Audiophile ADCs?

[MurrayP]

Can anyone point me to a an extremely good audiophile analogue to digital converter (24/196) in kit or evaluation board form (or built if you think its tops). My goal is to convert vinyl and preserve its delicacy. I have a Tact 24/196 ADC and find it just ins't up to this sort to of thing. When later reconverted the sound is noticably hardened and uninviting.

DCS seem to being some nice stuff ....but I don't need another mortgage,

thanks!
Murray

 

[Pjotr]

Hi,

Up to a few years ago I used the Sony SBM1 combined with a TCD-D3 portable Dat recorder for this purpose. It did do the job pretty well:

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.

If you search the web they are still available. At the moment I am using the audio products from M-Audio. At the moment I am using the USB Duo, it can be used as a stand-alone converter with SP/DIF out as well. It looks cheap (and it is relative) but to me it does make musical recordings at 96 kHz and also at 44.1 kHz.

 

[peranders]

http://www.digitalaudio.dk/

They use CS5397 as ADC chip and AKM as DAC chip.

The price is around 2000 USD.

 

[peranders]

Have you checked Apogee?

 

[peranders]

http://www.msbtech.com/

MSB makes also Crystal based ADC's to a much lower price.

 

[Brian Guralnick]

OK,

What if price was no object. Which (by manufacturer) ADC (24/192) is considered the best?

 

[peranders]

Originally posted by Brian Guralnick OK, What if price was no object. Which (by manufacturer) ADC (24/192) is considered the best?

I think Apogee is rather good and rather expensive...

 

[halcyon]

Look at these possibilities

I'm by no means even a beginner in regards to DACs, but consider the following options:

Benchmark Audio DAC1
http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/digital/dac1/default.asp
- Technical performance looks excellent, especially jitter immunity. Moderately priced for Pro audio gear, IMHO.

Audio Aero Capitole
http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/audioaero_capitole24192.htm
http://www.iar-80.com/page24.html
- The latest audiophile craze. Supposedly a very good DAC, but also VERY expensive

DcS Elgar Plus
http://www.dcsltd.co.uk/elgar.htm
http://www.stereophile.com/showarchives.cgi?259:7
- From the highly esteemed British experts in Digital to Analog conversion. Used as a reference by many. 192 kHz and DSD DAC as well.

EMM Labs DAC-8
http://www.emmlabs.com/prod02.htm
- A DAC from a highly regarded studio pros. Many DSD places use this as the reference DAC

With the exception of the first, all of the above DACs are VERY expensive ($6000 - $11 000+ USD).

Those are the mostly highly regarded (subjectively or by measurements) DACs in the existence today that I personally know of.

I cannot vouch for their performance personally nor do I necessarily support the manufacturers (or reviewers) claims.

I hope that was of some help.

regards,
Halcyon

 

[MurrayP]

thanks

thanks to all for their suggestions. Actually Halcyon, it was ADC's I was after - but your advice has directed me anyway - thanks again

Murray

 

[halcyon]

ADC, ahem... err... maybe I should learn to read first 🙂

regards,
Halcyon

 

[Ric Schultz]

Audionote ADC

Someone just mentioned on Audioasylum that Audionote is bringing out ADCs based on pure multibit ADC technology. I believe they are going to show them at the CES. They have applied for a patent on it and the cheapest one will cost $3000.

Ric Schultz

 

[Terry Demol]

OK,

What if price was no object. Which (by manufacturer) ADC (24/192) is considered the best?

There are a few.

Best ADC would probably be Pacific Microsonics Model II.
They've been taken over by Euphonics. Sorry don't know
web site do some searching.
Also up in that league is Prism AD2, dB Technologies AD122
(now Lavry Engineering) and Weiss AD.

All these boxes are used by some of the worlds best
mastering guys ie to make your CD's.

Apogee is probably a step down from these but I haven't
heard it myself, just going from WOM.

As for DSD AD's, Meitner Labs is regarded as the one to
beat.

Also worth a mention is Mytek which has very great
respect in mastering circles and is quite cheap for
what you get. Note that Mytek are cooking a DSD
2 trk HD recording package that is reported to be awesome.

Hope this helps.


Terry

 

[halcyon]

Thanks Terry.

The company is Euphhonix and the ADC is indeed Model Two:

http://www.euphonix.com/music/products/model_two/model_two.htm

regards,
Halcyon