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MHDT Havana DAC - Page 11

post #151 of 2248
12/3/08 at 9:49am
Was there a problem with the havana specifically? The manufacturer explains that it could be the acrylic casing of the paradisea which lacks grounding or something like that. The havana has a metal enclosure though so it is possible that the problem only exists with the paradisea
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post #152 of 2248
12/3/08 at 10:21am
That's kind of too bad if it causes issues, I think the transparent case looks more interesting and unique.

Anyone have pictures of the tube glow through the front panel of the Havana?
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post #153 of 2248
12/3/08 at 11:39am
Thanks all. One final question, which I have not managed to find out yet here or on the A'gon forums, is regarding high-res data. Specifically, I believe the Havana can accept up to 24-bit/96kHz, but since it is a 16-bit DAC, what does it do to that data? Does it discard the extra bits? Does it negatively impact SQ? My Macbook is normally set to output all data at 24/96; I also have quite a few audio files (hi-res downloads, e.g., Linn) which are 24/96.

Also, I have read that NOS DACs like the MHDT are more sensitive to transports. Would a Macbook outputting digital optical be ok? It would be using a Van den Hul Optocoupler MkII digital optical cable (I prefer optical to USB).

Cheers,
X
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post #154 of 2248
12/3/08 at 11:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tk3 View Post
Anyone have pictures of the tube glow through the front panel of the Havana?
Yea, when I get home I'll put some up.
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post #155 of 2248
12/3/08 at 12:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by donunus View Post
Was there a problem with the havana specifically? The manufacturer explains that it could be the acrylic casing of the paradisea which lacks grounding or something like that. The havana has a metal enclosure though so it is possible that the problem only exists with the paradisea
I've had both the Constantine USB+ and the Paradisea+ and they didn't have any grounding issues.
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post #156 of 2248
12/3/08 at 3:36pm
Thanks for that info Towert. I see you are hooking up the Audigy to the DAC - do you stick to 16/44.1? Are there any issues or negative effects if you upsample and output at 24/96?
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post #157 of 2248
12/3/08 at 3:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by xenithon View Post
Thanks for that info Towert. I see you are hooking up the Audigy to the DAC - do you stick to 16/44.1? Are there any issues or negative effects if you upsample and output at 24/96?
Wouldn't upsampling at the soundcard defeat the purpose of buying an NOS DAC?
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post #158 of 2248
12/3/08 at 6:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by xenithon View Post
Thanks for that info Towert. I see you are hooking up the Audigy to the DAC - do you stick to 16/44.1? Are there any issues or negative effects if you upsample and output at 24/96?
I actually have foobar2000 take the 16bit stream and padd it to 24bit, with a sampling rate of 44.1kHz.
I really can't hear any noticible difference between 44.1 and 96, so I leave it at 44.1.
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post #159 of 2248
12/3/08 at 6:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Towert7 View Post
Yea, when I get home I'll put some up.
I just noticed I don't have any pictures of the tube glow in the Havana.
I'll have to take some.
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post #160 of 2248
12/3/08 at 7:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Towert7 View Post
I've had both the Constantine USB+ and the Paradisea+ and they didn't have any grounding issues.
Wanted to also say that having had an early version Paradisea (non USB) and a newer Paradisea+ before getting my Havana ... I never noticed any hum either ... and that's with some rather sensitive Grado RS1's ...

The Havana is similarly clean sounding ...

FYI.
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post #161 of 2248
12/3/08 at 8:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by xenithon View Post
One more quick question - has anyone used the Havana with an OTL amp? I have read about some hum issues with the Havana and Paradisea which has been attributed to impedance mismatches with certain amps.

Cheers,
X
I don't know if it was an impedance mismatch exactly but I did have a level of floor noise that for me was uncomfortable. It was only really audible when the volume was off.

Since getting the 840C I can tell you that I am amazed by the sound. 2 months ago I was still using a Beresford MKIII. The Paradisea was an amazing upgrade and I thought the detail and musicality of the unit was perfect for my ears.

Fortunate for me (unfortunate for the pocket book) I found a great deal on an 840C. Since the upgrade I can say that I am in love with the CDP. Not only because of the CDP but because the of DAC that I can run from my PC.

It is more detailed than the Paradisea w/ Bendix 6385. The floor is dead silent. I only have to turn my MPX3 up to around 9 o'clock to reach my comfort level (11 or 12 w/ the Paradisea). The oversampling provides exactly what I was looking for with my upgrade cycle. Some might call the sound analytical because it is very accurate but I find the sound to be very enjoyable. I have about 50 hours on the unit now and I feel that it is worth every penny I paid for it. Deep accurate bass with transparent musical highs. The 840C is a winner.
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post #162 of 2248
12/4/08 at 2:37am
Gollie - do you find it bright? Or more specifically, can you use the 840C for long-term listening without inducing any fatigue?

Havana owners - anyone find it too soft for their tastes (and can tube rolling alleviate that)? Specifically, do you find it missing any dynamics/punch or a little curbed at the frequency extremes.

BTW, my frame of reference: found the DAC-1 too bright/clinical/sterile; found the Mini-DAC to be about right in terms of warmth/musicality/punch.
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post #163 of 2248
12/4/08 at 10:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by xenithon View Post
Gollie - do you find it bright? Or more specifically, can you use the 840C for long-term listening without inducing any fatigue?

Havana owners - anyone find it too soft for their tastes (and can tube rolling alleviate that)? Specifically, do you find it missing any dynamics/punch or a little curbed at the frequency extremes.

BTW, my frame of reference: found the DAC-1 too bright/clinical/sterile; found the Mini-DAC to be about right in terms of warmth/musicality/punch.
Personally, I don't find the sound to be to bright. I love the fact that it really brings out some of the background detail in my classical music or how it gives extra life to what were recessed Jazz instruments with my Paradisea. Some people really don't like upsampling DAC's but the 840c really fits my tastes.

Also, I really don't like burning classical music to Flac or Apple lossless. I will, but it is not preferred because I can't seem to get a very high bit rate. When I play the tracks through the CDP, I don't have to adjust my volume like I do when playing lossless files. I do think this is a user error on my part. I might be doing something wrong. I only get between 6-700kb/s with classical and 800-1kb/s with most of my other lossless files.
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post #164 of 2248
12/4/08 at 10:22am
IIRC the bitrate has nothing to do with the quality of the file - that is, lossless is lossless. The bitrate is determined by how much musical information is in the track. For example, a complex symphony may have a lot of data which is compressed and results in a higher bitrate; a quiet instrumental track will be far lower. In either case though, the quality should be identicaly.
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post #165 of 2248
12/4/08 at 10:25am
Got my Havana today, paid on the 26th last month, and it was 2 days in customs, so pretty fast shipping.
Can't try it yet though, since I have to take it home as I have no cables here.

They even sent an extra GE tube besides the one that was already socketed.
If I wanted to roll the tube, is it possible without taking off the cover?
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