Thanks for the suggestion. I just went ahead and ordered Metrum Octave yesterday through eBay. It is currently under transit. I went ahead with a used and inexpensive DAC because I have never used a dedicated DAC before so wanted to see how does it sound. Moreover, due to the size and voltage constraints bringing it from the US, wanted to keep it small and something portable.The Border Patrol DAC could be a contender if some one can bring it from the US. It’s sometimes up for sale on the used audio sale sites there.
BORDERPATROL SE-i DAC – Fully Assessed ~ The Sound Advocate
The BorderPatrol SE-i DAC reviewed here is a small black box that produces music in an awe-inspiring, grand scale!www.thesoundadvocate.com
Suggestions for DAC under 75k
- Thread starter LBRS
- Start date
reignofchaos
Well-Known Member
Didn't know border patrol makes a DAC. They are known more for their purist 300b designs.The Border Patrol DAC could be a contender if some one can bring it from the US. It’s sometimes up for sale on the used audio sale sites there.
BORDERPATROL SE-i DAC – Fully Assessed ~ The Sound Advocate
The BorderPatrol SE-i DAC reviewed here is a small black box that produces music in an awe-inspiring, grand scale!
Update:
Got the Metrum Octave brought by a family member from the US last week. It power source is 110v, luckily I had a Maxine step down transformer with me so just directly connected to it. Connected the DAC to the OPPO BDP 93 using coaxial and the DAC output to the amp. Everything worked fine as expected.
- This is the first time I am using a dedicated DAC in my chain, earlier I had a. Peach Tree Nova amp which had an internal DAC and it was connected to my laptop or was using OPPO blueray player as the source and it was directly connected to the amplifier. So I was very curious with.a lot of anticipation of how the sound stage would be different using g a DAC. Have read lot of reviews and watched videos of how great the sound will improve by using a DAC etc, I want to justify the cost of my new purchase, really looking to improve the listening experience without knowing what to improve etc, it’s just one of those moments that you are waiting for the results after an exam.
First Impressions
The first time I listened to the DAC, honestly I wasn’t sure if it was producing the sound that I was expecting. I felt the overall volume have gone down and the sound was little muffled. My wife always insists on playing like a devotional song the first time whenever I get a new equipment like an headphone or a cd player or a computer etc.
So I played Ilayaraja’s Thiruvasagam CD for a while and I wasn’t really sure if I noticed any difference with having a dedicated DAC in between. Then I played some CDs of Paul Mauriat, now I started noticing the difference, heard some instruments so distinctly for the first time which I never heard in the last two decades of listening those CDs, now the bass had improved, it is tight and packed, the overall music articulation is bit lively, however I was still wondering if I am making up all of these to justify my purchase:-(
Then after about two hours started playing Ilayaraja’s songs through Tidal, one thing that I have noticed and I have become a big fan of is listening to those Analogue recordings that were made before the 90s/2000. These recordings were so natural and lively compared to the digital recordings that came out in the late 90s.
After listening to some of the IRs songs for a bit, started experiencing the benefits of a DAC. Don’t know how to describe, The music was very smooth and warm, felt like could listen for hours together and just sit in one place. After listening to about two to three hours and reluctantly shut everything off because it was almost midnight on Sunday, went to bed, but couldn’t sleep as some of the songs that I heard and the experience of smoothness was not going away. It is something inexplicable.
So my listening continued on Monday as well with different genres and the overall experience had been very positive and rewarding. I felt at least for now made the right choice of getting an entry level used DAC and my purchase is justified. It has been a great experience reading, researching and listening to videos about various DACs like DSD, R2R, NOS etc.,
Thanks to all the forum members for the suggestions
rwnano
Well-Known Member
Congratulations. Please keep writing on your experiments
So nice to read about your researching, finding and getting a DAC home. Great to read about your observations and discovery of fresh nuances and changes in the music you like too. EnjoyUpdate:
Got the Metrum Octave brought by a family member from the US last week. It power source is 110v, luckily I had a Maxine step down transformer with me so just directly connected to it. Connected the DAC to the OPPO BDP 93 using coaxial and the DAC output to the amp. Everything worked fine as expected.
- This is the first time I am using a dedicated DAC in my chain, earlier I had a. Peach Tree Nova amp which had an internal DAC and it was connected to my laptop or was using OPPO blueray player as the source and it was directly connected to the amplifier. So I was very curious with.a lot of anticipation of how the sound stage would be different using g a DAC. Have read lot of reviews and watched videos of how great the sound will improve by using a DAC etc, I want to justify the cost of my new purchase, really looking to improve the listening experience without knowing what to improve etc, it’s just one of those moments that you are waiting for the results after an exam.
First Impressions
The first time I listened to the DAC, honestly I wasn’t sure if it was producing the sound that I was expecting. I felt the overall volume have gone down and the sound was little muffled. My wife always insists on playing like a devotional song the first time whenever I get a new equipment like an headphone or a cd player or a computer etc.
So I played Ilayaraja’s Thiruvasagam CD for a while and I wasn’t really sure if I noticed any difference with having a dedicated DAC in between. Then I played some CDs of Paul Mauriat, now I started noticing the difference, heard some instruments so distinctly for the first time which I never heard in the last two decades of listening those CDs, now the bass had improved, it is tight and packed, the overall music articulation is bit lively, however I was still wondering if I am making up all of these to justify my purchase:-(
Then after about two hours started playing Ilayaraja’s songs through Tidal, one thing that I have noticed and I have become a big fan of is listening to those Analogue recordings that were made before the 90s/2000. These recordings were so natural and lively compared to the digital recordings that came out in the late 90s.
After listening to some of the IRs songs for a bit, started experiencing the benefits of a DAC. Don’t know how to describe, The music was very smooth and warm, felt like could listen for hours together and just sit in one place. After listening to about two to three hours and reluctantly shut everything off because it was almost midnight on Sunday, went to bed, but couldn’t sleep as some of the songs that I heard and the experience of smoothness was not going away. It is something inexplicable.
So my listening continued on Monday as well with different genres and the overall experience had been very positive and rewarding. I felt at least for now made the right choice of getting an entry level used DAC and my purchase is justified. It has been a great experience reading, researching and listening to videos about various DACs like DSD, R2R, NOS etc.,
Thanks to all the forum members for the suggestions
That in essence what this hobby is about, loved reading about your experience. I am sure we all can identify with your joy and that warmth inside that comes only with successful integration of a new device in the chain. When it goes right, there is nothing quite like it.Update:
Got the Metrum Octave brought by a family member from the US last week. It power source is 110v, luckily I had a Maxine step down transformer with me so just directly connected to it. Connected the DAC to the OPPO BDP 93 using coaxial and the DAC output to the amp. Everything worked fine as expected.
- This is the first time I am using a dedicated DAC in my chain, earlier I had a. Peach Tree Nova amp which had an internal DAC and it was connected to my laptop or was using OPPO blueray player as the source and it was directly connected to the amplifier. So I was very curious with.a lot of anticipation of how the sound stage would be different using g a DAC. Have read lot of reviews and watched videos of how great the sound will improve by using a DAC etc, I want to justify the cost of my new purchase, really looking to improve the listening experience without knowing what to improve etc, it’s just one of those moments that you are waiting for the results after an exam.
First Impressions
The first time I listened to the DAC, honestly I wasn’t sure if it was producing the sound that I was expecting. I felt the overall volume have gone down and the sound was little muffled. My wife always insists on playing like a devotional song the first time whenever I get a new equipment like an headphone or a cd player or a computer etc.
So I played Ilayaraja’s Thiruvasagam CD for a while and I wasn’t really sure if I noticed any difference with having a dedicated DAC in between. Then I played some CDs of Paul Mauriat, now I started noticing the difference, heard some instruments so distinctly for the first time which I never heard in the last two decades of listening those CDs, now the bass had improved, it is tight and packed, the overall music articulation is bit lively, however I was still wondering if I am making up all of these to justify my purchase:-(
Then after about two hours started playing Ilayaraja’s songs through Tidal, one thing that I have noticed and I have become a big fan of is listening to those Analogue recordings that were made before the 90s/2000. These recordings were so natural and lively compared to the digital recordings that came out in the late 90s.
After listening to some of the IRs songs for a bit, started experiencing the benefits of a DAC. Don’t know how to describe, The music was very smooth and warm, felt like could listen for hours together and just sit in one place. After listening to about two to three hours and reluctantly shut everything off because it was almost midnight on Sunday, went to bed, but couldn’t sleep as some of the songs that I heard and the experience of smoothness was not going away. It is something inexplicable.
So my listening continued on Monday as well with different genres and the overall experience had been very positive and rewarding. I felt at least for now made the right choice of getting an entry level used DAC and my purchase is justified. It has been a great experience reading, researching and listening to videos about various DACs like DSD, R2R, NOS etc.,
Thanks to all the forum members for the suggestions
Sure I will share the pictures shortly
vinothkumar
Well-Known Member
It's good to hear about your first impressions. Consider some cable upgrades next to maximize the potential of the setup.Update:
Got the Metrum Octave brought by a family member from the US last week. It power source is 110v, luckily I had a Maxine step down transformer with me so just directly connected to it. Connected the DAC to the OPPO BDP 93 using coaxial and the DAC output to the amp. Everything worked fine as expected.
- This is the first time I am using a dedicated DAC in my chain, earlier I had a. Peach Tree Nova amp which had an internal DAC and it was connected to my laptop or was using OPPO blueray player as the source and it was directly connected to the amplifier. So I was very curious with.a lot of anticipation of how the sound stage would be different using g a DAC. Have read lot of reviews and watched videos of how great the sound will improve by using a DAC etc, I want to justify the cost of my new purchase, really looking to improve the listening experience without knowing what to improve etc, it’s just one of those moments that you are waiting for the results after an exam.
First Impressions
The first time I listened to the DAC, honestly I wasn’t sure if it was producing the sound that I was expecting. I felt the overall volume have gone down and the sound was little muffled. My wife always insists on playing like a devotional song the first time whenever I get a new equipment like an headphone or a cd player or a computer etc.
So I played Ilayaraja’s Thiruvasagam CD for a while and I wasn’t really sure if I noticed any difference with having a dedicated DAC in between. Then I played some CDs of Paul Mauriat, now I started noticing the difference, heard some instruments so distinctly for the first time which I never heard in the last two decades of listening those CDs, now the bass had improved, it is tight and packed, the overall music articulation is bit lively, however I was still wondering if I am making up all of these to justify my purchase:-(
Then after about two hours started playing Ilayaraja’s songs through Tidal, one thing that I have noticed and I have become a big fan of is listening to those Analogue recordings that were made before the 90s/2000. These recordings were so natural and lively compared to the digital recordings that came out in the late 90s.
After listening to some of the IRs songs for a bit, started experiencing the benefits of a DAC. Don’t know how to describe, The music was very smooth and warm, felt like could listen for hours together and just sit in one place. After listening to about two to three hours and reluctantly shut everything off because it was almost midnight on Sunday, went to bed, but couldn’t sleep as some of the songs that I heard and the experience of smoothness was not going away. It is something inexplicable.
So my listening continued on Monday as well with different genres and the overall experience had been very positive and rewarding. I felt at least for now made the right choice of getting an entry level used DAC and my purchase is justified. It has been a great experience reading, researching and listening to videos about various DACs like DSD, R2R, NOS etc.,
Thanks to all the forum members for the suggestions
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