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Post by jimbo on Apr 30, 2020 11:09:12 GMT
Next upgrade ....Chord Qutest?
Seriously? you feel that Chord dac is better than the topping, now that has made my day
Thank you Jimbo  I have not heard the topping to be fair but I have had the Qutest in my system with an Innuos server so I know what it can do. I dont evaluate or judge any equipment by its measurements only by what I hear. |
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Post by macca on Apr 30, 2020 11:16:26 GMT
I can't even begin to conceive of how minute any real differences between how these DACs sound could be. It's just DAC top trumps. The loudspeaker will always be the weakest link in the chain, followed by the amplifier. Until they have SINADs up above 110 which will probably never happen it's an academic debate at best. Just get the DAC you fancy.
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Post by jimbo on Apr 30, 2020 11:31:57 GMT
I can't even begin to conceive of how minute any real differences between how these DACs sound could be. It's just DAC top trumps. The loudspeaker will always be the weakest link in the chain, followed by the amplifier. Until they have SINADs up above 110 which will probably never happen it's an academic debate at best. Just get the DAC you fancy. I agree a lot of DACs do sound similar until you get them into a highly resolving system where the small nuances of difference can be heard. I have been lucky to hear quite a lot of DACs both in my own system and in other peoples systems and have heard differences and I would say they are similar to differences in cartridges, more detail, wider soundstage, greater transparency etc. Whether these differences are good, bad, large or small is all down to the ear of the listener and what they think is important to them? |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 30, 2020 11:37:23 GMT
I can't even begin to conceive of how minute any real differences between how these DACs sound could be. It's just DAC top trumps. The loudspeaker will always be the weakest link in the chain, followed by the amplifier. Until they have SINADs up above 110 which will probably never happen it's an academic debate at best. Just get the DAC you fancy. To a degree, I agree, but they don't sound the same. Each DAC has had it's own flavour IME. The PecanPi is the closest I've got to fully liking digitally reproduced music. |
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Post by macca on Apr 30, 2020 12:29:19 GMT
well yes, to a degree I agree  But it's like Daddy's Sauce vs HP Sauce. No-one ever says Daddy's. But if you're just handed the plate of bacon with brown sauce already on it would you really taste the difference? |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 30, 2020 12:31:14 GMT
well yes, to a degree I agree But it's like Daddy's Sauce vs HP Sauce. No-one ever says Daddy's. But if you're just handed the plate of bacon with brown sauce already on it would you really taste the difference? That's the worst metaphore ever...Daddys is utter brown w#nk juice |
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Post by macca on Apr 30, 2020 12:32:09 GMT
No, its the worst simile ever...
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 30, 2020 12:35:54 GMT
No, its the worst simile ever... That's the one lol |
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Post by macca on Apr 30, 2020 12:55:00 GMT
I can't even begin to conceive of how minute any real differences between how these DACs sound could be. It's just DAC top trumps. The loudspeaker will always be the weakest link in the chain, followed by the amplifier. Until they have SINADs up above 110 which will probably never happen it's an academic debate at best. Just get the DAC you fancy. I agree a lot of DACs do sound similar until you get them into a highly resolving system where the small nuances of difference can be heard. I have been lucky to hear quite a lot of DACs both in my own system and in other peoples systems and have heard differences and I would say they are similar to differences in cartridges, more detail, wider soundstage, greater transparency etc. Whether these differences are good, bad, large or small is all down to the ear of the listener and what they think is important to them? I agree small differences matter, don't get me wrong. Whether they are worth a premium of 10 grand for a DAC like the DAVE over a Topping D90 or whatever is a different thing. You could spend that £10K on speakers instead and hear a big difference. |
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 30, 2020 13:46:36 GMT
Absolutely - get the speakers sorted, then the amp to drive them, then maybe worry about the last picosecond or two in a DAC's spec. Personally I remain enamoured of 20 year old DAC tech, so there is obviously no hope for me at all! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2020 14:39:49 GMT
Absolutely - get the speakers sorted, then the amp to drive them, then maybe worry about the last picosecond or two in a DAC's spec. Personally I remain enamoured of 20 year old DAC tech, so there is obviously no hope for me at all! Aye. You'll burn in hell for sure, with all your philandering and tarting yourself about. I just wouldn't look for any other end, if I was you. |
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Post by firebottle on May 12, 2020 7:16:51 GMT
The Paradise phono stage is a phenomenal performer, it has such a quiet background the music just appears in front of you. For performance it is spot on but, call me nuts, I think it is too big. Yes I know size shouldn't be an issue (ooh - err) but I am used to one box stages, even though I have just built a two box Salas  . So I am 'experimenting' with putting it all in one of the cases. Part of this change is removing the chokes from the psu circuit, so I have made up a couple of dual 'electronic' chokes.  These fit on the main capacitor bank pcb. More to follow. |
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Post by macca on May 12, 2020 7:30:46 GMT
I don't understand why it would be an issue. Does anyone ever say that they have too many books on their bookshelves? And wouldn't it be better if all of the books were just bound together into one big volume?
Although I suppose that is what a Kindle is.
Forget I mentioned it.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 12, 2020 7:38:07 GMT
I don't understand why it would be an issue. Does anyone ever say that they have too many books on their bookshelves? And wouldn't it be better if all of the books were just bound together into one big volume? Although I suppose that is what a Kindle is. Forget I mentioned it. Lol... |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 12, 2020 7:51:51 GMT
The Paradise phono stage is a phenomenal performer, it has such a quiet background the music just appears in front of you. For performance it is spot on but, call me nuts, I think it is too big. Yes I know size shouldn't be an issue (ooh - err) but I am used to one box stages, even though I have just built a two box Salas . So I am 'experimenting' with putting it all in one of the cases. Part of this change is removing the chokes from the psu circuit, so I have made up a couple of dual 'electronic' chokes. View AttachmentThese fit on the main capacitor bank pcb. More to follow. I've been waiting for some pictures of this... Love the upcycling of the heatsinks btw |
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Post by antonio on May 12, 2020 9:49:18 GMT
"I think it is too big" - How big is too big?
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Post by electronumpty on May 12, 2020 9:51:12 GMT
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Post by electronumpty on May 12, 2020 9:51:34 GMT
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Post by firebottle on May 12, 2020 10:02:33 GMT
The ones I have done are like the E-choke but the MEC-50 looks interesting. I haven't any experience of those.
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Post by firebottle on May 12, 2020 10:12:14 GMT
"I think it is too big" - How big is too big? As built it is in two 460 x 350mm cases. I have now done the lash-up in one case, none of the power supply boards are bolted down yet.  There is a feint hum at full volume on my headphone test amplifier, which I expected. Once the steel transformer covers arrive and are fitted I think this will go. |
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 12, 2020 13:04:54 GMT
"I think it is too big" - How big is too big? As built it is in two 460 x 350mm cases. I have now done the lash-up in one case, none of the power supply boards are bolted down yet. View AttachmentThere is a feint hum at full volume on my headphone test amplifier, which I expected. Once the steel transformer covers arrive and are fitted I think this will go. Fair play, you got it all in lol Have you had a listen with the hum? |
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Post by firebottle on May 12, 2020 13:29:20 GMT
Haven't had a listen yet as the psu boards aren't secured yet.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 12, 2020 13:42:54 GMT
Haven't had a listen yet as the psu boards aren't secured yet. Sensible lol |
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Post by sq225917 on May 12, 2020 14:02:25 GMT
I'll be interested to see what the output of the shunt looks like now.
Also I'd rebias the Calvin's now youve changed the venting, removing the 120r will help cool it down.
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Post by firebottle on May 12, 2020 15:23:15 GMT
Which 120R Si?
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Post by sq225917 on May 12, 2020 15:39:26 GMT
The grey 3 watt in front of the heat sink, one on each rail, its parallel to the 10r.
Those mec chokes are too small only 100mA, the 158t are 300mA rated.
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Post by antonio on May 12, 2020 15:42:06 GMT
"I think it is too big" - How big is too big? As built it is in two 460 x 350mm cases. I have now done the lash-up in one case, none of the power supply boards are bolted down yet. There is a feint hum at full volume on my headphone test amplifier, which I expected. Once the steel transformer covers arrive and are fitted I think this will go. Bloody hell they are big boxes. Could you have not used two smaller cases, or at least one smaller. I'll guess they are what you had going spare. |
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Post by sq225917 on May 12, 2020 15:42:40 GMT
An option would be to not populate the shunt at all and fit a + and -
Salas SSLV1.3 UltraBiB shunt regulator to each board.
You could run all four from one 50va toriod and hacker board.
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Post by sq225917 on May 12, 2020 15:45:39 GMT
You can use smaller cases, but for ease of building, repeatability and performance I've always stuck with 2.
Smaller makes everything harder to do. No fun when you have to build one a month.
Joachim took two years to finalize the Paradise design, I build them exactly to spec.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on May 12, 2020 16:02:48 GMT
You can use smaller cases, but for ease of building, repeatability and performance I've always stuck with 2. Smaller makes everything harder to do. No fun when you have to build one a month. Joachim took two years to finalize the Paradise design, I build them exactly to spec. They are a beautiful build....no doubt. Tell me more about this Salas PSU. Compatible with these boards I've just had off you? Which have arrived BTW lol |
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But it's like Daddy's Sauce vs HP Sauce. No-one ever says Daddy's. But if you're just handed the plate of bacon with brown sauce already on it would you really taste the difference?
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