Source Upgrade

[tryrrthg]

I've been doing some upgrading to my CD player over the last few weeks. My original plan was to buy a Bel Canto DAC2 and a McCormack SST-1 transport. I bought the DAC2 (sounds amazing)and had a change of heart becasue of the cost. Summer project plans on our house have forced me to put that on hold (sort of). I decided to buy the cheaper Bel Canto DAC1.1 which is the DAC1 upgraded with the DAC2's power supply. I also bought the McCormack transport, which is a very cool top loading design with a magnetic puck/disc that is put on top of the CD to help stabalize it, helping to control jitter. It's built like a tank and I think it looks pretty cool too.

I haven't gotten a lot of time with the combo since the transport just arrived on Friday, but it definitely sounds GOOD. Soundstage is deeper and I get a better sense of the accoustic environment. Instruments sound even more real than before, the tone sounds more life like. Digital grain and harshness are GONE. Much better high frequency extension, with more "air". Bass sounds more musical and just POUNDS.

It is definitely a "musical" combo. An audio friend of mine was over to hear my system yesterday and he described my system as "effortless". yeah baby! :D

if anyone wants to try out a Bel Canto DAC2, I've got one for sale. I refuse to hook the DAC2 up to the transport for fear of what it might do to my conscience. ;)

Anyway, on to the good stuff, PICS:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/tryrrthg/SSTFront.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/tryrrthg/SST-Top.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/tryrrthg/SST-TopOpen.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/tryrrthg/SST-TopOpen2.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/tryrrthg/DACS.jpg

[ohskigod]

i think it might be too rich for my blood, but how much you selling the bel canto for?

[tryrrthg]

Originally posted by ohskigod
i think it might be too rich for my blood, but how much you selling the bel canto for?
$775 + shipping.

[steveinaz]

That's a good price and a wonderful DAC. If Redbook CD is your primary source, don't even think about it, just do it.

[Skynut]

I hate to sound dumb but what is a dac2 and why is it soo much?
It looks like a real nice cd player but what are the 2 boxes for?
What exactly are you selling?
You are probably laughing right now but I haven't a clue.

[tryrrthg]

Originally posted by Skynut
I hate to sound dumb but what is a dac2 and why is it soo much?
It looks like a real nice cd player but what are the 2 boxes for?
What exactly are you selling?
You are probably laughing right now but I haven't a clue.
A DAC is a Digital to Analog Converter. It converts all the 1's and 0's on your CD's to an analog signal to be sent to your preamp.

The McCormack SST-1 is not actually a CD player. It is a transport, it's only purpose is to read the CD and send the digital signal to the DAC. It could not function like a normal CD player without an outboard DAC.

The two black boxes are two different DAC's. one is the DAC2 and the other is the previous model DAC1.1

Links to more info on the products:

McCormack SST-1 (http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_2_4/v2n4i.html)

Bel Canto DAC2 (http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/belcanto_dac2.htm)

[Skynut]

So if I am figuring this out it is only a converter for the transport. It takes the digital signal and makes it sound more soft or natural. It kinda make a cd sound more like vinyl without the imperfections in the record that the needle will broadcast.?
And you are selling just the converter and not the transport.
Someday I wana play with the big boys, till then I will just study under them and learn.
:p