#11
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After a few hours with the DAC8 I wanted to type out my early impressions of it. This is my first piece of ARC gear and have always enjoyed the styling of their products. The DAC8 is no exception with the simple layout of buttons and display. The only thing that surprised me was to find out that the handles are actually plastic. For some reason I was thinking that they were machined aluminum. Not a big deal of the realm of things though.
I bit of background first. I've been using a Wyred DAC2 since it first came out a few years ago. I have thoroughly enjoyed that DAC in my system and find that at $1500.00 it's a big bang for the buck type product. The reason for a new DAC was one of upgrading only, I could have lived with the Wyred for many more years. I use a Mac Mini to play my digital files and use either Pure Music or Audirvana+ depending on my mood that day. The Mini is connected to the DAC via a Wireworld Platinum USB cable. This cable has made a huge difference in my system. I downloaded the necessary USB drivers from the ARC website and installation was a breeze. I'm ecstatic that with the ARC drivers I'm now able to use Pure Music in "Hog Mode" and Audirvana+ in "Direct Mode". These two modes allow the software to deliver the best possible quality signal to the DAC. I wasn't able to use these modes with the DAC2. Before actually listening to music I wanted to make sure that there weren't any glitches as far as file rates go. I went through my library and selected different file rate selections and scanned through them quickly to see if the DAC8 would respond. The DAC8 locked onto the different signals with no problem. There was an immediate jump with files of the same rate and only a short pause between files that were of different rates, which can be expected of any DAC. There was a nice clicking sound to announce the change in file rate as well as displaying the appropriate light on the front panel. If there was only one thing that I was looking for in a new DAC it would be to keep the level of detail that I got from the DAC2 but also give me a more musical quality. I always felt the DAC2 had a certain "edge" to it that at times could be a bit harsh. The DAC8 delivers this and with more. The easiest way to describe it would be to say that before I was listening to the music and now it seems as though I am more a part of it. The soundstage is wider and is more balanced which actually brings me into the music farther. The Wyred tended to be a little more forward sounding. It also seems that there is either a little more detail retrieval or just a cleaner type of sound. Maybe the DAC8 has a blacker/quieter background which makes me hear things like drumsticks falling on the floor and glasses clinking in the background a little clearer. I'm very happy with how things sound at this early stage for me, this is a used unit and has been fully broken in so it's not going to change, but my ears will continue to hear differences between the two DACs. At three times the price of the Wyred I would expect the DAC8 to outperform it and it does just that. I'm very happy with this new piece. |
#12
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Glad you like the ARC DAC 8. Just curious if you are listening to the unit un-tweaked or tweaked--I'm referring to the removal of the EFI filters I mentioned in an earlier post. Also, what footers, if any, are you using? The EFI tweak and the right isolation footers--I like either the Symposium rollerblocks or Stillpoints ss--will open it up and give it even more resolution and presence. Enjoy. |
#13
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Steve, It does have the EFI filters removed, it came that way. I'm not using any footers yet. I'm looking into those that you mentioned in your PM. Thanks.
Last edited by bakerman; 02-07-2013 at 11:40 AM. |
#14
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Great stuff, sounds like a fantastic DAC. Congratulations.
__________________
VPI Scoutmaster; JMW-9 Signature; Shelter 7000 Bryston BDA2 + BDP2; ARC PH5; ARC Ref 5; ARC Ref 150, Equi=Tech Son of Q Wilson Sophia 3; Transparent - cables XLO - cables; Aural Symphonics - cords; Shunyata - cords |
#15
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Plastic handles? never heard that before. I'm going to check on that. |
#16
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#17
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I bought in the past for other equipments but never thought it was from plastic Very weird , I was think was from aluminum all along. |
#18
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I've spent some more time with it today and I must say that Hi-Res files really shine with this DAC. The difference in resolution is so much more apparent than with my previous DAC. The highs are extended nicely and the realness of the music just comes right through. There's also a richness to the sound that I didn't have before. I'm planning on trying out some Symposium Rollerblock Jr's on it soon. I've heard very good things about these. |
#19
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Confirmed by Kalvin at ARC, they are from Aluminum.
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#20
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Congrats Doug,
I hope you enjoy your unit as much as I have been enjoying mine. I too have the DeVore Supper 8's, but presently am using Watt Puppy 6's. Curious if your thinking about "tweeking your unit, if so let us know the results. John
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ARC REF6, ARC Ref PH 2SE, ARC Ref 150SE, Esot N-05, SF Oylimpia III, Garrard 301 Reed2p, WW Silver Eclipse 8, Kimber Kable Select IC XLR C22, MC275, MR78, PS Audio Dac, Tannoy Daltons 12" Red's Tannoy ST200 Tweeters, Kimber IC's, Mac Mini, Transparent ULTRA Speaker. Marantz 7C, Marantz, 9, & 10B Tuner, Tannoy 15" Red's in York Corner Cabinets ARC Ref1, ARC VT 100II, MR74, Tannoy Red 12 LSU/12/8, Spider Transcription TT, Nordost Spk Cable Fisher 400C, MR78, Fisher SA 1000, BenchMark Dac, Auditorium 23 Speaker Cables, Tannoy Supper Red 10" LSU/III/Z Monitors ARC SP3, MC 30's, MR67, Devore Supper 8's, Wadia i171, MicroMega Dac, Transparent Supper Spk C20, MC75's, MR71, MS300, Tannoy 12" Golds, Auditorium 23, C11, (2)Harmon Kardon CitationII, Shindo Montille, MC2505, McIntosh 117, Audio Research ST70, Knight KB85, Pilot Sa 232, Marantz 8B Scott 130 Preamp, Scott 272 Int, HH Scott 250's MR71 tuner, Tube Guru F2a Mono's, |
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