Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
I purchased a Transporter a few months back, ostensibly to replace my SB3+LavryDA10 combo. Although I love my Transporter, and still need to do more 'serious' listening, going digital out from the TP to Lavry, seems to give me a more 'natural', sound. We're splitting hairs here of course, and, I've yet to hear any audible difference in standard redbook, vs, high res audio that the Transporter now supports (if you upgrade to the latest firmware). Would love to get feedback from other users. And on the occasion when I need to do really serious listening with my Grado headphones, I can use the headphone out on the Lavry. One thing that is very important with the Lavry is to match the volume setting to your amp...you want the highest setting without overdriving and causing audible distortion..for me with my Jolida 1501, its approx 29-30. -- mmg_fan mmg_fan's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=9157 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
duke43j;306241 Wrote: I had the chance to try a Mark Levinson 36s DAC with my SB3, and I found it to be a little light in the upper bass and lower midrange (~300-500Hz)compared to my Rega Apollo. The Rega had a warmer sound that I prefer. Comparing the Apollo with the SB3 analog out, I do notice a more 3-dimensional sound with the Apollo. The Apollo also seems to sustain the notes a little longer. Not a dramatic difference, but noticeable if you're paying attention. I'm searching for a DAC that will be a step up from the DAC in my SB3 to give me a sound comparable to the Apollo. The convenience of the SB3 is tremendous. Can you tell if the Lavry has a different tonality than your Rega? It has been months since I last heard the Planet in my system, so I can't really compare the it to the SB3+DA10 in any meaningful way. I can say that one of the things I didn't like about the SB3 alone was that it sounded thinner than the Planet, and that the DA10 restored the missing fullness. I can also say that I have had no buyer's remorse over the DA10. In your case, I don't think there's any substitute for an in-home evaluation. Ron -- Ron Stewart SB3 - Lavry DA10 Parasound Halo P3 - NAD C272 - Ellis Audio 1801f Ron Stewart's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=12767 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
Thanks Ron. Good to know. -- duke43j duke43j's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=15911 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
Hi Ron, No problem. I was out of town as well. I had the chance to try a Mark Levinson 36s DAC with my SB3, and I found it to be a little light in the upper bass and lower midrange (~300-500Hz)compared to my Rega Apollo. The Rega had a warmer sound that I prefer. Comparing the Apollo with the SB3 analog out, I do notice a more 3-dimensional sound with the Apollo. The Apollo also seems to sustain the notes a little longer. Not a dramatic difference, but noticeable if you're paying attention. I'm searching for a DAC that will be a step up from the DAC in my SB3 to give me a sound comparable to the Apollo. The convenience of the SB3 is tremendous. Can you tell if the Lavry has a different tonality than your Rega? Rega Apollo -- VTL 2.5 preamp -- Classe 100W/chan amp -- Thiel 2.4 speakers. -- duke43j duke43j's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=15911 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
duke43j;293613 Wrote: Hi Ron. How would you compare the Squeezebox-Lavry with the Rega? duke43j, Please accept my apology for the extreme tardiness of my reply. I was out of town on business for three weeks with no time for recreational web surfing. After I returned two weeks ago, your question had scrolled so far down the thread list that I didn't notice it until recently. Unfortunately, I never directly compared the Planet to the SB3/DA10 combination. I had pretty much retired the Planet weeks before purchasing the DA10, and I was so pleased with the DA10 that I never looked back. I sold my Planet a few months ago. Ron -- Ron Stewart SB3 - Lavry DA10 Parasound Halo P3 - NAD C272 - Ellis Audio 1801f Ron Stewart's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=12767 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
Hi Ron. How would you compare the Squeezebox-Lavry with the Rega? -- duke43j duke43j's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=15911 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
I agree absolutely with the comparison of Lavry and BM... As per the main topic: I did the same comparison, lavry vs. SB3 analog out, and I find the difference quite significant in favour of the lavry. I also suggest one thing: the Lavry is a preamp as well, with no way to bypass the preamp, no fixed outputs. I suggest trying to connect the lavry direct to power amp. It should sound better. Comparing the Lavry direct to amp. vs SB analog to Preamp to Power amp should give a clearer victory in favour of the Lavry, thats what happened in my case anyway -- COOLGUY COOLGUY's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=16842 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
I own and use both the Lavry DA10 and the Benchmark DAC1. They are very close in performance (both are very good). Close enough that you could probably choose between them on the basis of features - and I have evaluated them through two fairly critical systems with accurate active monitor speakers. Positives for the Benchmark over the Lavry, in order of importance to ME: 1. You can mute the main output on the BM while still having control over the headphone volume (with the Lavry you need to physically turn off the speakers/ amps if you want to do headphone-only monitoring) 2. The BM has standard RCA phono plug outputs as well as XLR outputs - this is useful flexibility meaning it can be used either as a preamp direct to the monitors (with XLR) or via a conventional consumer preamp (over the RCAs) 3. Analog volume control knob on the BM is nicer to interact with than the Lavry's click thing (but less accurate in setting a repeatable level) 4. Two headphone outputs on the BM rather than one on the Lavry can be useful. Positives for the Lavry over the BM, in order of importance to me: 1. Sound quality is marginally better/ more refined (but you would need a good room and better speakers to tell the difference). 2. Digital volume readout is helpful for mixing and pre-mastering to ensure that I work at consistent volume levels. 3. Front panel display of sample rate has proved useful in eliminating a problem with the digital input setup (some hidden resampling that was going on to a signal leaving a PC). 4. Front panel mono switch can be useful in checking for mono compatibility of mixes (but the stupid inverted polarity state annoys me every time I look over there - why didn't Dan go with pin 2 hot like the rest of the world!). 5. The Lavry doesn't have the armor-piercing blue LED that Benchmark put on the front of their DAC1 (and that I had to cover with a piece of black tape!). Overall, I think the BM probably sits more easily in a domestic hifi environment, whereas the Lavry is a marginally more useful tool in a pro audio environment. There are plenty of pro audio mixing and (especially) mastering studios that use the BM though, so you shouldn't feel that you are being proletarian by going down the BM route. Andrew -- Andrew B. = SB3- Benchmark DAC1 - ATC CA2 pre - ATC SCM50ASL active speakers... nice! Andrew B.'s Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2619 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
Andrew B. wrote: 5. The Lavry doesn't have the armor-piercing blue LED that Benchmark put on the front of their DAC1 (and that I had to cover with a piece of black tape!). I hate that LED, did the same thing on my DAC-1 Even worse is the red one for errors. -- Pat Farrell http://www.pfarrell.com/ ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
Isn't this the infamous DAC with the generic internal switching power supply? -- crooner Customized dual chassis Super Squeezebox EAD DSP-7000 Series III DAC with HDCD and mods. VPI Scout with Benz Micro Glider M2 Marantz 10B tube FM tuner Audio Research PH3, SP16L and VS110 Vandersteen 2Ce signatures, 2W subwoofer. crooner's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3379 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
zanash;263245 Wrote: All the DBT's I've been involved with failed because of this even the most obvious test a portable cdp against a high end unit was not conclusive in the statistical results. Though the high end unit was picked 100% on normal listening as the better unit. So if a DBT concludes statistically that there are no audible differences between two pieces of equipment, but everyone can SEE there are differences, then the statistics should be discounted? -- gw43 gw43's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=11327 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
Taylormade;263392 Wrote: Thanks for the review. I'm still trying to decide Benchmark or Lavry because the BM is available with a silver faceplate. It seems that more people favor the Lavry between the two. That doesn't make more people right! You need to use your own ears+brain. What other people think is completely...COMPLETELY irrelevant. -- Phil Leigh You want to see the signal path BEFORE it gets onto a CD/vinyl...it ain't what you'd call minimal...SB3+Stontronics PSU - Altmann JISCO/UPCI - TACT RCS 2.2X with Good Vibrations S/W - MF X-DAC V3/X-PSU/X-10 buffer (Audiocomm full mods)- Linn 5103 - Linn Aktiv 5.1 system (6x LK140's, ESPEK/TRIKAN/KATAN/SEIZMIK 10.5), Townsend Supertweeters, Kimber Chord cables Phil Leigh's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=85 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
Thanks for the review. I'm still trying to decide Benchmark or Lavry because the BM is available with a silver faceplate. It seems that more people favor the Lavry between the two. -- Taylormade Taylormade's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=15197 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
Great post, thanks for taking the time :) -- adamslim Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others SB+, EAR V20, Living Voice OBX-R2s plus some other stuff SB3, Charlize, Harbeth HL-P3ES adamslim's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=7355 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
That's true, but that only helps if you have a local vendor where you can easily return the unit you don't like. -- Taylormade Taylormade's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=15197 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
Thanks for the tip Pat. I'll definitely check out Mercenary Audio. -- Taylormade Taylormade's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=15197 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
Taylormade wrote: That's true, but that only helps if you have a local vendor where you can easily return the unit you don't like. I believe, YMMV, etc. that you are insane to buy something as subjective as a DAC without the ability to easily return it. I bought my Benchmark DAC-1 from Mercenary Audio, and they are willing to send you a Benchmark and replace it with the Larvy if you want. You can not expect this level of service is you squeeze every nickle of profit, retailers have to pay the bills too. I would not buy anything audiophile unless I heard it with my own ears. -- Pat Farrell http://www.pfarrell.com/ ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
Phil Leigh;263414 Wrote: That doesn't make more people right! You need to use your own ears+brain. What other people think is completely...COMPLETELY irrelevant. Well, spending $2000 on 2 dacs and perhaps not being able to return the 1 I don't like isn't irrelevant to me. -- Taylormade Taylormade's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=15197 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
Taylormade;263443 Wrote: Thanks for the tip Pat. I'll definitely check out Mercenary Audio. You might want to check with Lavry about Mercenary Audio. There's a thread on Lavry's forum (requires registration, so I can't link directly to it) indicating that Mercenary is no longer a Lavry dealer. The thread's posts are from July 2007. Note that I know nothing whatsoever about Mercenary Audio. I'm just passing along what I read. If you contact Lavry and tell them where you live, they will send you a list of dealers. In my case, the list had just one dealer who charged a restocking fee. That was not acceptable, and I ended up buying my DA10 directly from Lavry, with a 30-day return option. I think the DAC1 is much easier to find. For example, both Audio Advisor and Benchmark sell it with a return option. If I had not liked the DA10, my next step would have been to try a DAC1. Ron -- Ron Stewart SB3 - Lavry DA10 Parasound Halo P3 - NAD C272 - Ellis Audio 1801f Ron Stewart's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=12767 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
I suppose that if both have a 30 day return, I could buy one of each and do my own comparison. -- Taylormade Taylormade's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=15197 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
Ron Stewart wrote: You might want to check with Lavry about Mercenary Audio. I just checked Mercenary's site, and they no longer carry either Larvy nor Benchmark. They are a pro-audio site, so dealing with Audiophiles is not Fletcher's thing. Given the sad state of the recording business these days, I'm surprised anyone is still selling pro-audio gear. -- Pat Farrell http://www.pfarrell.com/ ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
I run an SB2 with modded power supply and Lavry DA10. I also use a Virtual Dynamics Master SPDIF interconnect which costs almost as much as the DA10. I'm pretty pleased. I used to have a Benchmark DAC1 but sidegraded to the Lavry - it's not really better, just different. -- JayNYC JayNYC's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=121 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Lavry DA10 DAC: Subjective Impressions and Listening Tests (Long)
blind listening tests are as you have discovered very hard work to the point that the music becomes secondary imo. All the DBT's I've been involved with failed because of this even the most obvious test a portable cdp against a high end unit was not conclusive in the statistical results. Though the high end unit was picked 100% on normal listening as the better unit. For me it seems that when you put pressure on people or yourself to score or quantify blind options it seems to then dominate the proceedings over the actual listening. Would you block two or more of your senses if you went for a wine tasteing so why do the same with music ? Thats said ...nice write up all the same -- zanash Acoustician and builder of interesting cables zanash's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=12157 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=42797 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
