Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe - ending point in my search for a new reference

[Ateefi]

DC Blocker? Then the issue was in DC offset, so related to a power line too.

I tried the ifi DC blocker, it didn't work. But strangely once the DAC is on for a bit it quitens down, sometime no noise at all. Maybe it's just settling down.

As for the performance, no complaints about that, I think it's great. Normally can't tell a difference between dacs, but I'm sure I do with this, don't know what but its there.

 

[Matez]

Maybe it's just settling down.

Perhaps that's the case. To my experience, DC offset is audible as a constant transformer hum that is always as loud and doesn't go away if not treated. If that noise goes away after a while, it's not DC offset I think.

 

[centigrade]

The three brothers of cen.grand gathered together. I'm setting up GLD, but it's a bit difficult because there's no manual. Has anyone received a manual?

 

[MAURO16164]

Hey buddy, I think you're the first one ever to post a GLD pic! You'll be a guinea pig for everyone, I guess!

 

[ahossam]

Can anyone here explained the advantage of Cen. Gran GLD over other source, like Roon Nucleus, when pair with DSDAC 1.0?

 

[phoneslave86]

Additional $300 Clock module functions for the DSD DAC Deluxe 1.0. Is this a 10 Mhz input in the module for external clocking anyone tried it with a high end clock?

The way the Silver Fox and description of this DAC sound like they would go together to make some really smooth nice soundstage together, really want to try one someday.

Need to learn about each the GLS, superclock and Deluxe and Deluxe + GLD and determine the right one to buy. I'm going to assume the best is deluxe + GLD is the top. GLS could be a real case of value though if it's somehow beats the superclock. I'm hoping the DAC in GLS is at least as good as the Superclock.

What is the cost of the GLD and GLS will be nice to see USD. I'm guessing we will find out in October in the USA.

Any bit about any of these products might help please feel free to share useful info as they are under the radar

The silver fox is inspiring to try more cen.grand products no doubt, it will be hard to resist these for me in the future. Can only imagine how good the 2.0 generation in years from now could be from cen.grand. They really innovate some really appealing ideas and look to pull it off in their tech inside of Amps, DACs, and Streamers makes me want to support them Good excuse to help support the hifi progress

 

[centigrade]

Can anyone here explained the advantage of Cen. Gran GLD over other source, like Roon Nucleus, when pair with DSDAC 1.0?

I have no experience with other streamers. I'm not sure if gld has more advantages. I think I need to hear more about the POW system to come to a conclusion.

Additional $300 Clock module functions for the DSD DAC Deluxe 1.0. Is this a 10 Mhz input in the module for external clocking anyone tried it with a high end clock?

The way the Silver Fox and description of this DAC sound like they would go together to make some really smooth nice soundstage together, really want to try one someday.

Need to learn about each the GLS, superclock and Deluxe and Deluxe + GLD and determine the right one to buy. I'm going to assume the best is deluxe + GLD is the top. GLS could be a real case of value though if it's somehow beats the superclock. I'm hoping the DAC in GLS is at least as good as the Superclock.

What is the cost of the GLD and GLS will be nice to see USD. I'm guessing we will find out in October in the USA.

Any bit about any of these products might help please feel free to share useful info as they are under the radar

The silver fox is inspiring to try more cen.grand products no doubt, it will be hard to resist these for me in the future. Can only imagine how good the 2.0 generation in years from now could be from cen.grand. They really innovate some really appealing ideas and look to pull it off in their tech inside of Amps, DACs, and Streamers makes me want to support them Good excuse to help support the hifi progress

Adding an interface is an additional terminal upgrade to use the I2S terminal and pow system. External clock input is possible without this upgrade.

 

[MAURO16164]

I have no experience with other streamers. I'm not sure if gld has more advantages. I think I need to hear more about the POW system to come to a conclusion.

Adding an interface is an additional terminal upgrade to use the I2S terminal and pow system. External clock input is possible without this upgrade.

Hi, did you buy the dac with the pow card already inserted or did you have it installed recently, just out? How much did you pay for it? Who did the firmware update for you, your dealer or did you have to send the dac to the manufacturer? Thanks and sorry for the questions but I'm very interested in buying this card...

 

[centigrade]

Hi, did you buy the dac with the pow card already inserted or did you have it installed recently, just out? How much did you pay for it? Who did the firmware update for you, your dealer or did you have to send the dac to the manufacturer? Thanks and sorry for the questions but I'm very interested in buying this card...

Purchase GLD and receive a free pow card upgrade I received it last Saturday
for upgrade pow card in DAC Shipping and upgrade fees of $300 will be charged.
Card installation can be done by dealers.but the technical difficulty in installing firmware, it has to be sent to China.

 

[MAURO16164]

If anyone is interested I am selling my Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe, a few months old, for 3500 euros including free shipping throughout Europe. Unfortunately I cannot buy the GLD streamer so I am selling my fantastic dac. In Europe it costs around 6300 euros...

 

[geoffalter11]

Thought I'd add some thoughts into this thread since my DAC situation has changed. After owning the Super Clock, I let it go for Matrix's 10th Anniversary X2 Pure. A very different DAC from the Super Clock. After many hours with the Super Clock I concluded that it lacked a couple important pieces I look for in my DAC. First, it was a bit slow sounding. It just felt a step or two behind my music, and I felt myself constantly waiting. Second, it had too much note weight for the pacing, and it caused the sound to be slightly muddy. I am talking percentage points, but after much time these attributes caused me to want to go another direction. Enter the Matrix X2 Pure, and I found a very smartly made DAC with an incredible amount of snap, speed and a very fun tuning. It anchored my system for about 15 months, and then I felt the need to move on again as I was noticing that as much fun as the DAC was, it was not keeping up with my amps, which were barely breaking a sweat. I was just not getting everything I wanted out of my system. Although, I still remain a huge fan of the X2 Pure and feel that it has many wonderful qualities and is more DAC than any sane person needs.

But, I am not a sane person and I have some very good amps that I wanted to push further than I was currently pushing them. Enter the Cen.Grand Deluxe. Wow, is there a difference between the Deluxe and Super Clock. The Super Clock falls into the same category as the X2 Pure in that is probably more than enough DAC for any sane person, but the Deluxe is far superior and I am enjoying this DAC immensely. It casts an incredible stage, wonderful image specificity, tons of note weight and my favorite part; the amount of saturation which turns into incredible top end resolution giving the DAC a balanced and very full sound. In addition, it fixes my #1 challenge with the Super Clock, which was pacing. The Deluxe is fast, and capable of organizing the most complex of musical passages in a way that makes music sound right. Tonally the DAC is just about perfect for my tastes, and all instruments have a realism that I find quite fetching. I tend to not like DSD, but this DAC has more than surprised me, but has become the heart of my system and can't stop listening. If there was ever a compliment, that is it. Just one more song, all day and night long when listening. I can't put my headphones down and my amps are finally breaking a sweat and I am pulling more out of them than I have previously done with the DACs I was using. All very capable DACs, all DACs that most would be very happy to call an end game DAC. And my opinion of those DACs remain unchanged.

The DSD Deluxe is just that much better and for this audio nut, it is making my system very happy. I am running it via USB with a reclocker straight into my Roon NUC and the sound is delightful. I will add another Roon streamer into the mix and then see if I can improve the sound even further by running that streamer off my network into my NUC as the Core instead of using my Core as both a server and streamer. Either way, the Cen.Grand works beautifully as a Roon Ready device when hooked up properly. And I am not sure I can live without Roon. I just love the way it organizes my music and find the sound to be clean and impactuful. Coupled with the Deluxe and my CFA3, Pure BiPolar MK2 and Eddie Current Aficionado, my system has never sounded better.

 

[geoffalter11]

Deluxe+Aficionado+Atrium Open = Sonic Bliss. This DAC is letting me know how much more my amps have to give and I couldn't be happier.

 

[Lucus]

Are you using the Cen.Grand DeLuxe with the preamp fonction, or direct ?

 

[TheMiddleSky]

Just want to add that Cen Grand Deluxe also working "perfectly" in my system that consist of tube amp and raal immanis. It still amaze me how organic and natural the tonality from Deluxe, combine with expansive soundstage and fluid transient.

 

[geoffalter11]

Are you using the Cen.Grand DeLuxe with the preamp fonction, or direct ?

Direct personally. However, with my Pure BiPolar I use the preamp function so I can lower the volume as that amp has ridiculous amounts of power and my D8K Pro's are below 9 when using fixed.