This is a translation of the review in krmathis post
I did not write this review, but wrote its translation to the best of my knowledge.
Be aware that there maight mistakes and errors in my translation.
This reveiw was written by Retep on AVforum.no - Home, this is a open to public forum so I hope it is noe in violation of any rules.
Please delete if this post it is.
Start of translation:
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"
Abrahamsen V6 Dac review
Thought I would share my experiences about this Dac with you all.
This is a use and comparison review between the V6 and marantz Sa 7001 standard CD player. The rest of my stereo consist of Electrcopaniet ec4.5 pre, Rotel Rb 1050 effect amp and Paradigm Tower Eclipse bipolare speakers. Cables are Nordost wyrewizard, Audioquest Viper signal and Nordost spdif digital cabel costing 100$
Some facts about the DAC, this is cut from Abrahamsen's web page:
Inputs::
4 digital inputs:
2 RCA, 1 Toslink, 1 USB
Outputs:
1 sett Balanced XLR
1 sett Single RCA
Out put impedance:
Balanced and single 10 Ohm
Frequency response:
DC to 1MHz – 3dB
90VA converter
10.000uF capacitator reserve
Width 430mm
Height 70mm
Depth 160mm
Weight 5Kg
The music I have choosen is to my preferences and taste in music. I am a person that like several types of music like Rock, Pop Metal, Jazz and blues, just about everything except from Trance and Rave.
The cd I have made for this test is ripped as flac and then burned to a disc at the speed 1x. I also played the same songs from the laptop, straight from the USB to the DAC. A cheap laptop costing 500$.
The CD contain these tracks:
1. Dire Straits - Walk Of Life
2. Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb
3. Metallica - Master Of Puppets
4. Jamie Cullum - Pointless Nostalgic
5. Yello - The Race
6. Bethoven- Måneskinn sonaten
7. Sting - Russians
8. Radiohead - Karma Police
9. Gregorian Monks - Master Of Peace.
I think this sa7001 cd player is some of the better equipment that can be bought for a relatively low amount of money. Marantz delivers what I am searching for, a good musical foundation, a very good and detailed/open/dissolved mid-range and a somewhat recessed treble. This enable me to sit and listen to music for hours. It makes no particular errors/mistakes when taken in consideration its price. A very nice cd player with a high waf (Woman acceptance factor).
If I compare this cd player with the Abrahamsen DAC, which this thread is really about, there is several things which I noticed.
The musical foundation and bass information is no much more pronounced/clear/noticeable. It is more easy to notice/hear to hear the bass rhythm is song 4, Jamie's vocals are more pronounce in such way that it is easier to understand/hear what he is singing. The same happens in song 2, but now everything seems more relaxed/calm and pleasant. A bit more “cosiness” you might put it.
The Monks in song 9 steps out from the darkness and I am now able to hear the text clear and at the same time it all seems bigger and wider. It seems like the choir has increased by several monks. Beethoven's piano becomes more crisp and it sounds like the piano is standing right here in my home.
I think I am able to say that most of the things that are well/good in the Marantz sa 7001 cd player is amplified in this Abrahamsen DAC. The sound picture become bigger and the instruments are brought forward in the sound picture. It is also easier to place the musicians in the sound picture. It also seems like I am sitting closer to the musicians, but simultaneously as if sound from my speakers circulate me in such a way that “I am placed in the middle of action”. It might be that this Dac is more capable of bringing out/forward what these bipolar speakers are able to preform.
Pc to DAC
Compared to the sound deliver by marantz player and the DAC there is not much difference. What I can say is that everything seems a bit muffled. Not much, but if there is complete silence around me and I concentrate, then, I mean/think there is less details in the top. This applies particularly to the Metallica track and the Radiohead track. I am aware that master of puppets by Mettalica has not the best recording, and this might have some to do with it.
Conclusion:
This is a very good DAC considering its price of 485$. It brings the sound picture up and past a Cd player such as Marantz sa 7001, by a great deal according to my ears. The instruments are better brought forward, voices are more clear, and it seems to me like the DAC increase the sound quality over the whole sound specter. By using the USB input I think the sound was improved by so much that most of us, me including, will be able to live with a PC as source of sound. It seems like discs without the best sound quality are being punished and that the mistakes/qualities are better brought forward, for better and for worse.
With everything being taken into account this is a very good DAC and because it has a USB input, I will now stop using CDs and instead use my PC as a source. The DAC's strongest abilities concern its delivery of vocals and acoustic music, but regarding music which contain much information in the lower frequency specter it also makes it easier to distinguish differences in instruments, and the different tones played for example by a contra bass.
If you want a “does it all” DAC, which also has USB input, then this DAC should be on your list over what to consider/try. I have had the Cambridge dac for a visit, and I am certain that this DAC is at least as good. It looks and feels like better quality and because it is 43 cm wide it looks better in a rack.
Ps: A tiny tip. If you have the possibility to run this DAC balanced to your amplifier it will be a big improvement. It is without a doubt better balanced then unbalanced. I use some of Audioquest Viper cables costing 250$ new between the DAC and preamp.
Hope I dont chop the head of anybody because of this thread, but I feel that I had to share my experience about this DAC.
Best regards
Peter “
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