I have a Parasound C/DP-1000 cd player in my system that sounds pretty good, however, I think it could be a little better.
Today on eBay, I bought an AMC DAC8 d/a converter.
After further research I have found that the specs are NOT quite as good as those of the Parasound.
I know that you can never completely go by just the specs. You actually have to hear it in your system to get a feel of what has improved, if anything.
So here's my questions....
Do you think this will be an improvement over the built-in d/a converter of the Parasound? Does anyone own either one of these units that can tell me what to expect when I insert the AMC into the chain?
Any info will be greatly appreciated!! 😀
Today on eBay, I bought an AMC DAC8 d/a converter.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
After further research I have found that the specs are NOT quite as good as those of the Parasound.
I know that you can never completely go by just the specs. You actually have to hear it in your system to get a feel of what has improved, if anything.
So here's my questions....
Do you think this will be an improvement over the built-in d/a converter of the Parasound? Does anyone own either one of these units that can tell me what to expect when I insert the AMC into the chain?
Any info will be greatly appreciated!! 😀
I was curious about this too. About one or two years ago I almost bought the DAC, but after some thoughts I canceled the purchase.
AMC is if I’m not mistaken the manufacturer for several NAD products. I imagined a CDP as DAC plus transporter. How much could the transporter price be (plus a bigger power supply)? $150? Supposed your Parasound is $A and the DAC is $B. I believe that $A>>$B+$150. This is why I didn’t buy the DAC. It’s just too cheap for a DAC
But the DAC may be a good candidate for DIY effort 🙂
AMC is if I’m not mistaken the manufacturer for several NAD products. I imagined a CDP as DAC plus transporter. How much could the transporter price be (plus a bigger power supply)? $150? Supposed your Parasound is $A and the DAC is $B. I believe that $A>>$B+$150. This is why I didn’t buy the DAC. It’s just too cheap for a DAC
But the DAC may be a good candidate for DIY effort 🙂
So what is that supposed to mean, that the AMC DAC8 is not worth the money? Is it not going to improve anything? Do you think that the d/a converter in the Parasound is still better than the AMC?
I already bought it, so I guess all I can do is hook it up when it comes in and see what happens.
Any other input on this matter would be appreciated.
I already bought it, so I guess all I can do is hook it up when it comes in and see what happens.
Any other input on this matter would be appreciated.
...other input
I believe the AMC DAC8 is about 1995 vintage, and was not meant to compete with audiophile DACs. I have a similar, also old, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, which I believe was compared to the DAC8 at the time, also bought on ebay (for around $100, which is about what I think its worth). It is an improvement on the line out from a couple products which in my personal opinion do not have a very good analog output. It is NOT an improvement on the output of a typical mid-range CDP, or equal to a newer MSB DAC, for example.
When comparing to the output of your player, be careful of the relative level (the volume) of the two line outputs. They may not be the same, even if the specs match. If one is even slightly higher (louder), your ears may trick you into believing it is better.
An outboard DAC is likely to produce a _different_ sound, and you may have to listen to it for a few days to get used to how it sounds before comparing to your player and deciding which you like better. It may not depend on just which D/A converter is better, but on the care taken with the analog output design, the power supply, and the interconnects.
PM
I believe the AMC DAC8 is about 1995 vintage, and was not meant to compete with audiophile DACs. I have a similar, also old, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, which I believe was compared to the DAC8 at the time, also bought on ebay (for around $100, which is about what I think its worth). It is an improvement on the line out from a couple products which in my personal opinion do not have a very good analog output. It is NOT an improvement on the output of a typical mid-range CDP, or equal to a newer MSB DAC, for example.
When comparing to the output of your player, be careful of the relative level (the volume) of the two line outputs. They may not be the same, even if the specs match. If one is even slightly higher (louder), your ears may trick you into believing it is better.
An outboard DAC is likely to produce a _different_ sound, and you may have to listen to it for a few days to get used to how it sounds before comparing to your player and deciding which you like better. It may not depend on just which D/A converter is better, but on the care taken with the analog output design, the power supply, and the interconnects.
PM
Hmm, maybe if it doesn't sound that good, I can just use it on my computer that's hooked up to the stereo! I'm sure it sound better than the computer's DAC. 
I recieved the DAC8 yesterday and installed it. With some close listening, I have to say that the AMC is not as bad as some of you think.
I have since taken the Parasound CD/P-1000 out of my system which actually did not sound as good as my current Panasonic DVD-A120 dvd player. I then hooked up the DAC8 to the fiber optic output of the dvd player and heard a major improvement.
This thing really sings! It reveals a lot more detail and resolution, and it reproduces an incredible 3 dimentional soundstage that I haven't heard in my system ever. It has a very clean, natural, pleasing sound that I think cannot be beat in its price range. There also seems to be more acoustical space between the instruments with pin-point accuracy and superb detail in the acoustics of the recording environment.
The AMC DAC8 may not be an audiophile grade d/a converter, but it surely is a great d/a converter for only $115US.
I'll have to see if there are any kinds of tweeks or mods I can make to it. Maybe somebody here has some ideas. I'm not sure if it can really be improved apon, but I'm always open for suggestions!
I have since taken the Parasound CD/P-1000 out of my system which actually did not sound as good as my current Panasonic DVD-A120 dvd player. I then hooked up the DAC8 to the fiber optic output of the dvd player and heard a major improvement.
This thing really sings! It reveals a lot more detail and resolution, and it reproduces an incredible 3 dimentional soundstage that I haven't heard in my system ever. It has a very clean, natural, pleasing sound that I think cannot be beat in its price range. There also seems to be more acoustical space between the instruments with pin-point accuracy and superb detail in the acoustics of the recording environment.
The AMC DAC8 may not be an audiophile grade d/a converter, but it surely is a great d/a converter for only $115US.
I'll have to see if there are any kinds of tweeks or mods I can make to it. Maybe somebody here has some ideas. I'm not sure if it can really be improved apon, but I'm always open for suggestions!
This is close to what I would like to do to my DAC8. The only thing is, the d/a converter for the Nad cd player is a Sigma-Delta. Mine is a..... well, I'm not sure what it is exactly. All it says in the manual is that the "Resolution" is 18 bits.
Maybe someone can figure something out! 😉
Maybe someone can figure something out! 😉
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Hi, chops.
Open the lid of the AMC and check what op-amps does it have.
Don't worry about the warranty.😀
Open the lid of the AMC and check what op-amps does it have.
Don't worry about the warranty.😀
carlosfm said:
If you can find some op-amps, let me know. And when you do, what can be done and why? Also, do you see a clock anywhere? I don't even see a crystal in this thing. And look at all that room in there for lots of mods!!! 😀
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Gateway Timeout
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opps looks to be down ill try later
thanks..........😉
o here we go its worken thanks
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A DNS lookup error occurred because the request timed out during the lookup. (DNS_TIMEOUT)
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opps looks to be down ill try later
thanks..........😉
o here we go its worken thanks
Nasty JRC
Chops,
What a nasty JRC op-amp it has there!
If it plays well as it is, imagine if you put an OPA2604, OPA2132 or LM6172!
All these are excellent.
You can remove that op-amp and put a good machined socket.
Bypass the psu pins to ground, under the circuit, with a 22 to 100 uf electrolythic, bypassed with 0.1uf poly or ceramic.
You won't believe it when you hear it again.
Try any of the three op-amps above, or get them all and listen to them, see what you like most.
It's easy to change op-amps if you have a socket.
And hey, it seams like a double sided circuit, so you have move components under it.
Maby the clock is smd, and is under the circuit, as the Dac.
Chops,
What a nasty JRC op-amp it has there!
If it plays well as it is, imagine if you put an OPA2604, OPA2132 or LM6172!
All these are excellent.
You can remove that op-amp and put a good machined socket.
Bypass the psu pins to ground, under the circuit, with a 22 to 100 uf electrolythic, bypassed with 0.1uf poly or ceramic.
You won't believe it when you hear it again.
Try any of the three op-amps above, or get them all and listen to them, see what you like most.
It's easy to change op-amps if you have a socket.
And hey, it seams like a double sided circuit, so you have move components under it.
Maby the clock is smd, and is under the circuit, as the Dac.
Hi, chops.
There is not present crystal oscillator, the main clock is recovered by PLL in TDA1315 (this is a spdif receiver, similar CS8412). There are jitter very high (up to 500pS).
What there is a DAC IC?
Inscription on PCB (TDA1015) is mistake, because à TDA1015 is a 1 to 4 W monolithic integrated audio power amplifier.
TC4081 is multiplexer.
7805 is power supply. Only one source on all is poorly. And in general, 7805 is bad.
Begin with upgrade power supply. It is necessary to divide it on 2 parts -digital and analog power supplies. There it is, but a supplies is divided by feritte bead.
It is desirable to use different transformers, and different IC linear regulator, which separate should be for everyone digital IC and pin of digital supply of DAC IC . Digital and analog ground should incorporate on DAC IC. Two steps of linear regulators is better.
IC linear regulator:
LM317 -good
LT1086, adp3303 -very good, but I use the LM317 as current limiter + shunt-regulator on TL431 usually. It`s excellent.
Change op-amp.
ad826(dual) good
ad825(single) good
opa627 (single) excellent
ad843(single) very very excellent
For single op amps use special adapter.
AMC differed by greed on caps always, therefore throw out them all ("wendell" and ceramic caps) and put in analog supplies:
Elna-Silmic 2
-Cerrafine
Panasonic HFZ
BG Fk îr N or similar.
in digital supplies:
tantalum caps (10-50uF) with polypropylene caps (WIMA MKP, FKP) or ceramic caps (NPO only) 0.01-0.1uF as shunt,
or Sanyo OSCon, or BG Nx-HQ.
Caps should be located close as possible by power supplies pins of IC.
The same or another set caps should be located on outputs pins of power supplies regulators
In lines of a digital supplies it is necessary to use ferrite beads.
It is my experience.
You should be happy, you have a lot of place in the box for experiments.
Photograph the main board with the removed plugs. I do not see some inscriptions on it. There can be I still something I shall advise you.
Regards.
halyavshick
There is not present crystal oscillator, the main clock is recovered by PLL in TDA1315 (this is a spdif receiver, similar CS8412). There are jitter very high (up to 500pS).
What there is a DAC IC?
Inscription on PCB (TDA1015) is mistake, because à TDA1015 is a 1 to 4 W monolithic integrated audio power amplifier.
TC4081 is multiplexer.
7805 is power supply. Only one source on all is poorly. And in general, 7805 is bad.
Begin with upgrade power supply. It is necessary to divide it on 2 parts -digital and analog power supplies. There it is, but a supplies is divided by feritte bead.
It is desirable to use different transformers, and different IC linear regulator, which separate should be for everyone digital IC and pin of digital supply of DAC IC . Digital and analog ground should incorporate on DAC IC. Two steps of linear regulators is better.
IC linear regulator:
LM317 -good
LT1086, adp3303 -very good, but I use the LM317 as current limiter + shunt-regulator on TL431 usually. It`s excellent.
Change op-amp.
ad826(dual) good
ad825(single) good
opa627 (single) excellent
ad843(single) very very excellent
For single op amps use special adapter.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
AMC differed by greed on caps always, therefore throw out them all ("wendell" and ceramic caps) and put in analog supplies:
Elna-Silmic 2
-Cerrafine
Panasonic HFZ
BG Fk îr N or similar.
in digital supplies:
tantalum caps (10-50uF) with polypropylene caps (WIMA MKP, FKP) or ceramic caps (NPO only) 0.01-0.1uF as shunt,
or Sanyo OSCon, or BG Nx-HQ.
Caps should be located close as possible by power supplies pins of IC.
The same or another set caps should be located on outputs pins of power supplies regulators
In lines of a digital supplies it is necessary to use ferrite beads.
It is my experience.
You should be happy, you have a lot of place in the box for experiments.
Photograph the main board with the removed plugs. I do not see some inscriptions on it. There can be I still something I shall advise you.
Regards.
halyavshick
I have heard, that the Cambridge Audio "DacMagic"/"DAC-3" is very close to AMC's DAC-8. Is this true?
http://www.amchome.com/sites/amchome.com/files/DAC8.pdf
A DAC on track
DACMAGIC Cambridge tubed DAC player TDA1305
Cambridge Audio Dac Magic 2. Free data sheet by GB Audio.
http://www.amchome.com/sites/amchome.com/files/DAC8.pdf
A DAC on track
DACMAGIC Cambridge tubed DAC player TDA1305
Cambridge Audio Dac Magic 2. Free data sheet by GB Audio.
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