If interested, the story on the GaNFET mono's on 6-moons is continuing... Tomorrow should be the launch I think (April 4th, the article names April 11?). https://6moons.com/audioreview_articles/laiv-ganm/
They say Laiv is the first Chinese company to bring a GaNFET mono amplifier to market. Funny how even very knowledgeable reviewers like 6-moons don't know everything since the SMSL PA200 has been out for months now. Yet I haven't seen 1 review.
Will check it out. My email stated 4/11. Even though I love my Rose RA180, I like what Laiv is doing. I also have the Peachtree GaN1 and ClassD Mini GaN 5. All very nice spread out in various rooms/systems.
I received my µDDC today (after ordering it only TWO NIGHTS ago!!!). Listened to one of my usual test tracks and then connected it to my Harmony DAC and replayed the track. FWIW, I don't think that a reclocker can improve the performance of an already excellent DAC.
I was SO WRONG.
It took about half the track playback to hear significant improvement in middle-range precision and prominence, more full-bodied and defined bass response, and (slightly) wider and deeper soundstage. Everything just reflected an increased live, acoustical instrumental/vocal presence. (That first test track was "Sinatra at the Sands," "Come Fly with Me." Love that Quincy Jones arrangement. Using Zen Stream USB output until Laiv releases a streamer.)
The real ear-opener was moving to classical music and hearing the smooth and rich reproduction of a violin section (which pretty generally sounds thin with most setups.) As a former section violinist and after a decade as a professional classical music critic (with hundreds of live performances reviewed), I intimately know what a live, richly textured string section sounds like. This was it.
If you have the Harmony DAC and $850 burning a hole in your pocket, IMO, you won't be disappointed by adding the µDDC to your system.
I received my µDDC today (after ordering it only TWO NIGHTS ago!!!). Listened to one of my usual test tracks and then connected it to my Harmony DAC and replayed the track. FWIW, I don't think that a reclocker can improve the performance of an already excellent DAC.
I was SO WRONG.
It took about half the track playback to hear significant improvement in middle-range precision and prominence, more full-bodied and defined bass response, and (slightly) wider and deeper soundstage. Everything just reflected an increased live, acoustical instrumental/vocal presence. (That first test track was "Sinatra at the Sands," "Come Fly with Me." Love that Quincy Jones arrangement. Using Zen Stream USB output until Laiv releases a streamer.)
The real ear-opener was moving to classical music and hearing the smooth and rich reproduction of a violin section (which pretty generally sounds thin with most setups.) As a former section violinist and after a decade as a professional classical music critic (with hundreds of live performances reviewed), I intimately know what a live, richly textured string section sounds like. This was it.
If you have the Harmony DAC and $850 burning a hole in your pocket, IMO, you won't be disappointed by adding the µDDC to your system.
I received my µDDC today (after ordering it only TWO NIGHTS ago!!!). Listened to one of my usual test tracks and then connected it to my Harmony DAC and replayed the track. FWIW, I don't think that a reclocker can improve the performance of an already excellent DAC.
I was SO WRONG.
It took about half the track playback to hear significant improvement in middle-range precision and prominence, more full-bodied and defined bass response, and (slightly) wider and deeper soundstage. Everything just reflected an increased live, acoustical instrumental/vocal presence. (That first test track was "Sinatra at the Sands," "Come Fly with Me." Love that Quincy Jones arrangement. Using Zen Stream USB output until Laiv releases a streamer.)
The real ear-opener was moving to classical music and hearing the smooth and rich reproduction of a violin section (which pretty generally sounds thin with most setups.) As a former section violinist and after a decade as a professional classical music critic (with hundreds of live performances reviewed), I intimately know what a live, richly textured string section sounds like. This was it.
If you have the Harmony DAC and $850 burning a hole in your pocket, IMO, you won't be disappointed by adding the µDDC to your system.
I couldn't agree more! I said much the same in an earlier post, not as well put as yours though. It seems that the violin section is particularly difficult to reproduce, maybe all those individual vibratos (vibrati?)
I received my µDDC today (after ordering it only TWO NIGHTS ago!!!). Listened to one of my usual test tracks and then connected it to my Harmony DAC and replayed the track. FWIW, I don't think that a reclocker can improve the performance of an already excellent DAC.
I was SO WRONG.
It took about half the track playback to hear significant improvement in middle-range precision and prominence, more full-bodied and defined bass response, and (slightly) wider and deeper soundstage. Everything just reflected an increased live, acoustical instrumental/vocal presence. (That first test track was "Sinatra at the Sands," "Come Fly with Me." Love that Quincy Jones arrangement. Using Zen Stream USB output until Laiv releases a streamer.)
The real ear-opener was moving to classical music and hearing the smooth and rich reproduction of a violin section (which pretty generally sounds thin with most setups.) As a former section violinist and after a decade as a professional classical music critic (with hundreds of live performances reviewed), I intimately know what a live, richly textured string section sounds like. This was it.
If you have the Harmony DAC and $850 burning a hole in your pocket, IMO, you won't be disappointed by adding the µDDC to your system.
Does the Laiv DAC have an I2S mode like the µDAC? See my post in the µDAC thread. The µDAC allows selection between I2S: Local and I2S (External). I preferred using the external clock from the Holo Red.
For others interested in a DDC, I noticed a difference with my Red + uDAC. At first, I was using the I2S mode set to "Local." I switched to I2S, and I noticed an overall improvement, clearer sound, better imaging, and tighter bass, like removing a veil (overused, Ik).
With the local clock, the sound felt a bit boomy, but switching to I2S with an external clock tightened it up. I believe this is the intended purpose of a DDC. Having Local as the default doesn’t seem right, I can see multiple users connecting it and not switching to external. The Local mode doesn’t sound bad at all, but with I2S and an external clock, it sounds even better!
I recommend that users comparing USB vs. I2S ensure they switch to I2S instead of leaving it on Local mode.
Srajan spoke of 'sino brands' like Kinki, Denafrips etc. I think SMSL falls under the same moniker. And they already brought out the PA200 that seems to have gone under the radar. I know Jay Lee has a pair and will review them soon. He is very enthusiastic about them.
I just did a little experiment yesterday since my old 4xTDA1543 DAC and the Fosi ZD3 use the same 12V and coax input. So it's easy to swap. That Philips chip is a real oldie from the 80-ies, however it's an R2R that can do 96kHz. Now I fed it with a clean signal from a CCHD957 clock in my upgraded Akliam DDC6.
What I immediately noticed is how natural it sounds. Especially the midrange, vocals and presentation. Width, depth and precision are not as great, due to the old chips, but much improved over listening without DDC6. That little dac cost me €50 then and is the size of a packet of cigarettes. But still pretty good.
Sometimes it's good to recalibrate your memory of what you listened to years before.
I threw out a new post asking about the Matrix Audio stuff (NT-1, TT-1). Anyone have any intel on these devices. I'm going to sell my A8 and looking for a stand alone streamer/transport. Too anxious to wait for the new Laiv offering.
Maybe AXPONA will reveal some more info/tidbits. Just want a solid streamer that feeds the Harmony via I2S.....
I received my µDDC today (after ordering it only TWO NIGHTS ago!!!). Listened to one of my usual test tracks and then connected it to my Harmony DAC and replayed the track. FWIW, I don't think that a reclocker can improve the performance of an already excellent DAC.
I was SO WRONG.
It took about half the track playback to hear significant improvement in middle-range precision and prominence, more full-bodied and defined bass response, and (slightly) wider and deeper soundstage. Everything just reflected an increased live, acoustical instrumental/vocal presence. (That first test track was "Sinatra at the Sands," "Come Fly with Me." Love that Quincy Jones arrangement. Using Zen Stream USB output until Laiv releases a streamer.)
The real ear-opener was moving to classical music and hearing the smooth and rich reproduction of a violin section (which pretty generally sounds thin with most setups.) As a former section violinist and after a decade as a professional classical music critic (with hundreds of live performances reviewed), I intimately know what a live, richly textured string section sounds like. This was it.
If you have the Harmony DAC and $850 burning a hole in your pocket, IMO, you won't be disappointed by adding the µDDC to your system.
I couldn't agree more! I said much the same in an earlier post, not as well put as yours though. It seems that the violin section is particularly difficult to reproduce, maybe all those individual vibratos (vibrati?)
LOL I've heard this a few times, even in the Denafrips forums regarding their DDCs.... oh they're not going to make a difference to oh, snap what a difference.
They do make a difference - the background becomes darker (cleaner) so there's more detail and clarity, and the bass tightens up more.
This from a Denafrips Pontus 15th owner with the Hermes DDC.
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