Quote:
rincewind believe me I'm the last person looking at white paper specs, I probably couldn't decipher even half of what's given to me, I'm definitely using my ears
You're right I did have the DAC1 in my system and I was incredibly disappointed by its performance. However I also owned a Bel Canto DAC2 that I was pleased with, but it did suffer from "hardness" that might be a stereotypical characteristic of U/S DACs. I also heard a modded DAC-AH (I can't recall exactly what they were, but they were very simple according to the owner) and I was definitely not thrilled with its performance compared to the DAC2. On classical and jazz pieces the DAC-AH did lack the high frequency sweetness, air and depth to the notes. On sitar from the high upper midrange/lower treble upwards the instrument sounded dull, muted and recessed, definitely not how it sounds in real life (I did do side by side comparisons, but this was something that was incredibly obvious). I then set out looking for a sort of middle ground between the two. I finally settled on the Lavry DA10, and so far it's just gelled really well in my system. If you look at my two "reference" headphones they're definitely more analytical and very revealing of upstream gear, as such I've sort been on the perfect <digital> source quest for a while now. I don't think I fall into the typical "Lavry or the Benchmarks or most of what noobs on here refer to as top notch" that you referred to earlier.
I did a lot of research at a few other hifi forums and from everything I've read the new U/S DAC I have coming to me should have a truly "analog" signature (granted it's not cheap) with excellent extension on both ends. I should have a detailed write up in two to three weeks time.
| Originally Posted by rincewind /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, if you say you listen with your ears, but still let tests and IC specifications make decisions for you (ie you consider them at all), then stay with OS - they are MUCH MUCH better ON PAPER. J-Pak, the bass on my NOS DACs went deeper and clearer than any OS DAC I've heard (barring the Theta) and the treble is more sweet, clear and airy than anything else I've heard. I think you've had the Benchmark and other stuff and weren't quite happy with it. You should try a good quality NOS DAC - a DAC-AH with the minor imperfections corrected is VERY cheap, can't hurt to try for yourself. They make my headphone and speaker systems sing like nothing else. Or ask Jahn about his DAC-AH - Why on earth would someone whose heard so much gear (the ever changing tower of power) 'settle' on something if it's apparently so bad? A NOS DAC was one of the few purchases I've made that 'fly in the face' of common known 'fact' as far as specifications and such go, and it was the BEST purchase I've ever made - audio or otherwise. |
rincewind believe me I'm the last person looking at white paper specs, I probably couldn't decipher even half of what's given to me, I'm definitely using my ears
You're right I did have the DAC1 in my system and I was incredibly disappointed by its performance. However I also owned a Bel Canto DAC2 that I was pleased with, but it did suffer from "hardness" that might be a stereotypical characteristic of U/S DACs. I also heard a modded DAC-AH (I can't recall exactly what they were, but they were very simple according to the owner) and I was definitely not thrilled with its performance compared to the DAC2. On classical and jazz pieces the DAC-AH did lack the high frequency sweetness, air and depth to the notes. On sitar from the high upper midrange/lower treble upwards the instrument sounded dull, muted and recessed, definitely not how it sounds in real life (I did do side by side comparisons, but this was something that was incredibly obvious). I then set out looking for a sort of middle ground between the two. I finally settled on the Lavry DA10, and so far it's just gelled really well in my system. If you look at my two "reference" headphones they're definitely more analytical and very revealing of upstream gear, as such I've sort been on the perfect <digital> source quest for a while now. I don't think I fall into the typical "Lavry or the Benchmarks or most of what noobs on here refer to as top notch" that you referred to earlier.
I did a lot of research at a few other hifi forums and from everything I've read the new U/S DAC I have coming to me should have a truly "analog" signature (granted it's not cheap) with excellent extension on both ends. I should have a detailed write up in two to three weeks time.
