Any Aussies for Zhaolu DAC v2.0 ?

[hugz]

Originally Posted by pauls

I'm very interested in this offer, but need to do much more homework. Are you guys talking about the AD1852 or CS4398 version? Does the special "export version" that d-cee refer to above include both versions? From what I've read, I think I'm leaning to the CS4398, because I suffer severely from "upgraditis". Now that I know I'm not up for slightly less than $1000, the extra $90 doesn't concern me.

Also, about the discrete headamp - does this enable you to use the DAC as an Amp, as well as allowing you to add other amps into the chain? I'll keep doing my homework, but from my brief readings I'll be in this pre-order for sure.

Cheers

pauls

coem has export versions of both models.

this means that the dacs have a few capacitors upgraded and the option to get a few opamps upgraded also.

all zhaolus have a headphone amp in stock form, but it isn't the best amp out there. you can purchase the discrete headphone amp upgrade for $65 from coem and it replaces the stock amp inside the dac. it can be purchased with it already installed or as a seperate board that you replace youself. the headphone amp upgrade can be for either AD1852 or CS4398.

but yeah, because the zhaolu has a headphone amp built in, it can act as a headphone amp while being conncted to other amps in the chain. The headphone amp upgrade just makes the built in headphone amp sound better

Originally Posted by adhoc

i'm a little confused, how much will it be a top-line dac MINUS the headphone section?

the top of the line dac from zhaolu is the cs4398 version and cost $320aud. you can purchase the blackgate mod for it, but whether its the 'top-line' dac is personal preferance..

[theexec]

Also, just for clarity, the headphone amp upgrade actually replaces the stock headamp.

[d-cee]

Whoa, ok ok I've been in dialog with Daniel and John @ coem for the last few weeks excitedly leading up to the arrival of the zhaolu and just thought I'd chip in the wealth of info that I've been jabbing COEM for and hopefully get everyone clear on just what they've managed to score for Aussie head-fiers! (because it's a sweeeeeeeeeeet as deal on an already excellent value DAC)

I for one am FLOORED that the DACs arrived today (wednesday) and i'm hoping mine arrives by friday (COEM is Brissie, I am from SYdney), if not, Monday. Coem are bringing into Australia AD1852 and the CS4398 models and I'm sure when the BB1794 is made available it will come too! \o/

Not only that but if you buy from them now with their current sale prices AD1852 (AU$230) and CS4398 ($320) this works out same or cheaper than buying direct from eddie! (assuming shipping is ~US$80 according to other buyers and with respect to the exchange rate at the time this post was written - 1 AUD = 0.728544 USD)

Now, if going straight off dollar figures weren't enough to convince you (they were for me) it should also be noted that warranty will be handled LOCALLY by COEM, so no need for you to pay for return shipping to HK, just Brissie!

But hang on, what was this speak of the special "export version" well, I as much as everyone else am glad to confirm that all Zhaolu D2.0 bought through COEM come modded.

The AD1852 comes with JRC5532 installed, the CS4398 with OPA2604 (standard) But included with the DAC will be the DY2000 and LT1057 opamps for out of the box opamp rolling! The power capacitors are replaced with ELNA capacitors, digital circuit capacitors are replaced with OS-CON, the DC-blocking capictors have been replaced with MUSE Bi-polar capacitors.

If the above looks familiar then that's because it matches what Eddie is throwing in only for his first 100 units, whereas EVERY D2.0 bought through Coem will have these mods, but some of the mods done to the power stage are also part of Eddie's blackgate upgrade which costs US$55, afaik these units won't have blackgate caps. Excellent value nontheless.

The model with discrete headphone amp preinstalled requires a quota to be met before they can order them in, so probably best to email them about this so they can save you one and also guage the interest to bring them in. Not sure on pricing of discreted headamp DACs but as a separate plugin board it will be AU$65 and will arrive end of July if enough there's enough interest.

In summary:
Zhaolu AD1852 and CS4398 currently in stock @ coem, with stock headamps
They cost the same or less than buying direct from HK -BUT- come with extra opamps, have mods performed on them and warranty will be handled through them
Zhaolus with discrete amp built in as well as discrete add-on boards will be available late July if enough people indicate their interest

Hope this clears up any questions anyone has..

d-cee

[wixy]

Put me down as definately 100% in for ordering one with the upgraded headamp from coemaudio. My email is jlwicks @ gmail . com

[Lad27]

wixy, check your PM.

By the way, Kiwis are welcome as well. Anyone?

[adhoc]

EDIT:

cleared up the confusion with Daniel. am joining you guys for the pre.

go team Zhaolu!

[d.rock]

Hi guys, new member here after inheriting my brother's senn hd-580s. This looks like a great solution for me, as most of my listening will be through the optical out of my mac mini - DAC and amp duties in one unit, and a fair bit cheaper than most of the amps mentioned on these forums. So, I've just put in an email to COEM regarding the Zhaolu CS4398 with discrete headphone amp upgrade, waiting for a reply

[pauls]

Thanks for the pm lad27.

My pre-order has just gone in for the cs4398.

Now for the cables .......

[adhoc]

Originally Posted by pauls

Thanks for the pm lad27.

My pre-order has just gone in for the cs4398.

Now for the cables .......

and that should fulfill the minimum 4 person requirement. hooray!

[wixy]

now begins the horrible wait....

[Gone4T]

Originally Posted by wixy

now begins the horrible wait....

The wait is not soooo bad,it's the damn running in until the dac sound stabilzes that's the killer > like maybe a couple of 100 hours +.

[Lad27]

Originally Posted by adhoc

and that should fulfill the minimum 4 person requirement. hooray!

I'm glad it worked out nicely for us. I've started this thread thinking it might be a long shot, but it turned up as a success.

Good on ya all, mates!

Lad

[hugz]

Thanks to Lad27 for making the effort to help get a highly desired product into the hands of aussie headfiers

[Lad27]

As for cables: what Toslink connector is on Zhaolu? A standard Toslink or 3.5mm ? I need 3.5mm (MiniPlug) at iRiver 140 end, standard Toslink at Pioneer CDP end but not sure what's on Zhaolu. There are adapters on the market, but I'm trying to avoid using them and rather buy a dedicated interconnects.

I have my opinion about recabling mods, but in my work I'm currently involved in testing a mil spec optical data bus. It has different wavelength emitters and uses different data protocol altogether, but bottom line is - the quality of carrier and even more so the cleanliness of optical mating surfaces makes considerable and measurable difference in transmitted/received optical power. I don't want to stray too far from this thread topic, but if your budget allows, try to get a polished glass fiber (also called a medical grade) rather than plastic. It will make a difference.
If there is a interest on that topic, I'd be willing to share my experience in this field, perhaps on different thread.

Disregard above if you going to use SPDIF coax rather than optical.

[Lad27]

Thanks Hugzy (that's how NAVY guys would call you).

I'm sitting here at work bloody pi$$ed off. Why? I've missed on RS-2 bidding on eBay at 8am. Never ever had my broadband at home dropped off, and so 20 minutes before end of auction I log in, RS-2's sitting on high $300's. OK, lets wait till last 5 mins, thinking of $US410 as my max bid - refreshed page and here comes the dreaded "Server Not Found" thing. Needles to say panic ensued, reset modem , tried Explorer instead of Mozilla etc., no bloody luck. Gone. Anyway on the way to work shortly after, there is the bloody Telstra guy with his van sitting in his little yellow tent 100 meters down the road... Here we go. And these RS-2's went fot $395. Well, maybe another time.

Cheers,

Lad