[tim3320070]

Quote:

Originally Posted by regal /img/forum/go_quote.gif Initial impression with zero burn in is it is a little polite compared to the 19mk3. I think my little amp doesn't have the power to bring it to life (Soha II). I'm building a Stacker II and will wait till that is complete before giving my final impressions.

I'm with Les, give it some nice run in- a week of solid use maybe. I was a bit disappointed with the Ref-1 at first. Not since......

 

[SilverCans]

Regal if your amp had enough to convey the details in the 19Mk3 wouldn't for the 3SE? Albeit, I agree you may have to give the DAC time to burn in. Please keep us posted on the sound and do compare to to the 19MK3

.

 

[JulioCat2]

Audio GD dacs need alot burning, my DAC9 with PDM100 new sound worse (in the upper range) than my DAC19 Mk3 already burned, so let it burn!!!!!!

 

[IPodPJ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim3320070 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm with Les, give it some nice run in- a week of solid use maybe. I was a bit disappointed with the Ref-1 at first. Not since......

I never noticed any difference and thought it was brilliant from day one. It just needs warm up time though. What DAC were you used to using before the Ref1 that you felt was better?

 

[regal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverCans /img/forum/go_quote.gif Regal if your amp had enough to convey the details in the 19Mk3 wouldn't for the 3SE? Albeit, I agree you may have to give the DAC time to burn in. Please keep us posted on the sound and do compare to to the 19MK3 .

Not neccessarilly, the SOHAII has NFB and the 19MK3 does not, so it is a better match.

After burning in the 3SE is sounding great with my new StackerII.

 

[tim3320070]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif I never noticed any difference and thought it was brilliant from day one. It just needs warm up time though. What DAC were you used to using before the Ref1 that you felt was better?

It sounded nice at first, don't get me wrong (considerably better than the VDAC I had) but I was expecting more out of it and didn't really get the wow factor for a couple of weeks, so it wasn't about my other DAC sounding better, just expectations I had for the Ref-1.

 

[IPodPJ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim3320070 /img/forum/go_quote.gif It sounded nice at first, don't get me wrong (considerably better than the VDAC I had) but I was expecting more out of it and didn't really get the wow factor for a couple of weeks, so it wasn't about my other DAC sounding better, just expectations I had for the Ref-1.

A neutral and natural sounding DAC shouldn't have much of a wow factor, except with detail and transparency.

 

[tim3320070]

Can't explain it better- it improved with time, for real or in my head, who knows and who cares. It wows me everyday.

 

[vlach]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Choochoo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Am waiting for my DAC3DV to arrive (don't want to spend money on Ref1). But judging from the demo unit, DAC3DV is a satisfying upgrade from DAC19MK3.

Did you get it yet?

 

[vlach]

Quote:

Originally Posted by regal /img/forum/go_quote.gif Not neccessarilly, the SOHAII has NFB and the 19MK3 does not, so it is a better match. After burning in the 3SE is sounding great with my new StackerII.

Regal, did you play around with the clear/smooth switch at the back?

 

[regal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vlach /img/forum/go_quote.gif Regal, did you play around with the clear/smooth switch at the back?

yes it sounds much better in the up position, don't know if that is smooth or clear, guessing clear.

 

[ScarlettD]

Agree that the DAC might not generate too wow factor when it is not accompanied with further details.

 

[regal]

After changing the russian military p-io caps in my amp to the new clarity cap ESR's this DAC has an amazing sound. Those old caps were holding it back. I've decided to keep it.

 

[shadowlord]

i didn't notice much improvement after burn-in with mine, but i still like it's sound. Now if it only had a led to signal the the HDCD playback works ok.

 

[regal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowlord /img/forum/go_quote.gif i didn't notice much improvement after burn-in with mine, but i still like it's sound. Now if it only had a led to signal the the HDCD playback works ok.

Its easy to add an HDCD LED, I can draw up something if folks are interested.