Tuberoller1
Member of the Trade
- Joined
- May 20, 2011
- Posts
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Tried a few USB to coax converters with the EE dac, the V-Link is a must. I vastly improves the already refined sound
Tried a few USB to coax converters with the EE dac, the V-Link is a must. I vastly improves the already refined sound
Yea good thing about the silverplate is that it retains the SS clarity (and most of its speed) but adds liquidity to the mids while making the soundstage larger.
I see you no longer have the Buffalo32. Can you compare your older DAC with the MiniMax a bit?
Despite using the same DAC chip (ESS9018) these two DACs sound quite different. The B32 is gone because I strongly prefer the Minimax (mine's modded...info in profile).
-Tone is more natural...the B32 was cooler and leaner in comparison.
-More liquid (both SS and tube output). The B32 was definitely drier.
-Soundstage was the Buffalo's strong suit, yet I feel the Minimax still has the edge here. (Soundstage is greatly affected by opamps...with stock opamps, I think the soundstage is a bit smaller than the B32)
-Though the sound can be changed significantly with opamps, I feel the EE DAC is almost invariably fuller sounding.
The gap between the two widens even moreso when comparing the USB inputs. I really didn't like the USB implementation of the TPA Buffalo DACs. (I normally use coax from jkeny HiFace).
A friend asked me about the EE in comparison to the y2 and B32 and I told him that the EE really combines the things I liked about both DACs...
The Minimax is great for those that don't mind the almost infinite sound possibilities you can get changing the tube or changing the opamp's, give's one total control over the final output. For some this is too much and they want just a stand alone dac with a finite sound. I love the Minimax because I can tailor my sound any way I want. hahaha even though at times it drives me crazy
its a tweakers dream
Having spent more time with the AD823, I have to say it is "almost" the right chip.
Positives: Sweet upper mids, clear midrange, full and controlled bass. This chip gets the tone right and it is dynamic. Instrument separation is excellent with a lot of air around individual performers.
Negative: The soundstage is huge but oddly shaped. It is extremely wide but has little depth. In addition, I get the feeling I am on stage with the performers. I can "see" them to my left and right and slighly in front of me. At times they are behind me. It is somewhat disconcerting.
I would love to find an opamp that sounds like the AD823 but with a deeper (and pushed back) soundstage.
Despite using the same DAC chip (ESS9018) these two DACs sound quite different. The B32 is gone because I strongly prefer the Minimax (mine's modded...info in profile).
-Tone is more natural...the B32 was cooler and leaner in comparison.
-More liquid (both SS and tube output). The B32 was definitely drier.
-Soundstage was the Buffalo's strong suit, yet I feel the Minimax still has the edge here. (Soundstage is greatly affected by opamps...with stock opamps, I think the soundstage is a bit smaller than the B32)
-Though the sound can be changed significantly with opamps, I feel the EE DAC is almost invariably fuller sounding.
The gap between the two widens even moreso when comparing the USB inputs. I really didn't like the USB implementation of the TPA Buffalo DACs. (I normally use coax from jkeny HiFace).
A friend asked me about the EE in comparison to the y2 and B32 and I told him that the EE really combines the things I liked about both DACs...
Can I ask....do any of you guys use your Minimax with a amplifier and speakers?? If so, do you also use a preamp or only the MM??
Can I ask....do any of you guys use your Minimax with a amplifier and speakers?? If so, do you also use a preamp or only the MM??
Can I ask....do any of you guys use your Minimax with a amplifier and speakers?? If so, do you also use a preamp or only the MM??