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MHDT Paradisea(+) Owners Club - Page 9

post #121 of 325
10/29/08 at 9:58pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Orcin View Post
I wonder if all of those tubes can be used in the Paradisea+. And if not, I wonder why not?
I would lean towards, "yes."

See here: CV4013 / 5670

The CV4013 is still a variant of the 5670 and therefore will work.

Glad I found those ... may go a purchasing binge if many of them are affordable.

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post #122 of 325
10/29/08 at 10:57pm
Thread Starter 
Paradisea 3 vs. Havana PCB Layout:

Sorry about the big pics ... but it helps....

...

Paradisea 3:



...

Havana



...

So the lack of any opamp in the Havana is obvious.

Also, the use of dual R-2R multi-bits Burr Brown PCM56P DACs.

...

But otherwise ... it seems as though the new Paradisea 3 is using the same PCB material and very similar overall caps layout as that used in the Havana.

I'm not technically inclined enough to really read the cap differences but for the most part they look very similar.

Interesting.

Since I heard last week that MHDT is discontinuinng the Havana due to inordinate manufacture cost, which might have to do with the brushed aluminum and much thicker front acrylic face plate more so than internal circuitry ...

It may be that they are taking some of the better aspects of the Havana (while still incorporating an OPAMP based design) and porting it over to the newer Paradisea ...

Dunno ... but the upgrade seems interesting.

Thanks "tubes" for the heads up on the new DAC!
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post #123 of 325
10/30/08 at 12:11am
well according to the ordering page it's "the same":

Ordering Information
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post #124 of 325
10/30/08 at 12:13am
Sorry if this is totally unrelated question, but since I am a noob here, I don't feel worry about my impression.

I'm in search of a good source and amp, and I can't decide which is better.

After reading all these threads, it seems that paradisea+ or 3, or even havana is a very good dac with a lot of customizing possibilities. However, this DAC doesn't support the balanced output, and new Dacmagic from Cambridge is offering that with cheaper price too.

Is it better to go with NOS Dac + unbalanced --> Headphone? or is it more beneficial in the long run to go balanced using DAcmagic -> balanced amp -> balanced headphone?

I am sorry if this is off topic, but I really wanted to know how you guys compare this two territory. NOS vs. balanced and both are from reputable company.

Regards.
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post #125 of 325
10/30/08 at 1:07am
Well there are many factors: budget, headphones, music you listen to etc.

I've never listened to a balanced rig so I'm not really qualified to comment but going balanced incurs a lot of extra cost (e.g. recabling/retermination).
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post #126 of 325
10/30/08 at 10:16am
Balanced is better if done correctly. That means expensive cables as XXII says and a good source. I haven't heard the DACMagic, so I don't know if it is good enough. It's interesting to be sure.
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post #127 of 325
10/30/08 at 11:10am
i am interested in getting dacmagic along with Little Dot VI which supposed to be a balanced amp. As for recabling, i don't have to go that route since I don't have any amps or headphone yet.

I just started on this journey and I just don't want to spend on the money that I could spend better otherwise. Just being cautious I guess..
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post #128 of 325
10/30/08 at 12:24pm
it's very hard to get things right the first time around....and even if you are lucky to find a rig you are very happy with the first time around, how will you know you can't do better?..

..In my opinion, it's better to figure out which headphones you like first and then find a system to build around them. It's going to involve a lot of trial and error but that's part of the beauty of this hobby IMO...
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post #129 of 325
10/30/08 at 12:43pm
Thanks for great advice, XXII.

I am sure there is no perfect solution, and as I am just new to this, I am sure I will be upgrading and what not.. But I do believe that that upgrade path is much less frequent if I can get into a system that is little bit thought out.

I am currently thinking of buying the DAC only for now and hook up to my main Rig. I don't have a dedicated amp nor Headphone. I only have Pioneer VSX-92 Receiver which I want to use as a dedicated amp until I find a good one (I am thinking of getting Icepower from D-Sonic).

From there on, I am planning to get Little Dot Mk VI (Blaanced amp) and Either Senn 650 balanced or RS-1.
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post #130 of 325
10/30/08 at 6:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Orcin View Post
Both.

It will depend upon the tube. The age of the tube and the amount of use on the tube (if used) can play a part in it. If one is a "JAN" (Joint Army Navy) tube, then that might be the one to get, especially if both are NOS tubes. Those were typically made to higher standards.

I am finding that a tube is not a tube. In other words, all WE396A's do not sound alike.
thanks for your info.

i just placed the order for the bendix since it has the JAN in the name.
let's see how it compares to my WE396A.
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post #131 of 325
11/1/08 at 3:06am
I've received the Bendix 6385 and in short it sounds wonderful...it's main selling point is definitely detail...

but it's not completely superior to the Tesla 6CC42..mainly you lose tube warmth and bass impact..in fact, in retrospect, the impact of the Tesla was really special, it even extended to the mids so you could really feel acoustic guitar plucks..
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post #132 of 325
11/5/08 at 12:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by XXII View Post
I've received the Bendix 6385 and in short it sounds wonderful...it's main selling point is definitely detail...

but it's not completely superior to the Tesla 6CC42..mainly you lose tube warmth and bass impact..in fact, in retrospect, the impact of the Tesla was really special, it even extended to the mids so you could really feel acoustic guitar plucks..

Your description of the Tesla is exactly how I feel about my 1953 Western Electric JW-2C51-396A. It has even more detail than the Bendix 2C51 plus a warmth and bass impact that is missing in the Bendix. I think the 6385 would improve on the 2C51's detail and maybe surpass the WE396A in that department, but I don't think I can give up the musicality of the WE396A.

I have stopped looking for a Bendix 6385 tube. I have just put in the 396A for good, unless I am running the system to burn something in.

By the way, I have heard newer WE396A's, and they do not sound as good as the 1951 JAN version. I have talked to several people who said the WE396A was too warm and lacked detail. They were using 1960's WE396A's, though, and I think the older tubes were better. Perhaps also the JAN tube has a performance level that is unique. I am sure that this older tube is what Mouse was using when he ranked the 396A D-getter among the top-tier tubes for this DAC.
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post #133 of 325
11/5/08 at 2:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by XXII View Post
I've received the Bendix 6385 and in short it sounds wonderful...it's main selling point is definitely detail...

but it's not completely superior to the Tesla 6CC42..mainly you lose tube warmth and bass impact..in fact, in retrospect, the impact of the Tesla was really special, it even extended to the mids so you could really feel acoustic guitar plucks..
The Bendix 6385 is definitely a great tube, but in exchange for detail you lose a lot of the low end impact. The bass is very accurate with the Bendix but I think the warmth and somewhat "boomy" nature of the WE 396a's bass is very enjoyable at times. For jazz and orchestra, I like the Bendix. With rock, R&B and alternative, I like the WE.

I agree with Orcin, the older WE is better than the newer version (as reflective in the price).
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post #134 of 325
11/6/08 at 11:03am
The club appears to be disbanding! Selling or moving on in some fashion in the past month we have: s1rrah, XXII, Gollie, and now tubes. I guess we are no longer the FOTM.

I'm still happy with mine.
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post #135 of 325
11/6/08 at 11:19am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Orcin View Post
The club appears to be disbanding! Selling or moving on in some fashion in the past month we have: s1rrah, XXII, Gollie, and now tubes. I guess we are no longer the FOTM.

I'm still happy with mine.
I'm still a MHDT fan boi ... just smitten with the Havana ...

BTW: you have any sources for the early 50's 396A tube? I'd like to pick one up if so ...

Lemme know ..

.joel
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