Crimson69666

Ok, first i am an electrical engineer who love HiFi / Audiophile gear since 1980. Just think about it: You have your wire running from your house power center through the walls to the AC outlet feeding your audio gear. So, this copper electrical wire, which is fairly cheap, runs the longer portion of the 110v power before reaching the power supply inside you audio gear. On top of that, the power supply should be designed to take into acount EMI and other factor. Why in the world a "power cord" would do anything with audio quality in reality??? So if anyone can demonstrate otherwise with calculations and electrical theory, i'm willing to listen!!! The last time i had this question asked to an "audiophile" salesperson he responded "i can't demonstrate anything nor explain it but it SURELY make a difference"... well all right man, that's ok, don't waste your time with me... Debunking myths about audio cables Myths and Snake OIL So not rocket science en certainly not worth the ridiculous prices i see... Let alone power cables for line level gear! And for the haters of what i just said (mostly the ones that make great money selling those "super high audio quality" stuff, all rants going to /dev/null...

Thanks but not for me.

I bought the Rega DAC-R last november along with the Rega Elex-R and Ryan R610 speakers. Originally searching for a new DAC, i fell in love with this soundsystem. Musically, it is hard to come up to this level considering the price it costs. It is very well balanced en really enjoyable! The DAC-R does a very very good job. I listened to the Ayre Codex on the same system, it is a bit better but it costs almost 3 times the price of the DAC-R ! I didn't hear a sound as good as this in this price range. There was the North Star Design Intenso DAC coupled wit Peachtree integrated and Fostex speakers that i enjoyed too but it was higher priced and not better, different. My tests tracks were: Diana Krall - The Girl In The Other Room (24/192) Dire Straits - Fade To Black (24/192) Eric Clapton - Layla (Live) The Eagles - Hotel California (Live) Beastie Boys - Groove Holmes Chick Corea - Eternal Child Bill Evans Trio - Come Rain Or Come Shine (24/192) Level 42 - 43 Metallica - Enter Sandman Sting - Englishman In New York Nirvana - About A Girl (Live) REM - Everybody Hurts Thomas Enhco - Yesterday I find the sound of my system to be very smooth and warm, very open and the image is very good. Highs are very precise/smooth and bass is tight. Good Choice of inputs but i played the last "Harmonium - L'Heptade XL" via my bluray player as a transport: It seems that the record has anticopy (Damn Sony again..), resulting in clicks while listening with DAC-R via optical... Stupid copy protection at its best...

I heard the Ayre CODEX and loved it! Listened previously the Rega DAC-R (Excellent for the price), Emotiva DC-1 (not bad but really not in the same league) and the North Star Intenso (very good). Listening system was (for Rega and Ayre): Rega Brio-R and Elex-R Ryan R610 (really astonishing for the price! IMHO nothing under 8000$ touch it!) For North Star Intenso: Peachtree Nova 65SE (ICE Power) Fostex G1300 Music used (i always use the same music to compare!): Arne Domnerus - High Life (Live) Beastie Boys - Groove Holmes Bill Evans Trio - Come Rain Or Come Shine Chick Corea Elektric Band - Eternal Child Diana Krall - Girl in the Other Room Dire Straits - Fade To Black Eagles - Hotel California (Live, Hell Freezes Over) Level 42 - 43 Metallica - Enter Sandman Sting - Englishman In New York The best DAC i ever heard was the Meitner MA-1. Unfortunately, i don't have this kinda money! The DAC is a mix of digital and anolog design. The good old analog design techniques are very important and the DAC chip is only a part of the equation.