Coax to Optical Converters Anygood?

Just saw this and even though a bit late in the piece I thought I'd add my 2 bobs worth. I recently bought a dual core anti-mode. I love it and find it to be a very significant improvement as a DAC over a Musical Fidelity M1 and even my beloved CAL system 1. It is a very good DAC and the DSP room correction is brilliant (at least in my room). I overcame the limited digital input (single toslink) issue by using a Behringer SRC 2496 ultramatch pro (a real audio bargain although a bit ugly). It has three digital inputs (optical, RCA and aes/ebu). This works very well as an upsampler and I run my Teac VRDS 10 via an active digital RCA cable into it. In my opinion the upsampling improves the sound and the behringer allows me to plug my USB interface into the system via the optical input for HiRes computer audio (i don't use the usb input on the dspeaker). The dual core (with latest firmware) handles the 24 bit 96khz signal its optical input without any issues. One surprising thing (to me at least) is the quality of the ADC of the dual core. I am, at least for now, running my turntable via PS audio phono stage into the dual core too and it appears the benefit of the room correction outweighs the limited downside of the Analogue to digital conversion (I need to further evaluate this to see if this holds up in the long term). I wasn't expecting this when I bought the dual core as I was using the ps phono stage direct into my power amp (Leak St20) and loved the brilliant transparency this gave me.

Anyhow, after all this, my advice is use a behringer with the dual core and enjoy the improved sound from CD as well as providing extra inputs.

Hi Rodge827

You're welcome. I'm glad to have been helpful. There isn't much commentary out there on the www on the dual core as it's such a new product. I was drawn to it through reading a guest editorial in TAS by Robert Greene. He comments about the need to address room interactions to get the best out of any system, regardless of cost. I tend to agree after hearing a friends DEQX-based DSP active system that is very impressive.

Good luck with the Behringer. I look forward to hearing what your thoughts are when you get the D/C settled in and will email you.

I'm not familiar with the Buffalo dac.

The dual core ADC is good and i' m sure you are already aware, but be mindful in your comparison that your other DAC is also undergoing an extra round of digital to analogue conversion compared to the D/C!

Have fun

Cheers
Ginov

Hi Chris, I sent you a pm. Let me know here if it went astray.

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