Battle of titans My attatchment to r2r or ring DAC technology over conventional ready made DAC chips.
The just sounded fuller and smoother but just as detailed.
Esoteric N-05XD and Holo May.
Modern streaming DACs provides a more compact solution. Did I mention the silver mental work and engraved Esoteric logo is at a historical artifacts level.
A compact streaming DAC with preamp function actually saved up a few extra box includes the streamer, DDC USB box, power bricks. Less things to worry about.
OMG. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but to this eye that is a poster child of butt ugly. However, it has the vinyl covered particle board cabinet and the opportunity to assemble it with indecipherable instructions going for it.
With USB-only power, this thing has the potential to completely redefine what are considered acceptable levels of wow and flutter! Presumably it’s a very low-torque belt drive system with a lightweight platter.
Frankly, we are talking 80s Amstrad levels of performance here (at best!)… I’m amazed it comes with a MM cartridge, rather than a ceramic!
It was a good idea (still is), and could have been done so much better. As it is, it looks like it’s going for the Crosley market.
I would have gone for a modern, minimalist design in the Dieter Rams idiom and dropped in a Chinese-made direct drive system… Something like one of the entry-level Audio-Technica decks in a nice package, with line level, headphone and Bluetooth outputs. It would have hit a different market segment, but I am convinced that the volume potential is there.
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