Valab NOS DAC - subjective listening and modifications - Page 113

Can't wait to get my hands on them....

I am playing with the thought to re-create my 6 step volume switch with those TXs...will be costly but it's now made with crappy metal film resistors......probably is more cost effective to use PRPs or shinkohs or the likes for that purpose. 14*16 USD vs 14*? but if they perform well I just might....

prp's are 32c each

Hi,
How do I get more highs, lose bass (and get definition of it),and put forward mids?
Is there any way?
Thanks

shunt?

If you shunt the pot you would only need 1 TX

well it is shunted(if you are talking about having the the ladder between live and ground and the bleed resisistor in the signal path), but I would nevertheless like to have decent Quality resistors throughout the thingy as we are talking AC here and the signal path is important but the ground path is as important in my experience.
But having one TX in line and PRPs in the ladder might be a good compromise.

Without knowing your setup a decent answer would be a challenge and almost certainly a random guess, I'm not sure if Pats proposal is the cure all...( a bit like prescribing aspirin without a physical when a patient complaining about a tummy ache in fact has appendicitis)

What did you do to your gear, what gear are you using and why are you looking for this change?

? what is that? how can I implement this into valab?

Hi, thanks for reply
The only thing I did to my valab was, input caps changed to russian teflon. Nothing else. I would like to achieve:
-faster, leaner, less heavy bass
-more detailed and more pronounced highs
-forward midrange with more details
My valab is normal version from 2009, I think that is 2.5.
Regards

? what is that? how can I implement this into valab?

"But the Tube Buffers works better with the VALAB "
Hi,
Interesting information I'm thinking buying the basic Valab $200 on ebay or the Fathom from pacific valve to work with my Maverick TubeMagic as buffer tube, (my poor clone paradisea, jajaaja) welcome suggestions, thanks, Martin,

Massivni; it it clear what you want , it is still not clear what sort of equipment you are listening to (it might be your speakers or headphone that are causing the problem, adding a transformer is not going to help in that case)

Pat, you've convinced me the Cinemags is a worthy effort. I just committed to a set (pending a reply and invoice). I'll hardwire them into the outputs of the Valab instead of using RCAs and additional interconnects. If it turns out to be a bad decision I'll just undo the mod.

I'm not sure Bill Allen is still looking at this thread but I know he's all over the Chameleon thread. Note to Bill and those interested: I've pretty much decided to forgo the Chameleon and probably upgrade my Off Ramp to the new async USB module when it becomes available and maybe swap the Superclock for an Ultraclock to max it out once and for all. Or maybe get one of these...

I've been watching the talk about the dB Audio Labs Tranquility USB DAC. There is quite a buzz for it, making a significant presence for itself at the last RMAF and I mention it here because it would be very interesting to compare its innards to the Valab/Chameleon designs. It's similarly NOS 16/44.1 with every aspect of design and construct given extreme care to maximize its potential. The USB is not async but apparently still serves the DAC very, very well. Unfortunately the actual components have been kept on the down low, even by those who have purchased one.