[woolybugger]

I've been following this thread for some time. I just order one of these dacs this week. Here's the response I received from Kevin when I questioned whether the dac that I ordered would have the resistor changes:

"No change! I do not agree to change to solve problem from 'wrong' record. Clipping is not problem from dac but from records with too high basal output.
We spent all week to study this problem. We made final decision, we decide to keep out design and its sound charactristic. Some records will hear clipping, we give up."

So there you go.

 

[paara]

Reported (the spam on previous page)

 

[darwinshardhat]

I can fix my DAC and save money on Viagra all in the same thread? WHAT A DEAL! Forums really do have all the answers.

Thanks for the extra description on how to solder. That is how I envisioned it. I don't think I need to do the mod as I am not hearing any clipping... at least none being caused by the DAC. Crap recordings however, do cause me no end of frustration.

 

[Shark_Jump]

What is the typical FSD (max pk-pk) of a typical CD? If only a fraction of a second of a song goes > -3db then does it really matter if the signal occasionally clips?

Obviously if you're a thrash metal fan the whole song is FSD in which case perhaps the Valab is not for you

 

[oqvist]

but silence is music as well! In some music there is intentional gaps when no sound is applied and if it´s not silent then it ruins the music. Otherwise it´s just plain annoying. I do also feel that there is some noise while actually playing but it gives kind of an analogue feel to it so that doesn´t bother me as much

 

[Shark_Jump]

Quote:

Originally Posted by oqvist /img/forum/go_quote.gif but silence is music as well! In some music there is intentional gaps when no sound is applied and if it´s not silent then it ruins the music. Otherwise it´s just plain annoying. I do also feel that there is some noise while actually playing but it gives kind of an analogue feel to it so that doesn´t bother me as much

Sorry are we talking about the same thing here?

I was talking about the clipping issues, this only happens in the loud bits.

I don't think clipping is what is giving you your noise issues in the quite bits, that is a separate problem.

Im actually having noise issues with mine, in fact there is so much noise I can hardly hear the music. I have been try to organize a return with Valab for the last 12 days.

 

[Sire]

Like Shark_Jump i'm having noise issues and Kevin didnt answer our replies.

Teradak tell me that hiss issues were reported from the countries using 230~ 240 power system like mine ( Spain ) so maybe in the other countries it will be ok.

 

[Angsila]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcolak /img/forum/go_quote.gif Where am I coming from? I forgot to mention that I also have Gigalabs Moon DAC. The combination of Gigalabs Moon DAC, NuForce Icon (as an amplifier) and JBL S312II is... well... really good! The only problem is, I cannot use the DAC with my CD player or squeezebox (without attenuating the signal) because of the clipping, so, I don't get to enjoy the DAC in my main system with Klipsch RF83 and two NAD C370 as monoblocks That's why I wanted to buy me a Valab DAC, thinking, it won't clip. Unfortunately, it shares the same problem that Gigalabs Moon DAC has.

Are you bragging or making excuses?

 

[PatOMalley]

Been playing the Legacy Edition of Santana III. An opportunity for clipping no doubt. But nada. I am bragging. I love the damn thing. I bought Santana III CD and I have the Lp. The VALAB DAC is a midrange monster. Bass, yep yep yep. And extension topend, yep yep. But a phattly populated midrange is where the chingoletta is.

390ohm and stayin' there!

 

[Kooka]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatOMalley /img/forum/go_quote.gif 390ohm and stayin' there!

Absolutely yes (for the ones who listen to music and not to test signals).

 

[colleycol]

Guys,

I just ordreed a VALAB for my computer setup.

I am ordering a passive preamp as well but I need to know the output voltage of my source so they can customize it for my system.

Luminous Audio Technology - Axiom Passive Preamp

I am suing a macbook pro to the VALAB. Would I use the VALAB or th emacbok pro voltage? Where would I find this data?

Thanks for any help.

 

[adriaan243]

"No change! I do not agree to change to solve problem from 'wrong' record. Clipping is not problem from dac but from records with too high basal output.
We spent all week to study this problem. We made final decision, we decide to keep out design and its sound charactristic. Some records will hear clipping, we give up."

It seems Valab made an "artistic" decision!
They made a choice for what is in their opinion better sound.
But from a technical point of view they are wrong, no decent CD player or DA converter will clip before the 100% level.
Clipping should only occur in a real overload situation, the 0 level.
In classical music and jazz this does not happen very often and most mastering engineers avoid the 100% level, but -3db and even -2 and minus 1db are quite normal and in some cases like rock and pop engineers push the CD level to the maximum and in these cases clipping noises may occur in this DAC.
So actually hearing clipping or not may depend on your musical taste.
The choice is simple: 330 ohm for those who have clipping problems and 390 ohm for those who seem to prefer the sound with the 390 ohm resistor.

 

[cloverp]

just recieved my valab dac today, the only problem i have is the volume icon on the task bar keeps flashing between mute and no mute, it doesnt affect playback or anything, just a bit annoying, not sure if anyone else have this problem

 

[Angsila]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kooka /img/forum/go_quote.gif Absolutely yes (for the ones who listen to music and not to test signals).

You mean they assume what the eye sees the ear hears.

 

[Angsila]

Quote:

Originally Posted by adriaan243 /img/forum/go_quote.gif "No change! I do not agree to change to solve problem from 'wrong' record. Clipping is not problem from dac but from records with too high basal output. We spent all week to study this problem. We made final decision, we decide to keep out design and its sound charactristic. Some records will hear clipping, we give up." It seems Valab made an "artistic" decision! They made a choice for what is in their opinion better sound. But from a technical point of view they are wrong, no decent CD player or DA converter will clip before the 100% level. Clipping should only occur in a real overload situation, the 0 level. In classical music and jazz this does not happen very often and most mastering engineers avoid the 100% level, but -3db and even -2 and minus 1db are quite normal and in some cases like rock and pop engineers push the CD level to the maximum and in these cases clipping noises may occur in this DAC. So actually hearing clipping or not may depend on your musical taste. The choice is simple: 330 ohm for those who have clipping problems and 390 ohm for those who seem to prefer the sound with the 390 ohm resistor.

Good point, do you also think that hearing clipping may depend on the system the DAC is placed in and at what decibel level (90dB, 115dB ...) did you hear the clipping?