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MHDT Havana vs. Stello DA100 - $1000.00(ish) DAC Showdown! - Page 3

post #31 of 52
4/27/09 at 5:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by K3cT View Post
Pardon me but isn't a comparison with the similarly priced DA100 Signature would be more fair? We are talking about the standard (and cheaper) DA100 here no?
The OP only borrowed the Stello from a friend.
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post #32 of 52
4/27/09 at 5:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by olblueyez View Post
Anyone ever bother to roll that tube in the Havana? Is it a cheap Chinese or Russian tube that could be replaced with a European or American tube?
Like the Paradisea, the Havana comes with the GE 5670.

Tubes that can be used include: 5670, 2C51, 396A, 6385, 6CC42, 6854, 6N3,

6854, CV2575, CV4013, CV5894, CV8247, CV2381
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post #33 of 52
4/27/09 at 6:26am
2 pcs SYLVANIA GB-5670=396A Audio Tubes FADED GOLD PIN - eBay (item 130301790110 end time Apr-28-09 21:44:08 PDT)

The gold pin GB,s were made for audio purposes, they would be my first stab at rolling. GB's for 20 bucks is a steal. Tube world recommends the Tungsols.

http://cgi.ebay.com/5670-396A-2C51-R...3A1%7C294%3A50

Looks like Tube world has some nice Western Electrics too.

396A/2C51 1950's D getter halo:
------------------------------
SINGLE TUBES 1950's: WE=Western Electric
----------------------------------------
1 Kuhl-Tube cryo $95) JW-2C51 WE NOS (626=1956) D getter halo (36/26 and 42/26) recommended)
1 Kuhl-Tube cryo $90) JW-2C51 WE NOS (626=1956) D getter halo (33/26 and 38/26) recommended)
1 Kuhl-Tube cryo $80) JW-2C51 WE NOS (439=1954) D getter halo (33/26 and 43/26) recommended)

1 tube $80) 2C51=396A WE NOS 352=1953 (34/36 and 38/26) NOT branded JW
1 tube $80) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1955 original box (35/26 and 41/26)
1 tube $80) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1956 original box (35/26 and 41/26)
1 tube $70) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1956 original box (32/26 and 36/26)
1 tube $55) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1956 original box (30/26 and 39/26)
1 tube $60) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1954 original box (34/26 and 45/26)
1 tube $70) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1956 original box (34/26 and 40/26)
1 tube $60) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1959 original box (31/26 and 34/26)
1 tube $49) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1954 original box (32/26 and 29/26)
1 tube $49) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1959 original box (30/26 and 33/26)
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post #34 of 52
4/27/09 at 8:17am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by K3cT View Post
Pardon me but isn't a comparison with the similarly priced DA100 Signature would be more fair? We are talking about the standard (and cheaper) DA100 here no?
Yep. So send me one, already.

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post #35 of 52
4/27/09 at 8:21am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by olblueyez View Post
2 pcs SYLVANIA GB-5670=396A Audio Tubes FADED GOLD PIN - eBay (item 130301790110 end time Apr-28-09 21:44:08 PDT)

The gold pin GB,s were made for audio purposes, they would be my first stab at rolling. GB's for 20 bucks is a steal. Tube world recommends the Tungsols.

5670 396A 2C51 RAYTHEON WINDMILL GETTER~~TUBE AMPLIFIER - eBay (item 120409366448 end time May-20-09 14:03:59 PDT)

Looks like Tube world has some nice Western Electrics too.

396A/2C51 1950's D getter halo:
------------------------------
SINGLE TUBES 1950's: WE=Western Electric
----------------------------------------
1 Kuhl-Tube cryo $95) JW-2C51 WE NOS (626=1956) D getter halo (36/26 and 42/26) recommended)
1 Kuhl-Tube cryo $90) JW-2C51 WE NOS (626=1956) D getter halo (33/26 and 38/26) recommended)
1 Kuhl-Tube cryo $80) JW-2C51 WE NOS (439=1954) D getter halo (33/26 and 43/26) recommended)

1 tube $80) 2C51=396A WE NOS 352=1953 (34/36 and 38/26) NOT branded JW
1 tube $80) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1955 original box (35/26 and 41/26)
1 tube $80) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1956 original box (35/26 and 41/26)
1 tube $70) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1956 original box (32/26 and 36/26)
1 tube $55) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1956 original box (30/26 and 39/26)
1 tube $60) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1954 original box (34/26 and 45/26)
1 tube $70) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1956 original box (34/26 and 40/26)
1 tube $60) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1959 original box (31/26 and 34/26)
1 tube $49) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1954 original box (32/26 and 29/26)
1 tube $49) JW-2C51 WE NOS 1959 original box (30/26 and 33/26)
I tried the Sylvannia "gold pins" and hated them. Dirty and grainy sounding. I gave the NOS pair away here on Head-fi some months back.

My fav tube with the Havana has been the JW-2C51 WE variety. I paid 70 bucks for my 1954 tube from tube world a bit back. Very very nice. Markedly better than the later year, NON-"JW" branded WE tubes, so don't skimp!

The Bendix 6385, though quite difficult to find, is also a very nice sounding tube with the Havana.
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post #36 of 52
4/27/09 at 9:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by s1rrah View Post
Yep. So send me one, already.
It will be difficult to do that since I'm more inclined to the Havana!
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post #37 of 52
4/27/09 at 11:13am
You caught us.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Orcin View Post
Great writeup, my friend. I'm not surprised by the results.

Now I know what you guys were cooking up while I was off playing computer-builder.
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post #38 of 52
4/27/09 at 11:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by haclongba View Post
Stello DA100 price under 700$ and the design, the newer DA100 Sig have more feature and better sound than DA100. 1000$ vs 6xx$ price, not the 1000$ show down
Actually your figures are incorrect. Here are the current costs of the DACs:

Stello DA100: $695 + $85 shipping = $780
Havana: $854 + $45 shipping = $899

There is a difference of just $119.

Havana: $854 + $45 shipping = $899
Stello DA100 signature: $995 + $85 shipping = $1080 *corrected below

The difference is $181

From these figures, it seems more fair to compare the Havana to the DA100. Also, I have seen no reason why the DA100 signature should sound any better than the DA100 when used single-ended and with coaxial input. Perhaps someone can correct me. (I am fairly sure that the DA100s should in fact be better on USB since I think the old DA100 might be USB 2.0, at least I think it is on mine. By the way, the OP did not compare with USB.)

*Edit: As was mentioned below, one can buy the DA100s for $995 plus free shipping from HotRodAudioMods so the DA100s is only $95 more than the Havana.
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post #39 of 52
4/27/09 at 11:36am
Thread Starter 
Because I'm poor, I embellish.

Anything over 700 is 1000ish to my wallet.

And it looked good in print.



I would like to hear the Signature DAC from Stello's series but I reckon it would still echo the performance and general character of the standard DA100 ...

In all honesty ... I think the fundamental difference which separates the Havana from the DA100 is mostly due to design approach (first) and then the inclusion of a tube buffer stage (second).

NOS, R2R Dacs all seem to garner comments similar to mine and regarding the Havana. "Warm, natural, non-digital, etc."

Some folks might not like it, really. Some folks actually prefer the sharper, more crispy and typically "digital" sounding hardware.

But as I mentioned in the OP ... they are both outstanding performers ...





Quote:
Originally Posted by shellylh View Post
Actually your figures are incorrect. Here are the current costs of the DACs:

Stello DA100: $695 + $85 shipping = $780
Havana: $854 + $45 shipping = $899

There is a difference of just $119.

Havana: $854 + $45 shipping = $899
Stello DA100 signature: $995 + $85 shipping = $1080

The difference is $181

From these figures, it seems more fair to compare the Havana to the DA100. Also, I have seen no reason why the DA100 signature should sound any better than the DA100 when used single-ended and with coaxial input. Perhaps someone can correct me. (I am fairly sure that the DA100s should in fact be better on USB since I think the old DA100 might be USB 2.0, at least I think it is on mine. By the way, the OP did not compare with USB.)
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post #40 of 52
4/27/09 at 12:21pm
HotRodAudioMods will sell you the DA100 Signature with free shipping!
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post #41 of 52
4/27/09 at 9:40pm
Joel (sirrah1): I wasn't criticizing your title, I was correcting the person that was claiming it was a $600 vs $1000 showdown. Sorry if you thought I was criticizing your title (I loved the title!).

I guess I didn't realize that you could get the DA100s for $995 shipping, thanks for correcting me.

Quote:
Originally Posted by s1rrah View Post
Because I'm poor, I embellish.

Anything over 700 is 1000ish to my wallet.

And it looked good in print.



I would like to hear the Signature DAC from Stello's series but I reckon it would still echo the performance and general character of the standard DA100 ...

In all honesty ... I think the fundamental difference which separates the Havana from the DA100 is mostly due to design approach (first) and then the inclusion of a tube buffer stage (second).

NOS, R2R Dacs all seem to garner comments similar to mine and regarding the Havana. "Warm, natural, non-digital, etc."

Some folks might not like it, really. Some folks actually prefer the sharper, more crispy and typically "digital" sounding hardware.

But as I mentioned in the OP ... they are both outstanding performers ...
Reply
post #42 of 52
4/27/09 at 10:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by shellylh View Post
Joel (sirrah1): I wasn't criticizing your title, I was correcting the person that was claiming it was a $600 vs $1000 showdown. Sorry if you thought I was criticizing your title (I loved the title!).

I guess I didn't realize that you could get the DA100s for $995 shipping, thanks for correcting me.
Well you have to admit ...

Those folks have a point ...

Neither DAC is, technically, 1000 dollars ...

So no harm/no foul ... I appreciate the clarification in the end.

And otherwise?

I'm never offended or taken aback by anything I read on computer forums ... even if it's regarding something I've posted.

I mean ... it's a *computer forum*, after all ... and far be it from any of us to take real offense due to some thing that some other folk posted via 1's and 0's ...

Yes.

I'm saying that all this headphone listening/reviewing is simply a lovely and vile and addictive fantasy and that it really doesn't count much more than such can count.

Doesn't carry much weight beyond that, really. So rest easy ... no offense was ever taken. (I did modify the title and opening image, though)



Oh my.

I'm humoring myself again.

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post #43 of 52
4/27/09 at 11:11pm
Hilarous!

Quote:
Originally Posted by s1rrah View Post
(I did modify the title and opening image, though)



Oh my.

I'm humoring myself again.
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post #44 of 52
4/28/09 at 2:22am
995 Delivered to your front door (Conus) from an authorized Stello dealer. Hot Rod Audio ยป Stello DA 100 Signature

Anyone paying for shipping charges at HiFi500 is setting fire to money.
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post #45 of 52
4/28/09 at 9:58am
hello

For those of you you might be on the fence about the sound difference about the 100 and 100 sig there is. the sig to my ear is a little more open and a little better bass response. i am one of the oldest if not the oldest April Music dealers and still am. i have sold many dacs to people including people on this site.

Ok here is the deal, If anyone wants to get into this dac for a killer price shoot me a email and i will send you the price.

Hope to hear from you guy's.
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