Firestone Spitfire MKII (16/48 USB + coax/toslink 24/96 S/PDIF DAC): Unboxing & First impressions

[leeperry]

I've done quite a bit of rolling in this thing, and LT1028ACN8 really has what I'd call an "hyperbolic hifi colored sound", it kicks your --- for a while! the SS is amazing and hyperrealist, the bass is thick(and bloated), the mids seem to "glow"...yay! but after more A/B'ing, its coloration becomes harder and harder to bear IME.
 
It took me some time to get used to it, but I'm glad to be enjoying "audio grade" chips again because the most amazing opamp I've heard so far clearly is OPA1641. It's the least colored sound I've heard and whatever the bass response, the mids, the SS width/depth or the level of details are just amazing.
 
Its datasheet recommends it for pro audio mixers and high end bluray players...if that's what they put in the Oppo's, I fully understand all the hype and that some ppl call those high-end DAC's "cold" and "sterile  sounding"....that's the bizzaro world version of tube stages. It really amplifies the unforgiving analytical nature of PCM1793...the GIGO principle very much applies, especially in combnation w/ monitoring grade headphones and a low jitter transport.

 

[leeperry]

just received those: http://www.auzentech.com/site/products/opamp_LME49710HA.php
 
I'll solder them and give them a shot.

 

[sep297]

I have just got my hands on the spitfire Mk II and supplier and I am so far impressed. It has made my computers music listenable on my main stereo system. I currently use it with an airport express and a myriad MCD 200 cd player. I use mainly my speakers Proac D15, but I am coming round to using y headphones more now I am listening to more music. The small boxes of the Firestone system is also ideal to fit in with my existing system.
 
I am off course now looking to upgrade including the Op amps and probably a bravo unit.
 
However, would I be better off buying a Fubar 4+ for its up sampling dac especially with the sale coming up. It would have a use for the spitfire on my second system
Or
Should I just keep upgrading my spitfire as a dedicated solution it is better than the fubar.
 
How would this upgraded rig compare to something like a musical fidelity M1
 
Many Thanks In Advance
 
Stuart
 

 

[leeperry]

The Fubar4 is using an uber-cheapo and very noisy pot, a very poor CMI108 USB chip and it goes through a mandatory 192kHz upsampling that cannot be disabled....better get yourself a Bravo and one or two Supplier's + some high opamps such as AD797B or LT1028AC IMHO