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DACs: PS Audio vs. CI Audio vs. Benchmark - Page 2

post #16 of 40
1/25/08 at 4:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by IPodPJ View Post
I agree with you there, except for the following caveats:

-- By using a CD player instead of digital inputs you are sacrificing the extreme convenience of a digital media library.

-- Using a high-quality digital RCA cable between your transport and DAC will yield virtually the same sound quality.
To respond.
A unit such as a modified transporter or the SB+ that I own are both examples of integrated high quality units capable of streaming music, so they do exist.

With regards to the cable. Yes, cables can improve things, but IMO you still haven't gotten over the fact that you have to stuff the digital signal through the SPDIF interface. Putting the DAC very close to the transport (ie. within the same box) does seem to help.
Note that I'm not trying to state this from a technical viewpoint, i.e. an genuine understanding of how the SPDIF interface works. My comment is based upon the fact that despite spending a lot of time trying to get the best out of some dedicated transports and DACs, that some standalone CDPs sounded better and thus were better value for money.

Another example would be at the extreme high end of something like an Esoteric. I remember someone on this forum playing with their transport/DAC combo, and prefering the integrated X01.
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post #17 of 40
1/25/08 at 10:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by regal View Post
DLIII has a spiky harsh upper midrange, I found it unbearable.
that's very strange that you had this experience. almost everyone who's written about it agrees with what i heard, that it's a neutral-warm DAC with smooth treble.
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post #18 of 40
2/8/08 at 5:38pm
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f7/cha...ml#post3775583
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post #19 of 40
2/8/08 at 5:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by melomaniac View Post
Great DAC but I just purchased my second Lavry DA10. Call me a contrarian.
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post #20 of 40
2/10/08 at 3:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by VicAjax View Post
that's very strange that you had this experience. almost everyone who's written about it agrees with what i heard, that it's a neutral-warm DAC with smooth treble.
Ditto. I notice no abnormal peaks/valleys
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post #21 of 40
2/12/08 at 11:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by M3NTAL View Post
Ditto. I notice no abnormal peaks/valleys
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.
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post #22 of 40
2/12/08 at 4:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by achristilaw View Post
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
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post #23 of 40
2/17/08 at 10:06am
I was considering the VDA2 too, how does it compare to a DA100?
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post #24 of 40
2/17/08 at 11:24am
Thread Starter 
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

===========================================
Headphones: AKG K701, Grado SR-80, Etymotic 4P/S
Amps: Little Dot MK V, Heed CanAmp, Headroom Total AirHead, Arcam A80
Sources: Arcam CD93, Sony SCD-C2000es, iPod Classic
DAC: CIAudio VDA-2
Interconnects: RS Audio Solid Silver, BJC LC-1
Speakers: Audio Physic Yara
===========================================
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post #25 of 40
2/17/08 at 4:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by granodemostasa View Post
do a search, there are plenty of benchmark vda-2 comparisons. In short, the vda-2 is better.
Don't you mean better for you.
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post #26 of 40
2/17/08 at 4:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SunWarrior View Post
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...
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post #27 of 40
2/17/08 at 4:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by takezo View Post
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..
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post #28 of 40
2/17/08 at 5:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kool bubba ice View Post
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...
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post #29 of 40
2/21/08 at 5:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by achristilaw View Post
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.
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post #30 of 40
3/10/08 at 4:53pm
Thread Starter 

CIAudio DAC Update

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).

I like it...a lot

Dave

===========================================
Headphones: AKG K701, Grado SR-80, Etymotic 4P/S
Amps: Little Dot MK V, Heed CanAmp, Headroom Total AirHead, Arcam A80
Sources: Arcam CD93, Sony SCD-C2000es, iPod Classic
DAC: CIAudio VDA-2
Interconnects: RS Audio Solid Silver, BJC LC-1
Speakers: Audio Physic Yara
===========================================


Quote:
Originally Posted by SunWarrior View Post
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

===========================================
Headphones: AKG K701, Grado SR-80, Etymotic 4P/S
Amps: Little Dot MK V, Heed CanAmp, Headroom Total AirHead, Arcam A80
Sources: Arcam CD93, Sony SCD-C2000es, iPod Classic
DAC: CIAudio VDA-2
Interconnects: RS Audio Solid Silver, BJC LC-1
Speakers: Audio Physic Yara
===========================================
Reply
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