Quote:
Originally Posted by C4STR0
...invest in either the DAC-50 or the DC-81...
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DAC-50 is a no brainer, seemingly compatible with your CX-260.
I still own a DP-80L / DC-81L combo (since 1989). The DC-81 and the DC-81L can only do 16bit (no 24bit) and only 44k and 48k (no higher sample rates).
From 2001 I continued to use the transport, but the the DAC was replaced by professional dCS Upsampler and DAC.
The dCS units sonically outperformed all Accuphase DACs up to DC-800 / DP-700 and are, (with slight sonic differences) just on par with DC-901.
Quote:
Originally Posted by C4STR0
Does the DAC-50 upsample PCM to DSD?
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No.
Quote:
Originally Posted by C4STR0
Would either the DC-81 or DAC-50 benefit from a DDC usb to spidf converter and external clock such as the Denafrips Gaia/Hermes/Iris?
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Depends on the clock quality of the source.
I'd suggest Mutec MC3+ USB for reclocking USB (and converting to SPDIF).
But DSD would be downsampled to PCM.
Quote:
Originally Posted by C4STR0
Last question: What makes such a small PC board DAC sound so good?
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DC-50 is derived from the DAC built into DP-430.
And: an Accuphase is an Accuphase is an Accuphase.
Quote:
Originally Posted by C4STR0
The older DAC-10 held its own so well and now i'm curious what a jump to the newer DAC-50 or a separate and dedicated Accuphase DAC can do!
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A jump up in sound quality. The DC-50 is technically and sonically up to date.
Separate and dedicated Accuphase DACs are more laborious, but the prices are considerably higher.
And older models are unfortunately technically (and often sonically, depending on what you compare them with) not up to date any more.
Basically the sound of every new Accuphase model is better than the one of its predecessor.