My $50 DAC
- Thread starter AlleyKat
- Start date
doctorbongo
Super Member
ASSESSMENT:
I've had the 203.2 up and cranking for about three weeks now.
There is ZERO question it makes the music more lifelike and more defined.
The bass is clearer. I'm listening to a set of Stones CD, from the early to the late and back again. The highhat sounds like a highhat, the ride cymbal sounds like a ride cymbal. On certain songs the sound of the bass drum mallet hitting the head is very discernible, as opposed to muddy. all of the instruments are more resonant, without being "bright." Thanks for the tip, maestro. An excellent audio purchase, indeed.
I've had the 203.2 up and cranking for about three weeks now.
There is ZERO question it makes the music more lifelike and more defined.
The bass is clearer. I'm listening to a set of Stones CD, from the early to the late and back again. The highhat sounds like a highhat, the ride cymbal sounds like a ride cymbal. On certain songs the sound of the bass drum mallet hitting the head is very discernible, as opposed to muddy. all of the instruments are more resonant, without being "bright." Thanks for the tip, maestro. An excellent audio purchase, indeed.
dracoss
Active Member
I got one today
having an issue with the light flickering and sounds like a record skipping at times. I am on coax now will try a toslink. First impression, thought someone added reverb to my system. Then as it played couple hours sounded much better. The sync I am guessing is a problem. I have It hooked up to el cheapo dvd playing cds. With the Tos, I can hook it up to my new yamaha CD player. Will post more after that change.
having an issue with the light flickering and sounds like a record skipping at times. I am on coax now will try a toslink. First impression, thought someone added reverb to my system. Then as it played couple hours sounded much better. The sync I am guessing is a problem. I have It hooked up to el cheapo dvd playing cds. With the Tos, I can hook it up to my new yamaha CD player. Will post more after that change.
To "not DAC"
The historical view with bad sounding digital is that the problems lie
The reality is that the SPDIF digital interface is ill-conceived as you need to recover clock from the data leading to sensitivity from
Toshiba has really got its act together in recovering a low jitter data stream from the drive (transport) and then utilizes the same clock (no clock recovery, no SPDIF receiver, no digital cable) and combines this with a decent DAC with differential output and a state of the art output buffer with no coupling caps to muck up the sound. I think most people will be better ahead buying a SD-3990 for the same price ($50) as this DAC.
P.S. I'm not saying that you cannot get improvements by going external...it just might be more complicated than a carefully co-ordinated vertically oriented attack by a mult-national who does not need to deal with the external SPDIF issues by going internal
cheers,
Urizen said:
The historical view with bad sounding digital is that the problems lie
- in the transport
- in the converter(DAC)
- in the analog output buffer/filter(DAC)
The reality is that the SPDIF digital interface is ill-conceived as you need to recover clock from the data leading to sensitivity from
- impedance mismatch at co-axial out (digital cable)
- impedance mismatch at DAC input (digital cable)
- noise in the form of jitter from the SPDIF receiver(DAC)
Toshiba has really got its act together in recovering a low jitter data stream from the drive (transport) and then utilizes the same clock (no clock recovery, no SPDIF receiver, no digital cable) and combines this with a decent DAC with differential output and a state of the art output buffer with no coupling caps to muck up the sound. I think most people will be better ahead buying a SD-3990 for the same price ($50) as this DAC.
P.S. I'm not saying that you cannot get improvements by going external...it just might be more complicated than a carefully co-ordinated vertically oriented attack by a mult-national who does not need to deal with the external SPDIF issues by going internal
cheers,
dracoss
Active Member
Well I hooked up the dac to my Yamaha CDC-685. I listen to both the analog output to the amp off the Yamaha. Then From the Dac. It was very hard to tell a difference. There was a little something. But will have to listen more, and burn it in longer. Problem is after about three songs , its started the skipping thing again. This time its hooked up to a Toslink. I wonder if I have a bad unit, or it will get better with more burnin. Has anyone else had this problem?
m1.5tman
Active Member
I was listening to Steely Dan's Gaucho cd today. I hadn't listened to it for a long time and thought it sounded a bit different. Don't ask me how it was different 'cause I don't really know. All I know is I heard things I didn't notice before. This is quite possibly the best piece of audio gear I have ever owned (so far).
P. Shivers
Necessity Conquers Fear
dracoss said:
Sounds like maybe you got a faulty unit. I also have mine hooked up to a Yamaha CD changer via the toslink, and the sound was dramatically better to my ears through the DAC than it was via the Yamaha's analog outputs. I've never had any skipping issues with my DAC, just improved sound.
calabashak
Not a replica, no mask
I've had one running now for three weeks, and like many of the other posters to this thread, I am amazed. Just for fun when friends are over, I'll play a cd through the analog inputs from the cd player, then flip over to the input that has the Entech - everyone is blown away and wants one.
For some of them, this will require a cd player upgrade to a unit that has an optical output, but the bigger problem is the price/availability of the Entech. The guy selling them on ebay/Amazon hasn't listed any for a week; one is listed on Amazon for $189.
I also wanted to pick up another for a spare - if anything happens to this one and I can't get another I will probably off myself.
For some of them, this will require a cd player upgrade to a unit that has an optical output, but the bigger problem is the price/availability of the Entech. The guy selling them on ebay/Amazon hasn't listed any for a week; one is listed on Amazon for $189.
I also wanted to pick up another for a spare - if anything happens to this one and I can't get another I will probably off myself.
yamahammer
mikiesmadness continues
looks like the supply has dried up on epray we have done our job well again
There is a 203 on Amazon for 189.00 
Glad I got mine there for 45.00. maybe the supply is dried up?
Glad I got mine there for 45.00. maybe the supply is dried up?
dracoss
Active Member
Ok well, after trying to run the unit for days.
Problems are still there, After about three to four songs skip skip skip.
The light on the front fickers constantly. I think it has something to do with after it warms up. guessing bad chip or solder joint. Maybe the power supply.
Bummer I really looked forward to using it. I tried to contact the guy I bought it from on ebay, probable the same guy some of you bought it from, but no reply after contacting twice. User name OutletMP3. Maybe he or she is out of town or too busy. Looks like I will have a tough time replacing.
Does anyone know of alternative?
Should I contact ebay about the issue?
Problems are still there, After about three to four songs skip skip skip.
The light on the front fickers constantly. I think it has something to do with after it warms up. guessing bad chip or solder joint. Maybe the power supply.
Bummer I really looked forward to using it. I tried to contact the guy I bought it from on ebay, probable the same guy some of you bought it from, but no reply after contacting twice. User name OutletMP3. Maybe he or she is out of town or too busy. Looks like I will have a tough time replacing.
Does anyone know of alternative?
Should I contact ebay about the issue?
Sorry to hear of your troubles. I would send at least three e-mails and call if there is a phone number. Then should you have to take it up with e-bay send them copies of all correspondence. That way you show you have made a serious effort to resolve the matter.
In the meantime I'd find another power supply and make sure that's not the problem.
In the meantime I'd find another power supply and make sure that's not the problem.
dracoss
Active Member
Here is what he sent me back,
Hi, we are sorry to hear about that. Please contact Manufacturer first to check if they can solve the problem. In many cases, the problem is solved through this trouble shooting process. If they can't solve the problem, they will offer the repair or replacement offer through their manufacturer warranty service. However if there is any problem resolving with manufacturer, please contact us again and we will be more than happy to assist you. Thank you.
I am not sure how I feel about that response.
Hi, we are sorry to hear about that. Please contact Manufacturer first to check if they can solve the problem. In many cases, the problem is solved through this trouble shooting process. If they can't solve the problem, they will offer the repair or replacement offer through their manufacturer warranty service. However if there is any problem resolving with manufacturer, please contact us again and we will be more than happy to assist you. Thank you.
I am not sure how I feel about that response.
shrinkboy
Addicted Member
dracross -- try this: make sure that your cd transport and the DAC are on separate outlets. i had my transport and DAC plugged into the same power strip and i got skipping. i took the plug from the transport and plugged it into its own socket and the problem went away....