EdipisReks
Banned
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2004
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- 14
i've got a few hours on the DAC, and i'm comfortable making my very early, first impressions known. first, a couple pics i got from google images. i'll try to get my hands on a digicam and post pics of how the DAC looks in my rig as soon as possible.
the DAC is full rack length and about half the depth of a typical CD player. it weighs quite a bit for its size, and feels like it is one solid piece of metal. i think it looks great. the only complaint i have is that the LEDs are bright, but i don't sit directly in front when i listen, so it's no big deal.
now, to the sound. i haven't listened long enough to feel comfortable going into too much detail, but this DAC is great. it's super dynamic, with the blackest background i've ever heard with my set up. the amp is very smooth, but it's smoothness that comes from a complete lack of grain or glare, not the smoothness that comes from lack of dynamics. imaging is spot on. listening to a string quartet, for instance, the positioning of each instrument is completely intuitive.
the sound stage is broad (that's really saying something, since i use Grados), but it never seems artificial or incoherent. detail is out of this world but, as there is no inherent harshness or etch, the detail doesn't smack you in the face the way it does with some sources. the general tone is very rich, but it isn't overly warm or sweet. basically, i would say that the tone is very natural in general.
this amp has PRaT in spades. bass lines are easy to follow, even in busy music, and the bass itself is deep and super tight, but capable of being absolutely huge when the music calls for it. snare drums snap and cymbals sparkle. picked guitars pop just right at the beginning of each note, and the initial tonguing of reed instruments sounds like what i remember from sitting in orchestras. one thing i very much enjoy about it, so far, is the fact that the bass, mids and treble flow together with no breaks. many otherwise fine sources i've heard exhibit this break, with the mids and treble sounding slightly apart from each other. balance and naturalness are the words i would use with this DAC. the DAC just kind of disappears into the music without seeming to really impart a signature of its own. in that way it's very much like the HP-2s. i love it.
i'll post more specific details as i get to know the nuances better.
the DAC is full rack length and about half the depth of a typical CD player. it weighs quite a bit for its size, and feels like it is one solid piece of metal. i think it looks great. the only complaint i have is that the LEDs are bright, but i don't sit directly in front when i listen, so it's no big deal.
now, to the sound. i haven't listened long enough to feel comfortable going into too much detail, but this DAC is great. it's super dynamic, with the blackest background i've ever heard with my set up. the amp is very smooth, but it's smoothness that comes from a complete lack of grain or glare, not the smoothness that comes from lack of dynamics. imaging is spot on. listening to a string quartet, for instance, the positioning of each instrument is completely intuitive.
the sound stage is broad (that's really saying something, since i use Grados), but it never seems artificial or incoherent. detail is out of this world but, as there is no inherent harshness or etch, the detail doesn't smack you in the face the way it does with some sources. the general tone is very rich, but it isn't overly warm or sweet. basically, i would say that the tone is very natural in general.
this amp has PRaT in spades. bass lines are easy to follow, even in busy music, and the bass itself is deep and super tight, but capable of being absolutely huge when the music calls for it. snare drums snap and cymbals sparkle. picked guitars pop just right at the beginning of each note, and the initial tonguing of reed instruments sounds like what i remember from sitting in orchestras. one thing i very much enjoy about it, so far, is the fact that the bass, mids and treble flow together with no breaks. many otherwise fine sources i've heard exhibit this break, with the mids and treble sounding slightly apart from each other. balance and naturalness are the words i would use with this DAC. the DAC just kind of disappears into the music without seeming to really impart a signature of its own. in that way it's very much like the HP-2s. i love it.
i'll post more specific details as i get to know the nuances better.
