Output stage for DAC - opamp vs tube

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bombaywalla
Stammgast

#51 erstellt: 21. Jun 2008, 04:51

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Hello Bombaywalla,

Where have U been ?

Long Time No Post ???

Hi Amp_Nut! How are you? yes, I've been off-colour & low-key lately.

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Could you share your opinion on these 2 Very Diff DACs ?

yes, the TDA1541 based DAC is non-os while the my Wadia CDP is oversampling. The sound from both DACs is simply wonderful in their own respects - the Wadia is precise, holographic, great bass, smooth highs & very musical more so after the GNSC mod. The Scott Nixon DAC is musical, less precise & just plays music. It held its own against the BelCanto DAC2. The DAC2 had better bass due to its even better power supply. The Scott Nixon DAC is a diminutive box that.............just plays music!

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Are you using a Wdia DAC or CD player ?

using a Wadia CDP.

Amp_Nut schrieb:

I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has heard a Wadia DAC. Is it very finiky about the transport that it is partnered with ?

I'm a Wadia fan so take my comments with the appropriate grain of salt.

Wadia DACs & transports do the best when paired together as there is a ClockLink between the transport & the DAC. I believe that I've read that if this ClockLink is not present the sonics are just blah.

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Also anyone have experience with a USB DAC that yopu have Actually heard or used ?

Brief experience with the Scott Nixon Tube DAC now available in its USB rendition. Smoother than my Scott Nixon Saru DAC+ in that slight shimmer in the upper registers due to the solid-state DAC reconstruction filter is smoothed out by the 6922 DAC tube output stage in the Tube DAC.
FWIW.

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#52 erstellt: 21. Jun 2008, 06:36

My quest continues ...

Thanks for your detailed reply.

I guess a Wadia Stand Alone DAC is ruled out .....

bombaywalla
Stammgast

#53 erstellt: 22. Jun 2008, 16:49

Amp_Nut schrieb:

My quest continues ...

Thanks for your detailed reply.

I guess a Wadia Stand Alone DAC is ruled out .....

welcome, Amp_Nut.
yes, the standalone Wadia DAC would not give you its best. However, if you get a good deal on a used Wadia DAC get it all-the-same iffff you plan to get a Wadia transport sometime later. The Wadia 6 transport & Wadia 9 DAC combination is still excellent today. Moving parts replacement at GNSC might be the only issue. The Wadia 27ix DAC & matching transport are supposed to be totally awesome.
One other thing I noted - Wadias sound the best when left on 24/7. This might not be possible in India given the fluctuating AC power in that you run the risk of blowing the unit.
So, in general, you might want to avoid Wadia due to your geographic location. (?)

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#54 erstellt: 22. Jun 2008, 18:30

Thanks for the advice.

My wish list to to by a Good DAC and a relatively low cost transport, like an oppo.

Purpose .... when the CD Player dies, I dont have to throw away the DAC !

Luckily, in Mumbai, the electric supply is stable, so can even consider 24x7 powering. Lucily, DAC dont consume that much power... a Pair of ML Mono Blocks that I was offered, would consume Rs 6 worth of electricity, for every hour of STANDBY ! and they were were recommended for 24x7 powering. Infact there was no On/Off switch. Only On and Standby ....

The heat generated in the room would be another issue, ofcourse

audio_engr
Ist häufiger hier

#55 erstellt: 22. Jun 2008, 22:02

This might not be possible in India given the fluctuating AC power in that you run the risk of blowing the unit.

I have a Theta ProGen Va & a Meridian 518 - both FRIED as some lunatic from the electricity board made a few wrong connections in the feeder pillar box supplying the power into the houses sending 440volts phase-to-phase for a few seconds when he came to replace a blown fuse of a phase that was grossly overloaded. That's the scene in leaving units in standby on 24/7 basis.

[Beitrag von audio_engr am 23. Jun 2008, 03:23 bearbeitet]

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#56 erstellt: 23. Jun 2008, 03:59

Damm SAD

SNV
Stammgast

#57 erstellt: 23. Jun 2008, 15:05

Amp_Nut schrieb:

My wish list to to by a Good DAC and a relatively low cost transport, like an oppo.

Purpose .... when the CD Player dies, I dont have to throw away the DAC !

SInce you have the Wadia on your wish list, you could also consider a dCS dac!

Regards
SNV

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#58 erstellt: 23. Jun 2008, 19:22

Thanks, SNV...

Widens my horizon !

What's life without aspirations !

square_wave
Inventar

#59 erstellt: 24. Jun 2008, 07:16

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Thanks, SNV...

Widens my horizon !

What's life without aspirations ! :)

Why not a reimyo ? Much lesser price. Superb quality.

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#60 erstellt: 24. Jun 2008, 08:42

I suspect the Reimyo is lean sounding.

Heard it at Siva's place, and the entire system was unknown to me, so I am Only speculating on the sound of the DAC.

Incidentally, an Electrocompaniet DAC is priced at approx Rs 90 K in India, new, thru the dealer ( Nova Audio)

It supposed to be the same DAC section as in their Top-Of-The-Line CD player priced at Rs 4.5 Lakhs ( I think ).

I have heard the CD player... Quite Superb

though have not heard the DAC.

On Audiogon, Pre-owned DAC are priced VERY attractively... I think DACs are currently "Out Of Fashion"

abhi.pani
Inventar

#61 erstellt: 24. Jun 2008, 09:05

Amp_Nut schrieb:

I suspect the Reimyo is lean sounding.

Hi Amp_Nut,
I have heard it at a different place and it is not at all lean. It is in fact quite full and rich sounding.

square_wave
Inventar

#62 erstellt: 24. Jun 2008, 11:47

I think Siva or Arj would be the right people to comment on this.

Arj
Inventar

#63 erstellt: 24. Jun 2008, 13:26

Amp_Nut schrieb:

I suspect the Reimyo is lean sounding.

Heard it at Siva's place, and the entire system was unknown to me, so I am Only speculating on the sound of the DAC.

Hi amp_nut..i for one hate lean sound. when did you hear the system at Sivas. i heard it at two different moments in time and the second time around it was very different compared to the first time as Siva was still tweaking around with the amp he had built..

and i do remember that it was fuller the second time around.

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Incidentally, an Electrocompaniet DAC is priced at approx Rs 90 K in India, new, thru the dealer ( Nova Audio)

It supposed to be the same DAC section as in their Top-Of-The-Line CD player priced at Rs 4.5 Lakhs ( I think ).

I have heard the CD player... Quite Superb

though have not heard the DAC.

On Audiogon, Pre-owned DAC are priced VERY attractively... I think DACs are currently "Out Of Fashion" ;)

the Electrocompaniet is a Great CD player..especially so because of its fantastic transport section. from what i was advised its DAC section is what is not up to it. I owned an Electrocompaniet pre and wanted to add on its DAC.but was advised against it and ended up with a Wadia.

but that price in india for a new one is rather attractive !

IN fact i was recommended a brand called Audiomat (Canadian OR french) which makes fantastic tube based equipment.

[Beitrag von Arj am 24. Jun 2008, 13:27 bearbeitet]

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#64 erstellt: 24. Jun 2008, 13:40

Hi Arj,

Thanks for your feedback, and pointer on Audiomat.

A quick search shows great reviews for all their stuff... not just DACs.

Had not heard of the company earlier..

Arj
Inventar

#65 erstellt: 25. Jun 2008, 09:21

BTW Siemel is another such brand with even less press but apparently a fantastic product especially for pre-amplifiers.

did try to get a used one a couple of years back but it used to get snapped up even before made up my mind !

square_wave
Inventar

#66 erstellt: 25. Jun 2008, 09:40

Arj schrieb:

The less press and hype they have, the better they are usually…….
There are some exceptions though.

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#67 erstellt: 25. Jun 2008, 10:23

Press coverage can cut Both ways.

A bad review can also kill a product

That is why, some companies do not submit their products to the press, and never quote reviews in their ads...

About 2 decades ago, I sold Hewlett Packard (HP) instruments. The sales training specifically told sales people NOT to volunter a product demo, unless the customer INSISTED on one....

sivat
Stammgast

#68 erstellt: 25. Jun 2008, 12:29

Reimyo is a good product. From what i observed from Amp_Nut, it might be the correct product for him.

But unless u listen ... u'll never know.

Amp_Nut,

Maybe you need to drop in for a visit to BLR

Further i can gurantee you that Reimyo is a far better product than Electrocompaniet...all though at a slightly higher price. I've heard the Electrocompaniet CD player on many occassion. It is a good step up over the likes of Cambridge and Arcam...but that's it.

Regards
Siva.

[Beitrag von sivat am 25. Jun 2008, 12:30 bearbeitet]

Amp_Nut
Inventar

#69 erstellt: 25. Jun 2008, 14:18

Thanks Siva.

Your opinion, always welcome and respected.