DAC recommendations for CDs in 2-channel system

Your "crappy" CD transport will do fine, as long as you add a good reclocker and a good S/PDIF cable. Then the disk does not matter, the transport does not matter.

Driving a new DAC with the stock transport will be disappointing IMO, no matter what you get, except maybe Benchmark DAC3. Too much jitter from the transport. Here is typical jitter from a transport, even a decent one:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=154408.0

The other advantage of the Synchro-Mesh reclocker is it upsamples to 24/96, so a better sounding digital filter will be used in the new DAC. IT also provides galvanic isolation, so the transport to DAC ground-loop is eliminated, lowering the noise floor.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

The nice thing about something like an Oppo 205 is that you get a better transport and don't have to deal with jitter reduction or digital interconnects and that potential added expense.

In your dreams.  It still benefits greatly from reclocking and good cables.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

some questions, since you're covering topics I don't know much about:

- Whose filter and what method of filtering is used on the Synchro-Mesh reclocker?

It is not a filter.  It converts S/PDIF to I2S and then this is reclocked/upsampled to 24/96 and then converted from I2S back to S/PDIF.

- Do some DACs not play well with certain reclockers? I'm wondering about the upsampling feature and what to do if the DAC is doing the same thing.

There are no incompatibility concerns.  However there are a couple of DACs out there that will probably not benefit from the Synchro-Mesh because they already have very effective reclocking internal, including the Benchmark DAC3.

- Why S/PDIF cable instead of Toslink from the CD player/transport to the DAC?

Finally, how much improvement am I likely to see from this approach vs. simply upgrading the DAC or using an Oppo multidisc player? The setup in my room is less than optimal - all of gear I mentioned in jammed into my 12' x 10' home office with wood floors, which I'm sure vibrate since the rack sits two feet directly in front of one of the Cornwalls.

The room will not have that much effect on the spectral response, only the imaging and bass.

Upgrading the DAC will not make a huge difference unless you spend maybe $8-10K.  The Oppo player will have high jitter compared to the Synchro-Mesh, so even a better DAC will likely not sound that much better.  You need to start with a low-jitter signal before you listen to any new DACs anyway. The low-jitter signal will improve the sound quality of all DACs, and allow you to compare their analog and filter sections rather than just hearing the jitter from your transport.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

my preamp (Odyssey Audio Tempest) has only analog RCA inputs. Reading the Six Moons review of your device (congrats, btw), it appears your device has only digital inputs and outputs. Will analog output from the DAC to the preamp reduce the performance gains of the Synchro-Mesh?

No.  The analog signal from the DAC will be improved by having lower distortion.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

My short list of competitors DACs includes: Chord DAVE, Resonnessence Invicta or Mirus Signature Pro, Light Harmonic DaVinci MKII, TotalDAC, Aqua LaScala MKII.

On a budget: Border Patrol, Exogal Comet Plus, PSAudio Directstream

Steve N.

Empirical Audio

From the review:

"the $5,000 to $15,000 range is somewhat vacant. A few boxes come to mind, but they are mostly DACs. Simaudio’s 780D is exceptional at $15k, but it doesn’t play shiny discs."

Here’s something in that range, even better:

Overdrive SX DAC - $10,995-$12,995

Oppo Transport - $1200

Synchro-Mesh reclocker - $599

Total - $12,794 - $14,794

https://www.audiostream.com/content/empirical-audio-overdrive-sx-ethernet-dacpre

Unlike the PSAudio DAC, the ODSX has Ethernet input for the best sound quality.

Jitter from the Oppo with the Synchro-Mesh is ~20psec:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=154408.0

IMO, It’s a big mistake to spend a lot on a transport that you could put towards a better DAC. It is relatively inexpensive to transform a decent transport into a world-class transport.

Steve N.

Empirical Audio