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Difference between the Maverick D1 and Grant Audio DAC-9

post #1 of 8
12/9/10 at 3:45pm
Thread Starter 

I have read that the Maverick D1 and Grant DAC-9 are essentially the same unit but from the specs of the Grant it says that the headphone out does not go through the tube preamp section and instead goes from the DAC directly to the SS headphone amp. Does the D1 do the same thing or does the signal path go from dac -> tube preamp -> ss headphone amp?

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post #2 of 8
12/9/10 at 4:39pm

On the D1 the headphone out does not go through the tube pre-amp section.  The pre-amp section has two outputs on the back:  one is labeled "Normal," the other "Tube Pre Out."  Thus, using the D1's headphone output you will not get the tube "flavor."


Edited by Will2007 - 12/9/10 at 4:41pm
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post #3 of 8
12/9/10 at 4:45pm
Thread Starter 



 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Will2007 View Post

On the D1 the headphone out does not go through the tube pre-amp section.  The pre-amp section has two outputs on the back:  one is labeled "Normal," the other "Tube Pre Out."  Thus, using the D1's headphone output you will not get the tube "flavor."



 So the only way to get the tube flavor is to get an A1 along with the D1 and go through the headphone out of the A1?

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post #4 of 8
12/10/10 at 12:36am


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by gus6464 View Post



 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Will2007 View Post

On the D1 the headphone out does not go through the tube pre-amp section.  The pre-amp section has two outputs on the back:  one is labeled "Normal," the other "Tube Pre Out."  Thus, using the D1's headphone output you will not get the tube "flavor."



 So the only way to get the tube flavor is to get an A1 along with the D1 and go through the headphone out of the A1?



If you need a DAC as well, yes. If not, you could just go for the A1

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post #5 of 8
12/25/10 at 8:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dancingpotato View Post

   Some people have had great success using the tube out on the Grant Fidelity Dac-09 as a headphone out. Obviously u need a Y adapter.



Woah. No no no. I'm not sure how the Grant Fidelity unit is wired but on the D1, the tube output has dc offset and does not have the proper amplification for headphones. People might be connecting their headphones to the tube output but I personally wouldn't without testing it. Check the D1 FAQ in my signature for info about it.

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post #6 of 8
12/26/10 at 3:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dancingpotato View Post


   Spanky please read the thread below about using the grant Fidelity tube out to power headphones ... Ian Grant himself recommends it ... but then again he only runs the company and actually owns a few Dac-09s ...



 



http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=304224



 



  And to quote Yashu from the same thread :



 



"Ian, i have been listening as I said, to the DAC09 using the tubed output as a headphone out... impedance matching is important and it seems to sound best with AT m50s and my sony XB700s. The XB700s sound so warm and lush, I want to wrap it ll up in a box and toss it in the freezer to keep forever. Truly, it is a match made in frankenhaven. "




 



That doesn't mean it is ok to with THE D1 wink.gif
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post #7 of 8
12/26/10 at 1:56pm

http://grantfidelity.com/site/files/DAC09-7inside.jpg

vs

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/464376/website/audio/maverick/DSC05131.JPG

 

Circuit is nearly the same. That's great that Ian does it. The concern still remains: what about DC offset or the fact that the D1's tube outputs have been proven 'hot' and that's obviously not a concern in that entire thread. I guess they're fine risking their headphones...

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/446764/maverick-audio-dac-amp/990#post_6382804

 

Plus... it's not a headphone output, the circuit isn't meant to be used with headphones. Go in the DIY forum. Just because it 'works' doesn't mean it should be done. I've looked at the D1's circuit extensively and have suggested on more than one occasion to Ryan (Maverick Audio owner) a way to implement the tube in the headphone output and he has told me that he's discussed with his engineer on doing that and they never came up with a feasible way without extensively changing the circuit and by then, they may as well make a new product.


Edited by _Spanky_ - 12/26/10 at 2:00pm
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post #8 of 8
1/5/11 at 1:41pm

I have a Grant Fidelity Tube DAC-09 and use the tube pre-out with a Y connector for headphones, sounds excellent. I use Ultrasone Hfi 700's with this configuration. 

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