[achristilaw]

Just placed one on order. Wanted to upgrade. Needed something with Balanced Outs. Looked at the Dac1. It's the Darling at Stereophile. But all indications are that it might be to dry sounding for my tastes. Looked at Lavry. Actually gave them a call. Spoke to a Woman on the phone. She was smug and condesending. Not helpful at all. I was being treated like an inferior. I'm a stickler for good customer service. And wonderful product aside. They lost my business. I went for the PS Audio Digital Link III. When they answered the phone. They were happy to hear from me. And answered all my questions. And factory blessed upgrades are available. Needed something to mate with the Apache. Hope it foots the bill. The threads here have spoken kindly. And a couple of formal reviews looked positive. Will see. If not. There is the return policy.

 

[VicAjax]

i plan on getting this DAC too, with the Cullen mods, once the funds are raised.

i already have the matching Trio C-100 integrated.

 

[MrLA]

If you like Lavry DA10 DAC and need more output XLR and RCA, get Audio Research DAC-5. I have both atm, and can't tell the difference between the two DACs. Make sure you set the Lavry to 46 on volume display when do comarision.

 

[achristilaw]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLA /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you like Lavry DA10 DAC and need more output XLR and RCA, get Audio Research DAC-5. I have both atm, and can't tell the difference between the two DACs. Make sure you set the Lavry to 46 on volume display when do comarision.

That's something to keep in mind. And find on the used market. If later down the road. I need more flexability.

 

[achristilaw]

Quote:

Originally Posted by VicAjax /img/forum/go_quote.gif i plan on getting this DAC too, with the Cullen mods, once the funds are raised. i already have the matching Trio C-100 integrated.

Yeah! The Cullen mods. I am going to see. If I think they are necessary. The HUGE PSU. The discrete buffered output. And price. They were the factors that changed the tide. And gave the nod to the PS. You don't have to look to hard to find something wrong with digital. This is reported to have warmth with flesh. And manage to spring detail. How you liking your amp? Alan

 

[VicAjax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by achristilaw /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yeah! The Cullen mods. I am going to see. If I think they are necessary. The HUGE PSU. The discrete buffered output. And price. They were the factors that changed the tide. And gave the nod to the PS. You don't have to look to hard to find something wrong with digital. This is reported to have warmth with flesh. And manage to spring detail. How you liking your amp? Alan

i absolutely love the amp. it's tiny, but it's a powerhorse... 100 watts dual mono into 8ohms, 200 into 4. it's very smooth with oodles of detail, tight imaging and super-controlled bass... hypnotic. i was listening to Glenn Gould's performance of Bach's Goldberg Variations today, and got totally lost in it. same thing with So Percussion.

the only thing i heard in my auditions that sounded slightly better was a $3000 Prima Luna tube integrated that weighed about 80 pounds.

 

[achristilaw]

Quote:

Originally Posted by VicAjax /img/forum/go_quote.gif i absolutely love the amp. it's tiny, but it's a powerhorse... 100 watts dual mono into 8ohms, 200 into 4. it's very smooth with oodles of detail, tight imaging and super-controlled bass... hypnotic. i was listening to Glenn Gould's performance of Bach's Goldberg Variations today, and got totally lost in it. same thing with So Percussion. the only thing i heard in my auditions that sounded slightly better was a $3000 Prima Luna tube integrated that weighed about 80 pounds.

Great tube amps need heavy Iron. No way around it. Unless the conversation leads to OTL. The future of Class D. Is in infancy. It will Mature. In Ten years or less. It will be hard to find conventional Linear Push-Pull designs. Just got the email. UPS tracker notification. It's on it's way. Hooray!!

 

[soundfreq]

hi achristilaw. have you recieved your dac? any impressions so far?

 

[VicAjax]

for what it's worth, 6Moons has posted its review:

Stock DLIII vs. Cullen Circuits modded DLIII:

 

[soundfreq]

thanks vicajax for the link

 

[VicAjax]

Just ordered a Cullen L3 DLIII on Monday... waiting impatiently by the door!!!

 

[riceboy]

Please let us know how you like your DLIII

 

[Torero]

I'm waiting to buy the cullen dac, soon. I'm very impressed with the reviews of this dac:

PS Audio Digital Link 3 D/A Converter with Cullen Circuits Stage 4 Modification on 10 Audio
6moons audio reviews: PS Audio Digital Link III w. Cullen Circuits Stage Three Mod
PS Audio DLIII DAC with Cullen Circuits Stage III Modifications
Welcome to the Stereo Times

Do you think that the cullen dac is the best dac in your price range? I think Yes!!

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Not that impressed by the shot of internals comparing to other DACs in that price range. Even Pico looks busier inside.
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/p...trip_stock.jpg

And Stello Signature looks like a spaceship
http://www.hifi500.com/goods/images/...24159cont4.jpg

 

[VicAjax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew_WOT /img/forum/go_quote.gif Not that impressed by the shot of internals comparing to other DACs in that price range. Even Pico looks busier inside. http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/p...trip_stock.jpg And Stello Signature looks like a spaceship http://www.hifi500.com/goods/images/...24159cont4.jpg

I'm not sure that comparing the innards of two different DACs is really a wise method of picking one.

I just received my DLIII last night.

I've only had a few minutes to listen to it... and only very casually at that. But two things stand out to me immediately:

1. The musical, present bass. All the lower-register instruments become just that -- instruments. The bass, lower piano and kick drum are not just impactful thuds and vibrations, but clear and musical in a way I've never heard in my system.

2. The fact that everything sounds more "live" than recorded, with richness and immediacy.

Basically, it sounds like my system is finally a grownup. Having said that, I've only listened for about 30 minutes without being able to focus on it. So my impressions could change.