Post by optical on Sept 7, 2023 8:08:18 GMT
New DAC day has arrived . . . again . . . Yes I know, but at least it's currently on a strict 1 in 1 out policy.
Traded my Holo Spring LV3 and Musical Fidelity mx-vynl phono stage to get hold of it.
The DAC itself is just incredibly well put together. It's a dual mono fully valve rectified circuit (employing a pair of GZ34's which seem to make a big difference in all the systems I've ever had them in, also handy as my Musical Paradise phono stage also uses a dual mono design with a pair of GZ34's).
It also employs a very interesting 'valve regulated' clock section referred to as a 'super clock'. As far as I know it's unique to this DAC.
Apart from the 'super clock' thing, it's about as simple as a DAC gets. No user selectable filters, no preamp section/volume attenuation, not even balanced outputs. Just the usual input options and a screen on the front to show you the sample rate and the source input.
Of course I couldn't allow it to remain stock for more than about 18 minutes so a selection of proper NOS valves were ordered. The stage takes a ECC82/ECC83 and GZ34 per side (so 6 valves in total).
I've gone for some RCA 'cleartop' ECC82's (always add a nice bit of sparkle in the top end along with classic RCA frequency extension, they just sound really good in most circuits). Along with some Tungsram ECC83's (hadn't happened across this valve before but so far they are very nice, a bit like a classic Mullard but without the slightly dull/dark voicing).
A pair of Mullard GZ34's are on the way too . . . . yes they are expensive but they are always the best SQ-wise and will outlast any new production valve and likely any NOS offering too.
One thing that has become even more clear to me after rolling these valves, is that there is still absolutely no comparison between new production and NOS valves. Stone cold, no break in and after literally 5 seconds there is an absolute gulf between the stock valves the Prima Luna came with (Look like TAD/EH/Psvane variants) and the NOS valves. Yes it may be that the NOS combination is just a better one as the Prima Luna 'house' valves will have been selected for availability and cost and to be honest they actually sound pretty decent but swapping in some good NOS ones is just another planet of sound altogether.
So much so that I'm doing the same with my Musical Paradise phono stage, which actually already sounds beautiful with 'new production' valves, so I cannot actually wait to hear it with a full NOS complement. Although I probably can't stretch to another pair of Mullards for this too . . . but we shall see.
How does the DAC sound?
Well I've had it for a couple of weeks now and it's just got in there and done what valves are supposed to do. At their best, they simply add something special to the mix. There was a worry that I'd lose resolution and the low end could become a bit muffled, muddy or less coherent. Well if it has it's very audibly pleasing . . . . in all honesty I don't think it's actually 'lost' anything so to speak but what the system has gained is just lovely to listen to.
As I've mentioned before my musical tastes are fairly niche. A lot of ambient soundscape type stuff, heavily electronic bias and I find myself listening nearly exclusively to music produced on a computer or in a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). Some of it is 'live' or improvised and does still employ live instruments etc but it's certainly a far cry from listening to an album recorded by a typical band in a studio or indeed recorded live at a concert.
Due to the above I just don't know (or care) if a part of the mix is unnaturally 'enlarged' or sounds 'synthetic/realistic/bloated' . . . whatever, no one can say what something made using predominantly synths and drum machines 'should' sound like. Of course there are still parameters which are adhered to, you don't want things to sound too warped or out-of-phase and generally weird. But for me the music needs to have a permanent 'underpinning' provided by a quality yet linear response in the low end of the mix. If this is not translated into the soundstage by the speakers/DAC/amp etc, it's a no from me.
This DAC is making everything sound exciting with real genuine low end heft and weight, translated beautifully by the Vader's. So it should be, they have a pair of 12" drivers with 500w plate amps! However it does seem they sound at their absolute best with valves in the chain.
So far so good, and I think there is more to come as the valve rolling continues. . . . .
Traded my Holo Spring LV3 and Musical Fidelity mx-vynl phono stage to get hold of it.
The DAC itself is just incredibly well put together. It's a dual mono fully valve rectified circuit (employing a pair of GZ34's which seem to make a big difference in all the systems I've ever had them in, also handy as my Musical Paradise phono stage also uses a dual mono design with a pair of GZ34's).
It also employs a very interesting 'valve regulated' clock section referred to as a 'super clock'. As far as I know it's unique to this DAC.
Apart from the 'super clock' thing, it's about as simple as a DAC gets. No user selectable filters, no preamp section/volume attenuation, not even balanced outputs. Just the usual input options and a screen on the front to show you the sample rate and the source input.
Of course I couldn't allow it to remain stock for more than about 18 minutes so a selection of proper NOS valves were ordered. The stage takes a ECC82/ECC83 and GZ34 per side (so 6 valves in total).
I've gone for some RCA 'cleartop' ECC82's (always add a nice bit of sparkle in the top end along with classic RCA frequency extension, they just sound really good in most circuits). Along with some Tungsram ECC83's (hadn't happened across this valve before but so far they are very nice, a bit like a classic Mullard but without the slightly dull/dark voicing).
A pair of Mullard GZ34's are on the way too . . . . yes they are expensive but they are always the best SQ-wise and will outlast any new production valve and likely any NOS offering too.
One thing that has become even more clear to me after rolling these valves, is that there is still absolutely no comparison between new production and NOS valves. Stone cold, no break in and after literally 5 seconds there is an absolute gulf between the stock valves the Prima Luna came with (Look like TAD/EH/Psvane variants) and the NOS valves. Yes it may be that the NOS combination is just a better one as the Prima Luna 'house' valves will have been selected for availability and cost and to be honest they actually sound pretty decent but swapping in some good NOS ones is just another planet of sound altogether.
So much so that I'm doing the same with my Musical Paradise phono stage, which actually already sounds beautiful with 'new production' valves, so I cannot actually wait to hear it with a full NOS complement. Although I probably can't stretch to another pair of Mullards for this too . . . but we shall see.
How does the DAC sound?
Well I've had it for a couple of weeks now and it's just got in there and done what valves are supposed to do. At their best, they simply add something special to the mix. There was a worry that I'd lose resolution and the low end could become a bit muffled, muddy or less coherent. Well if it has it's very audibly pleasing . . . . in all honesty I don't think it's actually 'lost' anything so to speak but what the system has gained is just lovely to listen to.
As I've mentioned before my musical tastes are fairly niche. A lot of ambient soundscape type stuff, heavily electronic bias and I find myself listening nearly exclusively to music produced on a computer or in a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). Some of it is 'live' or improvised and does still employ live instruments etc but it's certainly a far cry from listening to an album recorded by a typical band in a studio or indeed recorded live at a concert.
Due to the above I just don't know (or care) if a part of the mix is unnaturally 'enlarged' or sounds 'synthetic/realistic/bloated' . . . whatever, no one can say what something made using predominantly synths and drum machines 'should' sound like. Of course there are still parameters which are adhered to, you don't want things to sound too warped or out-of-phase and generally weird. But for me the music needs to have a permanent 'underpinning' provided by a quality yet linear response in the low end of the mix. If this is not translated into the soundstage by the speakers/DAC/amp etc, it's a no from me.
This DAC is making everything sound exciting with real genuine low end heft and weight, translated beautifully by the Vader's. So it should be, they have a pair of 12" drivers with 500w plate amps! However it does seem they sound at their absolute best with valves in the chain.
So far so good, and I think there is more to come as the valve rolling continues. . . . .
). He said he really loved everything about a thin model-esque woman. I was argueing that my preference was for a little bit of meat on the bone so everyone has their own preference.
