Featured Sponsor Listings

Channel Islands VDA-1 w/ VAC-1 first impressions / review

Jul 9, 2005 at 1:27 AM Post #31 of 68
Guilty as charged
frown.gif
For GS...

* Can you measure the width of the front panel
4 3/8 "
* Measure distance between the two front feet
3 7/8" outer length
* Measure distance between the front and rear feet
3 1/4" outer length

IMG_0663Medium.jpg
 
Jul 9, 2005 at 2:43 AM Post #33 of 68
Dano1122, how does the VDA-1 compare to the Benchmark DAC1?
 
Jul 9, 2005 at 6:48 AM Post #34 of 68
oh man, it's been a long time since i had the dac1. they are both very good dacs with clean, detailed, rich sound. i never felt the dac1 was worth $975. the vda is up there with the dac1, definetly in the same league, can't really say if it's not equal in quality cause i can't a/b them.
 
Jul 10, 2005 at 2:43 AM Post #36 of 68
Yesterday I was able to borrow a friends DAC1 from his studio and do a bit of a side by side comparison with my VDA/VAC.

to keep it short and simple I found the DAC1 to have a slight edge in clarity but what seemed to me to be at the sacrifice of presence, as it sounded a bit thin to me.

the VDA/VAC combo, while maybe not as refined, was still pretty clear, fun and detailed and still managed to keep a good bottom end.

I would say the DAC1 is for the analytical listener where as the VDA/VAC is more fun and relaxing (enjoyable)

...now for the fun stuff... this afternoon I busted open my VDA and modded the opamp with some OPA627s... I honestly must say it now sounds almost identical to the DAC1... so close I cant really say which I really like more... the VDA did lose some of its bottom end but it is a lot more clean and accurate in the bottom end now then it was and at about $400 less then the DAC1

so to close, I would have to highly recommend the VDA/VAC (cant comment on the VDA alone as I do not have the walwart for it) it is a great DAC and at half the cost of the DAC1 it is a bargain. It by no means performs at half the level of the DAC1 and with a simple opamp mod (which some may or may not like) you can hardly distinguish the two.

I am more then content with my setup now! The next upgrade wont be until I can pick up a Maxed MPX3 or a Supra (which is some time off
icon10.gif
).. even then that is the only thing I will change in my current rig.

icon10.gif


VDA/VAC highly recommended? I would say so!

... now to see if I will stick with the stock op amp or the 627s...still not convinced I like the 627s more.
 
Jul 10, 2005 at 2:46 AM Post #37 of 68
Is this with the HD600/650 coming straight out of the headphone jack of the DAC1? Or did you do DAC1 --> PPX3 --> headphone?
 
Jul 10, 2005 at 2:46 AM Post #38 of 68
Quote:

Originally Posted by grandenigma1
Yesterday I was able to borrow a friends DAC1 from his studio and do a bit of a side by side comparison with my VDA/VAC.

to keep it short and simple I found the DAC1 to have a slight edge in clarity but what seemed to me to be at the sacrifice of presence, as it sounded a bit thin to me.

the VDA/VAC combo, while maybe not as refined, was still pretty clear, fun and detailed and still managed to keep a good bottom end.

I would say the DAC1 is for the analytical listener where as the VDA/VAC is more fun and relaxing (enjoyable)

...now for the fun stuff... this afternoon I busted open my VDA and modded the opamp with some OPA627s... I honestly must say it now sounds almost identical to the DAC1... so close I cant really say which I really like more... the VDA did lose some of its bottom end but it is a lot more clean and accurate in the bottom end now then it was and at about $400 less then the DAC1

so to close, I would have to highly recommend the VDA/VAC (cant comment on the VDA alone as I do not have the walwart for it) it is a great DAC and at half the cost of the DAC1 it is a bargain. It by no means performs at half the level of the DAC1 and with a simple opamp mod (which some may or may not like) you can hardly distinguish the two.

I am more then content with my setup now! The next upgrade wont be until I can pick up a Maxed MPX3 or a Supra (which is some time off
icon10.gif
).. even then that is the only thing I will change in my current rig.

icon10.gif


VDA/VAC highly recommended? I would say so!

... now to see if I will stick with the stock op amp or the 627s...still not convinced I like the 627s more.


Ooooo.
 
Jul 10, 2005 at 2:51 AM Post #39 of 68
Quote:

Originally Posted by Teerawit
Is this with the HD600/650 coming straight out of the headphone jack of the DAC1? Or did you do DAC1 --> PPX3 --> headphone?


with the PPX3... I tried the DAC1 only and did not like it compared to the tube goodness...

... also if I were going to be comparing the two it would not be fair as the VDA/VAC does not have a built in amp as well.


... on a side note I am very tempted to bust open the DAC1 and see if anything cant be done as it is sitting here in front of me
icon10.gif
 
Jul 10, 2005 at 2:54 AM Post #40 of 68
There are a ****LOAD of mods that can be done on the VDA-1 afaik! Check out www.audioasylum.com , and do a search for 'VDA'. There were a lot of threads the last time I checked. Can't wait for your impressions.. and thanks for the DAC1 A/B, saved me about $400.
 
Jul 10, 2005 at 2:55 AM Post #41 of 68
The DAC1 is very moddable.

This is slightly OT to the original thread -- but does the DAC1's cold and analytical character match well to the Senns' warm and dark nature?
 
Jul 10, 2005 at 2:56 AM Post #42 of 68
Think I will be swaping in some Blackgates in the next few days as well.. gotta see what I have around.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teerawit
The DAC1 is very moddable.

This is slightly OT to the original thread -- but does the DAC1's cold and analytical character match well to the Senns' warm and dark nature?


personally I thought the DAC1 was a bit too much... however ICs, and other various cables and or mods more then likely could make it at great match!
 
Jul 10, 2005 at 2:57 AM Post #43 of 68
Quote:

Originally Posted by grandenigma1
Think I will be swaping in some Blackgates in the next few days as well.. gotta see what I have around.


I wish I had soldering skills... sigh.
 
Jul 10, 2005 at 3:00 AM Post #44 of 68
Quote:

Originally Posted by akwok
I wish I had soldering skills... sigh.


Its not hard at all honestly... I just picked it up a few months ago while I was bored at school... Its been maybe 3 months and I am pretty confident in doing most anything.
 
Jul 10, 2005 at 3:01 AM Post #45 of 68
Quote:

Originally Posted by akwok
I wish I had soldering skills... sigh.


Try a DIY cmoy or some interconnects. I've never soldered before, but I'm going to try some DIY to learn
icon10.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top