-=> Quoting John Allen to Steve McTague <=-
 JA> Hi Steve,    Do you use a DAC and Anti Jitter Unit in your system? If
Nope.  My most recent upgrade, CD players, was total replacement
because I had a cheapy w/o digital outputs.  So the end result is
I can't really comment on the jitter busters.  I'm sure you've
read, and probably paid more attention to, all the press on them.
 JA> so what kind and what difference did you notice. Are certain types of
I can comment on very audible differences in 1 piece units,
having gone through a drawn out search from $500 to $2k, all
of which were played through a Linn Wakanda pre-amp, Golden
Tube SE-40 single ended tube amp, driving JM Lab 6.1s.  On
the bottom end (price wise), the Pioneer 65s sounded too laid
back, which probably would help tame a harsh sounding system.
The Acurus offered a more detailed top end, but didn't have
the rythem or dynamics of the Linn Mimik I bought.  The Naim
CD3 was also a good 'ne.  As you can see, I thought things
got better as prices rose, but not always.  There were lots
of other players I listened to that didn't like:  EAD T-1000
for example.  The one thing I did realize is that good signal
source is crutial for a good high end system.  How much of
that should be split between transport and DAC, I have no
idea.
In low and mid-fi, the emphasis is on speakers.  As you
climb up the price range, things change...something I've
gone through in building a totally new system over the
past 18 months.
 JA> music more apt to be cleaned up by such units? Are Laser Disks good
Not being a video buff, I suspect video disc can benefit the
most from external upgrades.  
 JA> examples? I have been reading everything I can find on DAC
 JA> units and am mystified by the extraordinary difference in units and
Big time!  How many units are in the $600 to $1200 price club?
TONS.  
 JA> prices. The Anti Jitter seems a little more easy to understand
 JA> and would look to be a genuinely good idea...in theory. But you know
 JA> how theory goes. Having no real experience with them I am left with
 JA> what I read. Cheers, John
I suspect they're best utilized for reviving old equipment.
Today's high end stuff either bypasses it through a proprietary
low jitter interface (Linn Karik&Numerik and AA's I2S bus), or
build transports with lower jitter output, or don't even support
external processors (Naim!). 
Later!
... Modern music theory:  If you can't play good, play loud.
--- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR]
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