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Post by antonio on Jan 18, 2021 3:15:27 GMT
Just seen this on pfm if you are trying to keep cost down, at least for now, have read good reports on these pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads/ciunas-dac-and-iso-hub.250523/Can't remember if you are a member on pfm, but I would be happy to purchase for you if needed Note: You can go on You Tube and hear comparisons between the Topping dac's and a few others including SMSL, I know they only give you an idea though
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2021 6:18:03 GMT
Thanks. No SPDIF input though. I need at least one.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2021 6:18:22 GMT
Researching a Heed Abacus at the moment.
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Post by macca on Jan 18, 2021 8:52:28 GMT
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
Duty is payable if you are in the EU and are buying an item from the UK that was not made in the UK or EU.
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Post by mikeyb on Jan 18, 2021 10:45:56 GMT
I've just bought Denafrips Ares 2, hopefully be here Wednesday I'll let you know how it sounds.
I fitted an R2R DAC hat to my Pi last week and it's excellent, I prefer it to anything I've had on the Pi before and that includes Allo Boss, Allo Piano/Kali Reclocker, IQaudio.
I'm hoping the Ares has the same traits but better.
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Post by misterc on Jan 18, 2021 10:52:29 GMT
Duty is payable if you are in the EU and are buying an item from the UK that was not made in the UK or EU. Hi Martin Can you clarify this as you are at the sharp end so to speak: So duty do you mean (are you talking Vat here or import duty?) Thanks T
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Post by macca on Jan 18, 2021 11:55:52 GMT
Duty is payable if you are in the EU and are buying an item from the UK that was not made in the UK or EU. Hi Martin Can you clarify this as you are at the sharp end so to speak: So duty do you mean (are you talking Vat here or import duty?) Thanks T I mean duty, VAT is a separate issue. e.g if you import goods from China to UK you pay duty to UK gov, but if you then re-export those Chinese goods to the EU then the EU charges duty on them too. there doesn't seem to be any distinction made for second-hand goods. That's my interpretation of the regs and that seems to be borne out in practice. A number of UK businesses that have their entire model based on doing this have been complaining about it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2021 12:07:01 GMT
There seems to be a rule about VAT being paid only on the profit made. There is an example on the U.K. government website that states someone bought a painting at £1500, and sold it at £2000, so they only need to pay the VAT on the £500. If I were to make a loss, then no VAT is payable? I doubt it, as I am not VAT registered.
It will make it a pain to sell my SEG in the U.K.
However, now that I have it running FLAC in 24 bit mode, it sounds ok. I think I need to hear a few DACs before I make a decision.
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Post by macca on Jan 18, 2021 12:25:38 GMT
I think you have to be in the UK and VAT-registered for that to apply, IIRC if you are a business selling second-hand goods you have two options as regards to VAT.
I only deal with imports/exports though so businesses paying VAT on their sales and the various rules that apply to that are not my area.
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Post by macca on Jan 18, 2021 12:32:33 GMT
Re the Beresford DAC if it all sounds good then I'd doubt the need to change. If you were using the DAC as a pre-amp it might make a difference as a DAC with lower noise/distortion will avoid issues of bit depth loss when not playing at full output - but you use a separate pre-amp so no issue there.
It may be the Beresford you have has very low noise and distortion anyway, but can't find any measurements for it to confirm that. It could be a disaster - but I very much doubt it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2021 13:04:22 GMT
The question for me is how much better will a different DAC be? I don’t want to spend €800 for a small improvement.
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Post by macca on Jan 18, 2021 13:11:22 GMT
What do you think is missing/wrong with the sound using current DAC?
At best you can only get a small improvement with a new DAC but small improvements are worth having if they are available.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2021 13:14:42 GMT
I think it lacks a bit of depth in the soundstage and emotion. I guess you could call it “flat”. It is also the poor second cousin to my vinyl front end.
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Post by misterc on Jan 18, 2021 13:37:48 GMT
Thanks Martin
That is what we have been told zero import tariff on EU goods but vat applicable which is what I mentioned in the first post this morning.
Once the goods have been purchased then the vat has been paid at source.
No vat on used goods HOWEVER if the used goods are sold for more than than the were trade for then the margin scheme is applied which means VAT will be paid on the margin itself not the total purchase price.
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Post by mikeyb on Jan 18, 2021 14:43:58 GMT
I think it lacks a bit of depth in the soundstage and emotion. I guess you could call it “flat”. It is also the poor second cousin to my vinyl front end. If this is what you're trying to avoid then the D90 ISN'T for you. I've been reading up all week and the flatter narrow sounds stage is a trait of the Topping. I think you're better looking at something else. The R2R DAC hat I have on my Pi is the best I've heard on my system, if you're not in a hurry once I get my Denafrips DAC this week I can send you the Pi setup to try, it has Moode Audio installed just now. It might give you an idea of what you're looking for. This DAC hat cost $219 from Malaysia.
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Post by misterc on Jan 18, 2021 15:16:02 GMT
Oddly enough (and we do not sell these items) never ever had a flat sound stage out of a Topping D70 or 90 quite the opposite in fact At the end of the day ideally you really need to listen to what ever you purchase on a home demo first that way you can be really sure it fits into your sonic reply criteria
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2021 15:20:07 GMT
I think it lacks a bit of depth in the soundstage and emotion. I guess you could call it “flat”. It is also the poor second cousin to my vinyl front end. If this is what you're trying to avoid then the D90 ISN'T for you. I've been reading up all week and the flatter narrow sounds stage is a trait of the Topping. I think you're better looking at something else. The R2R DAC hat I have on my Pi is the best I've heard on my system, if you're not in a hurry once I get my Denafrips DAC this week I can send you the Pi setup to try, it has Moode Audio installed just now. It might give you an idea of what you're looking for. This DAC hat cost $219 from Malaysia. Thanks for the very kind offer, but we will have to pay VAT and fees both ways, so it will work out expensive. I am thinking a R2R DAC is probably what I need. I am not in a hurry, and will happily wait until I find the correct DAC, at the right price.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2021 15:23:07 GMT
Oddly enough (and we do not sell these items) never ever had a flat sound stage out of a Topping D70 or 90 quite the opposite in fact At the end of the day ideally you really need to listen to what ever you purchase on a home demo first that way you can be really sure it fits into your sonic reply criteria Thanks Mr C. Is the D90 worth €400 extra over a D70? Distance selling regs would allow me to trial a D70, but I will ask the vendor first if he is in agreement for a home trial.
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Post by misterc on Jan 18, 2021 15:58:36 GMT
Hi Kevin
Personally I have a real affinity with AKM dac chip-sets, for me they deliver music if correctly implemented without question.
My own dac design uses the AKM 4499 chips in a very specific configuration and quite novel clocking circuit but he chips are the same as the D90
In my system the difference is night and day, however I realise that not everyone has access to such a playback device.
John on TAS has a D70 and it does sound decent in his system and I have listened to it here and it sound pretty fair to me.
Pretty sure a few guys on AOS have D90's why not ask them, though do keep in mind what system they are listening to it on.
If in any doubt wait you may find one coming up on ebay.
For me I would take the D90, however I understand the cost is almost double
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2021 16:01:02 GMT
Thanks Tony. I am in no rush. I can wait for another to come up for sale at a decent price. It sounds like the D90 is the way to go.
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Post by mikeyb on Jan 18, 2021 16:09:12 GMT
If this is what you're trying to avoid then the D90 ISN'T for you. I've been reading up all week and the flatter narrow sounds stage is a trait of the Topping. I think you're better looking at something else. The R2R DAC hat I have on my Pi is the best I've heard on my system, if you're not in a hurry once I get my Denafrips DAC this week I can send you the Pi setup to try, it has Moode Audio installed just now. It might give you an idea of what you're looking for. This DAC hat cost $219 from Malaysia. Thanks for the very kind offer, but we will have to pay VAT and fees both ways, so it will work out expensive. I am thinking a R2R DAC is probably what I need. I am not in a hurry, and will happily wait until I find the correct DAC, at the right price. Surely if I'm loaning it to you to test there shouldn't be any vat? It's not like any money is changing hands.
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Post by mikeyb on Jan 18, 2021 16:10:47 GMT
Home trial for sure, mind you not that I do that much, not many hi-fi shops near me so I tend to buy, keep or move on with next to no loss
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2021 16:22:07 GMT
Thanks for the very kind offer, but we will have to pay VAT and fees both ways, so it will work out expensive. I am thinking a R2R DAC is probably what I need. I am not in a hurry, and will happily wait until I find the correct DAC, at the right price. Surely if I'm loaning it to you to test there shouldn't be any vat? It's not like any money is changing hands. I'll let you try and explain that it is not a commercial transaction. How is your French? If there is no declared value, they will assign one.
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Post by mikeyb on Jan 18, 2021 17:36:45 GMT
Surely if I'm loaning it to you to test there shouldn't be any vat? It's not like any money is changing hands. I'll let you try and explain that it is not a commercial transaction. How is your French? If there is no declared value, they will assign one. Mille millions de mille milliards de mille sabords! 😂
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2021 17:48:55 GMT
Roger Capitaine Haddock.
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Post by gninnam on Jan 18, 2021 17:55:45 GMT
I think it lacks a bit of depth in the soundstage and emotion. I guess you could call it “flat”. It is also the poor second cousin to my vinyl front end. If this is what you're trying to avoid then the D90 ISN'T for you. I've been reading up all week and the flatter narrow sounds stage is a trait of the Topping. I think you're better looking at something else. The R2R DAC hat I have on my Pi is the best I've heard on my system, if you're not in a hurry once I get my Denafrips DAC this week I can send you the Pi setup to try, it has Moode Audio installed just now. It might give you an idea of what you're looking for. This DAC hat cost $219 from Malaysia. I looked at that DAC but didn't bite the bullit but based on your short review I might look to get one (do you use a PI3 or PI4) - Cheers
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Post by rexton on Jan 18, 2021 22:04:10 GMT
Take the VAT off, as we are not in the U.K. MCRU need to update the website.
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Post by antonio on Jan 19, 2021 1:40:36 GMT
I've even left a comment on this video, "I prefer the Topping but at nearly double the price, the SMSL has to be the winner"
Did someone say they are getting a Ares ii, I guess this tip could easily be reversed if you don't like it
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Post by stevew on Jan 19, 2021 6:40:53 GMT
Did someone say they are getting a Ares ii, I guess this tip could easily be reversed if you don't like it
Coincidentally both me and mikeyb are having the Denafrips Ares 2 delivered today. Amongst the numerous other reviews and videos, the Headquarter Audio reviews were influential in my decision. His tweeks are really interesting especially as they are free. He does another one where he ‘tunes’ the lid of the Ares for resonance. Gotta be worth a try, (but after I’ve heard it for a while). Interesting times. Except being under effective house arrest.
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Post by mikeyb on Jan 19, 2021 7:54:13 GMT
Did someone say they are getting a Ares ii, I guess this tip could easily be reversed if you don't like it Coincidentally both me and mikeyb are having the Denafrips Ares 2 delivered today. Amongst the numerous other reviews and videos, the Headquarter Audio reviews were influential in my decision. His tweeks are really interesting especially as they are free. He does another one where he ‘tunes’ the lid of the Ares for resonance. Gotta be worth a try, (but after I’ve heard it for a while). Interesting times. Except being under effective house arrest. [/quote] Mines tomorrow, I’ve booked a day off work just to make sure it arrives safely 😂
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