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SOLD: Balanced ES9008-based TwistedPearAudio Buffalo DAC! Best DAC chip in the world!

post #1 of 13
2/19/09 at 7:10pm
Thread Starter 
SOLD

Hey guys,

Up for sale is my current reference DAC, the ESS Sabre ES9008-based balanced DAC by TwistedPearAudio. The DAC runs in I-Out mode with the IVY for I/V stage and balanced-unbalanced conversion.

Output : 1 pair of Balanced 3-pin XLR jacks and 1 pair of unbalanced RCA jacks.
Input : Canare True 75 Ohm RCA Coax S/PDIF

The case is an all-black aluminum Par-Metal anodized case measuring 12" x 12" x 3" with beautiful aluminum front panel. To keep it as simple and elegant as possible, the front-panel is completely empty, no switches, knobs, lights, etc. If you REALLY must have a lock indicator (the only thing I can imagine you would want), it can be added, I would rather not personally, why not keep the case beautiful and simply listen to the BEST DAC I've ever heard.



Price for this reference-grade DAC is $800 including 2-3 day US Priority shipping with full tracking and insurance (or 5-6 day International Express at $50 extra).
Unit price is just mostly to cover parts! If this was a commercial DAC, business expenses/markup would send it way above the $2000 price tag!

Thanks
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post #2 of 13
2/22/09 at 5:23am
Thread Starter 
Trash whatever PC-based digital system you have right now and get something TRULY fantastic!

The ESS ES9008 with this I/V stage has 124dB DNR and -117dB THD+N, how does that sound!? Not sure what it means - well it means that THIS IS THE BEST DAC IN THE WORLD!
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post #3 of 13
2/22/09 at 8:48am
Why are you selling it then...
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post #4 of 13
2/22/09 at 8:57am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZoNtO View Post
Why are you selling it then...
I have a few special requirements; my DAC must seamlessly switch between 3D-CMSS for gaming through S/PDIF as well as I2S. I have a design I've been working on for a few months, might be done in a few more.

Final note is this is the BEST source I have ever heard and am listening to it now. Consider this - I have a $2500 MSRP North Star m192 DAC that I think is not as good and am considering taking the m192 to the office as a "decent work setup", now consider how good my main listening system must be.

There is no comparison between this and other DACs in the same pricerange, the Benchmark DAC1 USB was aweful, DacMagic was disappointing, Aragon D2A isn't nearly as good (even though it was a $1000 DAC and I added a VERY nice custom PSU to it), Forte F-50a (design by Michael Bladelius for Forte - an offshoot of Nelson Pass' Threshold company), and my highly modified Zhaolu 2.5A DAC was still not nearly as good. Just no DAC I've owned or heard can compare to this. I'm only selling it because I'm building something that tries to meet all of my requirements, which unfortunately for my wallet, include music and gaming.
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post #5 of 13
2/23/09 at 9:04pm
Thread Starter 
bump, still available
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post #6 of 13
2/23/09 at 11:00pm
interested in deal 1, pm sent
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post #7 of 13
2/24/09 at 5:12pm
Thread Starter 
Updated post - Digital Input will use a Canare True 75 Ohm RCA. No RCA can "truly" be 75 Ohms, but this one is as close as it gets.
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post #8 of 13
2/25/09 at 10:55pm
question, what voltage does the I2S use? I have a Empirical Offramp 3 with I2S that uses 3.3v I think.
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post #9 of 13
2/25/09 at 11:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ricey20 View Post
question, what voltage does the I2S use? I have a Empirical Offramp 3 with I2S that uses 3.3v I think.
I think I2S uses TTL

I have this DAC currently configured for direct I2S input, would be a nice combo.
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post #10 of 13
2/26/09 at 1:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by FallenAngel View Post
I have this DAC currently configured for direct I2S input, would be a nice combo.
I am confused- is the input on this dac i2s or s/pdif?

By the way, is it still available?
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post #11 of 13
2/26/09 at 5:31pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by educator View Post
I am confused- is the input on this dac i2s or s/pdif?

By the way, is it still available?
At the moment as in on my desk it is I2S, it will be S/PDIF tomorrow when it will be sold to somebody who wants S/PDIF. Being DIY, these aren't hard changes. The DAC is pending, very likely sold as of tomorrow.
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post #12 of 13
3/1/09 at 5:54pm
so has this been sold?
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post #13 of 13
11/16/09 at 10:42am

&5 ohm rca

Quote:
Originally Posted by FallenAngel View Post
Updated post - Digital Input will use a Canare True 75 Ohm RCA. No RCA can "truly" be 75 Ohms, but this one is as close as it gets.
Actually there is one 75 ohm rca socket in the market - it's Eichmann's one :-)
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