Cheap DAC

[Thunktank]

Just a little somthing you may find of interest.

I have Put an Airport express in my Kitchen where I have an old Aiwa mini preamp&power amp. (£15 ebay) I am now looking for a compact cheap DAC to complete the kithen system. While looking I found a pre assembled kit on ebay. I then found this modding artical that some may find of interest.

 

http://www.lampizator.eu/LAMPIZATOR/LAMPUCERA/CD%20DAC%20Lampucera%20lampizator.html

 

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

That's a pretty interesting link thunktank.

 

Since your kitchen system is not that resolving you could always try the DAC built into the Airport Express.

 

[Thunktank]

"Not that resolving" how very diplomatic of you Chris:-).

 

I am using the 3.5mm jack at the moment, but not vey impressed. Despite the little Aiwa Pre and power amps only costing £15 including postage they can perform quite well. I think they where built in the late 70's and are very solid in construction. I may give my Trends amp a go as I probably listen to more music in the kitchen than I do in the study.

 

The DAC kit costs around £35 here in the UK so destroying it while attempting an upgrade would not be the end of the world. If I do go down this route perhaps you could change my nic to 'DOD'

"Destroyer of DAC's"

 

[The Computer Audiophile]

Ha! Right after I wrote that I wondered if I should really post it :-)

 

 

I'm glad you took the comment in the spirit in which it was intended.

 

[Thunktank]

I have only just put the AE in the kichen prior to that I just had a DAB tuner connected to the amp. Yesterday evening I was relaxing in my listening room when I was gripped by an urge for tea and toast ( I could only sound more British if I had substituted crumpet for toast). I was torn between listening to the next track and making the toast, then I rememered I could do both. I believe I may have even danced a little while I prepared my super, though if anyone had been watching I doubt "Dance" would be the word that came to mind.

 

Paul

 

[Thunktank]

"Despite the little Aiwa Pre and power amps only costing £15 including postage they can perform quite well"

I just took the Aiwa power amp out and replaced it with a Trends TA-10 that was in use on my PC, what a difference; the Aiwa is going in the trash. (see I was talking bollox again)

I did not think it was worth spending any money on the kitchen setup as the acoustics in that room really suck, but now I have tested out the trends I may spend a little.

I had to keep the Aiwa preamp in the kitchen as I have a DAB tuner as well as the Airport Express and the trends only has one set of inputs.

 

I would like to connect the Airport Express to a DAC using Toslink (currently on analogue), keep the DAB tuner which only has analogue out, and use the DAC as a preamp to replace the Aiwa.

I was considering a "Yulong DAH1 Mark" it is relatively inexpensive, has Coax, Toslink, and analogue inputs, as well as the facility to use it as a preamp. The dimensions of the DAC will have to be considered as all of this gear is inside one of the kitchen wall units which are only 300mm deep. Does anyone have any experience of this particular DAC or perhaps you could propose an alternative.

 

Paul

 

 

[Thunktank]

I have just ordered the Beresford TC-7510

http://www.homehifi.co.uk/main/main.html

 

The Yulong DAC has the power switch on the rear which would have been impossible to reach inside the kitchen cupboard, and I did not feel like mucking about making a switch box. The Beresford is smaller has more inputs and costs less. It also is powered by 12V DC as is the Trends amp I am pairing it with, which gives me the option of powering them both from an SLA battery.

I appreciate that this does not fall in the realm of an "audiophile" setup but it should be a pretty good setup for my small kitchen. If anyone is interested I will post my thoughts on the Beresford DAC once it is burnt in. This may be of some use to those looking at desktop setups or similar. When I find the chance I will try to do a comparison test between my MF Tri-Vista DAC and the Beresford, it will be interesting to hear how the older but much more expensive DAC stands up to a modern inexpensive DAC. I will also be able to Compare the Beresford to my Trends UD 10.1 DAC, though the Trends is USB only and the Beresford Coax and Toslink only.

 

Airport Express - Toslink - Beresford TC-7510- Trends TA 10.1-Mordaunt Short MS402

 

Paul

 

 

 

[Al]

as of very recently and am satisfied that it makes a significant positivce difference. I also know one or two people personally who dont think its out of place in a far better system than mine - but then my system isnt what anyone here would call "audiophile", and if anyone ever calls me one we might have to "have words".

 

Anyway, just thought id put in a word for the Beresford.

 

[texast]

Thunktank - What is your opinion on the Beresford DAC?

 

[Thunktank]

Sorry for the delay in replying, it has been a very busy week or two.

It is much better than the DAC in the AE, but that should be no suprise. The only testing I have done is between using the Beresford's variable and fixed ouputs, on the some what limited kitchen system I can not detect any difference. To be fair to the Beresford I will reserve comment until I have had a chance to test it in my main system, which I will try to do this weekend.

 

Paul

 

[breakfastchef]

I use the Beresford TC-7510 MK6/3 between my Squeezebox and Woo Audio headphone amp. It made a significant enhancement of the sound over the built-in Squeezebox DAC. Soundstage is wider and deeper and music is overall a bit crisper. I have leant the unit out to an audiophile in Miami and then it travels to one of a forum member here for their comparisons/impressions. I have salivated over a Stello at three times the price of the Beresford, but I am not giving it up until I hear something that is three times better sounding.

 

When the DAC returns back to me from its 'road tour', I will complete a passive mod that bypasses an op amp. This mod was shared with me by the designer, Stanley Beresford. He informed me that not only will the soundstage open up a bit, but the mids will be even richer. How very exciting!

 

Hope you all found my very first post here helpful.