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If you permit me to put a less "optimist" impression about the OMZ ...
My soundcard and my cd player let it in the dust in every aspect.
I prefer more immersive bass with good bottom, warm and not laid back vocals with good body (if bass is thin, can't have body ...). Performer need to be front of the orchestra not inside it or behind it. I want dynamic to get some excitements when listening music.
Another aspect I want ... hear music front of me .. not each side of me (depth of soundstage is important .. not only wide soundstage).
Highs on OMZ is ok .. not too bright but my cd player and soundcard have more pin-point precision without be bright.
For 750$ (with headphone section) OMZ is ok but it's nothing enough good to make my jaw drop on floor. The only DAC giving me that impression was Esoteric D-03 (but it's 14 000$).
You can read my profile to know what amp, headphone, cables I used ...
__________________
SP 'The Dragon' soon, SP MPX3-Slam, RSA Apache
Denon D5000, Senn.HD650 equinox, BeyerDT990
OMZv4 (on sale), X-Meridian7.1, ARC CD3mk2
Oritek X2 rca, VD David coax, VD nite/master3 power
One thing Ori mentioned was that this DAC really needs power conditioning to shine. You don't need to go overboard on it, just have your digital and analog sections separate. What I'm using (and Ori is too!) is a simple transformer based conditioner. I'm using a SmartPower and he's using a PowerVar. Either can be had for around $150 or so. They are the types used on POS (point-of-sale, not what you're thinking) units - cash registers basically. I replaced the recepticle in mine with a hospital grade unit, and have the DAC and transport on it, and it really does the trick. It opens up and smoothes out the sound, and gives you a nice black background and resolution. No need for giga-buck exotic power conditioners. You don't get surge protection with this setup, but unlike a UPS-type unit, you don't get that soundstage compression.
Pompon, I found the exact opposite, actually...the DAC really gives me a wide and deep soundstage, with focus and clarity on all instruments, correct placing, and a much more vivid presentation. This thing just screams "NATURAL!" and "ALIVE!". Maybe it's your interconnects...let me know if you want to ditch those lousy X2's in favor of something else...I'll take them from ya, you know...as a favor...
I jest, lol...
__________________ Cans: Sennheiser HD650, HD590 IEMs: Etymotic ER4-P and 4S Amp: Woo Audio WA3+ w/Tung-Sol 7236 and matched Siemens E88CCs and E188CCs (1970's) Source: Denon DVD-1920, Monarchy DIP Combo Upsampler, Oritek OMZ v4.1 DAC Power: Furman PL-8 II, Parasound AWG12 power cords x3 Cables: Signal Cable Silver Resolution RCA w/ Eichmann Silver Bullets
Tributaries Silver Series SVC (as digital coax) x2
On order: APS V3 HD650 cable Team Bay Area I can has feedsbak?
Last edited by Golden Monkey; 05-11-2008 at 12:59 AM.
...the DAC really gives me a wide and deep soundstage, with focus and clarity on all instruments, correct placing, and a much more vivid presentation. This thing just screams "NATURAL!" and "ALIVE!".
I agree with your observations. As far as power conditioner I am currently using an inexpensive Monster Power HTS 3500 MkII. One day I will be able to afford a PS Audio unit.
My soundcard and my cd player let it in the dust in every aspect.
I prefer more immersive bass with good bottom, warm and not laid back vocals with good body (if bass is thin, can't have body ...).
Your "cd player" being Audio Research CD3 MkII in your sig? That was ARC's reference tubed CDP just a few years back at MSRP $5500. OMZ just the DAC costs like $450-500.
As far as your Azuntech soundcard, I would have to personally compare to believe that one.
Or.. it is possible you like the rich, warm signature of Crystal DAC chipset (ARC) and AKM DAC (Azuntech) over AD1852, which I personally prefer..
Your "cd player" being Audio Research CD3 MkII in your sig? That was ARC's reference tubed CDP just a few years back at MSRP $5500. OMZ just the DAC costs like $450-500.
Let me introduce a different view. Personally, I don't consider price much of a factor. My last serious comparison was 50 times more expensive.
The OMZ, like most DACs, requires a transport with a very stable clock. It is my own belief that a "CD-only" transport is the wrong approach to a CD transport. While it may be a mechanical marvel, a 1x reader cannot possibly match the performance of a $10 DVD reader for a simple reason. The 1x reader relies on a "one shot" correct readout and superb mechanical stability to supply correct data and timing, while the much faster DVD reader can recover from severe read errors through multiple reads and its timing performance is totally decoupled from the mechanical transport. Data is sent to the DAC from a memory buffer at a speed governed by a (hopefully!) precision oscillator.
My own observations show that it is not easy to identify a good commercial transport. One of the best transports I've heard was a cheap DVD player, which I bought on sale for a laughable $19.99. I have compared many reputable units as transports and I keep being surprised by the results of these comparisons.
Bottom line for me is to never assume anything about transports just based on price or reputation. This is my own very subjective take on the matter.
Ori, please do not tell me it is the Philips DVP642 which sold for $20 at Circuit City. I had one and it died after being used for over 5,000 hours. I wish I had bought a 2nd one.
Ori, please do not tell me it is the Philips DVP642 which sold for $20 at Circuit City. I had one and it died after being used for over 5,000 hours. I wish I had bought a 2nd one.
I believe he means LG 7832, same as "Zenith DV318." I happen to have one, too, and it makes a pretty good transport
It wasn't the Philips or Zenith, just a COBY...
It also died after a few thousand hours. All computer transports do!
That's one area where the Teac or Philips "dedicated audio transports" are superior, but I can't see the sanity in spending $6000 on a mechanical marvel like the Esoteric transport other than pride of ownership.
Coby made better tranport than LG? Heck, I'll find one and use for a couple thousand hours. Which model?
It was the 2-channel version of the DVD-515, both long out of production. I would not make general assumptions about all COBY products.
And BTW, it wasn't excelling against the likes of the LG only. It put to shame a universal player with a 4 digit base price (and about the same in mods) which shall remain nameless...
I wish I had bought a 2nd one.
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