Rega DAC - Has anyone auditioned one yet?

[whoosh]

Having replaced my 2000 Rega Planet CDP with my Squeezeboxen, the idea of a DAC from Rega is very interesting to me. It seems this has only been in the hands of dealers and reviewers for a few weeks, but most reviews that are available so far are quite positive.

http://www.tonepublications.com/

Issue 34 has a nice review - unfortunately I cannot paste any excerpts here since the source PDF is copy protected.

The only quibble I can see on the surface is the lack of balanced outputs, which seems like a glaring omission given that the ~$500 Cambridge has them.

If anyone has had the opportunity to audition one of these, either with or without an SB, I'd love to hear your impressions.

[dennis55]

Whoosh.......check out the audio section on PFM

http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=76840

it's quite an interesting read,Rega have gone about designing a Dac in their own inimatable quirky "British" way

dennis

[whoosh]

Thanks for the link. Looks like someone with a Touch has has a go with one, and was impressed, even favorably comparing the results to the DACMagic.

[pete the feet]

Thanks for the link. Looks like someone with a Touch has has a go with one, and was impressed, even favorably comparing the results to the DACMagic.

I auditioned the Rega Dac last saturday. I took my laptop loaded up with iTunes/Squeezeserver and my DacMagic. I didn't bother taking my Duet as there would have been more connections to make.
The auditioning was done with a Naim Nac282/Supercap/Nap200 and Rega RS5 speakers. The system with the Dacmagic sounded brighter than my own; NAC52/Supercap/NAP135's/Rega R5 speakers.
We first listened to the Dacmagic for a few tracks and it sounded ok. Then we swapped over to the Rega Dac. I was previously okay with the Dacmagic at home but just interested in what was available for a little bit more than what I paid for the Dacmagic. Well let me tell you the Rega Dac made the DacMagic sound terrible. It was like the Dacmagic was playing low res MP3's and the Rega was playing real analogue music. An order has been placed and I will see what it sounds like in my home environment.
When I reconnected the DacMagic up again at home I can now see its shortcomings having heard something much much better.

[paulster]

Just to confirm though, when you compared the DACmagic to the Rega, you did so via a USB connection from your laptop rather than the optical/coaxial input, or did you use an S/PDIF output?

Whilst I'm not doubting that the Rega is going to be a better DAC I'd be very wary of choosing any DAC on the basis of its USB performance if that wasn't going to be its mode of use.

[pete the feet]

Just to confirm though, when you compared the DACmagic to the Rega, you did so via a USB connection from your laptop rather than the optical/coaxial input, or did you use an S/PDIF output?

Whilst I'm not doubting that the Rega is going to be a better DAC I'd be very wary of choosing any DAC on the basis of its USB performance if that wasn't going to be its mode of use.

You're quite right thats why I'm going to try it at home. Although when i have tried it at home with the laptop/usb as opposed to ethernet/Squeeze/optical/Dac there was no discernible difference.
My laptop only has USB & Ethernet outputs.

[whoosh]

Looking forward to the results of your audition at home, Pete. When are you expecting your example to arrive?

[earwaxer9]

I sold my Rega Planet not too long before I got my Transporter. I never really liked the sound. Thin, lacking PRAT. The Transporter is much better. I would look toward an ESS based DAC like the Wyred4sound or even the new Oppo player, and use it for a DAC.

[Dura]

I'm going to buy the Rega DAC as soon as it gets out.
I've been listening to digital media ever since CD-players became available in the 80s. Had 8 different players, and I only loved the last one, a Rega Apollo (much better then the Planet 2000 that I also owned).
Then I decided to switch to streaming, so the player had to go; I tried a few DACs (Meier StageDAC,MHDT Havana, Audio-GD Reference 5 DSP) and though they all had their strenghts, none of them was so enjoyable that it could make me forget the Apollo.

[pete the feet]

Looking forward to the results of your audition at home, Pete. When are you expecting your example to arrive?

Not to sure on that one, the dealer wasn't too sure about availability neither. Hopefully this weekend.