DAC / Soundcard Purchase

[ravi_d]

Somewhere between 20k and 25k. Not really sure though. My friend still has to go to the shop but i'm assuming thats how much its going to be.

You mentioned ordering the caiman from the UK. How long does it take to deliver ? I'm not much into online shopping and stuff so forgive me if i sound retarded, you sure its going to arrive ?

It will arrive. You will end up spending 20k INR for Caiman DAC for shipping and customs.
Find the price of Nuforce Icon HDP in India. Even that one is a good DAC. It has a good headphone amp too. Then take a call based on the pricing whether to buy NuForce in India or take risk and buy Caiman from UK.
You can email Stanley on 'StanleyB at homehifi.co.uk' if you're considering buying the Caiman DAC.

 

[lordhades]

It will arrive. You will end up spending 20k INR for Caiman DAC for shipping and customs.
Find the price of Nuforce Icon HDP in India. Even that one is a good DAC. It has a good headphone amp too. Then take a call based on the pricing whether to buy NuForce in India or take risk and buy Caiman from UK.
You can email Stanley on 'StanleyB at homehifi.co.uk' if you're considering buying the Caiman DAC.

Thank You !!

I'll find out the cost of the HDP in a few days and make my decision. For clarity's sake I'll be using the AudioEngine A5's as the speakers and either the Sennheiser HD 25-1 II or the Audio Technica ATH-M50 as my set of cans.

 

[lordhades]

I forgot one thing. I was going through the Nuforce website and in a picture they show the HDP being connected to a set of 'passive' speakers. I do know the difference between active and passive speakers but i was wondering whether there will be compatibility issues if i attach a set of speakers like the A5's to the HDP.

Can active speakers be attached to Amplifiers ?

 

[ravi_d]

Thank You !!

I'll find out the cost of the HDP in a few days and make my decision. For clarity's sake I'll be using the AudioEngine A5's as the speakers and either the Sennheiser HD 25-1 II or the Audio Technica ATH-M50 as my set of cans.

Great. In both the cases you can have the DAC (Caiman or NuForce) beside your computer and have the AudioEngine A5's or the headphones connected to it. For both the DAC's you can control the volume from the DAC. NuForce has one analog input for which you can connect an analog source like a cassette deck and listen to your cassettes through AudioEngine A5's or headphones.

 

[hydra]

...How long does it take to deliver ? I'm not much into online shopping and stuff so forgive me if i sound retarded, you sure its going to arrive ?

My Caiman arrived the 7th day after I ordered it online. It arrived by EMS (= Speed Post in India). I'd ordered it directly through the website ravi_d mentioned, and Stanley Beresford got in touch with me in a matter of hours to confirm the order. I did have to pay something under 600/- as customs duty, though.

Now whats the difference between the Caiman SEG and the Caiman Se+ ?

The original Caiman is the 7520SE.

The Caiman SEG is the Gatorized Caiman (7520SE + "G"). It is a modification of the original Caiman, with a better audio PCB (= The "Gator" Board). The Gator upgrade has been available for some time from Stanley as an upgrade package. I came to know a Caiman + Gator has become a proper product from your post.

The Caiman Plus (= 7520SE + "Plus") is a regular Beresford Caiman with the USB input swapped for an optical input. The original Caiman had a USB input, an optical input and two coaxial inputs. The SE+ has two optical inputs and two coaxial inputs (and no USB input).

The Gatorized Caiman should be the better sounding of the two. There are a few threads on the artofsound forum on the Gator upgrade, if you're interested in knowing more about it, and the improvements it brings over the Caiman.

 

[lordhades]

My Caiman arrived the 7th day after I ordered it online. It arrived by EMS (= Speed Post in India). I'd ordered it directly through the website ravi_d mentioned, and Stanley Beresford got in touch with me in a matter of hours to confirm the order. I did have to pay something under 600/- as customs duty, though.



The original Caiman is the 7520SE.

The Caiman SEG is the Gatorized Caiman (7520SE + "G"). It is a modification of the original Caiman, with a better audio PCB (= The "Gator" Board). The Gator upgrade has been available for some time from Stanley as an upgrade package. I came to know a Caiman + Gator has become a proper product from your post.

The Caiman Plus (= 7520SE + "Plus") is a regular Beresford Caiman with the USB input swapped for an optical input. The original Caiman had a USB input, an optical input and two coaxial inputs. The SE+ has two optical inputs and two coaxial inputs (and no USB input).

The Gatorized Caiman should be the better sounding of the two. There are a few threads on the artofsound forum on the Gator upgrade, if you're interested in knowing more about it, and the improvements it brings over the Caiman.

Ummm....ravi_d mentioned the whole cost coming up to around 20k but i went along the shopping process on the website till i reached checkout where including shipping the cost came to around 205 euros which roughly converts to 13k or roundabouts. So were your total charges like 13k + 600 Rs or did it come to 20k ?

 

[hydra]

No, it did not come to 20k. I had bought a Toslink cable and a coaxial cable with the Caiman from Beresford. Everything together came to about 18k.

I think the Caiman alone must have accounted for about 15k. This was in August of last year, if I remember right.

 

[nandac]

is the nuforce dac available in india? if so where? any other dacs available locally? appreciate the feedback.

 

[ravi_d]

Ummm....ravi_d mentioned the whole cost coming up to around 20k but i went along the shopping process on the website till i reached checkout where including shipping the cost came to around 205 euros which roughly converts to 13k or roundabouts. So were your total charges like 13k + 600 Rs or did it come to 20k ?

No, it did not come to 20k. I had bought a Toslink cable and a coaxial cable with the Caiman from Beresford. Everything together came to about 18k.

I think the Caiman alone must have accounted for about 15k. This was in August of last year, if I remember right.

The website says 200 for the Caiman DAC and mentions handling, and tax may be added upon checkout but it doesn't clearly say the price is including VAT or they charge VAT on top of it. If 200 price is including VAT then ideally he should waive off 20% from the price for non UK/EU customers. So he should charge 160 + shipping to India but I don't think he is doing it. Consider 30% of total value as customs charges and the conversion rates charged by your bank to pay the amount in GBP (Once citibank charged me 1500 INR extra just for paying in GBP). I guessed the total price in the worst case.

 

[Kittu]

Check this website for other dac.
Pristine Note, Shop audio, headphones, amplifier, DAC, hifi, mp3, audiophile products online store India

We had udac sold in the past by two dealer members here, buygamingstuff and amarbir . PM and see if they are still selling the udac.

 

[vasishta.sushant]

I'd like to vote against the UDAC. Had it for good 6 months before I sold it out. It colors the sound quite a bit (emphasizing the highs, accentuating the bass). The UDAC2 might be a better bet, as compared to the original UDAC.
Also if you need only USB DAC, better have a look at something like DAC MAgic, HRT Streamer II for they are asynchronous DACs and have highly reduced jitter.

 

[lordhades]

I'd like to vote against the UDAC. Had it for good 6 months before I sold it out. It colors the sound quite a bit (emphasizing the highs, accentuating the bass). The UDAC2 might be a better bet, as compared to the original UDAC.
Also if you need only USB DAC, better have a look at something like DAC MAgic, HRT Streamer II for they are asynchronous DACs and have highly reduced jitter.

I never really planned to go for the uDAC but thanks for the input anyhow. i was wondering if anybody had bought a Nu Force product at all since i was at a loss about what to purchase.

I'd really like somebody to tell me outright which one's better between the Caiman(Gatorized) and the Icon HDP but i think i'll settle with the Caiman.

I did a lot of research in the Dealer forum and found a few numbers that supposedly sold Nu Force products but after two days of calling and being told " We'll get back to you ", this morning i was told that " We do home audio only "
God alone knows what i'm supposed to understand from that.

I finally went through the Nu Force website and found their Indian dealer in Mumbai. I called them up and they too told me that they'll get back to me in sometime but they haven't. I'll call in sometime and inquire again anyhow.

Here's the address of the official distributor of Nu Force in India.

AudioVision India
2nd floor New Empire Cinema Building, Murzban Road, Fort
Mumbai,
Maharashtra, 400 001
Tel: +91 ( 22 ) 2200 - 4040
Fax: +91 ( 22 ) 2200 - 0909
Email: [email protected]
Web: audiovisionindia.com

I also found this,
http://www.hifivision.com/sale-dealer/11312-nuforce-audio-products.html

but since the cost of the HDP is currently out of my budget i think i'll stick with the caiman.

Thank you all for the valuable insights though.

 

[Amarendra]

Hi,

I too am planning to go for the Caiman but confused between Caiman and the new Gator chip.

 

[vasishta.sushant]

Are you guys considering the Cambridge Audio DACMAgic. The reviews have really bowled me over.

 

[Amarendra]

too expensive at INR 25 k and with no clear defined benefits in sound. The Caiman on the other hand will cost around 14 k (non Gator)

 

[Amarendra]

just called up Audiovision- they took my name and number and said that they would call back shortly

 

[vasishta.sushant]

too expensive at INR 25 k and with no clear defined benefits in sound. The Caiman on the other hand will cost around 14 k (non Gator)

You can get it cheaper. 25K is the MRP.

Also its a good value since it offers more digital audio inputs, balanced output. Its rated as best DAC upgrade under 500USD at whathifi.

Check some reviews online:
Cambridge Audio DacMagic review from the experts at whathifi.com
Cambridge Audio Azur DacMagic D/A converter | Stereophile.com
Cambridge Audio DacMagic Review | Computer Audiophile

The reviews are stellar.

 

[hydra]

At that approximate price range, I think you should also look at the Arcam rDAC (without wifi). Somebody on the forum got it for 21K or so (he got it from eBay UK).

I've read many user-reviews that say the rDAC is much better, especially when the USB input is used. The usual negative mentioned about the rDAC is that the supplied power supply is holding back the DAC's performance.

 

[vasishta.sushant]

At that approximate price range, I think you should also look at the Arcam rDAC (without wifi). Somebody on the forum got it for 21K or so (he got it from eBay UK).

I've read many user-reviews that say the rDAC is much better, especially when the USB input is used. The usual negative mentioned about the rDAC is that the supplied power supply is holding back the DAC's performance.

The person who got that one was "oyeindia". He won it in an ebay auction.

Also there might be warranty issues associated with it (added cost). In India, DACMAgic can be had for the similar price with 1 year warranty.

I believe both should be at par.