Beresford TC-7510 or TC-7520 for my system?

Printable View

15-07-2009, 21:33
aewright78

Beresford TC-7510 or TC-7520 for my system?

Good afternoon everyone,

I was hoping someone could give me some good information and opinions about my personal system. Here is my current audio/music setup:

WAV Files
Iomega ScreenPlay HD Multimedia Hard Drive
AudioQuest Hawk Eye S/P DIF
Primare SPA21 Surround Amplifier
AudioQuest Rockefeller Speaker Cables
Vienna Acoustics Strauss Speakers

PS Audio Power Port AC Receptacle
Furman Power Station PST-8 D
Shunyata Research Sidewinder Power Cord

I am considering the addition of:

Beresford TC-7510 or TC-7520 or TC-7520 with the LM4562NA
Kimber Kable Hero Interconnect Cables

If I theoretically had the option to buy a brand new TC-7510 at a severely discounted rate, would my system instead sound better enough by purchasing either the TC-7520 or TC-7520 with the LM4562NA to make the higher price worth while?

Thank you everyone and I really appreciate your help!

Sincerely,

-Adam Wright
15-07-2009, 21:48
Dougr33

With Primare and Vienna Acoustic equipment, it doesn't make any sense to me for you to skimp on the DAC.
15-07-2009, 21:53
Stratmangler

TC-7520, no doubt.

From opinions voiced here it sounds better out of the box.

I have a 7510 with self installed mods, and the mods were a bit of a pain to implement.

With the 7520 you take off the lid, yank out the op-amps, replace op-amps, maybe cut a leg on two capacitors.

No soldering iron involvement at all.

Chris:)
16-07-2009, 01:59
aewright78

Thank you both for your replies. So I am guessing you both recommend replacing the op-amps in the TC-7520?

Thank you again!

-Adam
16-07-2009, 03:14
Dougr33

Perhaps the dust hasn't settled on which op-amp mod is best, but simply installing the 4562 or 4032 is a marked improvement over stock. For a while, I believe Stan liked (as do I right now) 4032 in Line Out, and 4562 in HPA, but things are more complicated now with possible capacitor decapitations (clever, eh?).
16-07-2009, 06:25
StanleyB

According to some people the stock opamps give a better bass in their system. So swapping out the stock opamps blindly without first letting the DAC burn in and taking your time to assess things is not recommended. I clearly state in the instruction manual that the DAC should undergo the burn in period before anything else.
The stock opamps were carefully selected by me for an overall balanced sound. Once you remove them and use something else, you have to have a clear idea about what it is that you are trying to achieve with the replacement. So think before you jump.

Stan
16-07-2009, 13:59
Dougr33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sensimilia

According to some people the stock opamps give a better bass in their system. So swapping out the stock opamps blindly without first letting the DAC burn in and taking your time to assess things is not recommended. I clearly state in the instruction manual that the DAC should undergo the burn in period before anything else.
The stock opamps were carefully selected by me for an overall balanced sound. Once you remove them and use something else, you have to have a clear idea about what it is that you are trying to achieve with the replacement. So think before you jump.

Stan

An excellent point of course.
16-07-2009, 14:36
aewright78

Stan, thank you very much for your insight! I will take your advice and order the 7520 "as-is" and wait until after I break it in to make any determinations. I really look forward to adding this to my system!!!

P.S. After seeing the current list of my components, does anyone recommend any other changes or tweaks?

Thank you again everyone!

-Adam
16-07-2009, 17:39
Stratmangler

I have just looked at your component list (all looks to be good kit, I might add), and TBH I'm a little intrigued by your desire to include a TC-7520, especially as the AV amp already does conversion duties.

Sorry, I should have spent the time looking things up on the 'net earlier.

Chris:scratch:
16-07-2009, 22:21
aewright78

The reason I think I need a DAC...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratmangler

I have just looked at your component list (all looks to be good kit, I might add), and TBH I'm a little intrigued by your desire to include a TC-7520, especially as the AV amp already does conversion duties.

Sorry, I should have spent the time looking things up on the 'net earlier.

Chris:scratch:

Chris, thank you for your response. I agree it would be better to avoid an external DAC, but here is the issue I am having:

The Primare does a good job with the DA conversion, but the processor is slow to lock in a digital signal. So one of two things happens when I play music using a hard drive: 1) Either I miss the first 3-5 seconds of a song, or 2) I hear the first 3-5 seconds, then I miss the next 5 seconds or so.

The only solution I can think of is to convert before reaching the Primare. Can you or anyone else think of a different or better solution? I would be thrilled to skip adding another component or step to the system. And I am assuming I should avoid using the hard drive's internal DAC.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!

Thank you again!

Sincerely,

-Adam:confused:
16-07-2009, 22:39
Stratmangler

Quote:

Originally Posted by aewright78

I am assuming I should avoid using the hard drive's internal DAC.

Hi Adam

I agree with you on the above point.

The rest is puzzling to say the least. From what you describe there is a definite synchronization issue, but from which end (Iomega or Primare) ?

Are there any GUI interfaces that you can address the Iomega with ?

I would think that the Primare is pretty a well closed and locked shop !

Possibly the only way around the problem is to deal with signal in the analogue domain, in which case I retract the question.

Confused ?

I am !

Chris:confused:
17-07-2009, 01:51
aewright78

DAC Synchronization Issue

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratmangler

Hi Adam

I agree with you on the above point.

The rest is puzzling to say the least. From what you describe there is a definite synchronization issue, but from which end (Iomega or Primare) ?

Are there any GUI interfaces that you can address the Iomega with ?

I would think that the Primare is pretty a well closed and locked shop !

Possibly the only way around the problem is to deal with signal in the analogue domain, in which case I retract the question.

Confused ?

I am !

Chris:confused:

Chris, both the Iomega & Primare are connected to my television to access the Menus, Options, etc. But I have not seen anything for either component that will address this issue.

I have reason to believe the issue is with the Primare because I have the same problem if I use a CD player or DVD player with a digital connection to the Primare. I do not have this issue when I use analog connections, but then I am sacrificing audio quality by using the DAC from the CD player or DVD player.

Suggestions anyone...please???

-Adam
17-07-2009, 06:33
StanleyB

Quote:

Originally Posted by aewright78

Chris, thank you for your response. I agree it would be better to avoid an external DAC, ...

It depends if you are after an improvement in audio reproduction over that what you are getting from your existing system, or if you are just after hearing music play. The purpose of an external DAC is after all the same purpose a stand alone turntable has over a music center with a turntable on top.

The 5 seconds delay you are experiencing might be down to the muting circuit in one of the units. It wouldn't be down to any D to A delays.

Stan
17-07-2009, 11:55
aewright78

Good morning Stan,

I am looking to improve the audio reproduction, but at the same time I am looking to solve the issue of the 5 seconds of missed information. Will the DAC solve that issue, as does running an analog source through my system?

Thank you again!

Sincerely,

-Adam
17-07-2009, 13:23
StanleyB

I would expect it to. PM me and we can discuss about a loan unit to confirm.

Stan