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Right, so I'm going to try and have a listen to the dacmagic and the vdac. What's the best way to arrange a trial of the dacmagic without losing too much money in return shipping costs?
Perhaps the best way is to get one via ebay, if you do not like you can always sell for a similar price
What I do : I borrow it from my local hifi retailer. If it doesn't fit me, I bring it back.
Try to see whether any shop has it (them) near by.
In any case, the differences between same price/same conception year are not clear enough for some people to cansider a choice (rather than another) a "good" or "failed" buy.
In other words, if you have no previous experience in dacs or if your system is mainstream don't bother about the sound and just base your choice solely on the other possibilities (headphones, USB input, variable output, etc), NOT the sound. ;)
twelvebears
14-02-2010, 08:33
Right, so I'm going to try and have a listen to the dacmagic and the vdac. What's the best way to arrange a trial of the dacmagic without losing too much money in return shipping costs?
Another obvious option would to be to buy it on-line. That way, providing you return it in perfect condition, you're entitled to return it after up to a week under the Distance Selling Act. You would have to pay postage each way of course, but that would be it.
Would still be better if you could arrange a home trial from a deal though.
Spectral Morn
14-02-2010, 10:33
Right, so I'm going to try and have a listen to the dacmagic and the vdac. What's the best way to arrange a trial of the dacmagic without losing too much money in return shipping costs?
There are several branches of Richer sounds in London (Dac Magic) and I am sure several Musical Fidelity dealers. Ring Musical Fidelity speak to Indra and she can tell you where. I think Walrus (Yes) is an MF dealer.....link http://www.musicalfidelity.com/uk-dealers.php. There are quite a number to pick from.
I would have thought though, that the Dac Magic would be a better Dac than the cheaper MF Dac. A S/H MF X Dav V8 or the like would also be an option (MF don't do the X Dac anymore). Its a real pity you burnt your bridges with Stan Beresford.
Regards D S D L
Frankly, and respectfully, I really don't understand your logic here Jim.
Rather than trial a DAC at this stage, wouldn't it be more sensible to buy a proper CD player to replace your no-name portable? I'd suggest that even a second hand respectable one from ebay will better your portable + DAC.
The Grand Wazoo
14-02-2010, 10:49
At the price range we're talking about, you aren't goingto get a home demo. However, DAC's are easy to resell at the moment, so you'd not lose much if you have to move one on because you don't like it.
One thing's for sure though, it would be easy to get a fairly meaningful demo in a dealer using your CD player - seeing as it's portable. (However, I'm rather surprised that a 'no-name portable' would have a digital output!).
The system you describe would seem to be a little - shall we say idiosyncratic - personally, I'd be looking for a better CD player before I started messing about with DAC's.
Perhaps he's going into computer playback. ;)
Backing up on what others have said here it would be really easy to get a cheap 2nd hand CD player I got a Philip's CD630 which i picked up for £40 approx and is capable of sounding pretty good but plenty of other options just make sure the unit has a optical out
I would contact someone like Tim at MAD Audio (Central London) to hear the MF. IF you live in NW London also try Harrow Audio ask for Richard he is pretty decent to deal with. You also try audio concepts in Eailing and good few branches of Sevenoaks who will allow you to hear at the branch Some of them might be willing to sell or return I am do not really know the dealers across the water (south London) I would also recommend Grahams in Islington
do richer sounds do trials?
No , but they have a good returns policy.
Some bigger Richer Sounds shops have demonstration rooms, or you can return an item within 7 days if it doesn't suit:
http://www.richersounds.com/information/returns
'Goods, other than faulty goods, may be returned within 7 working days of the date of receipt by you of the goods. The cost of the return delivery charge under these circumstances is to be paid directly by the customer. As you can appreciate, we would request that all goods be returned in an ‘as new’ condition complete with packaging and all accessories. Unfortunately, goods which do not comply with this condition may be subject to a handling charge. Where goods are returned in accordance with this provision, we will happily reimburse any money already paid by you, excluding any delivery costs incurred by us.'
The Vinyl Adventure
14-02-2010, 17:11
a pre amp might be worth while too .. again, shame about the stan situation..
most places will allow trials if you are nice to them.. just dont piss on the door mat when you walk in ;)
Some bigger Richer Sounds shops have demonstration rooms, or you can return an item within 7 days if it doesn't suit:
http://www.richersounds.com/information/returns
'Goods, other than faulty goods, may be returned within 7 working days of the date of receipt by you of the goods. The cost of the return delivery charge under these circumstances is to be paid directly by the customer. As you can appreciate, we would request that all goods be returned in an ‘as new’ condition complete with packaging and all accessories. Unfortunately, goods which do not comply with this condition may be subject to a handling charge. Where goods are returned in accordance with this provision, we will happily reimburse any money already paid by you, excluding any delivery costs incurred by us.'
I wonder whether the same policy applies when purchasing in person.
I dunno. You could ring them up and ask; I've always found them very helpful both on the phone and in person.
The Vinyl Adventure
14-02-2010, 17:39
I dunno. You could ring them up and ask; I've always found them very helpful both on the phone and in person.
il second that... before i bought my beresford i phoned my most local ritcher to ask if they had the dacmagic in stock i was told that they did and he went on to say he would hold one for me if i liked without me even asking
I dunno. You could ring them up and ask; I've always found them very helpful both on the phone and in person.
It might vary between stores or even on who answers the call.
Quite possibly, but it's only a phone call. Live dangerously!
Stratmangler
14-02-2010, 19:45
I've always found Richer Sounds to be rather more helpful than these chaps here
dSINO6MKtco
Chris:)
Hah! I've been in hifi shops like that, where 'the customer is always wrong'.
I've always found Richer Sounds to be rather more helpful than these chaps here
dSINO6MKtco
Chris:)
I cringe when I see that clip, but it's based on reality I'm afraid, both in some Totty Ct Rd dealers of old AND a few of the more self satisfied Linn/Naim dealers of the eighties.....
<cough> Billy Vee <cough>
I cringe when I see that clip, but it's based on reality I'm afraid, both in some Totty Ct Rd dealers of old AND a few of the more self satisfied Linn/Naim dealers of the eighties.....
So what was the story there Dave? They were making so much money they did not care (which seems unlikely)? Or they were not paying their salesmen enough commision for them to care?
I tried to get a loan of a Dacmagic from various local Richer Sounds but they weren't interested. You'd probably have to buy it first, and if you didn't like it return it with a re-stocking fee. I don't think they'd yet cottoned on to the fact that computer audio was taking off and dacs were becoming more important.
Spectral Morn
14-02-2010, 22:57
I find that clip both funny and sad at the same time. I was never like that. Not when I was new (1989..as a Saturday Boy), or just before I did the Mexican walk (made redundant) a year or so ago.
However I did witness colleagues of mine have ago at guys who came in to us, who normally went to a Linn/Naim dealer in the same city. They would ask what we (the dealership I worked in)"Thought of Naim or Linn ?" The totally unnecessary response was, in regard to Naim
1 If you had enough of them you could build a garage.
2 They make excellent door stops.
3 They make excellent paper-weights.
etc etc etc..you can imagine the other comments, such as PRAT, is that the name of those who buy them :doh:
In regard to the Linn LP12
1 The platters make good Pizza dishes
2 I think there is enough wood there to light a fire.
3 Do you know its broke when it bounces like that.
As a junior member of staff I had to just say nothing, but I hated every minute of it. No need for insults, simply show and let them listen to one of our set ups...it would speak for its self. In regard to the Linn, its a great TT if set up by a non-Linn person...i.e allowed to breathe, and not tightened to within an inch of its life...imho.
Oh yes Kenwood got a slagging too...."Yes sir they make excellent food mixers"....:doh: They also made great tape decks, Tuners, CD players, CD Transports (one of the first), The first commercial CD recorder...all three boxes of it. It just makes me so sad the number of people who walked away thinking what a bunch of arrogant cocks. These were all potential customers/converts what ever you want to call them...and these mainly 2 (though nearly all of them did it, bar me...though I may well have had a giggle behind the scenes) members of staff pissed our chances up against the wall...what ass holes. This was 20 + years ago.
Regards D S D L
I have never had this treatment in a hifi store but I have when buying my first guitar; needless to say they lost the sale
In regard to the Linn LP12
In regard to the Linn, its a great TT if set up by a non-Linn person...i.e allowed to breathe, and not tightened to within an inch of its life...imho.
Regards D S D L
Most LP12's "set up" by non Linn trained people are a total joke - IMO...
Older decks HAD to be firmly tightened otherwise they sounded wishy-washy and vague. later - post early nineties ones were made to far tighter plinth tolerances and everything was checked for parallel bolts etc. these later ones DIDN'T need to be tightened to destruction...
Been there, read a library and worn out all the tee-shirts, including the one i still have with "Linn LP12" on the front and "I use mine every night" on the back.........
Spectral Morn
15-02-2010, 10:25
Most LP12's "set up" by non Linn trained people are a total joke - IMO...
Older decks HAD to be firmly tightened otherwise they sounded wishy-washy and vague. later - post early nineties ones were made to far tighter plinth tolerances and everything was checked for parallel bolts etc. these later ones DIDN'T need to be tightened to destruction...
Been there, read a library and worn out all the tee-shirts, including the one i still have with "Linn LP12" on the front and "I use mine every night" on the back.........
We will have to agree to differ. I find your comment way to general, in regard to those who are not Linn trained (too narrow and a bit off imho) and you have heard every Linn set up by a non-Linn person ?...I don't think so (you may have heard/seen a few bad ones in your day). Your Linn programming seems to be coming back Dave...fight it, fight it !
A Linn LP12 after I have set it up are stunning (imho/e), and sound much better than a tightened to destruction Linn (easy way to wreck the arm and cartridge imho..not experienced that thankfully). Linn trained my ass. More Ivor created BS. Any competent to excellent (me) TT set up person, with years of TT set up experience (covering a wide range of TTs )can do a Linn. No great mystery to it. I approached my first with a degree of caution (I had bought into the Linn BS)...no problem...took awhile though. First one was a massive success. My boss who hates Linns liked it..nay loved it "Best one he had ever heard" was his comment to me.
Regards D S D L
Filterlab
15-02-2010, 11:28
I cringe when I see that clip, but it's based on reality I'm afraid, both in some Totty Ct Rd dealers of old AND a few of the more self satisfied Linn/Naim dealers of the eighties.....
Well, I do believe Audio T in Epsom have based their training on that very clip. The rudest people I've ever encountered in the hi-fi trade.
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