Experience with the X-DAC v3

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blitzula I'll be the dissenting opinion. I owned one for a few weeks didn't care for the X-Dac V3 much at all. It was always harsh, and never settled down as I would have hoped.

Really.. Can't certain phones, cables, amps remedy that problem a bit?

 

[spraggih]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blitzula I'll be the dissenting opinion. I owned one for a few weeks didn't care for the X-Dac V3 much at all. It was always harsh, and never settled down as I would have hoped.

Interesting... what DAC are you now using?

 

[Blitzula]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kool bubba ice Really.. Can't certain phones, cables, amps remedy that problem a bit?

I'd assume so, just like any other piece of equipment synergy is important. I think I had the SR-80/RA-1 at the time. The old standys are there for a reason...you have to listen to it with your equipment and own ears.

I'd rather have something that really grabs me initially and may need some minor tweaks rather than trying to fix something that doesn't move me to begin with.

The only DACs I have experience with are this one and the DAC1, which was overly bright when I listened to it at the music shop.

 

[happyangryhappy]

Wow the regular MusicDirect price of these has gone down to $599 now. Hmmm

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spraggih I have heard you mention this Little Pinkie thing before - does it come completely assembled? What is the cost? It sounds like (no pun intended) you have compared the Little Pinkie and XDAC sound to the XDAC and wallwart sound - is this also true?

Henry, I ordered my Pinkie earlier this week..

I will PM you the results.. From what I hear its made with better components then MF's XPSU & sounds better as well.. You also save 220.00 bucks.. I might buy another Pinkie if I get the Tube buffer..

 

[spraggih]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kool bubba ice Henry, I ordered my Pinkie earlier this week.. I will PM you the results.. From what I hear its made with better components then MF's XPSU & sounds better as well.. You also save 220.00 bucks.. I might buy another Pinkie if I get the Tube buffer..

Cool. Can't wait to hear. With another day of listening in (for a grand total of 2 days

) I can say the tube buffer truly works. It smooths out things without losing details and adds a positive "soundstaging thinga" to the music. I think the tube buffer is better than the DAC.

On the other end (again) I mention value - the tube buffer does a good job but with the X-DAC it's a lot of money - gotta wonder two things:

1) On some recordings things do not sound like anything special - I am sure these is because of the quality of the recordings. So I have to ask myself if recordings are poorer quality then good equipment mattereth not.

2) Sounds really good on other recordings but is this the best - without A/B testing I will wonder especially given how some others speak so highly of their components - how it sounds like nirvania on electrical power. Music sounds really good and makes me want to continue to listen but the original feeling I experienced some time ago with the SR60 it is not. But then again the SR225 did not give me that feeling (except on some guitar cuts) and the K701 did not give me that feeling (except on some strings and instrument separation). Maybe there is an initial bang (woo-how) and components express their strengths and make everything else sound good (not woo-how but good).

 

[steaxauce]

I think the X-DAC must be the best product for the money, with the X-10 and X-PSU, that is, because I much prefer it to the only comparable product I've tried, the Lavry DA10. But note that the X-!0 can be used with ANY DAC, not just the X-DAC.

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by steaxauce I think the X-DAC must be the best product for the money, with the X-10 and X-PSU, that is, because I much prefer it to the only comparable product I've tried, the Lavry DA10. But note that the X-!0 can be used with ANY DAC, not just the X-DAC.

Some guy on Audiogon is selling the DACx3/X103/XPSU for only 900.00!!

 

[kool bubba ice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by spraggih Cool. Can't wait to hear. With another day of listening in (for a grand total of 2 days ) I can say the tube buffer truly works. It smooths out things without losing details and adds a positive "soundstaging thinga" to the music. I think the tube buffer is better than the DAC. On the other end (again) I mention value - the tube buffer does a good job but with the X-DAC it's a lot of money - gotta wonder two things: 1) On some recordings things do not sound like anything special - I am sure these is because of the quality of the recordings. So I have to ask myself if recordings are poorer quality then good equipment mattereth not. 2) Sounds really good on other recordings but is this the best - without A/B testing I will wonder especially given how some others speak so highly of their components - how it sounds like nirvania on electrical power. Music sounds really good and makes me want to continue to listen but the original feeling I experienced some time ago with the SR60 it is not. But then again the SR225 did not give me that feeling (except on some guitar cuts) and the K701 did not give me that feeling (except on some strings and instrument separation). Maybe there is an initial bang (woo-how) and components express their strengths and make everything else sound good (not woo-how but good).

I'm getting the X10 modded by Benny.. He only lives 40 miles from my place..

 

[SK138]

Modding X10 is well worth it and it really enhances the sound with cap changes. I got an older X10 cheap on eBay and change the caps, diode, and put some Russian tubes. Now it sounds amazing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kool bubba ice I'm getting the X10 modded by Benny.. He only lives 40 miles from my place..

 

[spraggih]

Yeah - I think the tube buffer is pretty cool - especially how I forgot to mention how it adds weight and sprint to bass. Bass is weighty but has speed (oxymoron right) and does not reverbrate (sp?).