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What is the best DAC I can buy (Used or New) for around 2K

Sep 11, 2016 at 11:56 PM Post #16 of 56
john2e said:
 
They also have a Manhattan not sure of the difference
I read member Musicman59 mention it and he is very knowledgeable.
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Manhattan is $5k, so it's out of my price range. It also has the preamp with phono stage built in. I don't know really why they are doing this.
I don't know, back in the day an "all in one" device was considered low end. Times have changed for sure...
 
Sep 12, 2016 at 12:11 AM Post #17 of 56
I have been researching the Lampizator Amber and Euforia. I like the idea of a completely DSD device and having all my PCM files converted on the fly by the computer. However, the demands on CPU processing are large.
 
I also like the simplicity of these designs. Does the Amber 2 still use the ESS Sabre 9018 chip?
 
Sep 12, 2016 at 6:47 AM Post #18 of 56
http://mytekdigital.com/storeus/index.php/st192dsd-dac-s-p.htmlQuote:
crooner said:
  I have been researching the Lampizator Amber and Euforia. I like the idea of a completely DSD device and having all my PCM files converted on the fly by the computer. However, the demands on CPU processing are large.
 
I also like the simplicity of these designs. Does the Amber 2 still use the ESS Sabre 9018 chip?
Click to expand...


My Soundaware A100pro will not convert PCM to DSD but point seems moot due to the Amber II 's ability to do PCM. It says auto detect PCM and DSD in classfolkphile's post
 
Mytek has another but also has pre amp. It is  on sale $1,095  http://mytekdigital.com/storeus/index.php/hifi/st192dsd-dac-b-p.html
 
I am not sure if the dac converts everything to DSD. It uses Sabre 9018
seems like a good price point to hold me over until MQA becomes the norm (Big if thou)
 
Sep 12, 2016 at 8:15 AM Post #19 of 56
crooner said:
  I have been researching the Lampizator Amber and Euforia. I like the idea of a completely DSD device and having all my PCM files converted on the fly by the computer. However, the demands on CPU processing are large.
 
I also like the simplicity of these designs. Does the Amber 2 still use the ESS Sabre 9018 chip?
Click to expand...


No, it doesn't use a Sabre chip anymore.
 
"•Completely new, better digital engine by Lampizator (versus Sabre kit previously)".
 
As I understand it, you can always convert your PCM files to DSD on your computer and send them as such to the Amber II if you choose.
 
Sep 12, 2016 at 9:35 AM Post #20 of 56
classfolkphile said:
 
No, it doesn't use a Sabre chip anymore.
 
"•Completely new, better digital engine by Lampizator (versus Sabre kit previously)".
 
As I understand it, you can always convert your PCM files to DSD on your computer and send them as such to the Amber II if you choose.
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So no native PCM?
 
Sep 12, 2016 at 9:37 AM Post #21 of 56
classfolkphile said:
  The Amber has been replaced by the Amber II:
 
NEW in 2016 Amber2 model:
•Completely new, better digital engine by Lampizator (versus Sabre kit previously)
•Better, Auto detect DSD and PCM on Amanero, not XMOS
•USB input plus RCA S/PDIF (versos Toslink previously) . 
•up to 128 x DSD, up to 385 kHz PCM with perfect muting of arterafcts
•better output - PureCopper Lampizator branded caps (versus Tin foil previously)
•Better Ecc802, Ecc99 and Ecc82 tubes
•Better improved Amber tube output stage (taken from our famous Level 4 DAC)
•fully Integrated, better digital section PSU
•New dedicated Toroid transformer designed especially for this model (bigger and better regulated)
•115 or 230 V or dual voltage versus fixed mains.
 
I just ordered one.
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This seems to indicate PCM in the auto detect sentence 
confused.gif
 
 
Sep 12, 2016 at 10:06 AM Post #22 of 56

Yes, the Amber II does native PCM. It also does native DSD. But I believe you can also optionally have your computer convert PCM to DSD if you so choose.
 
The Euforia only does DSD (natively or converted).
 
Sep 12, 2016 at 10:19 AM Post #23 of 56
classfolkphile said:
 
Yes, the Amber II does native PCM. It also does native DSD. But I believe you can also optionally have your computer convert PCM to DSD if you so choose.
 
The Euforia only does DSD (natively or converted).
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thanks 
 
Impressions when you receive it please!!!!
 
Sep 12, 2016 at 10:20 AM Post #24 of 56
Thanks. Apparently PCM sounds better when previously converted to DSD, so that would be the appeal of a DSD only DAC such as the Euforia. 
However, I am using a very old Netbook using an Atom processor, so it cannot handle PCM to DSD conversion on the fly. It does work remarkably well with standard DSD playback up to 128x and also DXD.
 
Sep 12, 2016 at 1:23 PM Post #28 of 56
crooner said:
  I wonder what kind of native DSD processing does the Amber II perform?
The boards don't appear elaborate enough to support discrete ladder processing...
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I don't know. I really haven't had any interest in DSD to date as I found SACDs - despite having wonderful dimensionality and tone - to be very fatiguing after about half an hour. Something about the highs. Some of the digital engineers on AA have said that the extended bandwidth is adversely affected by noise from EMI & RFI.
 
The PCM decoding is delta sigma, unlike some (all?) of the more expensive Lampizators which are R2R.
 
Sep 18, 2016 at 9:26 AM Post #29 of 56
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