[Red_Devil_24]

Quote:

I just came across a nice Reference 5 review here:
 
http://ravenda.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/audio-gd-reference-5/

I think it's a member here, I remember seeing that dac with the added inputs here not long ago.

 

[transient orca]

How does one switch output on Ref-5? DAC-19 has a switch for RCA and ACSS, but Ref-5 doesn't.

 

[TigzStudio]

I can't seem to find it on the forums at the moment, anyone have the pinout assignments for the 4-pin XLR on Audio-gd balanced gear?
 
is it:
 
 
1 - left channel +
2 - left channel -
3 - right channel +
4 - right channel -
 
????
 
Can anyone confirm this?  If not I will ask Kingwa....Thanks.

 

[FauDrei]

Yup, that's the right pinout.

 

[JesseDodds]

My Phoenix and Ref 5 arrived today. Happy to see that the chassis sizes are exactly the same. Here's a quick and dirty pic for anyone interested:
 

 

[kunalraiker]

Quote:

My Phoenix and Ref 5 arrived today. Happy to see that the chassis sizes are exactly the same.
 

Congratulations

 
I'am waiting for my DAC, when did you pay.

 

[Currawong]

Nice one Jesse.  Are you still waiting on the balanced Denons?

 

[JesseDodds]

@kunalraiker: I paid *checks email* on the 3rd of june. So just under two weeks to get to Aus. Have to say they did a great job of boxing it all up and Kingwa is a serious pleasure to deal with.
 
@Currawong: Indeed, sent them directly to the guy who recables them who is in Adelaide which saved a trip to the US and back for them. Hopefully should be here in about 2 weeks going by the quoted 4 week turn around. Went for the balanced furutech XLRs and Silky Oak cups. Can't wait!

 

[kunalraiker]

would your ref 5 come with the new usb chip.

 

[JesseDodds]

Indeed it did

 

[kunalraiker]

Quote:

Indeed it did

what the hell, why did mine take so long,I payed a day or two before you, was told by Kingwa that if i wanted the new chip,I would have to wait about 10 days.

 

[JesseDodds]

I'd say because he went away for a week. Just a possibility 

 

[kunalraiker]

Quote:

I'd say because he went away for a week. Just a possibility 

that's ok,will wait, what else.
Coming back to your gear,any particular reason you didn't get ref-1 to match the phoenix

 

[JesseDodds]

Was slightly constrained by budget, and the OCD in me wanted the case size to be the same. Either way, I can already hear a significant difference between my Little Dot combo and the Audio-gd. MUCH larger soundstage and the detail and clarity has really improved, as has the separation of instrumentals. Wasn't expecting a massive difference, but as soon as I turned it on, I actually double-took because of the imaging. I thought someone had come up behind me.
 
Embarrassing thing was, I couldn't get the Phoenix to work, until I realised (about an hour later), that I'd pressed the preamp button which bypasses the headphone jacks on the front. It looks exactly like the power button on the Ref5 and the top part of the phoenix, and without thinking switched it on along with everything else. Also tried the Ref5 with the Little Dot MkIV SE and again, found a sizeable increase in imaging and soundstage. Really looking forward to putting some more hours on it. You'll definitely enjoy it!

 

[Poleepkwa]

I have received my Ref 5 after about 2.5 months. I asked for some mods so that is why it took so long...