Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!aero!chowkwan
From: chowkwan@aero.org (Raymond Chowkwanyun)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Outboard D/A converters
Message-ID: <CHOWKWAN.90Mar16155017@merlin.aero.org>
Date: 19 Mar 90 14:19:47 GMT
Sender: news@uwm.edu
Organization: The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA
Lines: 28
Approved: tjk@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Posted-Date: 16 Mar 90 23:50:17 GMT

I'm thinking of getting an outboard D/A converter and would
appreciate hearing from anyone who's had experience with
them.  Please also tell us what equipment you're using
and also interconnects.  Mahines I know about are:

Wadia I don't know how many dollars but certainly way out of my
budget.  It's supposed to be the best.

Theta. You can get a DSPro Basic for $2k.  This is stretching
it dollar wise but it's possible.  They also make a more
expensive non-Basic model as well as the Pre version which
has some of the features of a preamp (balance?)

Aragon. They make a $1K unit which uses the Theta chip.  
I'd really be interested if someone has compared this to the
Theta.  If I can get close to the DSPro Basic's performance
for half the price, that'd be good.  I listened to this
briefly in a store - I thought the Denon unit sounded better
which is certainly a disappointment.  But this dealer has
a very poor listening room.

PS Audio.  I don't know too much about this except that
you can get it for about $800 from Audio Advisor.  

Madrigal.  I think they have a proceed model.  I know even
less about this than PS Audio.

-- ray