Best DAC you've heard - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsbrsvp 

I have an Ayon Skylla II.  I was interested in comparing it to a qb-9 or DAC202.  Has anyone compared any of these?

Depending on if everyone makes it, I believe there usually is kingstyles' Skylla at Seattle meets, and Joe Pittman usually brings a Weiss 202.  I've had a good deal of time on the 202, but only like 15 minutes with the Skylla.  Maybe Josh will have a chance to spend some time with the Weiss at the next meet.

You are correct.  It is garbage.  But I have a Legato converter.  In my estimation- better than the off ramp- as it is the only device that publishes its jitter results and Legato jitter is very very low.

With the Legato- it is STUNNIMNG.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsbrsvp 

You are correct.  It is garbage.  But I have a Legato converter.  In my estimation- better than the off ramp- as it is the only device that publishes its jitter results and Legato jitter is very very low.

 

 

With the Legato- it is STUNNIMNG.

I am very interested by the Legato. Did you make a comparison with a good transport using cd ?

Yes.   The Ayon Skylla II using the Legato and a 3 or 6 decable attenuator and using the special U-Byte cable made by Analogue Research specifically for the Legato    comming from my MAC  using Pure Music  SUBSTANTIALLY beats the Ayon CD-5 which I owned before I traded it for the Skylla II.   The Legato is miraculous.   The sound has more body and weight than I ever heard- So So analogue and nevertheless the detail exceeds that of the CD-5.

Very good !

And what about dynamic, PRAT and soundstage ?

I know this really isn't the place, but I did not want to start a new thread for a quick question, do you guys think the MDHT paradisea 3 is a good dac? and would it provide a smooth and slightly warm sound? Since I am about to pull the trigger! Thanks, 

MikePio,

I give you 2 links with reviews of the Paradisea :

http://www.digitalaudioreview.net.au/index.php/audio-reviews/digital-source-reviews/item/111-mhdt-paradisea-nos-tube-dac

and

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/usbdacs/1.html

Thank you very much for your observations rsbrsvp.

The Legato seems to be a fantastic converter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsbrsvp 

You are correct.  It is garbage.  But I have a Legato converter.  In my estimation- better than the off ramp- as it is the only device that publishes its jitter results and Legato jitter is very very low.

 

 

With the Legato- it is STUNNIMNG.

Better than the Off-ramp 3, sure. The new asynchronous Off-ramp 4 though, I don't know. The early impressions so far say its out of this world. When fully tricked out with super or ultra clocks and a fully regulated PSU or battery power, I suspect the Off-ramp 4 is king of the hill in terms of USB conversion. It can also do I2S out, which the Legato cannot (and of course 24bit and 88, 96, 176, and 192kHz).

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsbrsvp 

 

... I spoke with a dealer for both and he said it is not a matter of better- but rather different.   The DAC20-2 is TRUTH,  The Skylla is BEAUTY.   He prefers truth over beauty but said not everyone would.

Interesting observation.  My time with the 202 would make me agree with that side of the comparison.  I also would say that I have a preference that leans pretty strongly to the "beauty" side.

If you have the skylla , you should get the offramp 4 so you can utilize the I2S input on it. It is the best input you can have. No spdif conversion resulting in less jitter. I have an offramp 4 on order. It should be arriving anytime now. It will be hooked to my skylla though its I2S port with a revolution I2S cable. It should bring my skylla to a new level. Also, if you have a skylla you need to get the before 1992 nos 6h30 dr tubes. Before 1992 are the true nos dr tubes. I just rolled some into mine last night after trying new stock ones and a couple of other 6h30 types. The pre 1992 nos dr tubes made a large difference even not burned in. Added a little warmth and filled out the mids a little more. I cant wait to see what they do with 100-200 hours on them.

I just bought a balanced to single ended adapter so I can try out the weiss 202 the next time he brings it to the meet. It would be fun to hook both up to my front end so that an equal and balanced comparison could be made. I only have heard it briefly. Not enough to form an opinion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveBSC 

Better than the Off-ramp 3, sure. The new asynchronous Off-ramp 4 though, I don't know. The early impressions so far say its out of this world. When fully tricked out with super or ultra clocks and a fully regulated PSU or battery power, I suspect the Off-ramp 4 is king of the hill in terms of USB conversion. It can also do I2S out, which the Legato cannot (and of course 24bit and 88, 96, 176, and 192kHz).

By the time you add the Superclock to the Off Ramp 4, you've already more than doubled the price of the Legato. Also, I don't know how good the stock power supply is. I use a battery with my Off Ramp 3, as I found the stock walwart wanting. Once you add the monolith battery, the price goes into the stratosphere. I like the fact that you can upgrade to the Paul Hynes regulators and the battery supply, but it's going to cost you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vert 

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveBSC 

Better than the Off-ramp 3, sure. The new asynchronous Off-ramp 4 though, I don't know. The early impressions so far say its out of this world. When fully tricked out with super or ultra clocks and a fully regulated PSU or battery power, I suspect the Off-ramp 4 is king of the hill in terms of USB conversion. It can also do I2S out, which the Legato cannot (and of course 24bit and 88, 96, 176, and 192kHz).

By the time you add the Superclock to the Off Ramp 4, you've already more than doubled the price of the Legato. Also, I don't know how good the stock power supply is. I use a battery with my Off Ramp 3, as I found the stock walwart wanting. Once you add the monolith battery, the price goes into the stratosphere. I like the fact that you can upgrade to the Paul Hynes regulators and the battery supply, but it's going to cost you.

Unquestionably the Legato is a fantastic value. The Hiface EVO throws in everything including the kitchen sink for similar money, but I'm sure the Legato sounds much better at 16/44, and for those with 20-bit DACs it's probably all you need.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingStyles 

If you have the skylla , you should get the offramp 4 so you can utilize the I2S input on it. It is the best input you can have. No spdif conversion resulting in less jitter. I have an offramp 4 on order. It should be arriving anytime now. It will be hooked to my skylla though its I2S port with a revolution I2S cable. It should bring my skylla to a new level. Also, if you have a skylla you need to get the before 1992 nos 6h30 dr tubes. Before 1992 are the true nos dr tubes. I just rolled some into mine last night after trying new stock ones and a couple of other 6h30 types. The pre 1992 nos dr tubes made a large difference even not burned in. Added a little warmth and filled out the mids a little more. I cant wait to see what they do with 100-200 hours on them.

I just bought a balanced to single ended adapter so I can try out the weiss 202 the next time he brings it to the meet. It would be fun to hook both up to my front end so that an equal and balanced comparison could be made. I only have heard it briefly. Not enough to form an opinion.

I want to share the following with you.  I am no teck guy.  However I have spoken with the most acclaimed experts in jitter technology around including Pat from analogue research and Steve from Emperical.   Both agree that i2s is a better technology- but both have also told me that if SPDIF is done correctly in a USB converter, sonics will be a very close call.  Now I knoe everyone is degrading SPDIF today because of it's jitter problems, but if done ccorrectly, both of these jitter experts told me that it will be close.

Steve at Emperical told me that with a good SPDIF cable- using the same off ramp 4- the difference between i2s and spdif would be negligable- and I would not hear the difference except in the most resolving system and even then only on certain tracks and even then he told me it would be very subtle.