Yamaha CDR-HD1300 the DAC within.

[Hifibythekg]

Hi,
Can anyone shed some light or have an opinion on the quality of the DAC within this machine, the Yamaha CDR-HD1300?

I presume that since the machine offered very high quality HDD analogue recording from CDs that it would have employed some very good Yamaha electronics.

But rather than presume it would be good to hear of some actual data.

Currently I use its DAC for converting all my streaming and digital radio sources before amplifying with a newly serviced Yamaha A-1.

It certainly sounds good but wondering how far up the range of DAC products I’d need to go before hearing a substantial improvement? Knowing the actual specs of this DAC’s circuitry would be helpful.

Many thanks.

Oops, just had another search and came across the following but don’t know how to interpret these specs.

cd-r/cd-rw/hdd recorder,

Yamaha CRW3200AML cdr,

80 GB hdd,

Nichicon VX components,


1 x AKM AK4528VF 24bit adc/dac,

Yamaha CDR4 V9388500 remote,

AMQR,

S/N > 105 / 92 dB (pb/rec),

dynamic range > 99 / 92 dB (pb/rec),

channel separation > 110 dB,

5–20000 Hz ± 0,5 dB,

harmonic distortion < 0,004% / 0,006% (pb/rec),

mm 435x116x415, kg 7,8 / 8,4 (with hdd).

 

[mbz]

If it sounds good then be happy... Think the general consensus is that there has been a lot of work put into DAC's for desk top/gaming etc and that modern day DAC's are "better". Probably best to drop a line in the DAC sub-forum.

 

[Hifibythekg]

Cheers @mbz
Good point, will do.
Of course the other advantage of the existing set up is that's 'freely' incorporated in my CD player.

 

[mbz]

Did a quick search,


THD, S/N and crosstalk are streets ahead but that's no reason to bin the yamaha. There are plenty of better DACs but they cost more money... like everything in audio...

 

[Sparkplug]

Cheers @mbz
Good point, will do.
Of course the other advantage of the existing set up is that's 'freely' incorporated in my CD player.

As was stated above, be happy, in fact be very happy because that unit is specially for audio recording onto hard disc or CD. In AudioMaster mode, it uses the disc recording space liberally which reduces the jitter noise and results in an enhanced signal quality, as opposed to normal recording mode. I wouldn’t worry so much about THD, S/N, etc., the given numbers above are well beyond human hearing capabilities. If I see one of these or some other ones by Sony at a good price, I’ll grab them in a heartbeat … good luck.

Update:
The DAC AK-4528VF is a 24-bit DAC (obsolete) made by Asahi Kasei of Japan. Here’s the datasheet if you ever need it.

 

[Hifibythekg]

Thanks @Sparkplug just the sort of insightful post that makes this forum work so well.
Can I infer that listening to a cd transferred to HDD in AudioMaster mode might actually sound better than the original cd when played back?
Somewhere online a guy had swapped the failed hard drive in one of these machines with an SD card, and with a neatly installed adapter made it work.
Thanks also for the comments re the DAC AK-4528VF.
Be good to hear from anybody else with regard to how good, or not, the DAC element of this machine sounds in practice compared to contemporary DACs (excepting those in the elite/ v expensive end of the market of course.)

 

[Sparkplug]

Thanks @Sparkplug just the sort of insightful post that makes this forum work so well.
Can I infer that listening to a cd transferred to HDD in AudioMaster mode might actually sound better than the original cd when played back?

No, not quite. You cannot improve your source material because of the following reason:

Nj.total = Nj.source + Nj.audiomaster where Nj designates jitter noise for different stages

All that means is that the playback will sound better when recording done in Audiomaster mode than in regular mode (Nj.audiomaster < Nj.regular). Best case, if Nj.audiomaster were zero (it never is), you’d end up with jitter noise of your source (CD) material, nothing less. Also remember that jitter noise is only one source of noise among many but it’s one of the more important ones in DACs.

Be good to hear from anybody else with regard to how good, or not, the DAC element of this machine sounds in practice compared to contemporary

When evaluating sound quality, one must first set aside the marketing elements, X dB’s this, Y% that … LOL.
Any DAC is as good as the circuit design around it. It’s totally possible to have a top of the line DAC in a circuit where the output sounds terrible. The best way to find out is through double-blind audio Mock tests where neither the test taker nor the test administrator know at any given time during the test which material (A, B, etc.)is being presented thus eliminating any subjective biases. The results will be made known afterward using answer keys. Most DAC specs are way beyond human hearing capabilities.

 

[bolero]

The AK4528 DAC was used in the M-Audio 2496 sound card too, it was a good unit