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Another What "DAC" Would Be Good for CD OPT Output Use.

I have been around long enough on forums to know that the same old tired question comes up depending on what kind of forum your on. So first let me say thank you in advance for taking up digital space on this section.

Short and sweet. I just picked up a new Yamaha CD 603 CD Carisel Player. It has an OPT output as well as Analog. I know there are much better DAC's, but having been in the Pro Audio Business and Worked for Yamaha Repairing there Pro Audio Large Format Mixing consoles, I like there Quality.

 

Here's the info I would like from the experts here. I would like to add a higher quality DAC to the Audio chain thru the OPT output of the Yamaha. I don't need a 5 Bazillion dollar DAC but one inline with the $600.00 price of the Yamaha CD

So...What price range would you suggest as well as Make and Model.

The Playback system consists of a Marantz 3300 Preamp Driving a Marantz model 250 Power Amp for Hig 's and Mids and a Marantz Model 500 Power Amp Driving the Lows. There is also a Marantz Model 150 tuner in the system.

 

The Speakers are 4 Electro Voice Sentry III Floor standing speakers. Two Per Side. One turned upside-down on top of the other so that the two horns mate in the center. So that's 4 15" Lows 4 120* tweeters and 4 120* Sectoral Mid Horns

 

Thanks In Advance.

Mark R

mrkrichman
ntpc4
44 posts
 

Since all your ’sugar and spice, and everything nice’ will come downstream from the DAC in your Marantz preamps and amps, I would suggest keeping things simple and accurate. With that in mind, an SMSL SU-1 with an iFi SIlentPower iPower 2 5V/2.5A PSU for ~$150 can’t be beat for twice the price. Enjoy!

mrkrichman OP
39 posts
 

Thanks ntpc4,

Love those graphs on the SMSL-SU-1....Very inexpensive Nice...Thank You.

Also I have a Large Furman Power Conditioner With Power display and Outlets to feed the Marantz Gear also a Triplett Surge protector that feeds the Furman. 

Dac's have come a Long way from the built in units in CD players. Prices even at the low range look promising in regards to sound. Some of these new chipsets and designs by different mfg's are interesting. Watching "Cheap Audio Man" On YT he did a cheap to expensive thing on DAC's. One unit which I can't remember now had a Dac Chip set for the Left Channel and one for the Right thought that was kinda Inventive. 

davetherave11
20 posts
 

My experience in upgrading a CD playback system was that the transport can be the limiting factor, especially with a carousel design. Back in the day, I had a Denon carousel with a digital RCA output. I connected to a Muse outboard DAC and heard no difference between the on-board Denon DAC and the Muse. When I upgraded my transport time and again, culminating in a Theta Jade, I could always hear the improvement. 

O

 

mrkrichman OP
39 posts
 

I have two Technics 5 disc carousel players. One in the repair in shop in my home and one in the main system. I ordered in a Yamaha CD-C603 Single disc player. After some research on this unit I bought one. I have not hooked it up yet . But I did watch a Video about the unit.

They have this thing called "PURE DIRECT" if your running analog out, it turns off the display and only a minimum number of indicators will be lit. It's suppose to reduce noise in the analog output chain. However.. If your Light Pipe is connected that is turned off. Sort of Backwards but since the internal DAC is on the signal should improve in the analog mode.

Since I worked for Yamaha Pro Audio Division in the Mixing Console repair area, I know the quality of their products. The DAC's they use in there Digital series console are sought after my Many Live sound engineers. It all started with the PM-1D soon followed by there in demand PM-5D which appears on many of a "A" act ryders. Since then they have come out with even more advanced models.

  But I will check out your recommendations. 

 

Thanks For the Reply

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