Exactly what it says. Your favorite DAC and why ? What DAC did it replace ? What did you compare it to.
Did you hear in your system a DCS, AMR, Esoteric, EAR Acute or other rated class "A" DAC ?
What was your reference to judge your purchase against ?
charles
Great DACs I've heard and liked:
Antelope DAC with Volticus PS - powerful, aggressive, stimulating, ballsy
Twisted Pear Buffalo DAC with transformer output and Belleson regulators ;) - not there, cheap, musical, missing nothing, not stimulating
Oracle DAC 1000 - mildly stimulating, great detail, pushes music out but not as much as Antelope
Esoteric transport/clock/DAC stack - exciting without stimulating, no sound, just confident
DACs I would like to hear/own:
Audio Research DAC8 - CD players always very inspirational music listening experience
Ayre DX-5 - everyone says Ayre digital playback is the bomb
SimAudio Moon 750D - 1 dedicated Sabre 9018 per channel, big boy high end glitz, Sim is usually very musical if not too safe
Lampizator - just to make sure mine is better. 8)
DCs stack - supposed to be "the best" curiosity killed the cat
I am happy with my Buffalo. Great sound top to bottom, clean and clear, not etched, extreme detail that is gentle and not forced. Does not pressurize the music like SS active buffers usually do. Attention is free to graze on anything. Could use a few dB more gain for the softest classical CDs on the least sensitive speakers. It is the best component in my system now so I need work in other areas first.
I heard the MSb stack a friends house,also the dcs stack,both great,but I really like the MSb. Very musical,does not sound digital
Rich,
Have you seen the Sept issue of TAS. They trashed the Audio Research DAC8 saying it was a step backwards from the DAC7.
I was shocked. This is the first time in quite a while that I saw TAS pan a piece of gear, let alone a piece from someone who buys as much ad space as ARC does.
yea I read that article. I guess ARC pissed them off. Unusual that ARC gets a bad review. They will kiss and make up and next month they will be making the best equipment since sliced bread! :)
I believe my custom Audio Note Dac with my computer will take out all these Dacs!
of course you do
Thanks Tom, I'll update my Christmas list right away.... ;)
Maybe DAC8 is the debut for a new designer, since the boss retired last year.
My favorite DAC is the Eastern Electric (Original) Minimax DAC because that's the best sounding one I've heard for the money and was what I could afford! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
My favorite DAC is the Playback Designs MPD-3 fed with DSD - but only DSD - its not as good as other DAC's via PCM IMHO.
Next is my Level 2 PDX - it has easily bested any other DAC I have put up against it - Burson, Tranquility (both models), JK Saber, JK 32, WFS Saber, Metrum, NAD M51.
The DAC I want to put up against it is the Killer DAC which I have not heard for a while but it bested a very early prototype of a PDX - in fact it blew away quite a few DAC's at a shootout I was at about two years ago. Have one on order to see how it compares these days.
Thanks
Bill
$750- $1,500 category:
I use the Metrum Octave (unmodded) with an after market power cord in my main system, it won hands down vs a great sounding Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC (non plus version, stock version) and the Benchmark DAC (non-USB version).
Findings: the Metrum Octave is superb as it does not add any coloring but provides such a clarity and detailed presentation only found in the 3-4k range DACs.
Eager to hear comments about the new sibling of the Octave.
sub $500 category:
I use the Grant Fidelity TubeDAC-11 in my studio that feeds directly to the Eastern Electric MiniMax tube amp with very satisfying result, given the budget.
Favorite DAC is the Eximus-DP1... which happens to be the most expensive Ive owned. Great in so many ways... Tons of detail while remaining totally musical. Upsampling actually changes the sound. 192 has a tight & fast detailed sound. 16/44 is more organic, looser sounding. 96 is in between the 2.
Pop and rock is best on 192. Jazz, blues.. 96.
Same here, heard it at dac shootout over a year ago and while it was only my #2 fav out of 5 units, #1 was way out of my price range. And rolling a series of NOS tubes combined with one of Pete's PCs have really allowed the unit to shine. I still haven't gotten to rolling opamps yet as I hear no need to. Love those Triode Wire products!
Quote from: StereoNut on August 23, 2012, 01:27:14 PM
My favorite DAC is the Eastern Electric (Original) Minimax DAC because that's the best sounding one I've heard for the money and was what I could afford! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Has anyone here heard the Burson 160D? I have one but have not really compared it to anything so i was just wondering "in the world of DACs" where it stood. There are not too many around since it is from Austrailia and the marketing isn't so good. But I will say this, it is built like a brick shithouse. :rofl:
etcarroll,
You need to let me throw some Dexa discrete's in there. You really haven't heard it until those are in installed :thumb:
Quote from: Bill O'Connell on December 05, 2012, 10:15:59 AM
etcarroll,
You need to let me throw some Dexa discrete's in there. You really haven't heard it until those are in installed :thumb:
I will second that. We used the EE DAC with the Dexa discretes at the DC Audiofest feeding our system.
BTW your welcome Bill. We are not dealers of EE.
charles
Your the man Charles, Thank you.
I'm certain it matched up well with all the other great gear you carry :thumb:
Still tube rolling Bill, but opamp rolling next on my list.
Send me a link to what you have in mind, I'm game.
I have an RCA clear-top in it now, sounds a tad 'forward' to me.
Quote from: Bill O'Connell on December 05, 2012, 10:15:59 AM
etcarroll,
You need to let me throw some Dexa discrete's in there. You really haven't heard it until those are in installed :thumb:
Well if Charles liked it, I'm definately game.
Quote from: Bill O'Connell on December 08, 2012, 11:00:32 AM
Your the man Charles, Thank you.
I'm certain it matched up well with all the other great gear you carry :thumb:
Quote from: rollo on December 08, 2012, 06:28:18 AM
Quote from: Bill O'Connell on December 05, 2012, 10:15:59 AM
etcarroll,
You need to let me throw some Dexa discrete's in there. You really haven't heard it until those are in installed :thumb:
I will second that. We used the EE DAC with the Dexa discretes at the DC Audiofest feeding our system.
BTW your welcome Bill. We are not dealers of EE.
charles
Yeah, you failed to mention it was my
personal EE DAC+ with Dexas we were using... Btw, it was the power cord attached that made all the difference in the world :lol:
Cheers,
Pete
Gene,
Aren't you using the original EE DAC? Will the Dexa work in it?
Quote from: etcarroll on December 08, 2012, 01:27:35 PM
I have an RCA clear-top in it now, sounds a tad 'forward' to me.
I tried clear top RCA 12AU7s (cryoed Black Sable from TubeDepot.com) in my EE Minimax preamp. Great detail, but a little thin compared to a plain getter top RCA. Plain RCA too blurred for me. I liked the stock EE branded tube. Still not phat but extremely low distortion and more body than the cleartops. I guess it's Shuguang.
Currently running a Wyred4Sound DAC1 with upgraded caps to be equivalent to their DAC2.
I listened to the REGA DAC, Benchmark DAC1 and Bel Canto 3.5 before I bought it.
Correct - original EE Minimax with one of Pete's PCs.
Was going to roll in a different tube, opted for opening a bottle of wine instead. Maybe this Vouvray will back off the forwardness a little.
Quote from: shadowlight on December 08, 2012, 02:22:43 PM
Gene,
Aren't you using the original EE DAC? Will the Dexa work in it?
There you go Gene! My wife and I broke open a bottle of our fav 2001 Montepulcciano, to watch the kids decorate the tree. 128k Christmas carols on Pandora sound just fine! :)
Forget the RCA clear-top, overrated, compared to the older D/squared version black-plate from the late 50's. The clear top doesn't hold a candle to it.
Dexa's can be installed in the original, no problem. Forget tube rolling until you here the DAC with Dexa's.
Quote from: etcarroll on December 08, 2012, 05:05:54 PM
Correct - original EE Minimax with one of Pete's PCs.
Was going to roll in a different tube, opted for opening a bottle of wine instead. Maybe this Vouvray will back off the forwardness a little.
Quote from: shadowlight on December 08, 2012, 02:22:43 PM
Gene,
Aren't you using the original EE DAC? Will the Dexa work in it?
I really like the British Brimar T-series 6067 (12AU7) in my EE DAC+...
My $0.02,
Pete
Pretty sure I have one of those in the shoebox - I'll throw it in next.
Quote from: Bill O'Connell on December 08, 2012, 09:16:45 PM
Forget the RCA clear-top, overrated, compared to the older D/squared version black-plate from the late 50's. The clear top doesn't hold a candle to it.
Dexa's can be installed in the original, no problem. Forget tube rolling until you here the DAC with Dexa's.
There are few no brainers out there however the dexas are one of those. Just do it and be berry berry happy. Hard to find but a real tele 12AU7 just may give that Brimar a VG good run for the money. Ya never know until you try. To further enhance the EE+ DAC I strongly recco Pon-Tune footers. Yes we sell them. To date the most affective footers we have tried. Before the Pon-Tunes we liked roller blocks.
charles
http://www.audionervosa.com/index.php?topic=3934.0 (http://www.audionervosa.com/index.php?topic=3934.0)
http://www.dagogo.com/Print-Article.asp?hArticle=1029 (http://www.dagogo.com/Print-Article.asp?hArticle=1029)
http://www.newclassd.com/index.php?page=55 (http://www.newclassd.com/index.php?page=55)
http://www.partsconnexion.com/opamp_dexa.html (http://www.partsconnexion.com/opamp_dexa.html)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/198813-minimax-dac-best-opamps-replace-stock-ones.html (http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/198813-minimax-dac-best-opamps-replace-stock-ones.html)
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/198813-minimax-dac-best-opamps-replace-stock-ones.html (http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/digital-source/198813-minimax-dac-best-opamps-replace-stock-ones.html)
I think stock opamp is LM4562, a fav of audio designer because of the specs. John Atkinson devoted an editorial to this savior chip a few years ago. I call it the vampire because it sucks the life out of music. It has low distortion and noise, but we don't need that. Vampire is better left to electron microscopes and military sonar.
Use a DIP puller (http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/OK-Industries/EX-1/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMs8I5ltipPMABlo2%252bl8YlJ7)to remove the existing opamps without damaging them.
In my modded EE Minimax DAC (original), I like the '65 Radiotechnique best, although a Mullard long-plate sounds great as well.
RCA & Raytheon black-plates sound good also but don't mesh as well with the rest of my system.
I don't have a Brimar but I do have a Tele. Maybe I'll give it a try.
The Radiotechnique is indeed a fine tube. I am on my 2nd set of these in my Belles 21a preamp... If anyone finds a treasure trove of these, let me know.
Quote from: Triode Pete on December 08, 2012, 01:43:51 PM
Quote from: rollo on December 08, 2012, 06:28:18 AM
Quote from: Bill O'Connell on December 05, 2012, 10:15:59 AM
etcarroll,
You need to let me throw some Dexa discrete's in there. You really haven't heard it until those are in installed :thumb:
I will second that. We used the EE DAC with the Dexa discretes at the DC Audiofest feeding our system.
BTW your welcome Bill. We are not dealers of EE.
charles
Yeah, you failed to mention it was my personal EE DAC+ with Dexas we were using... Btw, it was the power cord attached that made all the difference in the world :lol:
Cheers,
Pete
I've got to chime in here, Between what I own and various tour DACs that were floating around LI earlier this year I think I have had pretty much every version of the EE DAC and DAC Plus in my system and I have to say that there was not one of them that did not get a huge performance benefit from using one of Pete's cords. So this is not a case of Pete just tweaking us tongue in cheek a little about his cords. These cords are the real deal when it comes to the EE DACs. You will never know what your EE DAC is capable of until you've heard it with one of the TWL cords.
Most do not know Pete personally. He is a always teasing and just having fun.
Tom since you are familiar with the EE DAC do tell us more with relationship to the differences heard.
charles
Quote from: tmazz on December 10, 2012, 08:41:07 AM
Quote from: Triode Pete on December 08, 2012, 01:43:51 PM
Quote from: rollo on December 08, 2012, 06:28:18 AM
Quote from: Bill O'Connell on December 05, 2012, 10:15:59 AM
etcarroll,
You need to let me throw some Dexa discrete's in there. You really haven't heard it until those are in installed :thumb:
OK so you will have to bring over one of his cords again so we can A-B :-k
I will second that. We used the EE DAC with the Dexa discretes at the DC Audiofest feeding our system.
BTW your welcome Bill. We are not dealers of EE.
charles
Yeah, you failed to mention it was my personal EE DAC+ with Dexas we were using... Btw, it was the power cord attached that made all the difference in the world :lol:
Cheers,
Pete
I've got to chime in here, Between what I own and various tour DACs that were floating around LI earlier this year I think I have had pretty much every version of the EE DAC and DAC Plus in my system and I have to say that there was not one of them that did not get a huge performance benefit from using one of Pete's cords. So this is not a case of Pete just tweaking us tongue in cheek a little about his cords. These cords are the real deal when it comes to the EE DACs. You will never know what your EE DAC is capable of until you've heard it with one of the TWL cords.
Quote from: rollo on December 10, 2012, 08:48:17 AM
Most do not know Pete personally. He is a always teasing and just having fun.
Tom since you are familiar with the EE DAC do tell us more with relationship to the differences heard.
charles
The TWL cord on my original EE DAC made it sound very close to the DAC Plus and put the same type of improvement on the Plus as well. With the TWL cord installed the soundstage was a bit wider and deeper, the space between the instruments was blacker and more apparent and the precision of the instrument location was that much more focused. Al in all the music just sounded more "real" and relaxed. Interestingly these are the same types of improvements I heard when putting TWL cords on my amps.
Tom -
Amen brother. I had Bill with me when I got Pete's 7 PC for my PS Audio Quintet that in turn delivers juice to all but my amp, we were both awe-struck by it.
Putting the 12 on the EE DAC just made it all the better.
Quote from: tmazz on December 10, 2012, 07:06:16 PM
The TWL cord on my original EE DAC made it sound very close to the DAC Plus and put the same type of improvement on the Plus as well. With the TWL cord installed the soundstage was a bit wider and deeper, the space between the instruments was blacker and more apparent and the precision of the instrument location was that much more focused. Al in all the music just sounded more "real" and relaxed. Interestingly these are the same types of improvements I heard when putting TWL cords on my amps.
Not the PC silly the DACs. What was the son difference between the EE DAC with and without the dexa op amps.
charles
Guys check out the Resolution Audio Cantada Music Center DAC. Heard one recently and was impressed. Very impressed since the user did not optimize the computer yet. www.resolutionaudio.com (http://www.resolutionaudio.com)
charles
Quote from: rollo on December 11, 2012, 05:53:55 AM
Not the PC silly the DACs. What was the son difference between the EE DAC with and without the dexa op amps.
charles
I can't say I've had them side by side, but I did hear both in my system. The stock EE DAC was nice, but didn't impress me overly much compared to my Ayre CX7eMP. But I had to send that back to the factory to replace the aging transport and borrowed Pete's maxxed out Dexa EE DAC. I'm still not overly impressed with the (default) tube mode on it, but in SS mode it sounds wonderful. Switching back and forth between it and my returned Ayre I really have a hard time telling the difference. Great sound at a nice price compared to the competition.
Check out this one....
http://www.matrix-digi.com/en/products/49/index.html (http://www.matrix-digi.com/en/products/49/index.html)
Just came out... plays DSD, being reviewed soon over at head fi
Matrix X-Sabre
ESS Technology ES9018 SABRE Reference 32-bit DAC
8 mono to 2 stereo configuration, four D/A converters per channel
Price $1099 crazy..
Quote from: machinehead
crazy..
Yes, you are! ... in a good way of sorts, that is... :rofl: :thumb:
Dude... My new website is getting me crazy business requests.... now to land some jobs.... maybe Ill quit my day job!
Its Innnnsaane! like Crazy eddie.