mscott58 said:

  Properly implemented tube circuits can be quiet/non-noisy. For example my Atma-Sphere mono-blocks, with 24 tubes across the two units are amazing and quiet (for a 2-channel system). For headphone use ALO's Studio Six and Continental Dual Mono (CDM) are also incredibly free from noise. I use my CDM (in low gain mode) with my sensitive K10 CIEM's with no issues at all. Cheers 
 
PS - Congrats to you for being one of the few Head-Fiers to use their actual picture as their avatar. 

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But is the MHDT DACs one of those?

kenman345 said:

  But is the MHDT DACs one of those?

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Great question! Don't have any personal experience with MHDT, but sure that others out there have. 

mscott58 said:

  Properly implemented tube circuits can be quiet/non-noisy. For example my Atma-Sphere mono-blocks, with 24 tubes across the two units are amazing and quiet (for a 2-channel system). For headphone use ALO's Studio Six and Continental Dual Mono (CDM) are also incredibly free from noise. I use my CDM (in low gain mode) with my sensitive K10 CIEM's with no issues at all. Cheers 
 
PS - Congrats to you for being one of the few Head-Fiers to use their actual picture as their avatar. 

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Are you implying that I don't look like my avatar? And I agree that properly implemented tubes can be nearly silent.

mscott58 said:

  Great question! Don't have any personal experience with MHDT, but sure that others out there have. 

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Yea, I only have experience with the PAradisea and I exclusively used it with a Lyr, and HD800's so thats a bit of a difference to what I will be using it with if I got another or better unit. Not saying I wouldn't enjoy it I just have some hesitation.
 
Anyways, I was looking on Cattylink. I saw this Lite DAC-83 unit is $1055. Its the biggest one I've considered so far but interesting potential price/performance ratio. I put together a little spreadsheet. Some of the measurements are not 100% accurate but are fairly close. Its a bit biased towards the items I am considering or own already but might still be useful.
 

 
Basically, the Metrum Musette seems to be the best fit if you wanted to stack the pairing. The Lite DAC-83 is only measurements of the main unit, I was unable to find the power supply dimensions

stillhart said:

   
I never could figure out why people cared so much about how their audio gear looked.  Then again, I don't understand Twitter either and that seems to be pretty popular.  

 
*shrug* To each his own, I guess.

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Quite often when I am listening seriously, my eyes are closed... Anyway, yes the sound is what this is all about. If it sounds good, and I am not thrilled with the appearance, I put the gear where I don't see it any more than necessary.

mandrake50 said:

  Quite often when I am listening seriously, my eyes are closed... Anyway, yes the sound is what this is all about. If it sounds good, and I am not thrilled with the appearance, I put the gear where I don't see it any more than necessary.

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Take a look at my little chart above. It identifies that the DAC-19 is one of the biggest DACs I am considering. I realized when making that chart though and measuring my space that I really would only be able to get the MHDT DAC or Metrum Musette and keep everything facing forward in my space. I am still evaluating all options but I think the Musette is where I am headed.

kenman345 said:

  Take a look at my little chart above. It identifies that the DAC-19 is one of the biggest DACs I am considering. I realized when making that chart though and measuring my space that I really would only be able to get the MHDT DAC or Metrum Musette and keep everything facing forward in my space. I am still evaluating all options but I think the Musette is where I am headed.

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I had a real nice cabinet unit made for my first HD TV. It was a 38 inch CRT set. When I replaced it I went with a 50" set. It would not fit. I gave the cabinet and the TV away and moved on.
It seems a shame to be constrained by space to get an audio component that may not be what you really want.
 
Just sayin...

mandrake50 said:

  I had a real nice cabinet unit made for my first HD TV. It was a 38 inch CRT set. When I replaced it I went with a 50" set. It would not fit. I gave the cabinet and the TV away and moved on.
It seems a shame to be constrained by space to get an audio component that may not be what you really want.
 
Just sayin...

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Yes but it also sets myself up to make the best choice for my given constraints as I tend to go out of budget when it comes to items of passion. 
 
Of note, I read over the latest blog from Jason over at Schiit and makes mention of this thread and the arguments within it. I am interested to find out about the Bifrost multi-bit that he teased though as it may hit all the marks. 

I figure one could easily fit 5 or so LC's inside a dac-19, if there were no dac-19 stuff in there....  I actually picked up a solo -db for transportable duty, as Dr. C was using one the last time I heard the LC, and it sounded pretty decent.  I was all giddy about it the other day when I was setting up to A/B it against the Dac-19.  Then I listened to the dac-19 right after.  Both are really good, but the dac-19 wins on more natural, organic (??? What does that really mean in this context anyway) non fatiguing sound.  The Solo has more forward details, and brighter treble, not by a lot though.
 
Anyway, I think I'm up to 3 or 4 dacs that will by vying for 1 or 2 slots with the LC.

aamefford said:

  I figure one could easily fit 5 or so LC's inside a dac-19, if there were no dac-19 stuff in there....  I actually picked up a solo -db for transportable duty, as Dr. C was using one the last time I heard the LC, and it sounded pretty decent.  I was all giddy about it the other day when I was setting up to A/B it against the Dac-19.  Then I listened to the dac-19 right after.  Both are really good, but the dac-19 wins on more natural, organic (??? What does that really mean in this context anyway) non fatiguing sound.  The Solo has more forward details, and brighter treble, not by a lot though.
 
Anyway, I think I'm up to 3 or 4 dacs that will by vying for 1 or 2 slots with the LC.

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Whats on that list of yours?

aamefford said:

  I figure one could easily fit 5 or so LC's inside a dac-19, if there were no dac-19 stuff in there....  I actually picked up a solo -db for transportable duty, as Dr. C was using one the last time I heard the LC, and it sounded pretty decent.  I was all giddy about it the other day when I was setting up to A/B it against the Dac-19.  Then I listened to the dac-19 right after.  Both are really good, but the dac-19 wins on more natural, organic (??? What does that really mean in this context anyway) non fatiguing sound.  The Solo has more forward details, and brighter treble, not by a lot though.
 
Anyway, I think I'm up to 3 or 4 dacs that will by vying for 1 or 2 slots with the LC.

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I think you have as many DAC's as I do at this point!  lol

kenman345 said:

  Yes but it also sets myself up to make the best choice for my given constraints as I tend to go out of budget when it comes to items of passion. 
 
Of note, I read over the latest blog from Jason over at Schiit and makes mention of this thread and the arguments within it. I am interested to find out about the Bifrost multi-bit that he teased though as it may hit all the marks. 

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Just read through that post.  Thanks for posting it, it was a good read.
 

 Multibit vs delta-sigma is a heated topic of debate in the Cavalli DAC thread here at head-fi. Multibit wouldn’t even have ben mentioned last year. 

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http://www.head-fi.org/t/701900/schiit-happened-the-story-of-the-worlds-most-improbable-start-up/7635#post_11904537

kenman345 said:

  Whats on that list of yours?

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Northern Fidelity NF DAC, Oppo HA-1 dac section (using the amp section as my primary right now), the Cypher Labs Solo -db and the Dac-19 (my primary dac right now).
 

stillhart said:

   
I think you have as many DAC's as I do at this point!  lol

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I need to dig the NF DAC back out of it's box and compare to the Solo -db and the HA-1.  I kind of hope that overexuberance and the burning need for something new lead to the Cypher Labs Solo -db and the ALO Rx Mk3-B that came as a pair.  I'm thinking they may leave my stable, although, the Cypher labs solo -db also works really well with my work speaker system, so maybe I'll just sell the amp.  I never seem to use an amp when I'm actually away from a chair and an electrical outlet, so.....  Anyway, I see the HA-1 and maybe the solo leaving me soon, and that ALO amp, which is really nice, but just doesn't suit my needs.  That ought to about get me to the Ether C's.
 
As an aside (actually this is all an aside....) the LC seems to be pretty happy regardless of the dac feeding it?  I've heard the Hugo (big$$ to me) and the solo (reasonably priced when used, and portable) and both sounded great.

aamefford said:

  Northern Fidelity NF DAC, Oppo HA-1 dac section (using the amp section as my primary right now), the Cypher Labs Solo -db and the Dac-19 (my primary dac right now).
 

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Interesting list. I will check out that NF one

This is where I plan to place the LC on the DAC-19. Since Stillhart mentioned the LC is about the same size as 3 Blu-Ray cases I'm pretty happy with the overall placement in my setup.