Musica Pristina - A Cappella II (Oxygen mask not included)

[musicapristina]

We're about to roll out the A Cappella II.

A couple of years ago, I sold a copyright and had a few extra bucks. After being completely put off by the local hi-fi dealer, I stumbled on a shop in town run by a guy who fixed broken gear. He was a tube aficionado, and also a Quad dealer (back when they didn't have a US distributor.) One listen to those ESLs and I fell in love.

But then I needed a top notch front end. I picked up a WEISS DAC-202 and my mind was blown. I spent several weeks measuring and tweaking my room with all the DIY acoustical treatments I could find. Some made things better, some worse. I'm a hands-on kind of guy, what can I say.

Then I decided to tackle the source unit. I had read all about linear PSUs in digital audio, and was convinced it was more snake oil. So I set out to prove everyone wrong. I started making phone calls to digital component engineers at various firms, large and small. Anyone who would talk to me, really.

Then one fateful day, I ended up on a call with a guy who lives no more than 2 miles away. David Davenport, of Raleigh Audio. Dave had been making a DAC, and perfecting linear supplies, for the past 6 years or so at the time. He said the best thing I could do was to listen for myself.

So I did. I bought supplies from all over the world. (Well, 3 from California, one from Israel, and a few from Digikey.) And they sounded different.

What? How could this be?

Without meaning to, I started (another) business venture. Word got out that I was making music players and servers and I sold a few here and there.

In the early days they were based on taming the beast known around the globe as Microsoft Windows. Auditioning dozens of motherboards. Tweaking RAM configurations and BIOS settings. Turning off services. Adjusting registry settings.

But I eventually hit the brick wall. I couldn't make Windows sound any better. Oddly, most DACs started to sound the same. Extremely open, natural, delicate yet detailed... but the same. I wanted something better.

So, I set off to explore the dark-side. (First I tried out Windows Embedded, but found it to be too murky)

I assembled a real-time version of Linux on my best hardware setup, and even it sounded the same. (By the same, I mean very difficult to tell whether the differences were real or placebo. I know I fall victim to placebo. I don't know when or by how much)

In a last ditch effort, after a serious contemplation of throwing in my soldering iron, I tried something novel. Pulling audio from a non-PC motherboard. After all, what's it take to interface with Ethernet data, clock it, and spit out an I2S signal? (Admittedly, a lot. A whole darn lot.)

A year or so later, and here we are, rolling out the A Cappella II. A PC-less, Windows-less, Fan-less, Driver-less network player that I truly hope leaves everyone who hears it breathless.

Oxygen mask not included.

--

Please say hi, and feel free to show me around. I'm new here.

Kevin

[richidoo]

Hi Kevin, welcome to AudioNervosa

Please provide more details about your invention / product.

Internet link?

Thanks
Rich

[richidoo]

http://musicapristina.com/

Based in Raleigh, I used to live in same zip.   

[StereoNut]

Welcome Kevin!

[musicapristina]

A Cappella II is the my latest Network Player. It's not a computer, it's an honest-to-goodness audio device for playing files to a DAC. It's built in a minimalist aluminum chassis with an engraved logo. It uses a very clear linear PSU to power the main board. It outputs I2S and of course USB.

Here's the link:
http://musicapristina.com/shop/a-cappella-ii

We also have a wonderful PCM DAC with a tube output stage, fully balanced dual-mono circuitry and a stepped shunt attenutator that will have you selling your pre-amp. (OK, that's a bit arrogant... but it does sound amazing)

The Virtuoso DAC is here:
http://musicapristina.com/shop/virtuoso-dac

I didn't want to assume I could post links, so I didn't do it in my first post. And yes, we're based in Raleigh, NC.

Thanks for the warm welcome.

Kevin

[rollo]

  Welcome aboard Kevin. Sounds very inviting. Maybe you and Richidoo could get together and demo the unit. Would love to hear Richidoo's opinion.


charles