Any better DAC then dCS Scarlatti?

A question I can relate to...

I am currently assessing whether any of the ensuing will make a compelling, non trivial, semi-rational upgrade to my current dCS Delius

1. dCS Scarlatti
2. Esoteric D03 or D01
3. EMM Labs XDS1
4. Playback Designs MPS-5
5. Stahltek Vivian
6. Boulder 1021 inclusive new Ethernet connectivity...

or whether we're into the realm of infinitesimal gains....

Classic - many thanks for your views, quite useful to get impressions of the DAC's from someone with actual exposure...and no skin in the game.

Piqued my curiousity though...why so many DACs on hand?

Pubul57....I suspect you are right, but to quote the Troggs: "I wanna know for sure"...

Suffice I am auditioning the MPS5 next week.

Am definitely mid mulling when it comes to the next upgrade. It is an interesting problem to have...where should one focus about $30k...

1. Avalon TIME (currently have Indras)
2. DAC – as above.
3. Interconnects, Cables, Power Chords (e.g: MIT Oracle), FINITE stands
4. Mixture of 2 and 3 to budget

And it is far from easy to assemble the foregoing to audition in my system to validate the extent of difference....

Cheers!

Classicjazz - I am using Spectral monoblocks (DMA360v2) and preamp (DMC30SS); they should be able to step up to the challenge of driving the TIME.

Appreciate your perspectives on the DAC choices - intriguing to see the state of the art approached from rather different (as you describe orthogonal) vantages.

Thanks again.

RTN1 - Appreciate the line of reasoning from a fellow Avalon owner. Only real concern I've got with the TIME is whether they will be too much speaker for my smallish listening room (13 x 13 x 9)....but increasingly leaning in this direction.

Classic - excellent idea.

Had begun to consider something similar basis this post: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/Room-Correction-without-downside

but will look into the XTZ as well.

Much appreciate the pointer/headsup

Pure - curious, how could you isolate the Scarlatti form the rest of the system and room?

Rtn1 - Sound advice (no pun)...and have made contact with Avalon. Such also prompted me to get exact on the dimensions. Usefully, the listening room box is somewhat larger than I had thought : 17ft x 13 x 8 (LxWxH). The Indras currently sit 2ft into the room, 3ft off the side walls, with the primary listening position about 8 ft from the speaker face. At least to my ears, this works. Am quite curious as to what a room analyzer will indicate.

Thanks again.

Perrew - Tak for det. Min dansk er bestemt rustne, saa vil skift to engelsk...

My ambition is to control the variables such that I can isolate the DAC in question. We shall see whether such is feasible - as already noted, securing each DAC for home audition is proving non trivial.

Am intrigued by the APL but wonder if it is "Retail" ready, that is: debugged, robust, serviceable. These are characteristics ancillary to the sonic virtues but essential if a piece of kit is to prove (relatively) carefree.

To be fair such is a concern I've about several pieces on my list: MPS-5, EMM XDS1, Stahl Tek, and for the Boulder its ethernet capability.

I will touch base with APL and see whether they can oblige with a demo unit.

RTN1 - Spoke with Avalon and indeed the Indra is probably the appropriate size for my room. So mine shall stay until I get a bigger room.

Did ask about an Indra Diamond though, that's a definite maybe on that one....

So shifting to the DAC arena, one I am curious about - that receives remarkably little comment here - is the Esoteric D01 DAC...

Any one auditioned a pair? Bueller?....

Rainer - Does GTE have distributorship in the US?

Also you are presuming the Scarlatti as the standard...

Can you place the Esoteric D1 vs the GTE?

Rainer - appreciate the update on the Trinity, but alas no indication of whether they will/may/do come Stateside....
At somewhere between $40 and $68k - best pricing indications I've found online for the Trinity - they should be defining the pinnacle....that's ~twice to thrice the Scarlatti DAC. As the asymptote runs...

Shifting gears...I've had the Esoteric D3 and Playback Designs MPS5 on audition this weekend. First off, there is a clear, substantive positive difference between these two and my current dCS Delius - in MY SYSTEM AND ROOM (YMMV). The gains in imaging, placement, depth of soundstage are apparent and to my surprise non trivial. Player seating positions both forward/aft and side to side are decidedly more defined. This was particularly apparent on Carla Lother's "Far Away" [100 Lovers, Chesky records 24/96, foobar, lynx AES16, CARDAS HD26 to AES-EBU Dual Wire]. As for which is better or worse between the Playback and Esoteric, ahh neither. I now appreciate what Classic was referring to when he said "orthogonal". These DAC's accentuate different attributes in replay. For me, and again somewhat unexpectedly, I preferred the Esoteric. This reflects the premium I place on holography, an area I perceive the D3 shading the MPS5 as a DAC.

I did take the chance to spin a few SACD's on the MPS5 - a no cost option with the Playback Designs, if you will ;-) - and it rather underscores the strong relative value this player represents. Such an option with Esoteric is another $17k (the P3)... Suffice that if you were looking for a single box solution with DAC/SACD/CD capability, the PD makes a very strong case for itself. Remarkable.