Any Digital Impressions of the Caiman yet?

[Chippy_boy]

Doesn't transmission line design give extended bass without loss of efficiency?

Yes it does, but withdrawbacks. It helps getting deeper notes but its difficult to keep the response flat because of the resonant frequency of the line.

[Milo]

Hi
I have the TC7520 and i was planing to do the dac upgrade but i don't know anybody here in the US who can do the change for me. Do you recommend i sell the tc7520 and go for the Caimen?thx Milo SLC, UT

[Jason P]

I too am *this* far away (a gnat's crochet) from getting a StanDac, but for me it's which one... do I bite the bullet and 'go Caiman' or will a 7520 be enough for my humble system? I intend to get a 'Homaric' cable for whatever I get. This will sit between my Sony 303 ES and my Yaqin...

Cost is a bit of an issue. My recent 40th has swollen the coffers a bit but not enough... I want to know if I need to keep on saving...

Jason

[leo]

Hi Jason,

I've tried loads of dacs commercial and diy, in all honesty I've yet to hear anything that would beat the 7520 or Caiman in their particular price range

I personally prefer Caiman based although the standard 7520 is also very good.

[Chippy_boy]

Hi Jason,

I've tried loads of dacs commercial and diy, in all honesty I've yet to hear anything that would beat the 7520 or Caiman in their particular price range

I personally prefer Caiman based although the standard 7520 is also very good.

As a matter of interest, have you compared Stan's products to much more expensive DAC's?

I like the Caiman, but I just wish it had remote control. As it does not, I have to run it through my pre-amp. What I really want is a DAC with a remote volume control that I can plug directly into my power amp.

I am thinking of getting a Bel Canto Dac3, but at £2,000 it's a "considered purchase" as they say.

Do you think the Bel Canto will be significantly better than the Caiman? Or maybe just as good? Or worse?

I'd hate to spend £2k and find it sounds worse!!!?|!

[Marco]

Hi Chippy,

I'd advise you to forget all about the Bel Canto (it's a typical example of commercial over-priced so-called 'high-end' kit that flatters to deceive) and PM Duncan to build you one of these copper DACs, shown in his system pictures here, should you wish to change from the Caiman:

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3936

He'll build you one for about £400 and it'll piss all over the Bel Canto, trust me. Steve Toy (my co-administrator) uses the Bel Canto CDP and we were over today doing an A/B comparison between it when used as a standalone CDP, and when Duncan's DAC was connected, bypassing the BC's internal DAC.

Quite frankly, just how much better Dunc's DAC was compared to the internal one in the Bel Canto was embarrassing, bearing in mind that this is a £2400 CDP!!! Based on the evidence of what I heard today, I cannot see how the Bel Canto standalone DAC would be significantly better and would even hope to challenge the copper DAC.

We also heard how Duncan's Sony Playstation 3 (a £250 supposed 'games console'), connected to his DAC, streaming lossless files completely outperformed the Bel Canto playing the same music on CD! The latter sounded quite broken, musically, in comparison.

Duncan's copper DAC is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding bits of kit I've heard (I'm certain that it would give my £6k Audiocom modded Sony transport & DAC a hard time) and it is a veritable bargain. You should PM him and get more info.

Anyway, I just thought that I would relate my experience to you. What you do from here now is up to you

Marco.

[leo]

As a matter of interest, have you compared Stan's products to much more expensive DAC's?

I like the Caiman, but I just wish it had remote control. As it does not, I have to run it through my pre-amp. What I really want is a DAC with a remote volume control that I can plug directly into my power amp.

I am thinking of getting a Bel Canto Dac3, but at £2,000 it's a "considered purchase" as they say.

Do you think the Bel Canto will be significantly better than the Caiman? Or maybe just as good? Or worse?

I'd hate to spend £2k and find it sounds worse!!!?|!

I've not compared them directly no but didn't feel any commercial ready built stock unit I've heard over a grand warrants the price imo especially since going the diy route, some may give a marginal improvement, I've yet to hear any commercial unit that would totally blow it away
If you want the cosmetics the more expensive route is probably the way to go

I've only heard the Bel canto in another set up which I didn't like too much , I'd seriously consider borrowing/loaning one first before you get too excited about buying one

[Marco]

Hi Leo,

Did you read my post above re: the Bel Canto?

Marco.

[leo]

Hi Marco,

Yes, from what I've heard its not just the Bel Canto's thats shite with the analogue outs from their digital gear

BTW Chippy, wanting to change to a 2k unit just because the Caiman lacks a remote seems a bit OTT

[Marco]

Well, Leo, based on what I've heard from both the Bel Canto (as a DAC) and the Beresford 7520, I'd confidently say that the Caiman is likely to be better than both!

Marco.