[h.rav]

Here is a pic of my Ref5's inputs.
 

 

[TigzStudio]

GOOD! now put stuff in those inputs!!!!  and tell me how it sounds hahaha

 

[Currawong]

Quote:

I spent 5 hours yesterday listening to the Reference 5. No critical listening, just the pleasure to listen to my favourite music in a new way.
I've been through some well known CDs: Kind of Blue, A Love Supreme, Koln Concert, other jazz recordings, and some classical music, many piano concerts by Mozart and Beethoven, string quartets by Shubert and Haydn, symphonies by Elgar and Brahms, and then pieces by Ravel and Prokofiev.
Well, the only thing I can say is I went to bed with a large grin on my face
The only critical comparison I did is between the CD player and the TEAC wireless player both used as transport, and I can honestly say the differences are minimal, if any. It seems the headstage is wider using the CD player, but guess I couldn't spot the transport in a blind test. So definitely I'm happy on that side!
More to come today

Nice.  You listen to the kind of music that will get the most benefit from the DAC, that's for sure.  I was just appreciating Horowitz in Moscow last night.

 
Quote:

Here is a pic of my Ref5's inputs.
 

Is that an extra optical input I spy?  What do the switches do too?

 

[h.rav]

^ Yes. There are two extra inputs, one optical input and one BNC input. The two switches are for switching the inputs. The switch on the left is for the two optical inputs and the switch on the right is for the coax inputs. I also asked Kingwa to rewire the entire signal wires with DHC Nucleotide wires and swap the stock IEC inlet with the one used in the Ref1/7.

 

[noinimod]

h.rav, i see that you have the exact same setup i'm going for! How's the C39 as a pre?

 

[.Sup]

moar pics h.rav

 

[TigzStudio]

h.rav, out of curiosity how much did it all set u back in total cost to get the extra additions?

 

[Gwarlek]

Quote:

^ Yes. There are two extra inputs, one optical input and one BNC input. The two switches are for switching the inputs. The switch on the left is for the two optical inputs and the switch on the right is for the coax inputs. I also asked Kingwa to rewire the entire signal wires with DHC Nucleotide wires and swap the stock IEC inlet with the one used in the Ref1/7.

Did you send Nucleotide wire in advance or Kingwa got it on him? Also whats the difference between IEC? Though they are all the same.

 

[Eagle Eye]

Mine came in as well yesterday.  I can totally agree with realmassey about the initial impressions.  I mainly listened to Diana Krall, Fourplay, Spyro Gyra and Special EFX last night but was up a little late cause it was hard to go to sleep, LOL  What I noticed is that the bass seems to be more defined and pure if that makes sense.  I also really noticed that the soundstage was larger in depth and just as wide as any DAC I have used.  Each instrument has it's place and there is like space around each instrument that really makes the sound isolated from each other.  Sometimes I could hear confusion with the instruments jumbling up on other DAC's but with the Ref 5 it appears that instrument seperation is precise.  There is absolutely not any background noise and I now can see where the word black comes from.  These are at least my first impressions and after doing some air conditioner work today on the house I will spend a few more hours with the new baby!!!!!  I am absolutely thrilled with this addition and I think Kingwa has a winner with the DAC.  Will report later. 

 

[noinimod]

Thanks for the impressions. I sure hope you guys gave the ref 5 some time to warm up like say, 1-2 hrs cos audio-gd gear sounds their absolute best when thoroughly warmed up

 

[Eagle Eye]

Yeah I let it warm for a couple hours and then I left it on all night ant it was the same this morning.  Man does this really make the ROC sing.  If it get's getter as it matures I can't wait because it is fine as it is.

 

[realmassy]

Tonight I'll try the XLR output as suggested by Russell (Eagle Eye). 
Any problem leaving both output (ACSS and XLR) connected to the ROC, and just switching the input on the amp?

 

[noinimod]

If kingwa designed the ref 5 the same way he did for the ref1, when the acss is being used, the other outputs will automatically be shut off.

 

[TigzStudio]

Nice impressions! Woot.... liking it.   Hey noinimod, so your saying you have to unplug ACSS to use XLR or?

 

[noinimod]

If the Ref 5 is anything like the Ref 1, then yes that would be it.