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My $50 DAC

uofmtiger said:
Here is another review of it:

http://www.audio-ideas.com/reviews/digital-sources/entech_205-2.html

(the review is actually the 205.2, but it mentions the 203.2 several times in the article)
Click to expand...


OMG, this article mentions my DVD player and how "wonderful" it sounds. Well it still doesn't sound as good as my JVC CDP which is even older.


"If you already own a DVD player equipped with 24/96 DACs then the 205.2 is not likely to bring about a substantial improvement in performance (keep in mind of course that I'm basing this on the wonderful sound I've heard from second generation players like the Samsung, the Panasonic DVD-A310 and DVD-L10, and the Pioneer DV-09. "
 
Mine is on the way too

I won an auction yesterday for one these DACs, and I'm hoping that it lives up to the hype I've read in this thread. Is the 24 hour burn-in a requirement, or a suggestion to improve the sound? Will it gradually improve with time without the continuous play?
 
P. Shivers said:
Will it gradually improve with time without the continuous play?
Click to expand...

Give it a month. Continuous play with a burn in track, such as on the XLO burn in cd will speed up the process.

I hope you enjoy it. I sure am liking mine. For the money, you can't beat it.
 
OK, I got the 203 hooked up and have some first impressions. First the boring part. The system components are as follows:

1989 Yamaha CDC-500 CDP
No Preamp
SET EL 34 amplifier running RCA 5691s into Tele EL34s
Altec 511B Horns with 902 Drivers
Homebrew copies of JBL 4350 Bass scoops loaded with 15" Emminence Woofs
Homebrew Crossover at 500hz.
Sony Digital Coax Cable
Audio Research RCAs between the DAC and amp.

The first minute or two was pretty bad, allthough the soundstage did seem bigger. About half way through the first tune, things settled down (could have been a cold amp) and I immediately noticed the acoustic guitar was more defined, and beleivable. I might add here that the music selection was all strings and one male voice (a CD that I am very familiar with on this system). Toward the end of the first tune the bass really came allive. Half way into the second selection I noticed a touch of grain and turned the L-pad down on the 511s. I have 5 CDs loaded up, and am going to take my mutts out for some Frisbee (it's like 65 degrees outside:banana: ). I will report more after they cycle through. The graininess reminded me of capacitors in a crossover breaking in, so I think it definately needs to "simmer" for a few. Thanks again for the tip, Jay
 
Urizen said:
Give it a month. Continuous play with a burn in track, such as on the XLO burn in cd will speed up the process.

I hope you enjoy it. I sure am liking mine. For the money, you can't beat it.
Click to expand...


What's a XLO CD, and where can I get one?:D Thanks, Jay
 
Urizen said:
You can find it at Amazon and other such places.
Click to expand...

Very cool, Thanks

Well, I don't mean to be a postwhore, but I'm a little excited here. Actually, I have some butterflys in my gut.:yes: After just a few hours, the upper mids have smoothed out considerably, and the bass is very "feelable" even at low volume (somewhere just under 1 watt). The two things that are very noticeable are improvements to acoustic guitar, and the presence of background vocals. A couple tracks actually sounded as though the background singer (singers) stepped up to share the lead vocalists microphone. Another thing worthy of mention is a fairly dramatic improvement overall with rock-n-roll. I normally don't use this system for rock, because it just doesn't sound that good to me with it. When I was loading the CDs I just stuck in what was handy, which included a Steve Miller Band. When I came in from running the dogs it was playing, and sounded awfully good. The wife is going out shopping later, so I will get a chance to really ring it out. I can't wait.:D
 
205.2 - Oh Yeah!

Thanks to this thread, I just got a 205.2. I had been casually looking for another external DAC (for a second system) for a few months. Criteria was good sound and cheap (2 kids and a wife all in college recently).

The 205.2 is a slight improvement over my Audio Alchemy rig (EchoWars modded UltraDAC with PS3). For $100, this thing is the bomb!

My UltraDAC is a fine sounding unit, but I immediately noticed more details on familiar CDs, plus a wider soundstage. Cymbals sound even better than the AA unit.

Does anybody have a 205.2 manual that you could scan? I would like to have it for my records.

Scott
 
The same manual applies to both the 205.2 & 203.2. PM me with your email address and I'll be happy to scan it and send it on to you.:music:
 
First off, A big thank you to Alleykat for turning us on to this little giant.:thmbsp: I have kept mine running for burn in purposes, ever since it arrived. I built a little volume control set last night so I could try it on a pair of 300Bs. I just got it up and running a little while ago, and get this! My wife said "That thing really brings more music out". That was the second ever comment she has ever made about anything related to audio (the first was about the size of the horns):D I can without a doubt say that this is the best 50 bux I have ever spent, period. I am definately hearing things that simply were not there with the CDPs built in DAC. At 50 bux, I think I'm gonna snag another one, or maybe two.:scratch2: Thanks Again to everyone, Jay
 
My NC203.2 arrived yesterday, and all I can say is WOW:jawdrop: Straight out of the box it made a huge improvement to the sound of my CDs. I also left the analog output of my Yamaha CDC-575 changer hooked up, so I could compare the sound of the DACS. This thing sure lives up to the hype it's gotten in this thread. I'm hearing things in the music that just weren't revealed with the Yamaha's DAC, and it is not a subtle change. Thanks AlleyKat, and all who've posted about this DAC. It is definitely the best $53 I've put into my audio addiction.:thmbsp: I can't wait for this thing to get better with some more play time on it, I already have a big grin on my face as I'm listening to my CDs with it.
 
I've read this entire thread and have tried to learn and understand what I can about adding a DAC to my CD listening. I think I've got the gist of it, but offer this recap for possible correction by the DAC-experienced.

1. Any CD player with a coaxial digital out is a candidate for this device. I have a Denon DCD-820 (circa 1989) that has a single extra RCA jack labeled Coaxial Digital Out. My cheapie "CyberHome" DVD-300 DVD player has the same jack. (Subquestion: Should there be a sound quality difference between them? I recently compared a store-bought CD played through my old Sony CDP-C20 changer and the Cyberhome and could not really tell any difference.)
2. Despite the aforementioned jack looking like a standard RCA, it will require a special digital cable to connect to the DAC box, and this cable is not necessarily cheap. I still do not understand how stereo sound is produced off one cable, but apparently it just works that way.
3. Once the DAC is plugged into the CDP using the coax digital cable, standard RCA stereo cables connect the DAC into the AUX inputs on your receiver or amp.
4. After the DAC "break-in" period, one can enjoy substantially improved audio (in most cases) off any type of CD.

When I run a DVD movie through my system, it always sounds much better, hard to define, but no doubt about it. Can I expect this quality of sound when running CDs through a DAC, like the NC203.2?
 
Sounds like a good summary to me, Mark. On the single Digital RCA type cable, I got one at Target. It is a Sony, and cost 14bux. Seems like a nice cable to me. I think your CDPs would be good candidates for vast improvement, due to their age. Let us know your impressions if you take the plunge. I don't think you'll regret it.:thmbsp: Jay
 
The more I hear about this little DAC,the more I want one. My NAD is new but the Arcam(no # ) is around 1990.I wonder if I would hear a difference? The Arcam was fixed,cleaned and serviced by Emerald Audio last March.

After all these posts,no one has said they hate the Dac. (hate the Dac,wasn't that a line on Seinfeld?)

Thanks
alan
 
I ordered a new 203 off Amazon since it's cheaper and from the same dealer. Now the wait begins :) I'm anxious to compare it to the DACs in my players.
 
I've had the 203 hooked into my cdp for almost 3 weeks now. When I first hooked it up, I hooked up my PD-F59, 25 disc player and ran the thing for 48 hours straight as per the DAC owners manual. After the 48 hour initial burn-in I hooked it up to the Pioneer PD-M90X cdp which is in my main system.

My first impression was that this thing really works well. I noticed the soundstage was much better. As I've been playing it the last couple of weeks I've noticed that my cdp just sounds better. The mids are smoother and the overall sound is just much more pleasing to my ear. No Matter what I listen to, the harshness of the cd sound is, in my opinion, non existent. I can't believe this thing was $60.00 with shipping.

Speaking of improvements in soundstage, I have not used the Sonic Holography feature of my preamp since using the DAC and have to admit that I don't miss it at all. Previous to the DAC I used the Sonic Holography all the time to get improved soundstage. That is a sure fire indicator to me that the Entech DAC does what it claims.:thmbsp: :thmbsp:

I have to say it was one of the best audio purchases I've made. Right up there with the NAD 2200PE power amp.

Paul
 
Someone said something about this actually being a 3 or 4 hundred dollar DAC when new in the early 90's. It does seem unreal that 60 bux can do so much for overall fidelity.:thmbsp:
 
jaymanaa said:
Someone said something about this actually being a 3 or 4 hundred dollar DAC when new in the early 90's. It does seem unreal that 60 bux can do so much for overall fidelity.:thmbsp:
Click to expand...

I've also read that. I was extremely skeptical until I read all the raves on this forum. I just had to find out for myself. I'm so glad I did. :yes:

Paul
 
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