[dgbiker1]

I was looking at these two DACs and they look pretty much identical. I was just wondering what the difference is between the two? It looks like they use the same DAC and OpAmps. The only difference I see is that the D2.5a has RCA inputs?

I'm leaning towards the D2.5a right now since Obad sells an upgraded OpAmp version that's only about $20 more shipped than the Zero. Of course that logic assumes the D2.5a and Zero were equals to begin with.
EDIT: Link to the upgraded D2.5a- Zhaolu D2.5a DAC & Headphone Amp

I really don't care about headphone amp differences since I'll be feeding the line-out to my little dot mkIII.

Sorry if this has been posted before, but after looking through 15 pages of search results and almost finding my answer in the ZERO review thread, I've come up with nothing

 

[strangedaze39]

Also would like to here about this. I wanted to get an oritek modded 2.5a but was also thinking about just buying myself a zero or normal 2.5a and modding it myself to oritek quality is that cheaper and not hard to do ?

dg I also agree with you if you not looking to upgrade the dacs yourself the pre modded zhaolu looks like your best bet.

 

[dgbiker1]

strangedaze: someone sent me a PM recommending the Beresford DAC (Home HIFI). Yet another one to add to the mix

Looking at pure specs, the D2.5A looks like it's better than the Zero simply because of the extra outputs (I'm guessing a fixed and variable instead of only a fixed?) and extra set of nicer opamps for $20. I'll probably still end up taking it apart anyways to upgrade anything else I can get my hands on

EDIT: It looks like the Beresford would be better stock, but the D2.5A is the most upgradeable of the 3... I think?

 

[d-cee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by strangedaze39 /img/forum/go_quote.gif modding it myself to oritek quality is that cheaper and not hard to do ?

well, unless you know how to design discrete output stages, probably not. the OMZ is a bit more than just replacing parts

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgbiker1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif strangedaze: someone sent me a PM recommending the Beresford DAC (Home HIFI). Yet another one to add to the mix Looking at pure specs, the D2.5A looks like it's better than the Zero simply because of the extra outputs (I'm guessing a fixed and variable instead of only a fixed?) and extra set of nicer opamps for $20. I'll probably still end up taking it apart anyways to upgrade anything else I can get my hands on EDIT: It looks like the Beresford would be better stock, but the D2.5A is the most upgradeable of the 3... I think?

oh really, the username of said user didn't start with an H and end with erandu did it? lolololol!!!

 

[dgbiker1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by d-cee /img/forum/go_quote.gif oh really, the username of said user didn't start with an H and end with erandu did it? lolololol!!!

Hmmm, it did. Judging by the fact you were able to guess that probably means I should take that recommendation with a bit of salt huh?

 

[d-cee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgbiker1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hmmm, it did. Judging by the fact you were able to guess that probably means I should take that recommendation with a bit of salt huh?

Yes, although the 7510 is probably quite good. Someone's promoting it is getting out of hand.

I'd probably report it to a forum moderator as well. Suspicious activity for sure...

 

[strangedaze39]

D-cee thats so funny !!

, that same ... person has been coming to me and recommending that as well (pretty much out of the blue) Even when I'm talking about 350usd dac's that would be his top choice. Anyways not to get paranoid (they're watching !)

 

[dgbiker1]

D-Cee, it looks like you know quite a bit about the Oritek mod. Do you know why they put a toroidal transformer in series with the output rca jacks? That seems very strange

 

[Herandu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgbiker1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif D-Cee, it looks like you know quite a bit about the Oritek mod.

That was worth repeating

.

 

[mrarroyo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgbiker1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif D-Cee, it looks like you know quite a bit about the Oritek mod. Do you know why they put a toroidal transformer in series with the output rca jacks? That seems very strange

Perhaps it is due to mounting trannies at odd angles!

Sorry, I could not resist.

 

[Herandu]

Anyone ever played the Philips test discs SBC429 and SBC442 through one of these and then observed the waveform output on a scope? Try the frequencies below 6500Hz and above 10KHz. Take note of the 0dB gain variations as well.

 

[dgbiker1]

Herandu: Do you have any idea what components they're using in the Beresford. Their site doesn't list any of the components they use. I'm specifically interested in which DAC chip they use.

 

[Ori]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgbiker1 why they put a toroidal transformer in series with the output rca jacks?

It's just an input transformer.
Quote:

Originally Posted by Herandu /img/forum/go_quote.gif That was worth repeating .

You're such an... oh, forget it.
D-Cee bought one of the first D2 units I modded and paid for each and every little thing I sent him. What exactly is your "problem"?

 

[mrarroyo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ori /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's just an input transformer. You're such an... oh, forget it. D-Cee bought one of the first D2 units I modded and paid for each and every little thing I sent him. What exactly is your "problem"?

He needs attention!

 

[dgbiker1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ori /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's just an input transformer.

I've never seen that before. What does it do to the sound? I usually just think of transformers as changing the voltage<>current relationship.