Quote:
Originally posted by FAUguy:
If you really want to hear a difference in 2 channel music, I'd suggest you
look on eBay for a California Audio Labs Sigma or Alpha tube d/a converter.
I've had a Sigma II for 10 years and will never part with it, unless it falls apart.
I have an Adcom CD player sending digital coax RCA to the Sigma II D/A, which output Analog L/R to the Outlaw 950 CD input using Bypass mode.
This produces a very high quality and natural "non-digital" sound.
If I disconnect the Sigma II and connect the CD player directly to the 950 and let it to the D/A, I can defiantly tell the difference.
Since I don't have a 970 or 990, I can't speak on how much better the D/A's are in those, but I everything I've
read in here states that the 990 D/A are better quality than the 970.
Still, If you are overall happy with your 970, I'd say just keep it can get a tube D/A.

Here's a link to one
Sigma D/A
I have a California Audio Labs Alpha Tube DAC and the 990. WHile the CAL tube DAC is very nice. It's a bit outdated. It's got an 18bit chip in it. While the 990 has a 24 bit chip. You can hear the difference right away. The 24 bit chip is much more revealing in 2 ch music.

If I were you.. i'd upgrade to the 990. I am very impressed with it's 2ch abilities.
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Outlaw Audio 990 pre amp
Adire Audio sub (SVS 12.2 driver)
CAL Alpha tube DAC
Parasound P/HP-850 2 CH pre
Pioneer PL-530 TT
Polk Audio SDA 2B
NAD 2600A amp
Danger Boy here