I wonder how it would stack up against your TC-7510. That's had a decent burn in time by now. Keep us informed;).
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I wonder how it would stack up against your TC-7510. That's had a decent burn in time by now. Keep us informed;).
I've found Cambridge Audio and Naim players to have that digital 'sheen' that I hate! They have resolution, but the sound is too etched and artificial to me. I'd take a Rotel 965BX and reclock it anyday. This is all to my personal taste of course! Isn't it funny that older CDPs sound far more analogue - talk about progress!
What progress? :scratch: Yom, I totally agree!Quote:
Isn't it funny that older CDPs sound far more analogue - talk about progress!
However, for a modern DAC, the Beresford offers excellent sound-per-pound value and punches well above its price level in terms of performance. In that context it's a no-brainer purchase.
Marco.
Marco, it'll more than do until I've built my TDA1541A DAC. Got the essential parts, but my 5 month old daughter has sapped my time away (in the best possible way of course). ;)
Home Cinema Choice has now published a review of the Cambridge DacMagic.
From that review:
'It's probably worth getting a word or three in at this point about the filters, because they do indeed have an important effect on the sound – nothing gross, but the way the sound registers on the ear over the course of a prolonged track varies between them.
To the extent that each can be succinctly summarised, the linear phase is clean and tidy with a particularly well-controlled bass, but can sometimes seem a little clinical by comparison with minimum phase, which seems slightly warmer but perhaps a shade less precise.
Meanwhile, steep is superlatively detailed in simple music – single voice/instrument, or just a few – but slightly loses out to linear in very dense textures.
[]
Standards of CD replay being what they are, it probably won't lift many modern players beyond recognition, but it could give a new lease of life to some older models and for computer-based music replay it is an excellent choice.
The remarks about the filters is an important one IMO. I myself have struggled to understand why different recordings react differently to different types of digital filters. That inconsistency is reason why I don't use the digital filter in the DAC chip.
I am a bit disappointed with their conclusion that the DacMagic probably won't lift many standard (CD/DVD) players beyond recognition. Many standard players have less than perfect DAC implementation and are in the whole easily improved upon when they are used as a transport with a good DAC.
Luckily you guys needn't have any fears. My TC-7510 does not suffer from any of those faults:). It's take more than a bit of magic to improve on my design...
Its funny that theres already a huge demand for the Cambridge dac , read on various forums and its surprising how many people are interested in the thing.
I've only heard their 840c cdp used both as cdp and a dac with its spdif input.
ASRC usually does add a lot of signature and as already noted its results tends to vary with the material
Even using the bypass option avialble on some of these ASRC chips still adds a flavour to sound IMO
From what I understand the DacMagic is based on the 740C. I think a lot of people have been too eager to believe it is a stripped down 840C...
It ain't easy building a high end beater, and judging by the results my TC-7510 still reigns:). The DacMagic will no doubt draw sales away from me, but the people who are really interested in sound improvements are hopefully going to bite the bullet and buy my cheaper option.
In all honesty I wasn't that impressed with the 840c, don't get me wrong its a decent player but wasn't as good as the hype in my opinion, guess I expect too much:lol:
AD1955 used in the 840c uses a more complex external output stage etc than the cheaper and easier WM8740 used in the 740c
It wouldn't make sense anyway making their budget dac to be on par with their top cdp
Thing is Stan your dac performs nice and easily worth its price, theres other units out there that may sound a bit better but look how much extra you have to pay, the thing people need to ask themself is it worth the sometimes huge extra in cost ;)
Theres those that are happy enough with their purchases and others wanting to go as high as they possibably can, in a lot of cases I know of friends who have spent god knows how much just to get marginal improvements
Leo Hi, that is exactly my experience, there are gains to be had but at considerable cost .
Just some of us diyers that tend to be constantly tweaking :doh:
It still amazes me the amount of rubbish that is out there though, we could soon fill a thread that names and shames the shite! better not though eh:lolsign:
There is a backlash already building up based on the initial reviews of the DacMagic. I guess a few people have waited so long, they are just less than impressed by the outcome compared to their expectation. Personally, I suspect the upsampling method that was used in the DacMagic. Reminds me of the troubles that DBX inflicted on audio signals.
Unfortunately theres a lot of people who just rely on these reviews when deciding what products to buy:mental:
Last time I tried a SRC4392 on the I2S in one of the dacs I ended up ripping it out after spending too much time faffing about with it
I sold my Audio Synthesis DAX Decade (rrp £3.5k) a few days back, and am now using my old Beresford Mk3 DAC. Sounds bloody good, it was always my fave of Stan's work (although I've not tried them all), and I'm in no hurry to find a replacement - in fact, I'm looking forward to trying Stan's soon-to-be-released 7510+. :)
Hi jerry,
If you have a Mk.3, have a word with Stanley about the simple mod. he sent me details of. If you use your DAc for Cd replay I can heartily recommend it - another 10 veils lifted, much better bass etc through a Sugden CD21/A21a set-up.
Chris
Jerry,
´Nuff said. I never even opened my gob.
Chris
Jerry didn't mean it in a bad way. His MK3 is a limited edition version of which less than 40 were ever made. Even up to today they still fetch between £60 to £80 on eBay, and the Champagne coloured version is a real rarity.
By the way guys, following advise and suggestions from people in the know, I finally managed to get my hands on a website address that reflects my brand name. Have a look at http://www.beresford.me
Feel free to make any suggestions for additions etc via PM or email if need be. I haven't yet made the site address known anywhere else, until I am happy that it is A-1.
Stan
And Chris didn't take it that way. Read what he wrote again, carefully ;)Quote:
Jerry didn't mean it in a bad way...
Your new website is looking good!
Marco.
Hi Stan,
No offence taken at all. Au contraire, I find it really refreshing to find someone who knows what he likes and at the same time is very happy with what he has got. A difficult combination for most of us, I fear. I´m still working on it but I´m getting nearer, I hope.
All the best,
Chris
Yup, there's something about the Mk3 Beresford DAC I have that really just ticks a lot of my most important musical boxes. :) It's not that I haven't tried 'real' (i.e. expensive) DACs .... I've had more than many folks could shake a stick at, and some of them have been damn fine and shown the Beresford a thing or two. But it always feels nice to return to Stan's Mk3 - a hugely musical device imho.
I've just bought one of Stan's DACs. initially i could hear no difference at all and began to think that i'd been a little hasty adding a DAC to brand new electronics. A couple of days later and i have to echo many of the previous statements i've read - it's just so musical
subsequently my t/t is lying dormant whilst i listen to tunes of a HDD.
nice one Stan
..you should hear the latest one.
very VERY musical.
It's an optional modification. I have now put details of the mod21 price on www.beresford.me for those interested in getting it fitted as standard. Existing owners can have it done at the same price, plus postage. Drop off and pick up also possible if you wish to save on the postage.
Is the 7510 MK6/3 + Mod21 = 7510+ ?
No. It is a new design in the same case to keep cost down. I'll post specs in due course.
The MK6/3 & mod21 = MK6/4. Thanks for those who took part in the initial trials;).
I hope to put the MK6/4 up on my new site over the weekend. Price of the MK6/4 is a bit higher due to a 20% loss of the value of the £ against the U$. The MK6/3 will still be available at its normal price for those who wish to do the mod themselves and save on the price increase.
Discount on the MOD21 to members of AoS who have ANY version of the TC-7510 is available via PM. This is to avoid any non-members trying to scam in without joining up:ner:.
You old tease:lol:
The difference between my old Dac MK6/III and the anlologue type involvement I'm getting from the latest mod (its a big step up) is not just a little difference.
Its worthy of a new version number of the Dac - its a different product.
Difference between Hifi and music, I'd say.
...no, I'm not a plant. Just a happpy music lover. :)
Bad news is that the factory delivery of the 6/4 is delayed for a week. Good news is that I can still do the mod on an individual basis upon request.
I have been swamped for orders of the MK6/4, and I am just about out of stock till the weekend. That 7510+ is slipping a bit back once again. But I should be able to get you to beta test a sample for me next week or so. The case printers are not able to accommodate me till the end of November at the earliest. So I am using production line booking time to knock out the MK6/4 in order to get the price a bit down compared to doing the upgrade manually.
Stan
What is the turn round time for a manual Mod21 upgrade of a relatively new box posted back to you?
I've had a mk6/3 for about 3 weeks trying to replace a Meridian 508 24 CD player but feel that I need something a little better.
Does this upgrade make an obvious improvement?
I can't see the info at the mo., is mod21 the kind of thing that can be fitted/performed by the user ?
Things have been moving faster than expected! The MOD21 has now been fitted to a whole batch of MK6/3, and that is now the MK6/4 for convenience. I have had a rash of inquiries for upgrades to the older TC-7510, and there ain't enough time in a day to mod older units AND the MK6/3 at the same time. So I had to act accordingly...
For the mod price, send me a PM. AoS folks qualify for a lower price;).
Thanks Stanley,
My 6/3 will be in the post to you today. I disconnected it last night and couldnt listen to my Squeezebox for even five minutes because of the difference in quality. So get in back quickly please! :)
Shall do:).
See my earlier post about my own findings of the mod21. I go into some detail with what I found.
I had a Mk6/III before the upgrade.
Its very very good. I found it to be a big step up.
=======================================
ORIGINAL REVIEW
=======================================
The Dacs been running in for a couple of days...and I cant believe the improvement to the Mk6/III. Wonderful.
If I thought it was shit I would say so (Stan knows that ) but this thing plays music in a way I haven't heard since I last listened to a mate's Linn LP12 turntable.
Stans right, there is SO MUCH MORE musical detail getting through, and not in a "hifi" kind of way....you just pick up on little fret noises, breath sounds...guitars SOUND like guitars...and have size and weight behind them. Its very VERY musical...forget the hifi.
This thing really rocks - hard.
From cold it sounded "bigger" than the old Dac, and you could tell the bass was through the floor. But it sounded a bit "hifi", a bit too up-front I suppose.
As it was warming up it started changing its character quite markedly. Whereas initially everything in the mix was coming at you all on one layer, and was a bit congested in the middle, after a while - things in the song started moving into their right places in the soundstage. Voices became less forward, but a lot clearer and "realistic" sounding. Voices had weight and space all around them. Bass guitars became rock solid, more focussed and had very realistic sounding decay. You could tell whether the bass player was using a plectrum or his fingers.
I noticed all this stuff without even trying - it kept grabbing my attention.
I'm noticing all sorts of new stuff engineered in the studio on albums I've had for years.
The Beatles I've noticed in particular. Theres songs where they are using two piano's playing at the same time, and you can tell the tonal differences between them and where they dont QUITE get them playing together perfectly. Before I had just thought there was one.
Stuff like that.
Old Phil Spector 60s "wall of sound" recordings too - my God these sound almost holographic. No kidding. Its in the room.
The sensation of the speakers disappearing and multiple layers of production coming from the wall in front of you is not like anything I've heard in my system before - at least not since I had my Rega 3/K9 years ago, and I dont remember it being this vivid.
Heres a good one, kind of best illustrates what I'm talking about.
I was reading the paper with the squeezebox on random, and the Ramones came on. I ripped the original CD in Flac lossless, but hey - its the Ramones right?
Compressed guitar punk music played at 11?
I know the album very well, I play it in the car a lot, so when it came on through the new Dac, I thought it was a live recording of the song I didn't know I had from a compilation CD or whatever.
It sounded LIVE - the singer was well in front of the guitars, drums were "thwacking" and sounding very realistic and I could actually make out what the lyrics were!
After a minute or so I realised that it was the same recording I thought I knew like the back of my hand. It was spooky.
Classical music sounds absolutely massive, its easy to tell the size of the venue from a recording...I've never had this in my system before.
Dynamics start and stop instantly with decay and resonance if its in a recording...it can feel almost "physical". bass is solid and through the floor. The treble shimmers and can be incisive and hard hitting (think "Theme from Shaft" cymbals cutting through the air so much you can feel them) or very sweet and smooth, think Eva Cassidy or Norah Jones....its beguiling.
================================================== ==========
It just gets to the music a lot better.
I am not sleeping well at all these days. The MK6 with mOD21 is shifting like hot buns, and I have had to rush through a special production of 100 pieces just so I could get the cost down of fitting the mod to the MK6/3. Otherwise it is going to be too close to call price wise with the 7510+. Even more worrying is that some folks have started to put down a deposit on the 7510+ after just hearing the 1st prototype. Talk about being under pressure:(.
What, you mean return the current one and do a swap ?
If so then what was the time limit ? (I've now checked and original order was on 29/9/2008.)
Or do you mean that the work is guaranteed ?
Which one, the 12Watt, 18Watt, 25Watt or 80Watt ?Quote:
Which end do you hold a soldering iron? I am trying to get an idea of your soldering skills.
Usually the cold end but I've been burning my fingers since I was about 8 years old - now 48.
If it's a simple component swap then fine but if we are talking surface mount stuff then too tricky.
From reading other posts it definitely looks like a good move so will probably be in touch.
Thanks for that, those are the kinds of improvements I'm looking for - the Mk3 seems pretty good already at the floor shaking stuff too me. I think the Squeezebox/Beresford is an amazing combination for the price but still felt the Meridian 508 was more "beguiling", voices grab you and make you want to listen (but then it is/was a much more expensive bit of kit).