swt61
Dr. Wood
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2005
- Posts
- 5,308
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ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT:
Hifidiy.net top loading CD transport
Four Channel Balanced β22 Headphone Amp
Tice Audio MB3 Power Conditioner
Heavily modded AKG K340 with balanced Black Clover cables by Fitz
AKG K240 Sextett with balanced Black Clover cables by Fitz
“Chocolate Donut MkII” custom woody orthodynamic with balanced Black Clover cables by Fitz
Black Clover balanced interconnects, Signal Cable Silver Resolution digital coax cable, looser101 digital coax cable, Virtual Dynamics Power3 power cord, Enigma Audio power cord, Signal Cable Magic power cord.
THE OPUS:
I’ve spent a little over a month with my new “Epic Opus” DAC, and I think I’m ready to give some impressions.
First off many different variants of the Twisted Pear Audio Opus DAC can be built, so let me detail my particular build. My Opus employs dual differential configuration. Not being an electronics whiz by any means I’ll let someone else explain the design philosophy, but to drastically simplify that means it uses two of the Twisted Pear Audio Opus DAC boards instead of one. My Opus also has an LC Audio Zapfilter MkII discreet output stage installed. The Zapfilter MkII is a high end analog stage that offers both single ended and true balanced outputs, and the kit contains its own dedicated power supply.
The Zapfilter is a very highly regarded analog stage, and it most certainly brings its own sound signature to the mix. Those of you expecting to hear what an Opus DAC sounds like may be in for a surprise, as the two may sound quite different indeed. I have not heard the Opus DAC with its own, or the Ballsie output stages, so I can’t comment on the difference there. Maybe the builder of my DAC (fierce_freak) will comment, as he had another unZapped Opus on hand to compare to.
Most of my comparisons will be to the Lavry DA10 that I’m looking after for a friend, and some will be from memory of my Zapfiltered Zhaolu D2C that I owned in the past.
LISTENING:
I first played Diana Krall “The Look Of Love” all the way through on the Opus, and then repeated this procedure with the Lavry.
The most obvious discrepancies were in the soundstage, imaging and bass response.
While I loved the Lavry when I briefly owned one about 18 months ago, it’s up against a formidable foe in the Opus. The soundstage of the Opus was noticeably wider and deeper. The imaging of the Lavry while quite good was outdone by the Opus as well. The Opus has the ability to pinpoint instruments in a three dimensional field better than the DA10.
Bass response has always been a strong suit of the Zapfilter, it was incredible how the Zapfilter transformed the bass of the Zhaolu D2C, and it’s certainly present in the Opus as well. The bass is clearly deeper than the Lavry, and noticeably tighter as well. One thing I do have to give the Lavry is in treble extension, I think it eaks out the Opus just a tad, though both do a very nice job.
KD Lang’s “Season Of Hollow Soul” yielded a remarkably wide soundstage out of the Opus, and an overall more lively sound. The Lavry seemed to be going through the motions by comparison. Alison Krauss’ “A Hundred Miles Or More” was a bit of a mixed bag. While the bass response of the Opus was superior to the Lavry, and the soundstage was deeper with a lushness I found very involving, the sparkle of the Lavry’s treble was very pleasing. Michael Buble’s “Call Me Irresponsible” clearly favored the Opus. The soundstage and imaging really came to the forefront, and the lively nature of the Opus just couldn’t be duplicated by the DA10.
I find my Stereophile Test CD 2 to be a fantastic reference when comparing equipment, and again with the exception of the treble response of the Lavry, the Opus was the clear victor.
SUMMATION:
While both the Lavry DA10 and the Twisted Pear Audio Opus are DACs that deliver stellar performance in the price range, I clearly have to give the nod to the Opus for its lively engaging signature, and its incredible imaging and soundstage.
Both DACs as configured are right in the $975.00 neighborhood, and unless you value that last smidgeon of treble sparkle above all else, my recommendation would be the Zapfiltered Opus.
Hifidiy.net top loading CD transport
Four Channel Balanced β22 Headphone Amp
Tice Audio MB3 Power Conditioner
Heavily modded AKG K340 with balanced Black Clover cables by Fitz
AKG K240 Sextett with balanced Black Clover cables by Fitz
“Chocolate Donut MkII” custom woody orthodynamic with balanced Black Clover cables by Fitz
Black Clover balanced interconnects, Signal Cable Silver Resolution digital coax cable, looser101 digital coax cable, Virtual Dynamics Power3 power cord, Enigma Audio power cord, Signal Cable Magic power cord.
THE OPUS:
I’ve spent a little over a month with my new “Epic Opus” DAC, and I think I’m ready to give some impressions.
First off many different variants of the Twisted Pear Audio Opus DAC can be built, so let me detail my particular build. My Opus employs dual differential configuration. Not being an electronics whiz by any means I’ll let someone else explain the design philosophy, but to drastically simplify that means it uses two of the Twisted Pear Audio Opus DAC boards instead of one. My Opus also has an LC Audio Zapfilter MkII discreet output stage installed. The Zapfilter MkII is a high end analog stage that offers both single ended and true balanced outputs, and the kit contains its own dedicated power supply.
The Zapfilter is a very highly regarded analog stage, and it most certainly brings its own sound signature to the mix. Those of you expecting to hear what an Opus DAC sounds like may be in for a surprise, as the two may sound quite different indeed. I have not heard the Opus DAC with its own, or the Ballsie output stages, so I can’t comment on the difference there. Maybe the builder of my DAC (fierce_freak) will comment, as he had another unZapped Opus on hand to compare to.
Most of my comparisons will be to the Lavry DA10 that I’m looking after for a friend, and some will be from memory of my Zapfiltered Zhaolu D2C that I owned in the past.
LISTENING:
I first played Diana Krall “The Look Of Love” all the way through on the Opus, and then repeated this procedure with the Lavry.
The most obvious discrepancies were in the soundstage, imaging and bass response.
While I loved the Lavry when I briefly owned one about 18 months ago, it’s up against a formidable foe in the Opus. The soundstage of the Opus was noticeably wider and deeper. The imaging of the Lavry while quite good was outdone by the Opus as well. The Opus has the ability to pinpoint instruments in a three dimensional field better than the DA10.
Bass response has always been a strong suit of the Zapfilter, it was incredible how the Zapfilter transformed the bass of the Zhaolu D2C, and it’s certainly present in the Opus as well. The bass is clearly deeper than the Lavry, and noticeably tighter as well. One thing I do have to give the Lavry is in treble extension, I think it eaks out the Opus just a tad, though both do a very nice job.
KD Lang’s “Season Of Hollow Soul” yielded a remarkably wide soundstage out of the Opus, and an overall more lively sound. The Lavry seemed to be going through the motions by comparison. Alison Krauss’ “A Hundred Miles Or More” was a bit of a mixed bag. While the bass response of the Opus was superior to the Lavry, and the soundstage was deeper with a lushness I found very involving, the sparkle of the Lavry’s treble was very pleasing. Michael Buble’s “Call Me Irresponsible” clearly favored the Opus. The soundstage and imaging really came to the forefront, and the lively nature of the Opus just couldn’t be duplicated by the DA10.
I find my Stereophile Test CD 2 to be a fantastic reference when comparing equipment, and again with the exception of the treble response of the Lavry, the Opus was the clear victor.
SUMMATION:
While both the Lavry DA10 and the Twisted Pear Audio Opus are DACs that deliver stellar performance in the price range, I clearly have to give the nod to the Opus for its lively engaging signature, and its incredible imaging and soundstage.
Both DACs as configured are right in the $975.00 neighborhood, and unless you value that last smidgeon of treble sparkle above all else, my recommendation would be the Zapfiltered Opus.
