constantly updated impression : Audio-gd Reference 8! - Page 2

actually, it's much better now, i turned it on for around 3 hrs and the sound is much more balanced. maybe this is also due to the fact that i changed my siemense e188cc tube to HP tube. siemense e188cc tube really extends the highs and lows with bigger soundstage but also sends the mids backward.

if i was to describe the sound before warm up and tube switch, it was like a whole or a tunnel in the sound, i haven't heard of a tube dac or amp sound, so maybe that was it? and also it IS more DYNAMIC but bit too crowded(lots of instruments everywhere), not very smooth, hopefully burn-in will make it smoother. A lot of bass, rich bass, uncontrolled, flooded. I am using D5000.  Airy. I just hope mids can be a bit more forward and higher mids can be just a little bit thicker.

please do excuse me for the messy impressions as i am just drawing down my impressions along listening. actually, my D5000 sounds more like a speaker, my logitech z2300 with 6.5inch subwoofer. gee,it's making my d5000 mad!!!it's exploding,bombs throwing to me face!!!! Bass was not that thick and wide with ultra micro dac. It reminded me of those disco halls. 

warm sound,not bright.

I guess i will leave it on 24/7 for a whole week.

pics up

Quote:

Originally Posted by Currawong 

I look forward to your impressions too.  Might want to make it a couple of weeks to get it to 350 hours. They are notorious for both changing in sound during burn-in (it always amuses me when people say that burn-in is complete BS, as I just have to think of the unmistakable changes in Audio-gd gear that I was NOT expecting) and sounding better once warm.  Indeed, first thing in the morning in the middle of Winter, the sound can be quite congested and dull.

hi Currawong, i am looking for a amp +headphone to pair with. any suggestion?

Hi, Peete

the sound is already surprising me with only 5 hrs of use. subwoofer-like bass, enormous amount and wide.

i am looking around USD2000 and can prob stretch to USD3000 if the amp is really really good. I am hoping the amp can send the mids(vocal) forward as most of songs i am listening to are Jpop with female singer/s.

I was looking at Rudistor RPX-300 and heard comment on the recessed mids which backed me off.

i am not really sure whether tube amp is a good choice as i am a bit afraid on the left right channel imbalance as it is on my V8p. but given the non-existence of this problem, i guess I am pretty happy to get tube amp.

there are a lot of threads on LCD-2 in the forum which made me changed idea to maybe try balanced/unbalanced LCD-2 instead of LA7000, which then became unsure as ppl said LCD-2 needs neutral dac and amp.

I will be attending sydney meet on 11th of July and hopefully i can try out some amps and headphones first.

Johny

edited

if i recall it right, eg item = 1200

item AUD1200

shipping = 120

duty = (1200+120)*5% 

taxable amount = item+shipping+duty

GST = taxable*10%

total to pay = 1200+GST+DUTY

Headroom only claims the actual value which made me not buying or at least postpone buying BUDA+DPS which is an extra AUD400 i need to pay for tax.

can anyone solve my puzzle

the pic above has the rca slot marked as acss, however, from their official site the acss slot became another slot and they have marked out the previous ver(which is my ver.)

This is making me feeling being cheated that I purchase the ref 8 partly due to this acss marked on the dac however, it's not there physically.

Or is it just my misunderstanding that in fact acss can be using using different slots?