I use A5 for 2 years. They are very far from my main Revel M20 monitors, but for background music or any other kind of no-immersion listening they're fairly good. Just don't place 'em next to the wall, bass is boomy

D1 is already out of stock - any idea when it can be back?

Quote: Originally Posted by WilCox "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." - Albert Einstein Kudos! Well said.

I'm not buying CDs in stores for last 5-6 years, everything online, mainly due to price and selection advantages - so it's not that old good feeling I used to get visiting records store anyways. The only reason for CD being still so strong is lack of convenient hardware support for...

Quote: Originally Posted by Michgelsen Interesting. The PS Audio looks like a DA100 with balanced outputs, or a DA220mk1 with USB. It's the best of both worlds, just like the DA220mk2 but at a much lower price. Stello 220-series seems to be of more sophisticated design. I wish...

Quote: Originally Posted by Herandu My experience mirrors your 1st answer. Your 2nd answer only works when the original CD is also of good quality. So no scratches, fingermarks, etc. Take your scratched CD, wash it, wipe it, rip it with EAC - it there were errors it'll complain...

Quote: Originally Posted by WindowsX How does it sound like comparing to original ones? Are you serious? It's obviously flawed comparing to the original! --Just kidding. Assuming you have normally working burner, and good quality blank it will be absolutely identical.

Read errors on normally stored CDs are not the issue - it's not the reason to go computer based. There's nothing in dedicated sources that cannot be achieved in computer based setup. It's just a matter of preference - purely convenience wise. Sound can be good or bad in either option. If...

Ok, the audio fun starts right here! I cite from http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=254652 Quote: Here's what Barry Willis from "The Absolute Sound" mag said about it: "It went into my main system as a replacement for the April Music Stello DA 100 DAC, reviewed in Issue...

Quote: Originally Posted by LeChuck Anyway back on topic: I tried a DA220 in single-ended mode against my DA100 and was unable to identify any difference, blind or not. As far as I am concerned, in single-ended mode they are one in the same. I've never listened to the Mk.II so i can't...

Re: twice as wide soundstage - it's not like "the more the better", it just should be natural. One can have a widest possible soundstage even on $25 boombox by engaging that DSP effect... To me it sounds strange that the described mods could possibly cause so drastic changes in sound quality...

Warranty is my big concern considering how much I'll have to pay for mere shipping the thing back to Korea... especially DA220 (here's where "build like a tank" strikes back). This is why I'm afraid of getting a used DA220. If I get DA220MkII from US dealer shipped to Canada, I at least will...

Quote: Originally Posted by canbus Hi. I currently own an 80 gig ipod video. I was wondering what would offer better sound- a CD player or having my Ipod Imodded by Red Wine Audio? I have about £300. So its either the Imod or a £300 CD player. My music will be played via a rotel...

Marantz DV player for audio? Back then I bought DV8400, and two days later was terribly happy that the store agreed to take it back. Marantz... universal - never again.

Quote: Originally Posted by CarbonTi This is very true, and I'm in the pc audio camp. All this debate about different flavors of digital when the antidiluvian swiggly groove has all the swing a music lover could want. Progress amplifies the efficiencies and kills the emotion...

Double post

Quote: Originally Posted by LeonvB If you're talking about transports: virtually 0. I compared the Stello transport (coax) to my Sony CE595 (toslink), both running to a Stello DA220MKII, and very little difference can be noticed. When compared to my PC (USB input of DA220 MKII), there's...

Still CD player, although I'm slowly but steadily moving to PC based source. If done right it offers the same quality as high end CD player in more convenient way.

Quote: Originally Posted by LeonvB It certainly isn't. I've just looked up the price of the DA100, and seems that they have lowered it considerably (haven't checked euro prices). When I bought mine, the difference was just a few hunderd, so well worth it IMO (as it's balanced as a bonus...

That's what I meant - it's balanced and the question is if its worthwhile to invest more then 2 times of DA100 cost if at this moment I don't have other balanced equimpent to take advantage of that?

Ok guys, I need help. I need DAC for Squeezebox - and I'm thinking Stello... Now, I can't decide between DA220MkII and DA100. DA220 is better future proof being balanced with XLR, but for Squeezbox it's irrelevant - I may need it in the future if I trade SB for something more advanced...

Ahem, so where does Stello stands - it's new, it uses "new" DAC chipset, but it has discrete analog stage, and pretty old-fashion power supply... What's that - new gen high-end?

Quote: Originally Posted by Asr Exchange rate makes it about $1.3K new from Aqvox in Germany How are going to have it serviced if necessary? Send back to Germany?

Quote: Originally Posted by granodemostasa Hi. Oh where do i start? 1. If you are a fan of the Dac-1 then I think you'll be a fan of the VDA-2, and consider the VDA-2 to be a step up from the Dac-1. 2. If you are a fan of the Lavry DA-10, the next step up is the Stello DA220...

I auditioned Primare CDP about 3 years back, A-B comparison with SimAudio Nova... Nova won hands down, still have it.