FS: Audio Research DAC1-20 MKIII w/ UltraAnalog Multibit Chip, Balanced, Original Box

I've been on a vintage DAC kick lately, but I need to thin the herd. This one is going mainly because it's massive and poses space challenges in my current setup.

The reason I bought this is that it has a multibit chip by UltraAnalog, the D20400A, which is also used in the Sonic Frontiers SFD-1 MKII.

It's an MKIII unit with balanced outputs. More info: https://arcdb.ws/model/DAC1

Beautiful condition with original box.

I bought it for $750 a few months ago. Asking $650, including shipping in CONUS, for Friends and Contributors.

 

You bought this DAC from me, and I can confirm that it is a badass DAC. How's the article coming?

 

Ha! I had no idea you were on here, too. Why’d you post it on Reddit instead of here?

The comparison has been fun so far. I’ve compared five ‘90s, early-‘00s DACs so far, all with various multibit chips, and I have one more coming in. The only one that’s been pretty disappointing, at least to my ears, was a Musetex Bidat. If someone here wants it, I’ll cut them a deal, but I didn’t even want to list it here because it’s pretty “meh.”

I’m not a huge believer in chips determining sound, but this and the Parasound 2000 sound really close. This is a bit rounder, and it’s a bit squarer. But soundstage, tone, dynamics, etc. is all really similar and very good. Reminds me of a blend between the lower-end Schiit MBs and the original Holo Spring in NOS mode. The Parasound is maybe 60-40 towards Schiit and this is 40-60.

If it weren’t for this taking up a whole shelf and the fact that I kinda went nuts buying a bunch of old DACs all at once, I’d hang onto it. This thing is beautiful and just very satisfying aesthetically.

 

I think this is what Gungnir A2 is, but probably better. It's tonally neutral and super transparent. It's so goddamn big that I have to let everyone else have a crack at it.
If you get no hits, I'll definitely buy it back from you. It's more transparent than many I've tried.

 

Hi, have you tried comparing this to Sonic Frontiers SFD-1 or SFD-2?

 

It would’ve been worth the $100 just to try it, so it’s cool if you want it back if no one else picks it up.

No, and that’s honestly only because I was trying to avoid tubes as a variable.

Basically, I’ve been reading and thinking a lot about early digital technology, CDs, and why we’ve sort of retconned the history to conclude that pre-hires digital was bad. Part of that reconsideration was this:

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/the-...version-of-donald-fagen’s-the-nightfly-r1006/

I’m hoping to follow that up with kind of a two-part reappraisal of Redbook-era digital, one focusing on CDs and the other focusing on DACs.

 

Also worth noting how well this thing measures for a DAC of its age. It’d probably pass Amir’s absurd linearity test:

https://www.stereophile.com/content/audio-research-dac1-da-converter-dac1-20-measurements

 

Ah, that's too bad! One point of time I was considering between this DAC and the Sonic Frontiers SFD-2 because both of them came up for sale locally. For reasons I end up with the SFD-2 but I'm curious how the ARc sounds.

Also interesting the designer of this DAC has founded his own company. I have his transport on loan at the moment...

http://ar-t.co/LEGATO.html

 

Basically the older DACs don't get less awesome just because they're older, and of the 10 or so DACs I tried recently this one was a standout.
I only got rid of it because this bitch is big.
I'll totally take it back if nobody wants to bathe themselves in the awesomeness of real shit from the heyday of old big ARC money, and I think it's hilarious that the dude who bought it from me (so he could do a shootout on Audiophilestyle) is here selling the very same DAC.
Anyhow, I like the DAC, and hope someone else gets a chance, but I'll buy that ho so hard if nobody wants it

 

Sold for $750 on AudioMart. Please close @shotgunshane @jexby

 

Someone is in for a treat.