Arcam rDAC

saikat

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Arcam's new DAC looks awesome!

Info from the site:

Soon after the birth of the CD player Arcam was the first company to add outboard digital to analogue (DAC) conversion as a sonic upgrade. The result was a dramatic increase in sound quality and its Black Box DAC went on to define a whole new product category.

In recent years computer and streaming audio has added to the popularity of the outboard DAC. In response Arcam have underlined their position at the forefront of this technology with the new rDac.

Simple to look at, the rDacs sleek cast aluminum casework hides the very latest digital conversion using, at its core, the outstanding 8741 IC from Wolfson Microelectronics. Offering coaxial, optical or USB digital inputs the rDac renders music with stunning accuracy and delivers a performance of thrilling musicality.

Uses for the rDac are almost endless. Internet radio, set-top boxes and game stations can be connected via coaxial or optical leads to receive a dramatic increase in sound quality. PCs and Mac computers running music programs such as iTunes or Windows Media Player can feed the rDac via its USB input where special re-clocking circuitry has been deployed almost eliminating the jitter (timing inaccuracies) and noise usually associated with music in the computer environment.

To achieve this Arcam have teamed up with dCS (Data Conversion Systems), licensing their Asynchronous USB Technology*. This unique system is usually reserved for ultra high-end HiFi and professional audio applications. Arcam and dCS have had a long and fruitful relationship that goes back to the highly innovative Alpha 9 & CD23 versions of dCSs Ring DAC

The dCS technology allows a precision clock to drastically reduce the level of jitter from USB music sources and delivers a massive improvement in sound quality over the standard USB adaptive system. The design of precision clock circuits and general digital and analogue audio engineering are some of Arcams key strengths. The results from the highly affordable rDac are stunning regardless of the digital audio source.

A wireless version of the rDac, ready to be connected to a wireless USB dongle, will be released later in 2010. This helpful feature enables music to be sent wirelessly to your audio system from a laptop via the rDac. The wireless transmitter also features dCS technology and offers music lovers with large stored collections a level of performance that was previously only available from expensive audiophile systems.


Price: 300 pounds

Here is the link: Find out more about the FMJ and Solo product ranges
 
An Arcam Dac sounds very promising.I have been mulling buying the CA DACMAGIC and the MF Vdac without much conviction in their worth.But would definitely be interested in a 300 Pound Arcam Dac.
 
Find out more about the FMJ and Solo product ranges
Arcam has never gone for fancy,in your face designing.The rDAC looks decently built ...as long as it does reasonably well what it is supposed to do (just like their cdp's and amp's) it would be VFM.The small size is a plus because most Dac's are meant to be used around a computer and the computer desk normally does not have the real estate of a dedicated hifi rack.
 
Stanley is right, it does look a lot like a modem/router of some sort :), especially with the wireless antenna!

But would love to hear the machine. Seems to be using wolfson's best DAC chip, and the asynchronous USB tech from dCS. The other DAC in which you'll find this is dCS's own debussy which is 11k USD!! Add to this Arcam's solid build quality and attention to detail, and on paper this looks like it will be a serious piece of kit, particularly for computer audio playback.

Would be excellent to see a comparison/shootout with the DacMagic as well as the Caiman.
 
Arcam rDac vs MF M1 DAC Help....

Seek your usual valuable input and wise guidance between Arcam rDAC and Musical Fidelity M1 DAC to be used with Naim Nait XS driving Neat Motive 2 fed by Sony Vaio NS240 E/W.

Basically I enjoy all Genres of music though prefer fusion jazz (Marcus Miller, Sypro Grya type), Latin/Cuban (Tito Puente, Santana type), hard rock (Metallica, Firehouse) etc.

If it helps, I have a similar thread on DACs earlier but now with both the above models shipping, thought of seeking the valuable input from the experts.

Thank you and kind regards
 
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Re: Arcam rDac vs MF M1 DAC Help....

Hi BT:

Lovely, your XS and NM-2; how's the sound?

Said that, I might lean more on the rDac, specs looks good, IMO. But, I never heard both.

Naim DAC?

:)
 
By the way, will some please help shed some light between the rDAC and the M1 DAC by MF which has XLR out but is supposedly low on USB as compared to the rDAC's asynchronous USB tech from dCS??

I have the Arcam Solo and really love the way it presents music.

Thanks in advance...
 
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Re: Arcam rDac vs MF M1 DAC Help....

Thanks for your valuable input VD...

Of course, the Naim DAC would be a dream but presently way beyond my reach. Who knows may be someday......

A dealer in eastern Saudi can bring the MF M1 DAC for around Rs. 25,000 but the rDAC is not available. Expect it to be in similar price range though.

Yes, the Nait XS and NM2 creates so much musical nostalgia that I seem to skip work often just to sit back and fall in love with music again and again. But then again, the Arcam Solo with MA RS6 in the bedroom is also equally tempting so much so that at times I wonder which is better (Arcam or the Naim). Both present music in a different way and yet manage to rekindle musical passion that I just can't explain.

Sir, thank you and the respected members of this wonderful forum for their valuable guidance and wise input which helped reduce my hunt for speakers to the NM2.
 
Re: Arcam rDac vs MF M1 DAC Help....

Hello VD,

I also planned to get the new SB Touch but with the rDAC's wireless capabilities think my Vaio NS240 may suffice making the SB redundant?

Some friends swear by the superior audio capabilities of Macbook Pro vs the Vaio? They seem convinced getting a dedicated MacBook Pro just for music is a VFM option?

Sir, did you ever try a pc vs the SB combination? If yes, what is your recommendation - shall I get a SB Touch, a new Macbook Pro or just hang on to the Vaio NS240 E/W?????
 
Re: Arcam rDac vs MF M1 DAC Help....

I think unleash_me uses macbook with dac for music. He might be able to help you on that count.
 
Re: Arcam rDac vs MF M1 DAC Help....

BT:

I also planned to get the new SB Touch but with the rDAC's wireless capabilities think my Vaio NS240 may suffice making the SB redundant?

IMO, SB Touch + rDAC, would be the way to go.

Some friends swear by the superior audio capabilities of Macbook Pro vs the Vaio? They seem convinced getting a dedicated MacBook Pro just for music is a VFM option?

I've seen many going this route and they're happy too, but me, I just have no idea!

Sir, did you ever try a pc vs the SB combination? If yes, what is your recommendation - shall I get a SB Touch, a new Macbook Pro or just hang on to the Vaio NS240 E/W?????

Yes, I tried streaming FLAC from pc (wireless) to the SB Classic, but without an external DAC, through analog out - the sound was good, but not that good to get close to CD quality though. Said that, my guess is with an external DAC to the SB Touch, we're in for a treat. FYI, the SB Touch has a better DAC than the Classic.

:)
 
Re: Arcam rDac vs MF M1 DAC Help....

Blue, I have been interested in the rDAC for some time now. From what I could read in the internet, it seems like it betters the Arcam CD17. The DAC and output stage seems similar to the CD 17. Also, people having heard both the CD 17 and CD 37 from Arcam seem to be of the opinion, that redbook playback on both are similar (check threads here on the forum). So at 300 pounds, the rDAC seems like a great deal.

The DCS patents are going to be used in the USB section AFAIK, thereby future proofing your investment!

Note: Take my info with a pinch/pint of salt as everything I have mentioned is from my reading up and not personal experience.


Seek your usual valuable input and wise guidance between Arcam rDAC and Musical Fidelity M1 DAC to be used with Naim Nait XS driving Neat Motive 2 fed by Sony Vaio NS240 E/W.

Basically I enjoy all Genres of music though prefer fusion jazz (Marcus Miller, Sypro Grya type), Latin/Cuban (Tito Puente, Santana type), hard rock (Metallica, Firehouse) etc.

If it helps, I have a similar thread on DACs earlier but now with both the above models shipping, thought of seeking the valuable input from the experts.

Thank you and kind regards
 
Re: Arcam rDac vs MF M1 DAC Help....

Thanks Folks for your usual valuable inputs.

It's strange that everyone is only talking about the rDac but not a single response for the MF M1 DAC? Now come on, someone out there surely ought to have something to say about MF please........
 
Re: Arcam rDac vs MF M1 DAC Help....

Thanks Folks for your usual valuable inputs.

It's strange that everyone is only talking about the rDac but not a single response for the MF M1 DAC? Now come on, someone out there surely ought to have something to say about MF please........

What that MF %@!#%^&*#%%?!! I will teach it a lesson :ohyeah: ;)

while you wait for comments, here are some A/B comparisons between rdac, vdac and m1 dac ...

http://forums.naimaudio.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/48019385/m/3812911437?r=9882913437#9882913437

HTH
 
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Re: Arcam rDac vs MF M1 DAC Help....

@Saikat
Note: Take my info with a pinch/pint of salt as everything I have mentioned is from my reading up and not personal experience.

I believe this would apply to a fairly high % of comments on the forum (including some by me) as we wax and wane about audio products we research,and sometimes without auditioning, become so 'familiar' with,that we can a-l-m-o-s-t touch them and hear them:)
*However in the case of the music I comment upon,I have actually heard/owned all of it.
 
Re: Arcam rDac vs MF M1 DAC Help....

blueturtle,
I have been lucky to have heard both rDac and M1Dac side by side.
I heard them through AVI ADM 9.1.
I have to say spending half an hour with each still didn't give a clear picture.
I first heard through the dac of AVI ADM 9.1 itself to find out how they sound overall. I really liked them. Infact I have to say for the price of 1100 pounds or about 80k rupees it would be very tough to beat them through separates. So, as soon as we plugged in rDac the change was very noticeable. The first thing I noticed was that it was like rDac was trying to make it sweet. I also thought it started sounding a bit sluggish. The detail retrieval was very good. The AVI dac were placing instruments close to each other, a bit meshed up, while rDac was having a better separation. On switching to M1 Dac, I found that it had more energy to it. I liked it better than rDac but not by a big margin. But other than the fact that there was more energy to it, I couldn't find any big differences. So, my take away from the sessions were:
1. I liked these Dac's over Dacmagic. I didn't hear the Dacmagic on this system. But to me Dacmagic was a bit dull and boring. While rDac went a bit away from that and M1 Dac going pretty nicely away.
2. Both rDac and M1 Dac still was smoothing out the edges, probably rDac to a greater extent. So, the final degree of details or the air around the instruments were not up to my expectations. I found Benchmark doing that better. So, the next level of Dac's will do that better.
3. rDac strength is USB which I couldn't test. The comparison was made is coax and toslink and not in USB. So, if the sole purpose of the dac was USB, then rDac might be better.
4. Also based on the remaining of the system the synergy would be different for these dacs.
5. The difference were not huge enough that we should ignore the other aspects like the wifi angle of rDac. I think the convenience that wifi would bring is too good. So, if pushed I might still pick rDac over M1 because of this aspect.
6. I was told by the guy in the shop that they both are very good at retrieving details in the lower registers but couldn't test them with some floorstanders.
I did try M1 with Musical Fidelity M6i amp and PMC DB1i. I found that in this setup suddenly there was lot more energy and was also sounding a bit rough, but had too little a time to conclude anything.
There is an Audiolab 8200CDQ about to be released followed by DQ and MDAC.
This seems to be interesting as CDQ/DQ has Analog and Digital Pre and also Class A headphone amp which I would be needing. The guy in the shop has listened to the 8200CD and was saying that they are for sure a step above these 2 Dac's. So, I think my idea is to now wait for them to come around.
 
Re: Arcam rDac vs MF M1 DAC Help....

I would go with MF over Arcam due to the distinct sonics of the 2 brands. Arcam is more obvious to me. I woudl also consider Promethius and Mhdt Havana at comparable price ranges to get the best out your XS.

I have listened to MF and Havana a fair bit and its absolutely fantastic in terms of dynamics for the kind of music you listen to.

Seek your usual valuable input and wise guidance between Arcam rDAC and Musical Fidelity M1 DAC to be used with Naim Nait XS driving Neat Motive 2 fed by Sony Vaio NS240 E/W.

Basically I enjoy all Genres of music though prefer fusion jazz (Marcus Miller, Sypro Grya type), Latin/Cuban (Tito Puente, Santana type), hard rock (Metallica, Firehouse) etc.

If it helps, I have a similar thread on DACs earlier but now with both the above models shipping, thought of seeking the valuable input from the experts.

Thank you and kind regards
 
I don't understand why anyone would want asynch USB. Look up the principle of async data transmission, and then correlate that with an audio signal. It's not difficult to deduct that asynch audio would be more distorted in output due to the async process.
 
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