Valab Dac-First Impressions - Page 101

Lundahl Which?

So, If I don't want to change resistors, I get the LL1572, and just solder it in? Please?

check

I asked Michael where the 75ohm resistor was on the 2008 version and it turns out that a 100ohm resistor is sitting in that position. check your board first.

I'm sorry if this question has been asked before but its very hard to find in this thread. How is the latest version of this dac vs the 2008 version? Is it better sounding via usb or is it actually worse?

I have a question about the 2009 dac. Do I have to change any jumper settings inside to get the best sound from USB? I notice there is a spdif or i2s jumper setting???

I guess I am a bit late to the party, but quite impressed nonetheless. Just finished skimming through 50 pages or so plus last few pages of this thread, and I take it you might need to opt for a TOSLINK output instead of USB due to high jitter, even when the unit was built around USB - I2S? Either way, I already have a AV710 if that turns out to be true, though I saw many happy campers running theirs thru USB in the first 50 pages that I read.

Now, just a couple of questions before I place an order.

Is this 'luxtury' version supposed to be one to get? Does this version have all the essential mods, barring the coupled transformers housed separately? Is Kevin up to yet another round of design overhaul/upgrades at the moment? Would there be any more substantial mods to be made upon purchasing this version?

Steve Nugent of Empirical Audio seems to suggests here that "3.3uFd V-Cap oils bypassed with .22uFd Sonicap Platinums" is a good upgrade to the stock version. Any thoughts?


Sorry if that's too many questions at a time, better ask now than be sorry later I will try to finish reading the rest of the thread when I get enough time.

Actually my preference would be USB, if there isn't a whole lot of difference in sound. Did anyone happen to know what other differences are there between the luxury and the regular versions?

So this is where I should be looking at for mods I reckon:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f7/val...ations-413540/
Great, yet another 50 some pages of reading

Thank you again Phill, you are being real helpful here.

i use usb with linux ubuntu, it sounds fine, no comparison notes here either since i have not tried any other input yet, still cannot bring myself to take the thing out of my system to even look at what exact version i have, probably have to get a second one to play with modifications

i think there is a valabulous usb forum here somewhere

My valab has arrived! at first listen the sound is a little thick and punchy yet has some grain compared to my onboard laptop sound. I will report every 24 hours as I'm burning them in with an isotek burn in cd. By the way, I am using the 220 volt version and I hear the humming sound at higher volumes on my amp when the music is paused but it doesnt bother the music when its on. I hope this hum doesnt get louder though.

By the way, is it normal for the usb light to keep on blinking when music is playing?

Oh one last thing... Is it okay to turn off my amp while this dac is on burning in? Ive heard some dacs like the hot audio straight could get damaged when it is turned on without being connected to an amp

DAC Interference

Hey team

Month 4 with my Valab DAC. Sounds great very happy with it. Played with various inputs and so far settled on the coax input from my PC.

A few weeks ago noticed a mechanical hum. Not bothered as I cannot hear it in the music and the speakers are in another room.

However, it is also interfering with my TV reception. It causes interference on one TV channel only. Unfortunately it is my kids favourite channel. So no TV while I am playing music. Yes, I win that arguement.

Emailed Kevin, he said yes you may get some hum and the interference can be dealt with a power conditioner. A friend lent me a rather expensive power surge suppressor (Tripp-Lite) that has reasonably good specs for noise filtration, but alas no change.

Any clues?

I saw Chris Omalley's post on grounding, however I have the MArch 09 DAc so it should separate earthing. I haven't taken the lid off in case I have to send it back.

Any direction appreciated

Cheers

So optical even from the souncard is better than usb which totally bypasses the sound card?

wow I just switched to optical and noise said bye bye