[.Sup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by realmassy /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yep, I already have a good power cable that I'm currently using on my CD player (actually NOT using, as I don't use the player). It's made by ClearerAudio, they're popular here in UK, and they're good quality: I've compared against QED and Black Rodium and I found them to have more impact on the sound, lowering the noise level. Now I'm wondering if I need to get a power conditioner: I've seen good reviews in this forum for Furman's

I know them, their copper line is still my 1st pick if I decide to get better power cords.

I just not sure if a better power cord will make a big difference in my house. Because the power comes through the house wiring and power strip before it reaches the power cord. So the power will reach the cord degraded? Or is my theory wrong?

 

[realmassy]

Ehehehe! Tough question!
I wasn't a cable believer, but I did notice a change using a better power cord on my ROC, and even more on my old Little Dot DAC_I. Is it just my mind? Well, honestly it might be
I think sooner or later I'l ask my wife to help me with a blind test to end the story!
In my experience, speakers cable have great impact on the sound, more than RCA interconnects and power cords. In my speaker system when I swapped some QED speakers cable (can't remember the model) with some Nordost the sound signature completely changed: with QED my Epos speakers were unlisteneable with poor recordings.

 

[Currawong]

I decided to try a Silver Circle Audio Juice Box Jr. Initially I didn't notice anything special with the Ref 3 and Ref 1 plugged into it. However, I decided to switch the amps to it instead. While the amps suddenly gained a black background, the music sounded more lifeless and dull, which was a surprise. Sometime I plan to upgrade to the larger 6-socket version. So while I don't know how it will affect everyone individually, after the experiments I've done with power cables and this single conditioner, I can definitely recommend finding a good value conditioner to bring out extra listening pleasure.

 

[haloxt]

My entry level furman seems to only minutely benefit the phoenix at the cost of a bit smaller height in soundstage. But it does a lot for the compass, and then a moderate amount for my dac19mk3. I think you may get some benefit with a furman for the ref 5, but might not be worth it, if you don't like it though you could connect it to a TV or your computer monitor

.

 

[realmassy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haloxt /img/forum/go_quote.gif My entry level furman seems to only minutely benefit the phoenix at the cost of a bit smaller height in soundstage. But it does a lot for the compass, and then a moderate amount for my dac19mk3. I think you may get some benefit with a furman for the ref 5, but might not be worth it, if you don't like it though you could connect it to a TV or your computer monitor .

I was under the impression the higher is the electronic the bigger is the benefit of a power conditioner. But probably on higher end products the power supply is good enough.

 

[haloxt]

Maybe, there's many different ways power can be altered by psu or conditioner, all kinds of different quirks in the power preventing it from being ideal. From playing around with power cables even the one on my power conditioner, my guess is that audio-gd's higher end stuff benefit most from having the current unimpeded rather than from prior filtering, maybe a different story for their power regeneration products.

 

[realmassy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haloxt /img/forum/go_quote.gif ...maybe a different story for their power regeneration products.

Which products? Audio-GD's products?

 

[haloxt]

Yes, audio-gd has some products with filtering like this: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f21/au...erator-436265/

 

[realmassy]

Thanks haloxt.

 

[realmassy]

My REF.5 has landed in UK...now I'm waiting for the custom to charge it

 

[.Sup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by realmassy /img/forum/go_quote.gif My REF.5 has landed in UK...now I'm waiting for the custom to charge it

I ordered mine from AmpCity which is based in the UK. How come you didn't order from them massy?

 

[realmassy]

Yeah I know, but I had a small discount from Kingwa (being an owner of the ROC), and even with customs charging and shipping it will cost me £180 less than Ampcity.
I think I'll place an order for the new HE5-LE from Ampcity, not much difference in price with head-direct.
I still can't make up my mind between the HE5-LE and a balanced HD650

 

[.Sup]

I would probably go with LE as I hear they are brighter. I am thinking of getting one as well but will wait for some reviews first. I won't jump on the preorder wagon just cos they are 50$ cheaper.

 

[realmassy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by .Sup /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would probably go with LE as I hear they are brighter. I am thinking of getting one as well but will wait for some reviews first. I won't jump on the preorder wagon just cos they are 50$ cheaper.

It makes absolutely sense. What I like of the LEs is that they come with a 4-pin connector cable and I don't have to spend big money for an aftermarket cable.

 

[TigzStudio]

Whats the ETA on the Ref 5's guys? lol

Also does anyone have some links to the technical details of the DAC? The stuff I find seems very vague.



It uses 4 x PCM1704U-K (datasheet below)
http://datasheet.octopart.com/PCM170...eet-149856.pdf



Anyone have experience listening to other dacs with this PCM1704U-K?




I found a list of some DACs that use this same chip actually, I highlighted the ones that use the exact u-k version of the chip in blue, and actual D/A standalone convertors in BOLD black. A few interesting contenders in there!

I like that a Mark Levinson No 30.6 uses a 4xPCM1704 configuration

ASSEMBLAGE DAC-2.6 2 x PCM1704 – PMD100 – CS8412-CS D/A converter
ASSEMBLAGE DAC-2.7 2 x PCM1704 – PMD200 – CS8414-CS D/A converter
ASSEMBLAGE DAC-3 4 x PCM1704 – PMD100 – CS8414-CS D/A converter
ASSEMBLAGE DAC-3.1 4 x PCM1704 – PMD200 D/A converter

AYRE D-1 4 x PCM1704 – DF1704DVD

BURMESTER 001 4 x PCM1704 Philips CD-Pro (VAM 1252)
BURMESTER 006 2 x PCM1704 Philips VAM 1250

CARY AUDIO DESIGN CD-303 2 x PCM1704U – PMD100 VAM 1202/12
CARY AUDIO DESIGN CD 303/200 2 x PCM1704U-K – PMD100 VAM 1202
CARY AUDIO DESIGN CD-308 PCM1704U + HDCD CDM 12

CEC TL51Z 4 x PCM1704 – DF1706CEC-Sanyo SF-P1

CLASSE AUDIO CDP-1.5 2 x PCM1704 CEC-Sanyo SF-P

DENON DCD-1650SR 4 x PCM1704U
DENON DCD-S10 Mk III 4 x PCM1704 + HDCDSharp H8147AF


XPOSURE CD 3010 2 x PCM1704KSS-213
EXPOSURE CD XXII 2 x PCM1704 Sony

KRELL KAV-280cd 4 x PCM1704 – DF1704 CDM 12 Pro / VAM 1201
KRELL KPS 25sc 4 x PCM1704 – XC56009F – PMD100 JVC Pro
KRELL KPS 28c 4 x PCM1704K – PMD100 TEAC VRDS


MANLEY WAVE 24 Bit 2 x PCM1704 D/A converter

MARK LEVINSON No 30.6 4 x PCM1704 D/A converter
MARK LEVINSON No 39 PCM1702 (PCM1704)CDM 12 Ind
MARK LEVINSON No 360S 4 x PCM1704 D/A converter

NAIM AUDIO CD5X PCM1704 VAM 1201
NAIM AUDIO CD555 PCM1704-PMD200 CDM 12 Pro
AIM AUDIO CDS 3 2 x PCM1704-K VAM 1250

NAIM AUDIO CDX2 PCM1704

NAKAMICHI DRAGON CD/DAC 4 x PCM1704U-J – DF1704 ESanyo SF-91

PRIMARE CD31 4 x PCM1704-K – DF1704 DVD-ROM D VS DSL-710A


RESTEK EPOS 2 x PCM1704-K – PMD100 Philips CD-Pro (VAM 1252)

SANSUI CD-a6072 x PCM1704U – PMD100KSS-213

SHANLING CD500 4 x PCM1704U-K – SM5847 Philips CD-Pro 2 (VAM 1254)
SHANLING CD-A24 4 x PCM1704 – PMD200CDM 12.10
SHANLING CD-T100 4 x PCM1704 – PMD200CDM 12.10
SHANLING CD-T300 8 x PCM1704-K – SM5847AFPhilips CDM-4
SHANLING DAC-1 4 x PCM1704 – PMD200 – CS8420-CS D/A converter


SIMAUDIO MOON ANDROMEDA PCM1704U-K – DF1704 Philips CD-Pro 2 (VAM 1254)
SIMAUDIO MOON ECLIPSE 4 x PCM1704-K – DF1704 - PMD100 Philips CD-Pro 2 (VAM 1254)

PHINX PROJECT 32 4 x PCM1704 – PMD100 CDM 12.4

TEAC D-01 ESOTERIC 8 x PCM1704 D/A converter
TEAC D-70 ESOTERIC 4 x PCM1704 D/A converter


WADIA 301 2 x PCM1704 Pioneer Stable Platter PEA1343
WADIA 302 2 x PCM1704-K Philips VAE 1250


WADIA 831 PCM1704 Pioneer Stable Platter
WADIA 861 4 x PCM1704-K VRDS CMK-3.2 – KSS-151A