keithr wrote:
"Rob" wrote in message
...
I'm not convinced that the DAC/analogue amplifier in my Mac Mini is all it
might be - the sound, while not unpleasant, appears to be rather dull, at
least compared to the DAC of an AV amplifier when fed the optical output.

So, I'm thinking of a DAC to improve the sound. It does appear the sky's
the limit, but this caught my eye:

http://www.homehifi.co.uk/TC-7510/about.html

Any thoughts?

Thanks, Rob

Looks like it contains a fair amount of snake oil:-
Virtual DC: An inexpensive No Noise solution
The Beresford Virtual DC represents a radical departure from both
traditional power supplies and low noise designs. It comprises of:

1.. A 1st stage mains rectification, regulation, and filtering adapter
that is able to operate between 100VAC to 260VAC and is plugged directly
into the mains socket.
What we in the trade would call a plugpack.
1.. A 2nd stage DC storage tank and reverse voltage protection circuit.
This prevents any incoming DC of incorrect polarity shorting out the power
supply, or DC voltage from the storage tank flowing back into the external
1st stage. It also acts as a storage space for the DC power from the
external mains adapter, and rectifier of any AC noise. Just like a DC
battery cell, this DC storage tank is technically incapable of storing AC,
and that includes any AC ripple or noise.
Wow they put a diode in series with the DC in, who would have thought of
that, oh come to think of it, the portable TV set that I owned in the 70s
had a similar revolutionary component. DC storage tank, I wonder what that
could be, a big capacitor or capacitors perhaps?
1.. The DC storage tank then distributes its content to different digital
and analogue DC regulator circuits. These isolate further any chances of
regulator induced noise being fed back to other parts of the power supply
chain. Each digital and analogue regulator is in charge of just one DC
level. There are 5 DC levels in the TC-7510.
5 regulators - the fools they will go broke with reckless spending like
that.
This propriety DC supply and noise cancelling system gives the Beresford
Virtual DC power supply industry leading performance, without using
expensive custom made components.

I wonder if they have applied for patents for this revolutionary system.

Keith



:-)

OK - get the point - it's nothing special. But do you think it'd do the
job? I like the idea of the selectable I/O, and when all's said and done
it just converts digital to analogue for 100UKP. Is it fundamentally
wrong in any way?

Rob