this cable  https://www.tubulus.net/product/tubulus-concentus-i2s-cable/

 

This one more reasonable but how good is it.  I just started looking really and came across these  https://www.morrowaudio.com/products/hdmi-i2s-cable

[Kent10]

Have any of you seen or used this stabilizer?  https://forum.psaudio.com/t/jays-audio-the-flagship-cdt3-mk3/28543/68?page=6

 

Youtube review but I haven't watched it yet 

 

[muon*]

I haven't delved into pricey i2s/HDMI or HDMI cables, I use an ETI one that retailed for just over 100aud when retailed. Definitely better than Belkin and other ordinary ones.

 

You will need to research around what others say about the sound of various ones and see if any align with what you are looking for, so maybe you need to wait till you have the DAC and Transport first.

[muon*]

1 minute ago, Kent10 said:

Have any of you seen or used this stabilizer?  https://forum.psaudio.com/t/jays-audio-the-flagship-cdt3-mk3/28543/68?page=6

 

Youtube review but I haven't watched it yet 

 

That's used with the CDM4/19 mech that is fitted into the CDT2, the mech in the CDT3 is different being the CDPRO2-LF.

 

You would need to ask Jay's if It's suitable for the CDPRO2-LF.

 

Pricey CD Puck!

[muon*]

If it is compatible with the CDPRO2-LF see how much it costs through Jay's Audio, might be better pricing.

[Kent10]

Yes pricey puck.  Thanks Ian.  I seem to recall in my reading that it made a huge difference for someone with the CDT2 but someone said it wasn't needed for the CDT3.  Maybe the stabilization is already as good as it gets.