Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Dedicated Source Components › Audio-gd Reference 1 DAC (56 K warning)
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Audio-gd Reference 1 DAC (56 K warning) - Page 7

post #91 of 2429
4/2/09 at 12:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by legend24 View Post
how come they are labeled as dedicated source, they do not play cd or do they?

Speaking of which I think audio gd should really improve their site navigation, it just do not match their good customer's service as some have claimed.
For a discussion (and argument) of why DACs are considered dedicated source components, see the following thread: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f7/why...onents-415477/

With respect to Audio-gd's website, I personally think its fine. Considering that this is a company that I believe only recently started doing significant business outside of China, I think the website provides all anyone needs. I would much rather Kingwa spend his time designing his products than making his site prettier.
Reply

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

post #92 of 2429
4/2/09 at 12:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by haloxt View Post
But it is not audio-gd's responsibility to maximize a computer's potential as source, that responsibility belongs in the realm of software engineers and computer manufacturers. We have no choice but to wait for them to catch up. With windows (haven't tried OS X) I have been somewhat disappointed with all the different computer players and low latency drivers I've tried with audio-gd's compass and isochronous usb mode, I can only imagine what happens when you use audio-gd's top gear with typical usb output of a computer.
Any audio company claiming to be producing high-end dacs for use with computers should be employing software engineers then. They really have no business claiming they have superior usb implementations (like many big-$$$$ companies claim to do) when all they do is drop in a PCM2704 chip to convert usb to spdif. If there aren't any suitable chips (the TAS1020B sounds like a good one), the uber high-end audio companies should then take an FPGA and design their own. If we don't try to encourage them to do this, it could never happen since Microsoft certainly doesn't have high quality audio on its list of priorities. If I was still in undergrad, that would make for an fun 4th year design project.

Kingwa has already told me he plans to use the TAS1020B in future designs so there is hope. Maybe next year we'll see some interesting things. USB 3.0 is on the way soon too (though I haven't heard of any USB 3.0 audio chips yet).
Reply
post #93 of 2429
4/2/09 at 12:55pm
cool was keen on getting a compass but hearing the good review of ref 1. but too bad the price tag is a no no for me.
Reply
post #94 of 2429
4/2/09 at 3:16pm
Kingwa said he hasn't gotten the license for TAS1020B yet and that its been difficult. The 19Mk3 and Reference will both have 16/48 usb input only.
Reply
post #95 of 2429
4/2/09 at 3:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AnaKinDV8 View Post
Kingwa said he hasn't gotten the license for TAS1020B yet and that its been difficult. The 19Mk3 and Reference will both have 16/48 usb input only.
My limited understanding on this is that license for Centrance firmware does not give you asynchronous mode, just the higher resolution and the only company who has code that does asynchronous 24/96 on TAS1020B is Wavelength, not sure if they sell it to anyone yet.
You can read about it here
http://www.ayre.com/pdf/Ayre_USB_DAC_White_Paper.pdf
Reply
post #96 of 2429
4/2/09 at 4:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mik View Post
Any audio company claiming to be producing high-end dacs for use with computers should be employing software engineers then.
They did employ software engineers and get asynchronous drivers, but then again audio-gd is not a usb dac manufacturer. To quote Tyson, "And let me qualify this - I believe Reiz/Audio-gd is a major player as far as sound quality and engineering go. I'm talking krell/levinson/pass labs territory here."

Quote:
Originally Posted by AnaKinDV8 View Post
Kingwa said he hasn't gotten the license for TAS1020B yet and that its been difficult. The 19Mk3 and Reference will both have 16/48 usb input only.
That's what I was afraid of. And if this ends in a dead alley I hope people understand that audio-gd is not a mid-fi manufacturer because of their mid-fi prices, and what hi-fi dac manufacturer uses usb input?
Reply
post #97 of 2429
4/2/09 at 6:02pm
Thread Starter 
I've just spent the worst week since 2002 barely dodging major surgery and this is the content I've managed to pull myself out of bed for ? The last 3 pages have little or no bearing on the RE1....no more OT posts.

Peete.
Reply
post #98 of 2429
4/2/09 at 6:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pricklely Peete View Post
I've just spent the worst week since 2002 barely dodging major surgery and this is the content I've managed to pull myself out of bed for ? The last 3 pages have little or no bearing on the RE1....no more OT posts.

Peete.
Wow Peete, wondered where you had gone, I actually hoped it was a vacation. Get well soon!

Well, watchagonnado, head-fi seems to suffer from USB-obsession.

On a more interesting and on-topic note: My Reference One has managed to find my house. (Went a lot quicker than last time too.) More on that later.
Reply
post #99 of 2429
4/2/09 at 9:19pm
Congrats Drosera! I'd like to hear a third impression on this DAC as I've been seriously considering one. The total shipped price is a little steep for me, but I had a chance to hear an $8000 McIntosh MDA-1000 today and... I honestly didn't like it. I greatly prefer non-upsampling/oversampling style DACs, and this one did something like 768Khz.

By the way, I wish you a speedy recovery, Peete. Dunno what happened to you, but perhaps spare us any gory details And thank you for starting this thread!
Reply
post #100 of 2429
4/2/09 at 10:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drosera View Post
Wow Peete, wondered where you had gone, I actually hoped it was a vacation. Get well soon!

Well, watchagonnado, head-fi seems to suffer from USB-obsession.

On a more interesting and on-topic note: My Reference One has managed to find my house. (Went a lot quicker than last time too.) More on that later.
Nah I wish it was a vacation......just reread that post of mine...kinda grumpy but forgive me folks, I'm in a lot of pain and can't quite think clearly because of it. I was hoping to see some more RE1 thoughts/questions rather than USB this and cable that.....

Dro do me a favor and send me a PM with your thoughts on the RE1 (congrats on it's arrival BTW !!! )...that's certainly been the one bright spot for me this past week .

I've managed to slip in some listening sessions the last 7 days ( I'd have to be dead not to) but this is the first time at the comp since last Friday.

Thus far my RE1 has been evolving and now has around 430 hours on it...I expect a large leap in SQ around 500-600 hours ( an educated guess really)...I'll find out over the next 7 days....

The RE1 runs warm,warmer than any other DAC I've ever owned but that is normal Dro so don't be worried by that. I've also never owned owned a DAC this well built from soup to nuts so maybe this heat thing is a par for the course in this class of gear. I do remember the MSB combo running a little warm but nothing like this does, then again the Gold Link and P1000 power base had no where near the amount of V regs the RE1 has and was slapped into an but ugly pair of rectangular steel chassis. Not built to anywhere near this level of quality (even though it cost me 100% more than the RE1 8.5 years ago).

I look forward to your impressions...you'll be able to hear right away the RE1 is something serious....that much is certain.

Peete.
Reply
post #101 of 2429
4/2/09 at 11:19pm
I can't wait to get mine. Kingwa said it would ship on the 15th. Unfortunately my impressions won't be all that useful since I do not have much DAC experience to compare against...
Reply
post #102 of 2429
4/2/09 at 11:59pm
The jump from the Prelude to the Reference 1 is going to be...quite substantial. I'd like to hear your impressions when you get it.
Reply
post #103 of 2429
4/3/09 at 12:02am
I'm chomping at the bit here...mine ships end of April! My Compass should ship this coming week.
Reply
post #104 of 2429
4/3/09 at 12:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zanth View Post
I'm chomping at the bit here...mine ships end of April! My Compass should ship this coming week.
Just curious Zanth, why would you order the Compass when you're already expecting the Ref 1?
Reply
post #105 of 2429
4/3/09 at 12:33am
How long does it take to get the Ref 1 from the time one places an order?
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Dedicated Source Components

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Dedicated Source Components › Audio-gd Reference 1 DAC (56 K warning)