Inexpensive DACs?

[sferrell]

Hi,

I have a CI Audio VDA-1 DAC which got zorched by lightning last week. CI Audio now has a VDA-2, which is about twice what I paid for the VDA-1. I'm sure it is nice DAC, but doubt my insurance company will pay the difference.

Any suggestions on a $300-ish DAC?

thanks,
sf

[dvenardos]

$300 is going to be pretty tough. I have the VDA-2 and it is an excellent DAC. I have heard pretty good reviews of the Cambridge DacMagic. I was looking for the link to audiomagus but apparently they are closed down and this company is now the distributor for King Rex products.

http://www.obadimports.com/page/page/4377355.htm

http://www.wildwestelectronics.net/cambridge-audio-dac-magic-upsampling-audio-converter.html

Did you contact CI audio about the possibility of repair?

[sferrell]

Thanks for the links, I'll look them over.

Theoretically, insurance will cover whatever it takes to get something "equivalent", but that is pretty subjective so it is hard to say what they will really pay.

I left voicemail for CI Audio early this morning, but haven't heard back from them.

thanks,
sf

[sferrell]

Um, nevermind....

Seconds after I replied I heard from Dusty. He thought there was a good chance that the VDA-1 could be repaired. After we spoke, I went over to package it up for shipping and as I picked it up...it was warm.

Seems I'd kind of forgotten that little blue light was not a power light, but rather, indicated that it was receiving a signal. The thing it was connected to was dead (no surprise there), but the DAC was just fine. I plugged it into something else and it lit right up.

So, I feel a lot better, if not a little stupid...

thanks again,
sf

[dvenardos]

:thumbsup: