[musicman59]

Hi Steve,
So, are you going for one??? I ordered my black just because of the rest of my equipment in the rack where this will be placed is also black.
 
 

 

[grokit]

I want DarkStar power with Apache preamp features 

 

[musicman59]

Quote:

I want DarkStar power with Apache preamp features 

Maybe a Dark Star MkII

 
 

 

[Audio Addict]

Quote:

Hi Steve,
So, are you going for one??? I ordered my black just because of the rest of my equipment in the rack where this will be placed is also black.
 
 

Ray hasn't convince me yet.  I would need to get rid a few other RSA products like my Stealth and Raptor before could buy the Dark Star.  I did order AphroditeCu29 umbilical power connector for my Apache as Robert indicated this would make a substantial improvement to it.  I am also seriously contemplating having AphroditeCu29 hardwire a Zeus adapter cable to my HE-6s and then get a 12 foot Zeus cable to connect to the adapters.  That way I can switch the Zeus cable to other headphones, which I know the HE-6  has the best connection with it being hardwired.
 

 

[musicman59]

Quote:

Ray hasn't convince me yet.  I would need to get rid a few other RSA products like my Stealth and Raptor before could buy the Dark Star.  I did order AphroditeCu29 umbilical power connector for my Apache as Robert indicated this would make a substantial improvement to it.  I am also seriously contemplating having AphroditeCu29 hardwire a Zeus adapter cable to my HE-6s and then get a 12 foot Zeus cable to connect to the adapters.  That way I can switch the Zeus cable to other headphones, which I know the HE-6  has the best connection with it being hardwired.
 

I am doing the same thing. Robert is bulding an umbilical cord for my DS and I actually have his hardwired HE-6 at home to make an A/B conparison to my Zeus/HE-6 with connectors. I am almost sure I will end up sending mine back with his to hardwire them mith my Zeus balanced cable so basically I will have the same configuration you are thinking of.
 

 

[musicman59]

My new toy arrived yesterday!!! 

Here are some pictures of it. Due to space restrictions in height I did not stack the amplification unit on top of the power supply unit. They power supply is in a different cabinet of the wall unit next to the amplification unit. The supplied umbilical cord was long enough 

 


 
The sound is very clean, detailed musical and powerful.... I am loving it!
 
 

 

[Yaska]

Need impression Dark star with T1 balanced

 

[musicman59]

Will do it over the weekend..
 

 

[Audio Addict]

Quote:

My new toy arrived yesterday!!! 

Here are some pictures of it. Due to space restrictions in height I did not stack the amplification unit on top of the power supply unit. They power supply is in a different cabinet of the wall unit next to the amplification unit. The supplied umbilical cord was long enough 

 


 
The sound is very clean, detailed musical and powerful.... I am loving it!
 
 

The umbilical Robert is making will have to be fairly long.  He was trying to keep me under 2 feet.  How long will yours need to be?
 

 

[musicman59]

Yes, the shortest the better but since I don't have the space to stack mine in my case I need it 3 feet long which is shorter than the stock cord anyway.
 

 

[Audio Addict]

Quote:

Yes, the shortest the better but since I don't have the space to stack mine in my case I need it 3 feet long which is shorter than the stock cord anyway.
 

 
I think mine for the Apache is supposed to be 18 to 24 inches.  I will find out when it arrives.
 
 

 

[musicman59]

Quote:

Need impression Dark star with T1 balanced

I just finished a listening session with the DS and my T1. I can summarize the sound with one word.....magnificent!
Over the years I have had several different solid state amplifiers. The list is: Channel Island Audio VHP=1/VAC-1, Stello HP-100, Headamp GS-1. Rudistor RPX-33 MkII, Violectic V200, RSA Apache and Rudistor RP010B MkII. in addition to those I have right now a loaner of the Luxman P-1.
 
IMO the DS is the best sounding amp of all with the Apache and the luxman in a very close second. After those the two Rudistor follow. The biggest difference between the RSA amps and the Rudistor is the floor nosie. The RSA amps are dead quiet while the Rudis have some distinguishable low floor noise. The Rudis are warmer and musical and the RSA are clean, precise but without being analitical at all. What I really like is that the sound is coming out from a very black background.
 
The bass out of the T1 is amazing. Very deep, fast controlled and impactful. What I listen to Hotel California from "Hell Freezes Over" was like when I listen to that track through my big speaker system and feel the bass right on my chest. Same kind of authority feeling with the DS and T1. The mid range is very natural and clean sounding. Listening to Diana Krall in "The Look of Love" was like having her right there in front of me. The highs presentation is very crisp, clean, defined and with not fatiguing feeling at all. 
 
The soundstage presentation is very holographic with excellent instrument and voices separation. Each element has it own place. The presentation is very wide and with multiple layers in depth.
 
Just to clarify. You need to use the DS on the low gain setting with any dynamic headphones and use the high gain for the planars. It has more than enough power in both setting for each kind of headphones.
 
In conclusion, I am very happy with the DS. The build quality is excellent, the design is beautiful, the flexibility to drive any kind of headphones is awesome and the sound magnificent... what else anybody would ask?
I don't know how many of the first run with the promotional price Ray has left and at $2,995 certainly is not cheap but IMO worth every penny. 
I can say that my search for a top tier solid state amplifier most likely ends here. 

 
 
 

 

[principd]

musicman59, how do your HE -6 play with the DS?

 

[musicman59]

The HE-6 are the reason why I bought the DS. They sound basically at the same high level as they do out of my Threshold T50 (50 watts/ch Class A) speakers amp.
I have tried them with the WA5-LE, Liquid Fire, RP010B MkII, Lyr and V200. To me the DS is the best headphones amplifier for the DS.

 

[grokit]

Has anybody heard a K1000 out of the Dark Star?
 
Separately, has anybody heard a balanced Havana through one?