DAC V1--A Query

Posted by: mikeybaby on 28 October 2015

I am new to the digital world and just acquired a DACV1 at a considerable discount. I am not finding it much better (a little crisper) than a 700 dollar Rega DAC that I traded in. I am now thinking of selling the V1 and picking up a Dragonfly v1.2 and pocketing the extra cash, or going back to the Rega since the DAC is only being used for watching concerts via Youtube. I do not and will not use the DAC as a transport. Any advice?

System is CDS2/82SC/250.2/SBL/NACA5.Would this be a practical move or not?

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by ChrisSU

I'd say a V1 is wasted with U-Tube videos, if that's all you want it for I'd go for a Dragonfly.

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by SongStream

I'd say that wasted is not necessarily true. There is some pretty good quality musical content on Youtube, but, of course, there is also millions of hours worth of complete shite, even concerts shot from within the crowd on someone's pathetic i-phone, but at the opposite end of the spectrum, the v1 can still add something over other DACs.

The real issue here seems to be the OPs preference for the Rega over the DAC-V1 in VFM terms at least. However, I would expect, if you're watching high quality and well recorded content, that the Dragonfly would be quite a step down from either the Rega or the Naim. And the rest of the system looks as though it should be more than capable of revealing that. I'd go back to the Rega if you prefer it.

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by mikeybaby

Thanks guys.

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by MangoMonkey

The Rega Dac is pretty good. In terms of SQ, I think it is at the NDX level.

However, it does not have the Naim drive, nor the Naim sound.

I actually prefer even the UnitiQute's Dac over the Rega Dac.

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by Richard Dane

Originally Posted by MangoMonkey:

The Rega Dac is pretty good. In terms of SQ, I think it is at the NDX level.

However, it does not have the Naim drive, nor the Naim sound.

I actually prefer even the UnitiQute's Dac over the Rega Dac.

MM, this post doesn't seem to make any sense - it appears to be contradictory. Is there a mistake or a typo?

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by ChrisSU

Originally Posted by Richard Dane:

Originally Posted by MangoMonkey:

The Rega Dac is pretty good. In terms of SQ, I think it is at the NDX level.

However, it does not have the Naim drive, nor the Naim sound.

I actually prefer even the UnitiQute's Dac over the Rega Dac.

MM, this post doesn't seem to make any sense - it appears to be contradictory. Is there a mistake or a typo?

I was about to buy an NDX, but maybe I could save a load of cash by just getting a Unitiqute!!!

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by Mayor West

DAC-V1 outclasses the Rega DAC for me. I did find that it seemed to take a while to run in though... it sounded a bit disorganised and tiresome straight out of the box but really settled after a week or so. Worthwhile to give it a bit of time I think.

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by George F

Give the V1 longer than a week to sort itself out. Mine sounded lovely out of the box and got nicer over about a month. So good that I stopped wondering what else might come along.

ATB from George

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by Mortalcoil

The V1 is definitely rich with that Naim goodness. A wonderful piece of kit indeed.

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by dave4jazz

FWIW I upgraded from the original Rega DAC to the DAC-V1. Good as the Rega DAC may have been, at it's price point, for me the DAC-V1 is in a different league, in terms of both SQ and functionality, when paired with Naim amplification, e.g. NAP100 or 200.

Dave

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by MangoMonkey

Originally Posted by Richard Dane:

Originally Posted by MangoMonkey:

The Rega Dac is pretty good. In terms of SQ, I think it is at the NDX level.

However, it does not have the Naim drive, nor the Naim sound.

I actually prefer even the UnitiQute's Dac over the Rega Dac.

MM, this post doesn't seem to make any sense - it appears to be contradictory. Is there a mistake or a typo?

Not really. Sound Quality is one thing. And the Naim sound is another.

I really would take the UnitiQute over the Rega Dac, even though the rega dac in some ways is at the NDX level.

Saying it's a contradiction suggests we're talking about a linear scale here or that comparing audio equipment is commutative/reflexive etc.

NDX vs. Rega Dac: The Dac had a lower noise floor. It was smoother sounding. The NDX had more speed to it... The rega stuff was ultimately boring...

Let it go, ok? :-)

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by MangoMonkey

Originally Posted by ChrisSU:

Originally Posted by Richard Dane:

Originally Posted by MangoMonkey:

The Rega Dac is pretty good. In terms of SQ, I think it is at the NDX level.

However, it does not have the Naim drive, nor the Naim sound.

I actually prefer even the UnitiQute's Dac over the Rega Dac.

MM, this post doesn't seem to make any sense - it appears to be contradictory. Is there a mistake or a typo?

I was about to buy an NDX, but maybe I could save a load of cash by just getting a Unitiqute!!!

The UnitiQute into a naim dac is less money and better than the NDX. ;-)

better, for some definition of better...

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by feeling_zen

Originally Posted by MangoMonkey:

Originally Posted by ChrisSU:

Originally Posted by Richard Dane:

Originally Posted by MangoMonkey:

The Rega Dac is pretty good. In terms of SQ, I think it is at the NDX level.

However, it does not have the Naim drive, nor the Naim sound.

I actually prefer even the UnitiQute's Dac over the Rega Dac.

MM, this post doesn't seem to make any sense - it appears to be contradictory. Is there a mistake or a typo?

I was about to buy an NDX, but maybe I could save a load of cash by just getting a Unitiqute!!!

The UnitiQute into a naim dac is less money and better than the NDX. ;-)

better, for some definition of better...

UQ2 into V1 better than an NDX? Now I've heard it all.

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by MangoMonkey

The original Naim Dac, not the Naim Dac V1.

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by feeling_zen

Originally Posted by MangoMonkey:

The original Naim Dac, not the Naim Dac V1.

Yup okay I understand now.

But I think that is more expensive.

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by Musicraft (Derby)

Originally Posted by Mortalcoil:

The V1 is definitely rich with that Naim goodness. A wonderful piece of kit indeed.

Hi Mortalcoil

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Posted on: 28 October 2015 by MangoMonkey

Originally Posted by Musicraft (Derby):

Originally Posted by Mortalcoil:

The V1 is definitely rich with that Naim goodness. A wonderful piece of kit indeed.

Hi Mortalcoil

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

+1 indeed.

Posted on: 29 October 2015 by gary yeowell

UQ into original Naim Dac, better than NDX..... Yes i'd agree with that.

DacV1 more fun than NDX, yup.

Posted on: 29 October 2015 by catalinmetal

i am just curious... how exactly would you do that...? transport reffers to a device that brings the digital data to a DAC...

Originally Posted by mikeybaby:

I do not and will not use the DAC as a transport.

Posted on: 29 October 2015 by Martin Zero

Originally Posted by Musicraft (Derby):

Originally Posted by Mortalcoil:

The V1 is definitely rich with that Naim goodness. A wonderful piece of kit indeed.

Hi Mortalcoil

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Agree total sweet spot in every way

Posted on: 29 October 2015 by Zeny

I understand exactly what MM is saying regarding the naim sound and naim drive.

I completely agree with MM.

Posted on: 29 October 2015 by charlesphoto

Well, MM sold me a V1 at a great price about two years ago and I agree with everything he says here!

Posted on: 30 October 2015 by Musicraft (Derby)

Originally Posted by MangoMonkey:

Originally Posted by Musicraft (Derby):

Originally Posted by Mortalcoil:

The V1 is definitely rich with that Naim goodness. A wonderful piece of kit indeed.

Hi Mortalcoil

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

+1 indeed.

Hi MM

Shouldn't this be +2

All the best

Rick @ Musicraft

Posted on: 30 October 2015 by hungryhalibut

Originally Posted by charlesphoto:

Well, MM sold me a V1 at a great price about two years ago and I agree with everything he says here!

Feel the MM love!

Posted on: 30 October 2015 by Mortalcoil

Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

Feel the MM love!

as well as that V1 love!