Parasound DAC-1100HD

**cmy330go** · 10-03-2005 09:40 PM

Is anyone familiar with this unit? I am in need of upgrading my cd playback on my 2ch rig and have found one of these for $275. Is it worth that? I thought it would be a cheap way to try a dac.

EDIT: I see that new CDP vs. DAC is a bit of a hot topic around here. So what is your opinion? Would I be better off with my old sony and a used dac, or just a new player like the Cambridge Audio Azur 540C ($349 at Audio Advisor)??

Thanks for the help!

**fredv** · 10-04-2005 12:40 AM

Very difficult call, only the one who listened to both can give some reasonable ideas. The DAC's price seems to be reasonable. If it is local and you don't mind a little lost, you can buy and try it to see you like it. If you like it, keep it and don't look back. If not, resell it.

**heiney9** · 10-04-2005 04:43 PM

+1 to what fredv said. I've stopped blanket endorsements of Dac's because some people just don't think there is a difference or if there is it isn't worth it. IMO, if your Sony cdp is in good working order to do transport duties for a while I think you'll be better off with the Dac.

No doubt the Cambridge is a nice unit. This is my opinion, YMMV.

H9

**halo** · 10-04-2005 05:19 PM

I was on the fence about this until SCompRacer brought one over to my house and let me listen/compare in my rig. My current CDP (Kenwood) is starting to go & the DAC he brought over was more expensive than a new CDP. There was a noticeable difference in my rig with the DAC. I was just about to purchase the Azur 540C when someone (phuz) decided to sell what I thought was a better CDP for not too much more than the Azur shipped. I figure that if I don't get the result I'm looking for I can always add a DAC later. My $.02 :)

I'd get the demo unit from AA for $299 + ship. Still has 30 day return.

**dkg999** · 10-04-2005 05:40 PM

If you're going the CDP route, I would seriously look at getting the Azure 640 over the 540. I think that transport wise they are the same, however I tried both and for reasons unexplained the 640 sounded much better. More open, and less British sounding.

**W WALDECKER** · 10-04-2005 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by cmy330go

Is anyone familiar with this unit? I am in need of upgrading my cd playback on my 2ch rig and have found one of these for $275. Is it worth that? I thought it would be a cheap way to try a dac.

EDIT: I see that new CDP vs. DAC is a bit of a hot topic around here. So what is your opinion? Would I be better off with my old sony and a used dac, or just a new player like the Cambridge Audio Azur 540C ($349 at Audio Advisor)??

Thanks for the help!

i would spend the $275.00 get the DAC and try it out. if you are happy with it great! if not you can resell it recoup your money and explore other avenues. it is my personal feeling that to benefit fully from a DAC the other gear needs to be of a high enough resolution to take advantage of the improved digtal to analog audio signal or you may not notice that much of a difference. and this also goes for high end one box CDPs as well. good luck..........WCW III

**cmy330go** · 10-05-2005 02:01 AM

Thanks for the tips and suggestions guys!

I think I'm going to try both and compare.

I do have one more question.
My cd player is about 7 years old, in great shape, has no playback problems, and sounds respectable as is, however it is sony. Do you all think that it is good enough to use with an external dac?

Thanks Again

**fredv** · 10-05-2005 02:23 AM

My Sony cdp is even older, the adcom DAC (sold to me by a fellow Polk member) simply gave it a new life. So, I will say it is good enough.

**halo** · 10-05-2005 10:29 AM

A Parasound 2000-Ultra DAC made my 10 year old Kenwood shine IMO. From what I've heard a Sony beats a Kenwood any day.

**cmy330go** · 10-05-2005 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by fredv

My Sony cdp is even older, the adcom DAC (sold to me by a fellow Polk member) simply gave it a new life. So, I will say it is good enough.

Originally Posted by peersool

A Parasound 2000-Ultra DAC made my 10 year old Kenwood shine IMO. From what I've heard a Sony beats a Kenwood any day.

Thanks for the info! I guess I'll try to snag the dac and see what happens. :)

**heiney9** · 10-05-2005 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by cmy330go

Thanks for the info! I guess I'll try to snag the dac and see what happens. :)

Sounds like a solid plan :) Sonys are known to be very reliable transports.

H9

**W WALDECKER** · 10-05-2005 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by heiney9

Sounds like a solid plan :) Sonys are known to be very reliable transports.

H9

they sure are!

**cmy330go** · 10-05-2005 07:57 PM

Sorry but I have a new question.

Has dac technology improved much in the past 10 years? Seems this model is about 10 years old, and I'm just curious if there are other newer options in the same price range that might be a beter choice?

**Normanality** · 10-05-2005 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by peersool

A Parasound 2000-Ultra DAC made my 10 year old Kenwood shine IMO. From what I've heard a Sony beats a Kenwood any day.

Interstingly enough, that same Parasound 2000 Ultra made my brand new Marantz DV-6500 CD/SACD player sound 100% better. I based my purchase on a few reviews stating how clean the sound was with the 24bit DAC onboard.

At that price level, I'm not sure how much an older lower end DAC will improve over a good CDP with a decent DAC.

**heiney9** · 10-06-2005 03:01 AM

Originally Posted by cmy330go

Sorry but I have a new question.

Has dac technology improved much in the past 10 years? Seems this model is about 10 years old, and I'm just curious if there are other newer options in the same price range that might be a beter choice?

Generally speaking it goes back to idea of seperates. A seperate Dac even a unit 10 years old will sound better than a stand alone. There haven't been huge changes in technology. The chipsets have been updated but I still believe a stand alone Dac that atleast uses 20 bit dac chips is going to outperform most stand alone cdps. What chipset does the unit you are buying use? Is it a dual Dac configuration? The Burr Brown PCM-63PK is a very popular choice for that vintage unit. It's a soild chipset that is leaps and bounds above the 16 bit PCM-54HP which was common much earlier. Even newer yet is the Burr Brown PCM-1702 and 1703 both 20 bit chip sets. It's also possible that the Parasound may use Wolfson chipsets which I know nothing about other than there are also very good.

Bottom line is a 10 year old DAC in most cases will sound better than a newer stand alone cdp. And most certainly will sound better than a stand alone cdp of the same era. The unit is designed to much more exacting standards and has much more precision electronics used.

H9

**cmy330go** · 10-06-2005 04:32 AM

Originally Posted by heiney9

Generally speaking it goes back to idea of seperates. A seperate Dac even a unit 10 years old will sound better than a stand alone. There haven't been huge changes in technology. The chipsets have been updated but I still believe a stand alone Dac that atleast uses 20 bit dac chips is going to outperform most stand alone cdps. What chipset does the unit you are buying use? Is it a dual Dac configuration? The Burr Brown PCM-63PK is a very popular choice for that vintage unit. It's a soild chipset that is leaps and bounds above the 16 bit PCM-54HP which was common much earlier. Even newer yet is the Burr Brown PCM-1702 and 1703 both 20 bit chip sets. It's also possible that the Parasound may use Wolfson chipsets which I know nothing about other than there are also very good.

Bottom line is a 10 year old DAC in most cases will sound better than a newer stand alone cdp. And most certainly will sound better than a stand alone cdp of the same era. The unit is designed to much more exacting standards and has much more precision electronics used.

H9

Thanks a lot! That was very informative. The DAC I'm considering has Two Burr-Brown PCM 63P-J 20 bit. I would guess very similar to what you mentioned above.

With that said I think I'm going to make an offer on it. Wish me luck!

Thanks again guys! :)

**crossroadazn** · 10-06-2005 04:37 AM

I have 2 DACs one Monarchy Audio model 22A and one P.S Audio Ultralink, yes either one improves the sound of my system but differently. The P.S Audio it has a better dynamic, inner details and wider soundstage. On the Monarchy Audio it has more refine sound very easy listening from top to bottom smooth and round with deeper soundstage, detail very good only better by the P.S Audio. But system dependents any DAC could sound different in a system. My system:
SilverLine Audio SR-12 modified external x-over, vertical bi-amp with x2 Dynaco St-70s, Sunfire super true sub jr, Onix x-88 as transport, Dared SL-2000A tube pre. with Prima 5z4 and matched RCA 12AT7s, cables Mit-T2 speakers and ICs, Synergistic research ICs, Audio Quest power cables, power wedge & power pac AC conditioners,Target amp stands and Sanus audio stand.

**ND13** · 10-06-2005 10:03 AM

[QUOTE=crossroadazn] Dared SL-2000A tube pre. with Prima 5z4 and matched RCA 12AT7s, [QUOTE]

Please tell me your opinion on the Dared pre. I've been entertaining this unit, but I have to admit that it's mainly for the remote and looks. I like the look of it and I need another tubed pre at this time.

Thanks,

Noel

**crossroadazn** · 10-06-2005 12:23 PM

Hi Noel. The Dared pre. is very good sounding I replace it from Acurus 11 and what a world of differents, the vocal is so good and transparence now i can hear every detail from the singer voice : lips, breathing and chestiness ( lol ). The soundstage is spaces, instrument localization and air..It is truely great product and fun tubes rolling.

**ND13** · 10-06-2005 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by crossroadazn

Hi Noel. The Dared pre. is very good sounding I replace it from Acurus 11 and what a world of differents, the vocal is so good and transparence now i can hear every detail from the singer voice : lips, breathing and chestiness ( lol ). The soundstage is spaces, instrument localization and air..It is truely great product and fun tubes rolling.

Thanks, that's what I was hoping to hear from someone, as I hadn't found anyone that had experience with that particular unit. I believe that I will try one as soon as I can scrape up the $$$. If you don't mind, what did you pay for yours? I see them for $399 all the time, nib. Is that a good price for one?

Thanks again,
Noel

**crossroadazn** · 10-07-2005 11:53 AM

$399 is the price I paid thru dealer from ebuy, you should up grade to NOS tubes when you get it this will improve the sound . I donot have any problem with it. I wish it can be review with other different amps, well not many " audiophile " gives it a good chance when it come from China. Lots of these amps and preamps are using circuit topologies or similar to old Mcintosh, Marantz, etc.. Happy listening.

**ND13** · 10-07-2005 02:08 PM

Thanks for all the info, but I have purchased a Dodd MLP from another member and it will most likely be the last pre I will ever have to buy.

**ohskigod** · 10-07-2005 02:34 PM

hey Noel, niiiiiiice!!!!!

you gotta tell me how that thing sounds when you get it fired up.

**ND13** · 10-07-2005 02:46 PM

Should have it by Wednesday or Thursday, next week.

**crossroadazn** · 10-08-2005 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by ND13

Thanks for all the info, but I have purchased a Dodd MLP from another member and it will most likely be the last pre I will ever have to buy.

The last pre ? :D

**beardog03** · 10-08-2005 01:14 AM

ND13,

I too have purchased my final pre (I`m pretty sure ! :o )...should be here soon..

You have been moving in giant leaps and bounds since PolkFest..!

GO, brother,GO... :D

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