Help me with a fully balanced DAC


Hi all,

I am looking for either a cd player or a dac to mate with my new Stax Omega amplifier and 404 phones (the Omega phones will happen next year). This amp is fully balanced, and I'd like to keep the entire analog side balanced. There are a few fully balanced DACs, but they are pricey - and there must be more.. here is what I know of

Assemblage 3.1
MSB Platinum (the gold is balanced but doesn't have balanced outputs!)
BAT 5 (obviously)
Wadia
Levinson

How about something that I could get for $1500 used?

Thanks,
Adam
akimball

Showing 2 responses by cousindupree

Mark a 3rd vote for the Theta. No new info here except that the balanced Theta DS Pro Gen Va is a wonderful sounding d/a as is, but as a great design feature is fully upgradeable to any new versions (e.g. the fabled Gen VI) that become available. There's presently a 24/96 upgrade that's worth while.
Cornfedboy,
I'm curious about your assertion regarding the newest Theta DS Pro Gen X. I too had some concerns, but thought they had been answered. Please see the thread titled "Theta DS Pro Gen VI - update" from 11/02/01, which you happened to post to as well:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1004726565&openflup&4&4#4

The crux of the issue I raised was ultimately resolved by a post from another member who attributed a portion of the same post's content to Ed Deitemeier. Now Mr. Deitemeier is a recognized agent of Theta, and made, so long as the quote was accurate, a formal representation on behalf of Theta that unequivocally confirmed the upgrade path in question. The timing of the release was a little soft, but not the upgrade issue.

So, if the information you have is true, which BTW is consistent with what I was told by another Theta employee, then either Mr. Deitemeier is misrepresenting the situation or member Tkmetz is. I don't know where the truth lies, but as I see it your information and the statement attributed to Dietmeier by member Tkmetz are mutually exclusive. Let me very clearly make the point that I have no evidence or even suspicions about anyone mentioned above that would challenge their integrity–I'm making no judgments about those involved. I'm just stating that the posts' content are inconsistent. None of my observations are intended to be ad hominem or mean spirited. I’m confused and concerned. As a Theta DS Pro Gen Va owner I’d like an official confirmation.

I don’t understand what motivation Theta has for not disclosing this information publicly, unless the motivation is there but the personnel to make modifications to the web page aren’t (i.e. they’re too busy to mess around with their site). I love the D/A, and otherwise have exceptionally high opinions of Theta’s various business policies.

I realize that manufacturers don't like responding to these things, but a simple confirmation or announcement from Theta on their site would clear up a lot of its customers' apprehensions, and stabilize, if not bolster, the resale price on DS Pro's.

Does anybody else who’s a Theta stakeholder have any thoughts on this?