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In the Forum: Didital Things
In the Thread: DAC Recommendations

Post Subject: Marantz & BidatPosted by de charlus on: 7/16/2013

The "Super Mod"
The Bidat was originally designed with 3 separate crystal-based voltage controlled oscillators. This was unique because we had the crystals specially made to be 'pull-able' around the sample rates of 33, 44.1 and 48 KHz. This scheme worked well only if the signal coming from the digital source was within the S/PDIF spec. In real life, many sources are not. The "super-mod" gets rid of these crystals and replaces the front-end PLL with another Meitner innovation - one that allows the Bidat to track the input even if the digital source is off-spec. The super mod is an extensive upgrade. In addition to the above, it includes changes to the power supply, power inlet, digital front-end and analog outputs. The cost of this update is $250.00 USD.

The Bidat Switching Power Supply
This update is no longer available.

The Bidat "Plus" Update
This is it! This is the update that puts the Bidat back on top, if it ever slipped. This update will make your Bidat the best sounding converter on the planet. The analog stage has been revised as has the power supply decoupling and the lock detection circuitry. More importantly, the DAC chip is modified to run in a much more linear fashion with lower distortion. The result is a breath taking experience. The bass rolls out at you now with a tremendous sense of foundation. The sound stage is absolutely life like and the subtle inner detail is beyond description.

Indeed, John Wright is now based in Calgary, and offers updates for Museatex, Meitner and Melios units. This is definitely an interesting notion, to say nothing of being affordable.

The Marantz is just a solid-sounding unit that produced very decent sound in its day and did nothing overly wrong. As I said before, at the time I wasn't exactly overwhelmed with the possibilities of audio, and bought an affordable system that offered acceptable "hi-fi" sound; as a transport, it can still surprise when in combination with an appropriate DAC. Indeed, it continues to surprise me how little CD replay has progressed in the meantime, although there have been a few exceptions to the principle. The notion of auditioning a universal player, given that I'm unfamiliar with any particular SACDs or HDCDs, is disarming to say the least; the very notion makes me so tired that I'd almost rather take a recommendation from someone whose opinion merits respect, and which plays Redbook Cds to a satisfactory standard, since I do not see myself plunging into these media wholesale unless things change profoundly, which they will not.

de Charlus

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