good Dac pc combo surpassing x01 cdp

Hi all, new to pc audio and have been avidly soaking up info only to get even more confused.

I have the funds to move for a high end system but want a laptop or pc based solution capable of besting the esoteric x01 and linn ds servers. I only have redbook cds and listen to modern (dance), rock and clasical music. I don't get Jazz and have not purchased hi res recordings. I've read the articles on reference servers but want alternatives to the Berkley as i live in Germany and will not be able to audition it.

Can anyone please help and offer any feedback on the dacs that have truly knocked reference cdps off their racks. I have no preference as regards pro or consumer gear. Budget up to $7000 but like bargains and value for money.

Thanks

Gordon

Hi Gordon,

A french company, ESPRIT, has just launched a server with hard capacity 1 or 2To, high quality ripping, it is called Eterna 1000.

The Linn is, imo, just a dac with additional input. But I heard neither of them.

Thanks Bluedy1, it looks very quality. One of my friends told me about a new Chord dac , the qbd76, says you can stream wav from a mobile phone. Ha and I thought digital was simply computer + dac. Oh well, I'm going to visit london for the Hifi show in September, I hope to catch this and others, will beeline for the Meridian and other digital specialists

Has anyone else dumped their highend cdp for a dac + computer and if so what do you use?

Gordon

I'll never go back to a CD player again. The Lynx card and Berkeley Audio Design Alpha DAC is a fabulous combination.

Its definately on my short list Chris as is the Minerva. I made the same decission regarding cd when I saw my local dj bring his Macbook, plug it in and rock the joint. Realised yesterdays future had arrived. Have you tried a toshink/spidif connection with the berkley and a macbook pro, as curious how much difference the lynx/ firewire interface makes.

Thanks

Gordon

I actually have tried the Toslink interface with the Alpha DAC. It's just not appealing as the AES interface on the Lynx. The AES / Lynx / Alpha DAC combination is truly stunning so it's hard to compete with.

Dear Chris,

First of all, I would like to thank you for your effort in computer audiophile. I actually build my system following your advise: iMac (firewired to 1G LACie harddisk) > Wireworld SuperNova Toslink cable > Lavry DA10 > Wireworld Silver eclipse XLR > K & H O110.

I'm planning to upgrade my DAC and have gone through a lot of reviews of 'high-end' DACs including yours. Right now I'm considering the Digital Audio Denmark AX24-DA2 (stereo version). Any comment?

Back to the topic, would you mind telling me what toslink cable are you using? From my experience, Toslink cable glass optic fibre (Wireworld & VDH) is far better than the plastic or other materials, that's why I switched from Audioquest OptiLink-5 (quartz fibres) to Wireworld one.

Best regards,

avreality

Hi avrealty, I picked up 2 VDH octocupler II's last month, one for the sat box and one for my x box360. It made a big improvement. Was watching the olympic rowing, its the first time I heard the splashing of paddles from the event. Try them with consoles, they add a diferrent dimension altogether with nuances and bass response that plastic fibre brands lack.

Gordon

hi avrealty - Welcome to Computer Audiophile. I am very interested in the Digital Audio Denmark DAC but I have yet to hear it. I know someone who has one on the way and I'll report back as soon as I have some info. The AX24-DA2 is capable of DXD resolution so it should last quite a long time before sample rates go higher than that!

The Toslink cable I use when I'm running my MacBook Pro music server is a very basic Monster mini-optical to Toslink cable. The selection of these cables is extremely limited. Now I mainly stick with my Mac Pro and the Lynx card, so I don't worry too much about the inferior quality of the optical link.

To those of you who have purchased VandenHul cables, are you in the U.S. and if so, from whom did you buy them? Also, is yours mini Toslink on one end and regular Toslink on the other? Thanks

TheOtherTim

There is a very good Toslink cable mentioned in this review:

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue39/ramblings_computer.htm