2. digital
  3. 1251693219

New or Old DAC

I currently have an older Theta front end. Data ll transport & Chroma HDCD. I like it, even though it is old and discontinued. I would like to update my DAC first , I am looking for a Theta Pro Gen va. I know the sound of the older Theta stuff and like it. But, are there any newer DAC's out there in that $1K (used) price range that can really give an equal or better performance than the Pro Gen Va? Do the newer anti jitter (re-clocking) DACS fall into that price range?

thanks, mike
128x128mikedaniels

Showing 2 responses by pubul57

pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Isn't there a trial period with the Benchmark DACs? If so, it would be interesting to compare with your Theta.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
I spoke with Jerry Ozment, designer of Audio Logic DACs and other highly regarded DAC about 4 to 5 years ago. At the time, he felt it was unlikely that there would be any significant improvements in digital processing that would improve upon what was available then for Redbook. Now I have no idea if it is true or not, but I suspect he knows a thing or two about DACs and that was his take. He thought that improvements would be had on the analog output side of things. I know that newer is newer, and the market needs it, but it is possible that digital processing might have gotten as good as it was going to get a few years back, at least with the Redbook standard. Now, higher rez formats in the future, that is a different story altogether, where I do excpect we will see improvements on that front. Waiting for the day we can download most anything in super hi rez, and be done with silver discs, of any kind.
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