DNA Stratus 2A3 amplifier - first impressions - Page 28

I do settle on a set-up for weeks at a time - that's what keeps it going for so long!  So I believe we are walking the same walk after all...

And as for my or anyone else's job - that wasn't really the point of my post...

Right now - it's the Ken Rad double-box plate 2A3s.  Best I've heard in the Stratus so far.  They match well with the NOS RCA 5U4G.

Trying all my favorite albums all over again...

I know that feeling of going though all my favorite albums, I'm still quite amazed by the SQ I'm getting with the Stratus. Also, have a NOS RCA 5U4G coming in this week so looking forward to checking that out. I tried 2 tweaks this weekend with my system, one was doing the Anaxilus mod to my HD800 and either I have a great HD800 or the Stratus/Princess are doing the trick but with a quick comparison I could not hear any real difference (may have to spend more time with that). But the big change was switching over from Pure Music to Audirvana Plus. BIG difference, more analogue sounding. Very nice and highly recommended.
 

Counting down.  Donald  starts work on my stratus this week or the next. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperDuke 

Counting down.  Donald  starts work on my stratus this week or the next. 

I know that feeling.......hang in there!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperDuke 

Counting down.  Donald  starts work on my stratus this week or the next. 

Same here :)  I guess I am behind you in line since I just placed my order with Donald about a week ago. It was very kind of Donald to bring his equipment to San Diego for me to audition the Stratus early this month when I was on a business trip there. 

Did you guys notice big differences between the SE output and the xlr balanced output(s) of the Stratus? I was only able to audition the Stratus through the dual 3-pin xlr output. I've actually been pretty satisfied with the stock cable of my HD800. Therefore, if there is no noticeable difference between balanced and unbalanced drive on the Stratus, I will stick with the stock cable. However, if HD800 does sound better balanced, which replacement cable would you recommend?  

I once tried a Labkable pure copper cable, which did make HD800 sound fuller. However, it made the bass a bit muddier. I ended up preferring the stock cable. I overall care more about bass quality than quantity. I like detailed presentation, tight bass, and am not crazy about "taming the trebles" (partially because the Stratus should be able to do that for me already with either Shuguang or Sophia Princess 2a3 tubes). When Donald demo the Stratus (with the Shuguang 2a3 tubes) to me, I found pianos sounded a litter bit muddier and less bright than what they should sound in real world. (I've played the piano myself for years, so am familiar with piano sound.) Due to these reasons, I am leaning towards either a pure silver cable, a silver plated copper (SPC) cable like the stock one, or even a re-terminated stock cable against pure copper cables. Has anyone tried connecting the HD800 and the Stratus with a pure silver cable, such as the Silver Dragon v3?

I am also curious about those 99% silver 1% gold cables. Injecting gold to silver does not make much sense to me because gold is an inferior conductor than silver. Yet, still, I'm curious to know what they would make a HD800 sound like, particularly on the Stratus. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by econparanoia 

Same here :)  I guess I am behind you in line since I just placed my order with Donald about a week ago. It was very kind of Donald to bring his equipment to San Diego for me to audition the Stratus early this month when I was on a business trip there. 

 

Did you guys notice big differences between the SE output and the xlr balanced output(s) of the Stratus? I was only able to audition the Stratus through the dual 3-pin xlr output. I've actually been pretty satisfied with the stock cable of my HD800. Therefore, if there is no noticeable difference between balanced and unbalanced drive on the Stratus, I will stick with the stock cable. However, if HD800 does sound better balanced, which replacement cable would you recommend?  

 

I once tried a Labkable pure copper cable, which did make HD800 sound fuller. However, it made the bass a bit muddier. I ended up preferring the stock cable. I overall care more about bass quality than quantity. I like detailed presentation, tight bass, and am not crazy about "taming the trebles" (partially because the Stratus should be able to do that for me already with either Shuguang or Sophia Princess 2a3 tubes). When Donald demo the Stratus (with the Shuguang 2a3 tubes) to me, I found pianos sounded a litter bit muddier and less bright than what they should sound in real world. (I've played the piano myself for years, so am familiar with piano sound.) Due to these reasons, I am leaning towards either a pure silver cable, a silver plated copper (SPC) cable like the stock one, or even a re-terminated stock cable against pure copper cables. Has anyone tried connecting the HD800 and the Stratus with a pure silver cable, such as the Silver Dragon v3?

 

I am also curious about those 99% silver 1% gold cables. Injecting gold to silver does not make much sense to me because gold is an inferior conductor than silver. Yet, still, I'm curious to know what they would make a HD800 sound like, particularly on the Stratus. 

No offense, but why would you want to spend all that money on cables that make the tiniest of change in the sound if any, when you could spend that money on a better/different DAC instead? You might even with the slightest use of EQ get the same thing or try modding the HD800.

I was asking exactly because I didn't want to spend extra on cables if they won't make a noticeable difference. In my opinion the stock cable is pretty good. However, I will need a replacement cable with either 4 pin or dual 3-pin xlr connectors if I want to utilize the Stratus' balanced output. And one of my questions was whether the Stratus' balanced output provided better results than its unbalanced 1/4" jack output.

As to the DAC, I'm pretty satisfied with my current one, which is an Invicta from the Resonessencelabs. Still, thanks for the suggestion. 

Budx, thank you very much for your input! When I auditioned Donald's demo unit, I found no difference in sound switching between "unbalanced" and "balanced" when using the dual 3-pin output. Guess I will happily stick to the stock cable for a while. You mentioned that it was very difficult to remove your Furutech XLRs from the Switchcraft panel mounts on the Sonett. Is this still an issue for you on the Stratus? 

I'll report back when I get my unit. Cannot wait!

Quote:

Originally Posted by econparanoia 

Budx, thank you very much for your input! When I auditioned Donald's demo unit, I found no difference in sound switching between "unbalanced" and "balanced" when using the dual 3-pin output. Guess I will happily stick to the stock cable for a while. You mentioned that it was very difficult to remove your Furutech XLRs from the Switchcraft panel mounts on the Sonett. Is this still an issue for you on the Stratus? 

 

I'll report back when I get my unit. Cannot wait!

I have also not been in any rush to upgrade the stock cable. The updgraded 2A3's on the other hand, do provide a pretty substantial bump.

HE-6 = very good with Stratus and super-resolving Sabre DAC.

HE-6 = even better with SS speaker amp and NOS tube DAC.

HE-5 = best with Stratus and either DAC...

I agree - keep tubes in the chain!

My $.02

This old saw, well...  To me it depends a lot on what "noticeable" means and whose ears are doing the noticing.  Plus please keep in mind it's not just the conductor that matters, the construction of the cable matters MUCH more.  People compare copper to silver and after-market to stock using cables that have the same incorrect geometry, the same smearing dielectrics, the same detail-crushing connectors, and then they wonder why they can't hear very much of a difference.  To be sure, silver is generally faster and more liquid but tone can falter while copper puts meat back on the bone sometimes at the expense of detail.  I prefer a combination of both and that's what SAA has, actually.  But the construction of the cable is where you will *notice* incredible differences.  By eliminating teflon and bogus shielding technologies and expensive multi-metal connectors you will achieve quite an obvious upgrade in sound.  Less is more. This also partly answers the question about connector type.  From my experience, the 4-pin XLR sounds best - including in the Stratus - of all connectors - with the 1/8" next (which for the Stratus is moot, I realize.).  For me, these changes have made it impossible for me to ever go back to any kind of stock or stock-made cable. 

That's one of the advantages to the TRS input on the Stratus, the options between the IEC/Low impedance and 0db/-6dB gain allow you to tailor the sound much more than the switch between SE and BAL on the balanced intputs.  For that reason alone sticking with a 1/4" connector might be a good idea...

There's not many TOL tube DACs to compete with the TOL SS DACs.  That's the issue.

I guess that's been true.  But Lampizator, Wavelength, Danish Audio, Ayon - these guys are giving TOL SS dacs a run for the money...

I find the tube source+ss amp a seductive combination.  For me, that's Lampizator -> Audio Zone Amp-1 -> HE6/HE5.  Hard to beat...

BUT, to beat horse that's hopefully not dead - and to bring us back to topic - the Stratus has the best of both built into it, so the sourse ends up mattering less...