I dropped this review in the actual gear section, but figured I'd post it here for convenience as well. Alex Cavalli contacted me directly and asked if I'd like to test and review a production-grade Liquid Spark prior to release, which I was happy to do. It’s a good day for anyone with an...

Massdrop x Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amplifier Review Massdrop has another very exciting, collaborative product they’ve just announced, the Massdrop x Cavalli Tube Hybrid headphone amplifier. You may recall the CTH used to be a DIY offering from Cavalli. What Massdrop is offering is a highly reworked...

  I'd say you'd need to compare them in a quiet, familiar environment, such as your own home. Do so with very resolving amps and headphones, the best you can find. The Hex is smooth to the point it will literally gloss over low-level details. It should not be even remotely subtle if you know...

Some place in a refrigerator.

Well, this is inconvenient, but I have to take my car into the shop tomorrow. It should be an relatively quick repair, but I don't feel comfortable driving up to Denver without getting it looked at first. It should be ready to go by Friday, but, worst case scenario, I won't be able to make it or...

  You said Model S MK I, right? I'm sure the the gains between I and II are very small, but worth considering. Either way, not sure what the Audiomeca is running in terms of DAC chips/modules, but based on what I've read about the SFD MKII and what I know about or have personally heard with...

  TDA1541A is a solid chip. The hard part is finding a truly good implementation of it to maximize its potential, from what I've read. I've also heard some say the digital filter it was originally and still usually paired with may not be super spectacular. Also, don't leave the TDA1541A on all...

What source are you using to feed the DACs, and what amps and headphones or speakers are you using for comparison?

  Yggy's digital filter/oversampling is one of its main selling points. 8x oversampling, IIRC. No rate converter/upsampling prior, though.

Generally NOS for me is the opposite of grainy, with some exceptions. Though the guy I sold my Hex to said it sounded rough in comparison to the PWD, which was the exact opposite of my experience. Can't say I'm entirely sure what factors cause those different perceptions.

No, I have the Audial Model S and Theta Gen Va. No Yggy. Waiting on trickle down tech, since non-oversampling is my go-to. Really no need to spend so much money on what would be my backup, complementary DAC. Also, Model S isn't what I'd call little. :) Not as big as the Theta, but more in line...

  There were a couple cheaper options I considered. Not all were Philips/TDA-based, though, as a side note, I do think there are too many high-priced TDA1543-based DACs on the market (it's a budget chip and performs as such! C'mon!). Most I ruled out for one reason or another after research...

  Indeed, I had a hard time finding info on it, especially reviews, so it was a rather risky purchase on my end. But to comment on the points above and add my own thoughts:   - Much more resolving than the Metrum Hex or NOS1704. Actually keeps up the pace fairly well with the Theta Gen Va I...

Admittedly, nothing insanely expensive, and not near the number of DACs purrin has heard (though it seems I already have similar findings as him). Don't have the funds to try these insanely expensive DACs myself, so would have to rely on folks loaning me stuff like the M1 to test out.   I'm...

Regarding filters, I've heard DACs with standard filters, either just a default/single option or with multiple options to choose from, and DACs with off-the-shelf or, better yet, custom filters. I'd like to say I prefer minimum phase over linear phase, but for most D/S designs, I generally found...

  I've heard a couple custom filters, or stuff from Wolfson that can do all sorts of stuff (2x-8x, LP, MP, etc.), and there are some that sound good to my ears. But I'm right there with you preferring NOS even for 44.1. I get that you and I are probably in the minority here, but something about...

Yeah, the overlay with the other headphones would be helpful. Do you have "pads on" measurements too? Couple other questions (please let me know if I overlooked something!):   1. What SPL were you running these at? And was SPL captured/measured via a single tone or white noise?   2. Did some...

I've considered contacting him. I found his current info. Looking into possible options of people still in the business first, though so far no real bites. Can't blame someone for not wanting to take a look, haha.

As of now, I am planning on attending. Can't foresee anything that would prevent me from doing so, but you never know...   Don't have anything crazy to bring along. That, and I find my tastes often don't match up with most others.   For DACs, will have an Audial Model S and might have a...

  I think TDA1543 can be fun sounding with good tone, but in terms of objectively good, accurate, or technically competent multibit chips, it's pretty far down there on the list.   Just think a lot better of everything it does and you'll start to have an idea when it comes to better multibit.

I took some measurements after several hours of listening just to peek and then again, this time for the set of measurements I posted, after a few days of burning in, and there was no real difference. I did not really hear changes subjectively from start to finish. Tyll has done experiments for...