Support Head-Fi.org by
starting all of your
Amazon.com shopping by
clicking here.
____________________________________________________________________
Today's Featured Head-Fi Blog: Jude's Blog
____________________________________________________________________
Please help
support Head-Fi by becoming a Contributing Member
CLICK
HERE -- Contributing Members, thank you
for your generous support! --
No, I enjoy mine. I have both the VDA-2 and DLIII. Both are exceptional, and have above average sound quality. No "upper midrange" peak detected in the DLIII. I needed the DLIII for the balanced outs. There is an Apache in my future.
I needed the DLIII for the balanced outs. There is an Apache in my future.
Congrats on the future Apache. I think you have 2 balanced sources to use with it. If you want to use xlr plugs into the Apache, this is CI's option. CIAudio VRX-1.
Bazile
__________________
Home gear: Main; Flacs wireless to SB3(unmodded) to a Cambridge Audio 840c to balanced lunchbox II's (tubes) to a balanced senn580
Bedroom; Flacs wireless toSB3 (unmodded) to CI VDA2/VAC1 to a CI VHP2/VAC1 to markl modded D5000s
Portable gear: 220-240 kbps vbr MP3's on a Sansa e-280 to a 2002 era (1st edition) total bithead then to Shure E-4c's.
Speaker setup: Flacs wireless to SB3(unmodded) to a Cambridge Audio 840c to Audio Research LS-15 to Adcom 555 II to Legacy Audio Signature III's.
Hi...the OP here, and I recently got a CIAudio VDA-2 and, at best, its effects are subtle, very subtle.
At the click of my amplifier's remote, I can go back and forth between the Arcam CD93's regular output and its output through the VDA-2.
Perhaps my hearing little difference is due to my inadequate ears.
Or, does the VDA-2 need a good amount of burn-in time?
Dave, who also wonders how much difference a VAC-1 power supply might make
the vda-2 only requires about a 100hr. burn for the caps to settle...
you can upgrade the caps inside to blackgates to increase transparency
(don't know how much dusty charges for that but you can do it yourself
if you're comfortable with desoldering/soldering and tiny components)
blackgates require substantially longer burn in for the sound
signature to settle...approx. 700 hrs...
getting the vac-1 power supply allows for a subtle improvement in bass extension,
better weight to notes in midrange and more sparkling highs...you can also
shape the tone (again, subtle) by replacing the power cord on the vac-1 unit...
__________________
"Supposedly there are Silver Foil Vitamin Q's in the Japanese DIY Community
...Which is not confirmed. I am not high enough in the hierarchy or something." - Tomo
the vda-2 only requires about a 100hr. burn for the caps to settle...
you can upgrade the caps inside to blackgates to increase transparency
(don't know how much dusty charges for that but you can do it yourself
if you're comfortable with desoldering/soldering and tiny components)
blackgates require substantially longer burn in for the sound
signature to settle...approx. 700 hrs...
getting the vac-1 power supply allows for a subtle improvement in bass extension,
better weight to notes in midrange and more sparkling highs...you can also
shape the tone (again, subtle) by replacing the power cord on the vac-1 unit...
Or the internal dac in his Arcam is almost as good as his VDA2..
Or the internal dac in his Arcam is almost as good as his VDA2..
without a doubt...if there's one absolute truth in this hobby it's that everyone
hear things differently, in subtle ways...
for me, the best method for comparison is to listen to one unit for several days
straight and then change to the other unit...if i don't notice any differences
then they are equal in SQ to me...
__________________
"Supposedly there are Silver Foil Vitamin Q's in the Japanese DIY Community
...Which is not confirmed. I am not high enough in the hierarchy or something." - Tomo
No, I enjoy mine. I have both the VDA-2 and DLIII. Both are exceptional, and have above average sound quality. No "upper midrange" peak detected in the DLIII. I needed the DLIII for the balanced outs. There is an Apache in my future.
yup, same here. i hear no upper midrange peak. it sounds perfect in my newbie ears.
__________________ digital audio player > line out dock > portable headphone amplifier > in-ear monitor
transport > digital/analog converter > headphone amplifier > headphones
I finally got the external power supply for my VDA-2.
And while the effects of the DAC by itself were subtle, the addition of the VAC-1 power supply is quite obvious: richer and deeper sound quality, the music sounding more musical (I know that doesn't exactly make sense, but it's how it feels).
Linear Mode
