[thisbenjamin]

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[tonycheung]

Hi all,

I am a DA11 user from China. I've own this machine since March of this year, and would like to share my experience.

Basically, you cannot go wrong with this machine at this price point. I have compared this machine with DAC1, M902 and an old dbx Quantum II processor (as a DAC only), and quite happy with the DA11 with either headphone out (with HD650 and HD800) or as a DAC/preamp to pair with Dynaudio BM6A and JBL LSR4328 monitors.

For line out, the sound of DA11 might sit into between the M902 and DAC1: not as soft as m902 and not as tight and bright as DAC1. I did not do the extensive compare but just feel that DA11 fits my ear better.

I also compared side by side the headphone out of M902/DA11, driving the HD650 and HD800. For my ear the DA11 is the winner, with more convining bass and transparent mids. The M902 is soft, with smooth highs but it is too thin in the mids to my ears.

I did not have a chance to do a side-by-side headphone output comparison with DAC1.

What I like:
- Compact and solid build, easy to move and place
- The sound quality is good, as mentioned by other users, "transparent", and with deep bass.
- The controll need some time to get use to, but once you are experienced, the operation is actually very fast.

What I don't like
- The quality of the headphone jack could be better. My headphone jack become noisy now, when I insert the plug, I sometimes need to twist it several times to get reliable contact, otherwise the sound of L/R is not balanced.
- The quality of the switch could be better. For example, when I use the PIC, by 1 click, the indicator sometimes goes 2 or even 3 clicks away!

- I know it is designed for professional use. But I still miss a dedicated RCA output to connect to whatever needed, such as another headphone amplifier . So I don't have to pull out the XLR cables connected to monitor speakers, and set the pin3 muted, then do it over again when I need to use the speaker again!
- I am looking for a bit more power, and bass control for the headphone out, for a solid, deep and fast bass replay from HD650 and especially HD800.
- I have several case of the USB signal lost problem, especially for 24bit/96K tracks. During the playback, the signal lost, and something like pink noise from the output.

. I am using not fancy but not bad dual-filter USB cables, and only DA11 and the mouse is using the USB ports on my IBM T60.

 

[USAudio]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonycheung /img/forum/go_quote.gif ... - I have several case of the USB signal lost problem, especially for 24bit/96K tracks. During the playback, the signal lost, and something like pink noise from the output. . I am using not fancy but not bad dual-filter USB cables, and only DA11 and the mouse is using the USB ports on my IBM T60.

You should send this feedback to Lavry Technical Support, they're looking for this kind of info right now in fact:
Lavry Engineering - View topic - Lavry DA11: random glitches with USB playback at 24/88 only

 

[thisbenjamin]

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[danne]

I thought the built in amp sounded abit thin when I tried it out at our mini meet here in Stockholm.
The details was there, the soundstage was there, but it just feelt abit thin. (Using the HD800).
The DAC seemed very nice but I dont know if I would settle for the built in amp alone.

 

[Jeremy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by danne /img/forum/go_quote.gif I thought the built in amp sounded abit thin when I tried it out at our mini meet here in Stockholm. The details was there, the soundstage was there, but it just feelt abit thin. (Using the HD800). The DAC seemed very nice but I dont know if I would settle for the built in amp alone.

Maybe my ears have adjusted to it, but I don't find the built-in amp thin at all on the DA11. I find it remarkably detailed and musical. I was concerned about finding it thin ... until I used it for a few hours.

Having said that, I have tried my DA11 with the DNA Sonett (tube amp) for several hours on more than one occasion. It is an extremely seductive combination. The DNA Sonett is a stunning amp in this old timer's humble opinion and I may have to let the moths out of my wallet yet again..

 

[insyte]

@OP - very nice review and description of the DA11

How well does the built-in amp pair with the HD650?

 

[danne]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy /img/forum/go_quote.gif Maybe my ears have adjusted to it, but I don't find the built-in amp thin at all on the DA11. I find it remarkably detailed and musical. I was concerned about finding it thin ... until I used it for a few hours. Having said that, I have tried my DA11 with the DNA Sonett (tube amp) for several hours on more than one occasion. It is an extremely seductive combination. The DNA Sonett is a stunning amp in this old timer's humble opinion and I may have to let the moths out of my wallet yet again..

Agreed with the Sonett, it was my fav amp with the HD 800 at the meet.
But dont you think going from the Sonett back to the built in amp makes it feel thin?

 

[Jeremy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by danne /img/forum/go_quote.gif Agreed with the Sonett, it was my fav amp with the HD 800 at the meet. But dont you think going from the Sonett back to the built in amp makes it feel thin?

Perhaps a little, but I find added detail from the DA11 amp. However, the Sonett provides a full, rich, yet surprisingly neutral sound. It's hard to beat. It's one of those cases where I'd be totally happy with the DA11 built-in amp, if only I hadn't heard the DA11 with the Sonett.

Hmmm, what to do...

 

[thisbenjamin]

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[thisbenjamin]

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[Donald North]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thisbenjamin /img/forum/go_quote.gif neutral and tube don't belong in the same sentence current designs push the feedback, and otherwise coloring nature of the tube down to levels never before possible but that isn't to say they're not without impact on the sound.

Tubes don't have an intrinsic coloring nature. It's all how you use them.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f133/a...ml#post6047246

 

[thisbenjamin]

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[Donald North]

First, I would like to say that I've heard the DA11 a few times at Jeremy's place, and it is a very good dac through both the line and headphone output.

Yes, I've read that post on his forum. While I disagree with some of his comments, another thread is the better venue for such discussions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by thisbenjamin /img/forum/go_quote.gif whats the point of using tubes if you have a next to no distortion, as you say in the parts per million? What benefit in that case does it have over a quality solid state design?

Now this is the $64K question.

I've heard and read some theories, but don't have a concise and definitive answer. The short answer is: Triodes sound better to me. I go by what I hear and this is what got me into tubes. Of course, to each his own, and most importantly: Listen for yourself and go with what sounds best to you.

 

[thisbenjamin]

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