[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
adamslim;137938 Wrote: > Moshulu, did you build the Monica yourself? Easy? For well under £100 > it looks close to a no-risk play. I bought the whole board, peopled and tested. All I did was to add a couple of 1.2Ah batteries, a charger, switches, a capacitor, a voltage meter, and an enclosure with connectors. It was trivial. I'm glad that I didn't try to people the board myself. The traces are tiny, and I would have needed a special soldering iron. -- moshulu moshulu's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=6811 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
Phil Leigh;132004 Wrote: > Please tell me this is a joke? > If a 2Khz sine wave really looks like that staircase going into a wide > bandwidth amp it will sound 'orrible! If you think that sounds better > you've probably developed an affection for that particular type of > distortion. Well 2kHz is already quite a high pitch, so it seems that the visible distortion to the waveform would be above not-bat hearing. Bruce Wayne won't be getting a Monica, but don't let that deter _you_! Moshulu, did you build the Monica yourself? Easy? For well under £100 it looks close to a no-risk play. -- adamslim Shanling CDT-100, Rotel RT-990BX, Esoteric Audio Research 859, Snell Type E, Nordost cables, Squeezebox due on my birthday :) adamslim's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=7355 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
Here's an interesting review of the Monica2 NOS DAC: http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue27/monica_dac.htm This writeup pretty much corresponds to my impressions of the inexpensive Monica when used with an SB3. I sincerely recommend this DAC, especially to those who, unlike the previous poster, aren't cursed with the uncanny ability to know what a waveform will sound like just from looking at an oscilloscope trace. Must be a horrible way to live. The question of ouput level deserves attention. I happen to have some very efficient speakers (Klipsch RF5, 99 db/W) and I listen to music at moderate levels. Still, I find myself operating near the top of the volume range. I'm currently putting together a grounded-grid pre-amp to give myself a bit more room. moshulu -- moshulu moshulu's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=6811 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
moshulu;131906 Wrote: > For an amateur like me, DACs are mysterious things. After putting > together my Monica2 (a battery-powered non-oversampling DAC that uses a > single TDA1545A chip) I fed in a 2 kHZ “sine wave” signal > from a test CD. I looked at Monica’s analog output, compared > with that of my garden-variety Denon deck (see link to picture below). > I should have anticipated what I saw, but I admit to being shocked. No > way was I going to feed that ugly waveform into my nice, > painfully-constructed, 300B monoblocks! Still, what’s an honest > DAC supposed to do? All it has is the 44.1 kHz data samples; > everything else is guesswork and interpolation. For all it knows, the > original sound WAS a step function. In any case, I figured that the > high frequency components in the steps were probably not going to be > amplified in my monoblocks, transmitted through my cables, reproduced > by my speakers, or heard by my ears. The final proof, of course, was > in the listening. Monica produces a lovely sound, superior to the > Denon deck and, IMHO, to the Squeezebox. > > http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/moshulu/DSCN0563b.jpg > [Top trace: Monica; bottom trace: Denon] Please tell me this is a joke? If a 2Khz sine wave really looks like that staircase going into a wide bandwidth amp it will sound 'orrible! If you think that sounds better you've probably developed an affection for that particular type of distortion. Of course, the amp will probably be doing the filtering of the 44.1khz artifacts anyway... I'd rather prefer my sine waves to look like sine waves. (and PF is correct - that nice sine wave out of the Denon is not a guess - it's the result of what looks like well-implemented anti-alias filtering. I note with some amusement that Philips themselves describe this device as "suitable for a clock radio" - that sounds about right :o) -- Phil Leigh Phil Leigh's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=85 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
moshulu;131906 Wrote: > For an amateur like me, DACs are mysterious things. After putting > together my Monica2 (a battery-powered non-oversampling DAC that uses a > single TDA1545A chip) I fed in a 2 kHZ “sine wave” signal > from a test CD. I looked at Monica’s analog output, compared > with that of my garden-variety Denon deck (see link to picture below). > I should have anticipated what I saw, but I admit to being shocked. No > way was I going to feed that ugly waveform into my nice, > painfully-constructed, 300B monoblocks! Still, what’s an honest > DAC supposed to do? All it has is the 44.1 kHz data samples; > everything else is guesswork and interpolation. For all it knows, the > original sound WAS a step function. In any case, I figured that the > high frequency components in the steps were probably not going to be > amplified in my monoblocks, transmitted through my cables, reproduced > by my speakers, or heard by my ears. The final proof, of course, was > in the listening. Monica produces a lovely sound, superior to the > Denon deck and, IMHO, to the Squeezebox. > > http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/moshulu/DSCN0563b.jpg > [Top trace: Monica; bottom trace: Denon] The "smoothing" of the signal done by a modern DAC is not really guesswork. It reconstructs exactly how the signal would have looked during A/D conversion after being bandwidth limited (prior to being sampled) -as it must be to avoid aliasing effects. The output from Monica, however, is the result of "sample and hold", where the sample phase is represented by the leading edge of the steps, and the hold phase is the horizontal sections. Now, the hold phase is just an implementation detail (in DACs), and is not really something that can be said to be part of any stored signal. (In theory, the sample is taken at a specific time, and during an infinitely short time period.) -- P Floding P Floding's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2932 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
For an amateur like me, DACs are mysterious things. After putting together my Monica2 (a battery-powered non-oversampling DAC that uses a single TDA1545A chip) I fed in a 2 kHZ sine wave signal from a test CD. I looked at Monicas analog output, compared with that of my garden-variety Denon deck (see link to picture below). I should have anticipated what I saw, but I admit to being shocked. No way was I going to feed that ugly waveform into my nice, painfully-constructed, 300B monoblocks! Still, whats an honest DAC supposed to do? All it has is the 44.1 kHz data samples; everything else is guesswork and interpolation. For all it knows, the original sound WAS a step function. In any case, I figured that the high frequency components in the steps were probably not going to be amplified in my monoblocks, transmitted through my cables, reproduced by my speakers, or heard by my ears. The final proof, of course, was in the listening. Monica produces a lovely sound, superior to the Denon deck and, IMHO, to the Squeezebox. http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/moshulu/DSCN0563b.jpg [Top trace: Monica; bottom trace: Denon] -- moshulu moshulu's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=6811 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
TiredLegs;131804 Wrote: > There's a school of thought which says that a DAC's op amps make more > audible difference then its digital chips. Thats the school I've been attending. -- konut konut's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1596 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
opaqueice;130436 Wrote: > Just FYI, there's a school of thought on this which says money spent on > a DAC is essentially a waste. The reasoning is that all reasonably > modern DACs sound more or less the same. I recently purchased a Dodson DAC-263, and have been doing various comparisons between it, the DAC internal to the SB3, and my prior Entech Number Cruncher 205.2 DAC. There are very substantial differences in sound between them, and thus far, I'm thinking that the Dodson might be the best audio purchase I've ever made. I never knew how good my music could sound. (At some point, I'll get around to posting a detailed comparison between these DAC configurations.) Even if most modern DACs used equivalent quality digital converter chips (which I'm not claiming), the analog sections in DACs vary tremendously. There's a school of thought which says that a DAC's op amps make more audible difference then its digital chips. -- TiredLegs TiredLegs's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=6201 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
ezkcdude;130721 Wrote: > So, I'm seriously considering buying the board. Yeo said he sells the > oscillator for $20, which seems too much. What clock did you end up > using? I bought the whole board, oscillator included. The total price seemed reasonable to me. Here are some pictures of my implementation: http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/moshulu/DSCN0567a.jpg http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/moshulu/DSCN0569a.jpg -- moshulu moshulu's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=6811 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
moshulu Wrote: > This is a vote for Monica. I bought the board from diyparadise, added a > 12V lead-acid battery, connectors, switches, a case, etc. The seller > (in Indonesia or Malaysia, I can't remember) was very helpful and > friendly. I find a significant improvement over the SB3 analog output. So, I'm seriously considering buying the board. Yeo said he sells the oscillator for $20, which seems too much. What clock did you end up using? -- ezkcdude SB3->Derek Shek TDA1543/CS8412 NOS DAC->MIT Terminator 2 interconnects->Endler Audio 24-step Attenuators (RCA-direct)->Parasound Halo A23 125W/ch amplifier->Speltz anti-cables->DIY 2-ways + Dayton Titanic 10" subwoofer He's not hi-fi, he's my stereo. ezkcdude's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2545 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
opaqueice Wrote: > There are differences, even among amps of the same type. I just wanted to make it clear that I'm not in the camp who believes all amps sound the same. I simply posted a perspective that some people have in response to the notion that some people also believe that DACs all "sound pretty similar"... -- PhilNYC Sonic Spirits Inc. http://www.sonicspirits.com PhilNYC's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=837 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
ezkcdude Wrote: > A cheap way to go is to think about getting a ready-made kit to build > yourself. The Monica DAC (diyparadise.com) comes to mind. This is a vote for Monica. I bought the board from diyparadise, added a 12V lead-acid battery, connectors, switches, a case, etc. The seller (in Indonesia or Malaysia, I can't remember) was very helpful and friendly. I find a significant improvement over the SB3 analog output. -- moshulu moshulu's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=6811 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
PhilNYC Wrote: > FWIW, there's also a school of thought that says most amps (of the same > type) sound the same too. YMMV... There are differences, even among amps of the same type. That's something you can pretty easily test in an audio store - often they have multiple amps hooked up so you can swap betweem them with the same source and speakers. There are significant differences... but in the same rooms you can swap speakers as well, and in my experience at least the difference between amps is much smaller than between speakers. This isn't surprising - speakers are the only component with moving parts, with a response that depends on the room you put them in. In fact they're the only component that involve sound at all, and acoustics is much more complicated and difficult than any electronic circuit where you have precise control over every component. Skunk Wrote: > > Not that I don't agree w/ a lot of what you said, but this seems like a > poor test- ignoring instrument seperation, placement of the sounds > between or around the speakers, ambience of recording venues, etc.. > What Phil said. In any case I agree it might not be the best test to determine which you prefer once you know there's a real difference. But to see if there's any perceptible difference at all it's fine. -- opaqueice opaqueice's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4234 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
Skunk Wrote: > Not that I don't agree w/ a lot of what you said, but this seems like a > poor test- ignoring instrument seperation, placement of the sounds > between or around the speakers, ambience of recording venues, etc.. Actually it's a very good and very revealing test. Please don't be mislead into thinking that (what I call) the "dual-mono test" is ANY less revealing than stereo. What we hear is only an approximation (albeit a reasonably convincing one some of the time) of ambience, imaging etc anyway. Try it with a mono recording... As for depth and height - I think we've done those "concepts" to death! (I know you didn't mention them - but someone will) If you don't believe me, try it (if you have 2 dacs). At the very least you will find the results interesting - if not surprising. Phil -- Phil Leigh Phil Leigh's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=85 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
So, let me get this straight. All DACs and all amps sound the same. However, it *does* make a huge difference if you do the "63 mute" trick? Rod Serling would be proud. -- ezkcdude SB3->Derek Shek TDA1543/CS8412 NOS DAC->MIT Terminator 2 interconnects->Endler Audio 24-step Attenuators (RCA-direct)->Parasound Halo A23 125W/ch amplifier->Speltz anti-cables->DIY 2-ways + Dayton Titanic 10" subwoofer He's not hi-fi, he's my stereo. ezkcdude's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2545 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
opaqueice Wrote: > Just FYI, there's a school of thought on this which says money spent on > a DAC is essentially a waste. The reasoning is that all reasonably > modern DACs sound more or less the same - witness the fact that the DAC > chips themselves are extremely inexpensive, which is an indication that > the technology is mature. On the other hand amplifiers and (to a much > greater extent) speakers vary considerably. Finally, in my experience > room correction has a far, far bigger effect on sound then changing the > DAC. > FWIW, there's also a school of thought that says most amps (of the same type) sound the same too. YMMV... -- PhilNYC Sonic Spirits Inc. http://www.sonicspirits.com PhilNYC's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=837 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
opaqueice Wrote: > You can test it head to head with the SB DAC by sending the same out > (say the left) from each to the amp and then playing with the balance > (if you have one) or just putting your head next to each speaker in > turn. I'll be surprised if you hear much difference, possibly apart > from a volume mismatch. Not that I don't agree w/ a lot of what you said, but this seems like a poor test- ignoring instrument seperation, placement of the sounds between or around the speakers, ambience of recording venues, etc.. -- Skunk Skunk's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2685 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
fatfred Wrote: > Have some good reading from thread. Many of us seem to tend towards > newer dacs up to date components and some belief that chinese dacs are > providing quite equivalent performance at a good price point. Just FYI, there's a school of thought on this which says money spent on a DAC is essentially a waste. The reasoning is that all reasonably modern DACs sound more or less the same - witness the fact that the DAC chips themselves are extremely inexpensive, which is an indication that the technology is mature. On the other hand amplifiers and (to a much greater extent) speakers vary considerably. Finally, in my experience room correction has a far, far bigger effect on sound then changing the DAC. So my advice is to put the money into speakers if you're buying them, or into a TacT amp or measurement mic plus Inguz' plugin. If in the end you buy a DAC, at the very least get one with a return policy. You can test it head to head with the SB DAC by sending the same out (say the left) from each to the amp and then playing with the balance (if you have one) or just putting your head next to each speaker in turn. I'll be surprised if you hear much difference, possibly apart from a volume mismatch. -- opaqueice opaqueice's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4234 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
Have some good reading from thread. Many of us seem to tend towards newer dacs up to date components and some belief that chinese dacs are providing quite equivalent performance at a good price point. -- fatfred fatfred's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1394 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
Ok...I have never heard a stock Zhaolu (only tianguis' modded one), so I was just going on what I had read/heard from others. The modded one sounds great! -- PhilNYC Sonic Spirits Inc. http://www.sonicspirits.com PhilNYC's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=837 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
PhilNYC Wrote: > FYI - a guy who has a modded Zhaolu sent me a message saying that the > mods to entail more than just part upgrades (although not a whole lot > more). The point still holds, however, that the stock Zhaolu probably > won't get you much (if any) improvement over the SB's analog output... By no means does one have to "mod" the Zhaolu for it to sound good. The general consensus on other forums is that the "stock" Zhaolu 2.0 compares very favorably against other DACs such as the Benchmark, Lavry, etc - especially for the price. -- CFP Speakers: Squeezebox 3 digital out > Panasonic SA-XR57 > Energy Veritas 2.4i Headphones: EMU-0404 digital out > Zhaolu 2.0C > AKG K701, Grado HF-1 || iPod Shuffle > Shure E500 CFP's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=6915 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
Phil: Not my experience! Even the stock Zhaolu was an improvement over the SB3 analog output. Now, modded, it's no contest. Larry PhilNYC Wrote: > FYI - a guy who has a modded Zhaolu sent me a message saying that the > mods to entail more than just part upgrades (although not a whole lot > more). The point still holds, however, that the stock Zhaolu probably > won't get you much (if any) improvement over the SB's analog output... -- tianguis tianguis's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4196 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
fatfred Wrote: > I am tempted by the Nos dac from derek shek as I think that this may > bring something to the squeezebox table. What I'm looking for I guess > is detail and natural presence. I have also been offered a Counterpoint > dac for slightly more money. Has anyone had experience with these? I am > not a rich man and want to make sure this is money well spent. The > transporter is out of reach today but will be edging towards one next. I have the Shek DAC (see my sig)! It's been great. Derek is a great guy, too. I blew the regulator on my first one, by reversing polarity on my power supply, but I sent it back to him and he fixed it for me at no cost (just shipping). Highly recommended. A cheap way to go is to think about getting a ready-made kit to build yourself. The Monica DAC (diyparadise.com) comes to mind. There are a bunch of kits being sold over at diyaudio forums. For what it's worth, I'm now designing my own DAC (it's an upsampler). If nothing else I've learned a heck of a lot about how these things work, and I highly recommend that anyone really interested in these matters to research how DAC's work before plunking down big bucks. It may make you think twice. -- ezkcdude SB3->Derek Shek TDA1543/CS8412 NOS DAC->MIT Terminator 2 interconnects->Endler Audio 24-step Attenuators (RCA-direct)->Parasound Halo A23 125W/ch amplifier->Speltz anti-cables->DIY 2-ways + Dayton Titanic 10" subwoofer He's not hi-fi, he's my stereo. ezkcdude's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2545 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
Another set of nice nonOS dacs coming out of Taiwan. I have the first generation Renaissance and I find it sufficiently detailed, while also sounding natural. http://cgi.ebay.com/TDA1543-Non-OS-Vacuum-Tube-DAC-Renaissance-II_W0QQitemZ120018448077QQcmdZViewItem -Dan -- dwc dwc's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1892 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
FYI - a guy who has a modded Zhaolu sent me a message saying that the mods to entail more than just part upgrades (although not a whole lot more). The point still holds, however, that the stock Zhaolu probably won't get you much (if any) improvement over the SB's analog output... -- PhilNYC Sonic Spirits Inc. http://www.sonicspirits.com PhilNYC's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=837 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
mlihl Wrote: > You might want to try a Chinese DAC such as the Zhaolu or Great March. > Most use up-to-date converter chips and fine parts. I know of at least > one person at headfi.org who prefererred the $200 Zhaolu over a Lavry > and Benchmark DAC...You can't go wrong with a good Chinese DAC IMHO. > You can get them from HK via Eddie Wu (www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html) > > Regards, > > Mike Most of these guys with the Zhaolu DAC are modding them; the mods aren't expensive (just replacing some parts with better parts), but you'd still need to do it (or find someone to do it for you) to get better performance than the SB's analog out. -- PhilNYC Sonic Spirits Inc. http://www.sonicspirits.com PhilNYC's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=837 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
Struth - you would think I could read the "NZ" in your avatar! China is not that far away either Stevo -- stevo stevo's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=6250 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
stevo Wrote: > No shortage of DAC's around. I wonder what this one is like; > > http://www.perreaux.com/product.php?idp=52 > > It's from New Zealand so I thought I should mention it although I don't > own one. > > Stevo Have looked at this previously and it gets a reasonable review http://www.audioenz.co.nz/2005/perreaux_sxd2.shtml There appears to be little review of this from further a field. This is Perreauxs first foray into the dac world being predominantly an amplifier maker. This dac costs about $600 us making it quite abit more expensive than the greatmarch etc.Could possibly source one to trial and be patriotic. dave -- fatfred fatfred's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1394 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
No shortage of DAC's around. I wonder what this one is like; http://www.perreaux.com/product.php?idp=52 It's from New Zealand so I thought I should mention it although I don't own one. Stevo -- stevo stevo's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=6250 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
mlihl Wrote: > You might want to try a Chinese DAC such as the Zhaolu or Great March. > Most use up-to-date converter chips and fine parts. I know of at least > one person at headfi.org who prefererred the $200 Zhaolu over a Lavry > and Benchmark DAC...You can't go wrong with a good Chinese DAC IMHO. > You can get them from HK via Eddie Wu (www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html) > > Regards, > > Mike Cheers for that Mike. I was listening to some nice Shengya kit on the weekend. It does seem that there is some audiophile stuff coming out of china/hong kong. Do the forum members think that modern chips and builds will have it over older high-end kit? Going to having a close look at lite ah dac60, greatmarch and derek shek )P( I appreciate your feedback on the derek shek. In a mildly obsessive pre purchase info frenzy at the mo and your comments help. -- fatfred fatfred's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1394 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
You might want to try a Chinese DAC such as the Zhaolu or Great March. Most use up-to-date converter chips and fine parts. I know of at least one person at headfi.org who prefererred the $200 Zhaolu over a Lavry and Benchmark DAC...You can't go wrong with a good Chinese DAC IMHO. You can get them from HK via Eddie Wu (www.diykits.com.hk/dac.html) Regards, Mike -- mlihl mlihl's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3376 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
Patrick Dixon Wrote: > NOS DACs are not know for detail, but they do sound quite natural and > unfatiguing. > > No idea on the other one. Thanks for that Patrick. I am presently running the Squeezebox into a early Plinius solid state amp and onto a pair of Rogers ls6a speakers. Quite an old school system for the back end. I trialled a cambridge 640c cdplayer last year and thought this had a great sound. I love the system I have now but feel there is enough positive comment in forums to suggest an external dac could improve this. A benchmark is too expensive and dacs such as dereks are buy then try. Info such as yours is much appreciated. -- fatfred fatfred's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=1394 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Re: The what Dac question
NOS DACs are not know for detail, but they do sound quite natural and unfatiguing. No idea on the other one. -- Patrick Dixon www.at-tunes.co.uk Patrick Dixon's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=90 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=26598 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
