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CD Players, Digital Music & Servers Aurender, dCs, Esoteric, Lumin. |
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#1
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Tube v. SS DAC
I'm thinking about buying a DAC for the first time both to use with CDs as well as music stored on a computer and possibly streaming music as well. I recently set up a tube based system centered on a Dennis Had built Inspire Amp. I like the tube system very much and am wondering what the plusses and minuses are of tube based DAC.
I may use this with the tube-based system. But I also have a solid state system to which I'd like to incorporate a DAC. I'm not really interested in solid state systems that throw in a buffer tube. I'm trying to compare actual tube-based v. solid state DACs. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
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2 Channel - Inspire Amp; Dared Pre; Carver "The Receiver" for tuner and switching; Thorens 125 turnable; Angle Audio PS internal battery; Shure SME 3009 tonearm; Bang & Olufsen MC20CL cartridge; Roku; Sony Bravia TV; Polk Audio SDA-2 Theater - Onkyo AVR, Orb Speakers, MAC music server, Monarchy Audio NM24 DAC [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] |
#2
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The best thing you could do is to audition a tube and solid state dac in your system(s) if possible and let your ears decide
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#3
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Agreed. But not an easy option for me. I will likely be dealing with used equipment that will be shipped to me. So, trying with my system means I'd have to resell something if I'm not happy with it. That's the price you pay, I now. But I'd like to gather up the community wisdom if I can so I have the best chance of making a good decision the first time.
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2 Channel - Inspire Amp; Dared Pre; Carver "The Receiver" for tuner and switching; Thorens 125 turnable; Angle Audio PS internal battery; Shure SME 3009 tonearm; Bang & Olufsen MC20CL cartridge; Roku; Sony Bravia TV; Polk Audio SDA-2 Theater - Onkyo AVR, Orb Speakers, MAC music server, Monarchy Audio NM24 DAC [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] |
#4
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That would definitely be the ideal situation.
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#5
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I wouldn't get so hung up on SS vs tube. Go with a good DAC, period.
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#6
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^This.
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Main: McIntosh XRT1K MDA1000 MC402 | JL F113 | Bryston BUC-1 | WireWorld Cabling | RGPC1200C | PPP
Office: Bel Canto S300iu 24/96 | KEF LS50 | REL R218 | WW Mini Eclipse | 18 TB Media Server Mobile: McIntosh MX406 MDA5000 MCD4000 MCC420M | JM Lab/Focal Utopia |
#7
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Thanks for the input guys. I see that there is actually a DAC out there that is both a full-blown tube DAC and a solid-state DAC in one, Monarchy Audio NM24. It has gotten some excellent reviews in the magazines (but is there anything that doesn't)? It runs about the same price used at the Bryston BDA-1. There are tons of reviews out there, suggesting that virtually every DAC ever made is actually a good one. I hoping for some real world advice from this community.
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2 Channel - Inspire Amp; Dared Pre; Carver "The Receiver" for tuner and switching; Thorens 125 turnable; Angle Audio PS internal battery; Shure SME 3009 tonearm; Bang & Olufsen MC20CL cartridge; Roku; Sony Bravia TV; Polk Audio SDA-2 Theater - Onkyo AVR, Orb Speakers, MAC music server, Monarchy Audio NM24 DAC [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] |
#8
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I have used both Tube and SS DAC’s over the years. Based on my limited tech knowledge, the tube DAC could be tweaked by changing/rolling tubes & cables. The SS DAC was only cables.
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Amps: VTL 450MKII, Speakers: B&W 801S-3, Full Function Pre-Amp: McIntosh C-2500, Multi-Format Digital Disc Player: Esoteric DV-50. Hard Drive Based Digital Playback: Mac Mini w/Esoteric D-07 DAC. Vinyl Playback:Technics SL-1210MKII w/Jelco 750 arm , Denon DL-103r w/hardwood body and Denon DP-500M w/Jelco 750 arm and AT-14sa. Power and Cabling: PS Audio Power Plant Premier, Cabling=various mid level MIT. |
#9
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Yup.
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#10
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I don't think you can make any generalizations regarding tube vs SS DAC in terms of sonic attributes. It's all in the design and implementation of the circuit employed. I am sure there are tube DACs that are poorly designed that will sound harsh and shrill and thin and lacking in liquidity and holography and some SS DACs that sound natural, liquid, dimensional and so on. It's best to decide based on researching and demoing specific DACs and what will best match your system and your tastes.
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