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Post by sq225917 on Sept 13, 2020 20:14:09 GMT
My pi dac stack threw a wobbly about a month ago and I couldn't be arsed to sort it out, after some board swapping the fault appeared to be the dac boards, so I bought the new version of ians dual ess 9038qm board, new clock layout and various psu improvements. While I was waiting that to arrive I took a punt on a new standalone dac, the Gustard A18. Replacement dac board arrived, still didn't work. Stripped the entire stack, inspected every part and eventually found two lifted gpio pins one on the dac board and another on the ess controller board. Resoldered them and hey presto, old working pi stack, additional new dac board for pi stack and the new Gustard A18. Fresh out of the box the Gustard was congested, flat, a little steely, and pretty wayward sounding. Compared to the newly invigorated pi stack it was Sh#t. In comparison the pi stack with new improved dac board was delivering the goods like never before. I wasn't expecting it to be any different, but it is. Cleaner at the top and a touch more dynamic than the older board had been. I left the Gustard on repeat and set about finishing the porch. After 4 hours on soak the Gustard had pepped up, the presentation had been back of the hall, quite laid back and detached, it was now mid hall, more immediate, more enveloping. I left it playing and went back to Wood filler and exterior gloss. Saturday morning swung by and I gave the Gustard another bash, more dynamic, a few more rows towards the stage, tonally much improved and fuller in the bass. I level matched them digitally trimming the vol in Audivarna to 20mV or so, around 4V, not enough to worry about. I synced up two playlists, one on my mac into the Gustard and the other on my pi and got them playing with no delay, so I could flick between them on my pre without one being behind the other. Differences were small, the Gustard feels a couple of rows back, its very slighter fuller in the bass, tonally and timbraly I cant really tell them apart, the pi seems a little bit more startling with rim shots and synth beats, but with jazz and classical this isn't as obvious. Tough call now, I could live with either. One is a neat little box about 20cm square and the other is a rats nest of loose wires batteries and teetering stacked boards that takes the space of four album covers.. Tough choice coming.
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Post by rexton on Sept 13, 2020 20:25:48 GMT
I've been after a new DAC for ages although its probably a complete waste of money considering I spend 99% of my time listening to vinyl.
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Post by sq225917 on Sept 13, 2020 20:39:12 GMT
I use my ipod more than anything, at least 4 hours a day when working. I do a couple of albums on the dac at night, mostly on the Stax. Records are a weekend thing.
One other thing to add, the filters. I can very clearly hear the difference between these. Sharp fast is my preferred choice. On the pi stack I prefer the anodizing filter.
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Post by rexton on Sept 13, 2020 20:42:36 GMT
How much did it cost?
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Post by sq225917 on Sept 13, 2020 21:48:28 GMT
£550 ish from Audiophonics.fr
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2020 8:48:59 GMT
It does require some remedial work in a couple of areas Simon, which I am sure you will find pretty much straight away, but on the whole its a good dac. Before you ask yes I do have one of these!
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 14, 2020 9:07:32 GMT
It does require some remedial work in a couple of areas Simon, which I am sure you will find pretty much straight away, but on the whole its a good dac. Before you ask yes I do have one of these! What's the remedial work required? Benefits of suck work etc.
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Post by sq225917 on Sept 14, 2020 10:29:59 GMT
I haven't had a detailed inspection inside yet, but on a quick first look the proposterously long bluetooth antenna internal wire stood out as f_ckery.
Ill likely shield the XOs with a grounded copper can.
The transformer already has a Goss band on it, though the coax input does show mains frequency multiples on it, so maybe it would benefit from a divider.
I havent looked at the circuit.
Any suggestions?
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Post by firebottle on Sept 14, 2020 12:08:58 GMT
My guess is the Bluetooth wire is incredibly thin coax, ending in a sub miniature square section plug, so no issues.
Beats me how they make them so small.
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Post by sq225917 on Sept 14, 2020 13:38:48 GMT
Yeh, its ufl, crazy long though.
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Post by sq225917 on Sept 15, 2020 10:00:43 GMT
Fkin ell, I got a right telling off on ASR yesterday for trying to describe how I thought these two dacs differed.
Lol.
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Bigman80
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AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Sept 15, 2020 11:28:58 GMT
Fkin ell, I got a right telling off on ASR yesterday for trying to describe how I thought these two dacs differed. Lol. Hahahah......you didn't offer a sonic opinion there.... surely not....no sir, they wouldn't like that at all lol
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Post by macca on Sept 15, 2020 11:50:47 GMT
They only allow 'sonic opinion' for 'speakers, or things that measure really, really poorly. Otherwise you'd better have done a blind and level-matched ABX listening test with enough people and trials to be statistically viable.
It's harsh but fair.
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Post by sq225917 on Sept 15, 2020 11:56:50 GMT
It was level matched, both were playing perfectly synced playlists and I wasn't doing the switching. No visual clues at all.
Its not like they're vaguely similar, different chips, linear vs battery psu, different clocks, opamp vs transformer output stage.
Even so the differences were tiny.
ASR is a bit of a cult. I like the measurement side of it, but honestly you'd think I'd mailed Amir a turd in a box.
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Post by macca on Sept 15, 2020 12:09:10 GMT
Just found it.
I don't think the site is a cult, I think it is the best thing to appear in Hi-fi since digital audio. But regrettably a few of the members are cultists, looks like you ran into them. Next time at least get a pamphlet off of them for your trouble.
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Post by sq225917 on Sept 15, 2020 13:08:17 GMT
Yeh, theres a few fan bois who let rational thought escape them
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2020 13:38:21 GMT
I find them highly amusing the chaps at work also find them a great source of amusement the they cannot fathom the mental rational for the 'linn zen' following. Makes this place look at a Friday night bullingdon club meeting with the Bigman as Boris
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Post by sq225917 on Sept 16, 2020 14:41:12 GMT
Pillbox any recommendations for mods.
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Post by sq225917 on Oct 15, 2020 15:21:25 GMT
Looking forward to getting back from MrC who's been swapping opamps in the IV and low pass stages so it matches the AKM reference design, and the smsl400.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 15, 2020 20:22:33 GMT
Looking forward to getting back from MrC who's been swapping opamps in the IV and low pass stages so it matches the AKM reference design, and the smsl400. Any news?
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Post by sq225917 on Oct 15, 2020 20:45:54 GMT
Should be here tomorrow
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Bigman80
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AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 15, 2020 20:48:47 GMT
Ah excellent.... Look forward to the feedback from the updates.
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Post by sq225917 on Oct 15, 2020 22:22:55 GMT
MrC has already commented on what he thinks different. Ill see what my audio memory is like tomorrow.
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 16, 2020 5:39:35 GMT
MrC has already commented on what he thinks different. Ill see what my audio memory is like tomorrow. No worries
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Post by sq225917 on Oct 16, 2020 10:57:08 GMT
Its arrived, mostly. Had a quick listen from cold, and thetes a difference to be heard. I'm leaving it on play as it was rock solid freezing cold when it arrived.
Got an interview at 1:30, I'll either by drowning my sorrows or celebrating my success.
Might affect my view. But I'll try and get back to it.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 15,975
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Post by Bigman80 on Oct 16, 2020 11:38:25 GMT
Its arrived, mostly. Had a quick listen from cold, and thetes a difference to be heard. I'm leaving it on play as it was rock solid freezing cold when it arrived. Got an interview at 1:30, I'll either by drowning my sorrows or celebrating my success. Might affect my view. But I'll try and get back to it. Is the interview for the job you mentioned in the thread about car stuff? Good luck!!
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Post by sq225917 on Oct 16, 2020 16:47:53 GMT
No that was for an earlier interview. This is with Evolutionpowertools.com
Ill have a listen in an hour or so once lizzie goes out.
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Post by sq225917 on Oct 16, 2020 17:42:39 GMT
Yeh, im pleased with that. The top end is a touch sweeter, and the soundstage is more precisely delineated.
Money well spent
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Post by alit on Oct 16, 2020 18:46:51 GMT
Be interested in comparing this to the Brooklyn+ sometime Simon.
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Post by sq225917 on Oct 16, 2020 22:28:08 GMT
Once Sheffield's out of tier 2. Where you living these days?
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