[jdandy]

In the past day or so I have had the opportunity to compare several mixed music DAT recordings I made in 1999 and 2000 using only the analog inputs to the Sony DAT 60ES. This method used the Sony DAC, which I have no idea what that may be. What I discovered is the sound quality of those mixed music recordings made with an older Denon CD player with its internal unknown DAC, feeding its analog output through the A/D processor in the Sony recorder, created decent sounding playback through my external Yggdrasil DAC, but was nowhere near the transparency and dynamics of the piano recordings I recorded to DAT tape the other night. Bypassing the analog section of the DAT recorder by using the DAT recorder's digital input fed from the digital output of the Simaudio MOON 260D transport, then played back from the Sony's digital output through the new Analog 2 version of the Yggdrasil DAC's coaxial input produced an exceptional recording that was clearly superior in all respects. It is evident the analog input and output of the Sony DAT 60ES is showing signs of its DAC's age and capabilities, but using the digital input and output through a modern external DAC allows this DAT recorder to sound transparent, dynamic, fresh, and current when compared to other modern digital sources. This is quite remarkable considering the Sony DCT-60ES is two decades old.