Audio Note Dac Zero

[mikeruss]

Hi all

Has anyone used this or got a view? I have a chance to get one but I can't find much on the web.

[kphinney]

I believe the standard response here would go something like "A lot of improvements have been made in the last 8 years since the DAC Zero was introduced. It was an inexpensive DAC in its day so you may have potentially better results with a modern inexpensive DAC."

That said, I have used the DAC Zero and enjoyed the sound when used in conjunction with an inexpensive transport based around a CD-R. If it yields any improvement in stage and quality of the SB3, I can't speculate.

[mikeruss]

Cheers for the good advice advice. I have a Shek d1 at the moment and I feel it lacks punch/drive compared to my cd player. My favourite tracks which give me goose bumps on the cd player fail to do so with the Shek.

Do you have any opinions on later DAC's?

[kphinney]

I just googled the Shek - it was the first time I had seen it. How does your CD player compare to the Squeezebox?

[mikeruss]

I have actually sold the cd player and gone FLAC > SB > Shek. The sound is good, good detail and imagery but as I say I miss my goose bumps!

FYI I use a Rotel Kandy MKIII and Dynaudio 52's

[etfun2000]

i still own a dac zero.. was a very warm sound of tube on CD. then i still used it when i was a sb3 owner, as i still noticed a warmer sound, evne if may be less detailled than sb3 dac. since, i bought the trasnporter, and said bye bye to the dac zero..

[adamslim]

I love AN kit, but I'd say it might be showing its age now.

Buy an SB+ Better sound than my Shanling and you can then use the SB3 in the kitchen

Chasing lots of external DACs may be expensive and not get you what you want. My Shek d2 was good, but not good enough. Neither was a decent Meridian...

Adam