Classic Music replayer to be phased out

[telecat]

The Chord DAC64 has been dropped from the product line up. It was only a matter of time. I've heard the QBD76 and it is a leap forward. Mine will continue on until funds permit an Upgrade to the new DAC.

RIP

[JustinP1]

I am a past owner of the DAC64 until about 3 years ago. An excellent piece of kit. That said, I don't believe the technology is insurmountable.

When I demoed it maybe 6 years ago it really was head and shoulders above the competition. I only upgraded as I did an A/B against the internal DACs in my Integra processor.

The DAC64 was 'rounder' but the internal DAC was 'cleaner'.

That may be simply the difference of the fact that that way I removed an analogue part of the signal chain. It may also be that the clocks inside the Integra units are Apogee and used it top end pro audio gear.

I thought this was amusing in the press release:

A new digtal PLL has been developed using a highly accurate
115MHz clock. Data related jitter is completely removed from the source, and you are left with just
random master clock jitter of less than 3pS cycle to cycle. The subjective result is that the sound quality
is now improved to a level similar to when the RAM buffer is used.

So why not just utilise the RAM buffer like in the old one!?

[JustinP1]

I thought I would add the interesting thing is the USB port.

I have been running my music from a £400 mac mini and my £3k transport has been unplugged. Absolutely identical sound.

I can see a lot more people doing the same, that feature alone at least shows they have built this for the long term. The only drawback is the £3k price tag. i was hoping it was going to come in at a bit over a grand and I could get it for Xmas...!

[telecat]

I found the DAC64 more Analogue. I have heard the new QBD76 linked up to a Chord Blu and it is a superior machine. I think the USB connection is a good way to go as the amount of RF noise in a PC degrades the music.