Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2021 8:21:52 GMT
Found a D90 for €475. I have dropped the guy a message to see if it is still available. It’s a couple of years old, but looks in excellent condition.
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,071
|
Post by Bigman80 on Jan 15, 2021 8:57:41 GMT
Found a D90 for €475. I have dropped the guy a message to see if it is still available. It’s a couple of years old, but looks in excellent condition. That's a decent price, K. For that money, I don't think you can go wrong.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2021 9:55:31 GMT
If it is available. The guy is waiting for payment from someone else, but apparently, he has been waiting.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2021 9:57:36 GMT
Then I need to do a comparison between my DACs, see which I prefer, and then work out how to sell the SEG. If it goes to the U.K., there will be VAT etc. to pay on it. Will make it expensive for the person who buys it.
|
|
|
Post by mikeyb on Jan 15, 2021 12:04:25 GMT
If it was me I think I'd go for the Denafrips Ares II over the Topping, dearer but I think it would suit my ear better than a Topping, Steve Guttenbergs thoughts on the Ares (1) make me think it's more suited to people who still like vinyl, and he doesn't mean that in a bad way about the Ares, watch his Youtube video
Yet again on another review I've heard mention that narrow soundstage issue with the Topping D90, in fact I've heard that mention a few times now, I think the Denafrips build quality trounces the Toppings too and it has now become my DAC of choice if I decide to ditch the R2R DAC I have just fitted to my RPi. If a Denafrips Pontus comes up s/h then that would be even better as the Ares only comes in black and my kit is silver.
Sorry Topping you've been binned ( for me anyway )
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2021 12:22:00 GMT
There is an Ars II on the 'bay. Item number - 224316387963 Based in the UK.
|
|
|
Post by mikeyb on Jan 15, 2021 12:53:17 GMT
There is an Ars II on the 'bay. Item number - 224316387963 Based in the UK. saw that this morning but it's full retail price and can be bought brand new from Willowtreeaudio in the UK for the same
|
|
|
Post by stevew on Jan 15, 2021 13:52:53 GMT
If it was me I think I'd go for the Denafrips Ares II over the Topping, dearer but I think it would suit my ear better than a Topping, Steve Guttenbergs thoughts on the Ares (1) make me think it's more suited to people who still like vinyl, and he doesn't mean that in a bad way about the Ares, watch his Youtube video Yet again on another review I've heard mention that narrow soundstage issue with the Topping D90, in fact I've heard that mention a few times now, I think the Denafrips build quality trounces the Toppings too and it has now become my DAC of choice if I decide to ditch the R2R DAC I have just fitted to my RPi. If a Denafrips Pontus comes up s/h then that would be even better as the Ares only comes in black and my kit is silver. Sorry Topping you've been binned ( for me anyway ) That’s the conclusion I came to as well. So I ordered one! The latest shipment of Ares is due into Willow Tree audio today. A few days ago there was just one of the shipment not pre-sold. So in high demand and if mine doesn’t deliver or not what I expect then I think I could move it on sharpish. However... haven’t read a bad review yet and I have high hopes.
|
|
|
Post by stevew on Jan 15, 2021 14:33:03 GMT
Just to be clear... when I ordered mine they had 2 available and obviously I’ve taken one of them.
|
|
|
Post by sq225917 on Jan 15, 2021 14:37:19 GMT
The topping was released dec 2019
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2021 11:01:12 GMT
Just compared my SEG again to my Essence STX II. Bugger all difference to my ears.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2021 12:42:12 GMT
Kevin The BM3 is quality BUT extremely matter of fact the majority of our customers that have/had them preferred the the V2 model it was more engaging. For the outlay grab a D70 or 90 in that category imho Mister C, If I found an unused DAC2 HGC for the same price as a new D90, would you still recommend the D90?
|
|
|
Post by misterc on Jan 16, 2021 16:34:51 GMT
Kevin
While I respect the engineering in the BM equipment it does leave me cold, the V2 less so than the MK3 dac.
I recently had one of those uber reviewed ultra clean and 132db s/n amplifiers traded in, like a devialet on steroids, utterly souless but technically spot on, clean, powerful (for the size), open, detailed good low level detail retrieval etc. But as emotionally moving as Vulkan during the mating season. BM (like RME) are all derived from their studio expertise.
Have never found the d90 to be forward or bright at all, but texture laden with decent stage depth.
To be honest Kevin its all about your systems ability to resolve the signal these dac's can deliver.
Personally I would go for the d90, my personal tastes in music are very varied but for myself texture/depth full three dimensions with natural and fluidity/ articulation which follow the music without fuss.
From the studio side of things I would take the RME over the BM but I built my own amps and dacs for the studios we use.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2021 18:35:51 GMT
Found a D90 for €475. I have dropped the guy a message to see if it is still available. It’s a couple of years old, but looks in excellent condition. It is sold. However, Audiophonics are selling a new D70 for €400? Half the price of a D90. Seems like a bargain, or am I missing something?
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,071
|
Post by Bigman80 on Jan 16, 2021 18:54:40 GMT
Found a D90 for €475. I have dropped the guy a message to see if it is still available. It’s a couple of years old, but looks in excellent condition. It is sold. However, Audiophonics are selling a new D70 for €400? Half the price of a D90. Seems like a bargain, or am I missing something? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/224307136533
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2021 19:52:45 GMT
£130 import charges. Thanks Brexit....
|
|
|
Post by macca on Jan 16, 2021 20:54:10 GMT
It's because it's a Chinese product.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2021 21:18:37 GMT
It’s second hand, being sold from the U.K.
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
AA Founding Member & Bigbottle Audio Creator
Posts: 16,071
|
Post by Bigman80 on Jan 16, 2021 21:34:39 GMT
Yep, bit of a pisser.
|
|
|
Post by macca on Jan 16, 2021 23:20:17 GMT
It’s second hand, being sold from the U.K. I know, check the regs. If it was made in UK there'd be no duty, new or used.
|
|
|
Post by antonio on Jan 17, 2021 0:34:29 GMT
But you could buy a new one for the same price, look on ebay, ShenzhenAudio and AliExpress Shame you didn't buy it in the Black Friday Sale on Amazon, was reduced by £100, so maybe in their next sale it could be reduced again
|
|
|
Post by misterc on Jan 17, 2021 16:24:44 GMT
It’s second hand, being sold from the U.K. I know, check the regs. If it was made in UK there'd be no duty, new or used. Hi Martin
With the new Brexit agreement there should be Zero import tax (Free trade movement with the new rules) However vat is applicable on any margin made on used goods.
Also vat is applicable on any goods entering the EU from the UK and vice versa also country of origin is very prevalent in customs determining the vat charges
A lot of small business are going to be really squeezed as they now have to pay VAT from the EU before you receive your goods BOTH commercial and personal.
My latest piece of test equipment from Germany has cost me another £4K in VAT where as normally would not pay this until we sold this on and pay vat on that sales cost.
Granted there are no import tariffs but its the time delays and poxy paperwork even if you invest in CHIEF
|
|
|
Post by antonio on Jan 17, 2021 16:47:51 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2021 18:42:58 GMT
That works out about €600 + vat = €700 About €50 cheaper than audiophonics.
I am still going to see if I can find a used one
|
|
|
Post by sq225917 on Jan 17, 2021 20:05:55 GMT
+ postage, + duty, + vat on all of it, + buggery courier clearing charge, more like 150 euros in total.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2021 20:28:01 GMT
The question I have been asking myself today is if the difference between the D70 and D90 is worth €400. It is hard to judge when I have never heard either DAC.
|
|
|
Post by rexton on Jan 17, 2021 22:14:05 GMT
|
|
|
Post by antonio on Jan 18, 2021 2:20:40 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2021 3:11:49 GMT
Take the VAT off, as we are not in the U.K.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2021 3:13:49 GMT
My concern is that the new DAC may lack “emotion” and I don’t want cold, hard digital served up. Sure, they measure well, but it needs to be involving.
|
|