DACV1 vs Ndac?

I think it's a case of "horses for courses".

The DAC in the nDAC is of a similar performance level to the NDS.

In pure SQ terms I suspect the nDAC is superior, but it needs an SPDIF convertor to play music from a pc. The DACV1 being asynchronous doesn't. The DACV1 also has a good headphone amp.

The nDAC is more flexible in terms of upgrading the power supply thus improving SQ.

Not sure about the nDac as equivalent in SQ to an NDS but then I haven't heard the NDS. However, I have heard the nDac and somehow I doubt it.

The nDac is aging now in a fast moving technological environment; spdff is legacy and as many have pointed out in this forum was never quite intended for the uses to which it is being put.

I think it was Gordon Rankin who introduced the async USB (Wavelength Brick) as the best way of getting music out of a computer but for now in V1 guise, to my ears at any rate, it is certainly sounding very good indeed.

Tog

IMO SPDIF is still the best sounding digital protocol and nDAC does a great job with it.

The best way to get digital music outside of the computer is by a-synchronous USB. Just don't put the USB-converter in your DAC or your computer.

Add a separate USB-SPDIF Converter outside both boxes and use top-grade components for it.

The Audiophileo that's built into the DACV1 can be bettered by many separate devices.

SPDIF has lost nothing of its importance yet.

cheers

Aleg

Which would be...?

Tog

V1 has both, USB and SPDF. I am wondering if anybody compared these two inputs?

The Berkeley Alpha USB box gets rave reviews, but I've not heard it myself.

Berkeley recently announced a new "reference dac"  @ $14,000 I believe.

The problem is, I believe, that you don't know if you're comparing the inputs of the dac or the outputs on the source.

You mean those that better the AudioPhileo?

Just a few that I know about, e.g.:

• Sonicweld Diverter HR
• TotalDAC d1-digital reclocker
• Offramp 5

You have a valid point, there are more variables involved in that kind of test.

It is amazing how much Dac-V1 is being discussed on this forum. And even better, it is all positive, pretty much.

sheffieldgraham, the NDS DAC, DSP and filter stage are largely based on the NDAC - they are both extremely capable DACs (with the 555PS) albeit they do sound different. I an several others prefer the NDAC/555PS over the NDS/555PS and have taken many weeks auditioning and note taking on both setups to decide.. but others prefer the NDS - so its horses for courses.

So they are both currently 'reference' DACs in their own ways - with almost identical DAC stage archtecures  - but sound quite different on revealing systems.

Simon

I tried my NDAC and my DAC-V1 with my CDX2-2 via DC1 digital interconnect and I prefer the DAC-V1. NDAC is already sold. The DAC-V1 via USB (Chord Silver Plus USB cable) hooked up to my laptop running Vista and Foobar2000 sounds even better with WAV-files (16/44,1) ripped with EAC. Not to mention how good high resolution files sound The DAC-V1 is an amazing product!

+1 It is the first bit of kit for a long while where I have been truly amazed by the quality and vfm of such a little box.

Tog

My PC has SPDIF optical out.  Main limitation of this is that it's limited to 96/24, although in reality there isn't that much music available at higher data rates than this.

As regards SPDIF's performance:  despite all the contrary rumours it transmits data perfectly.  With a PC source there may be some timing jitter but this is irrelevant if you're using an asynchronous DAC, as the DAC generates its own timing independently.  Since data and timing are all you need to worry about you can relax as everything is sorted.