New Dac

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Fretless
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Re: New Dac

Unread post by Fretless »

antonio66 wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2021 2:33 am Well done Fretless, I look forward to your review and hope you like it. You'll have a nice little collection of dac's to choose from.
Thanks Antonio, this comment got me pondering a bit about myself; what is it with the obsession about DAC's, why do I have more of them than is necessary and why do they so dominate my attention?

The DAC is, for me, the 'heart' of a digital-based audio setup. It is the interface between the bitstream of zero's & one's and the pulsing soundwave that comes to your ears. The character of the DAC is what you hear from the speakers - how it deals with binary code to create music. The art is ensuring that the DAC receives the best-defined and synchronised digital information you can give it and then the output needs to get to the speakers in a way that least distorts it.

As someone who grew up with LP's and turntables, the classic 'analogue' sound is still my mental benchmark, I want my system to be as lifelike and vital as a vinyl source - but then with the ease and purity of computer tech. So my individual quest for Hifi nirvana focusses on the aspect of getting a chip-generated signal to create 'living' music .

It isn't about measurements or bit-perfect accuracy for me - I just want the music to touch my soul.



On that note, here is the order confirmation email I got from Vinshine - talk about quality control:


We would like take this opportunity to share with you some of the manufacturing processes the product went through prior shipping to you.

• Each assembled PCB will go through a first round of QAQC test includes visual check, power on to measure its parameters (THD%, SN Ratio, Frequency Response, etc).
• At this point in time, the bad PCB will be rejected, and the good PCB will proceed to assembly into the chassis, along with the power transformer, connectors.
• Burn in of 100hrs starts.
• Prior shipment, a comprehensive QAQC test with Audio Precision APX525 will be performed to ensure the measurements meet the requirements.
• On top of the measurement test, listening test of all supported sampling rate of PCM44.1-PCM1536, DSD64-DSD1024 will be performed via all input interfaces (USB/SPDIF/I2S/etc).
• Final visual check of the assembly and chassis will be done prior packing. As part of the continuous improvement, we have implemented serial number for each unit shipped.
• The package will be handed to the courier agent for shipping to the rest of the world. We ship via world-best courier services like DHL/FedEx/UPS with tracking.
• The tracking number will be provided once the order is shipped.

Our products are covered by 36 months warranty.

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
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Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
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Re: New Dac

Unread post by CN211276 »

Fretless wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2021 9:40 am The art is ensuring that the DAC receives the best-defined and synchronised digital information you can give it and then the output needs to get to the speakers in a way that least distorts it.

This is very true and I believe it boils down to two things.
1. The removal of muck or noise fjrom the digital path.
2. The CD 44kHz 16 Bit format being insufficient. I am of the opinion that ultrasonic frequencies have a bearing on what we hear , or preceive music, within the audible bandwith. I think the lack of a 44kHz cut off has a lot to do with the popularity of vinyl forty years after CD came along.
Main System
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Re: New Dac

Unread post by Fretless »

In this video review (which just happens to be for the Denafrips Ares) Dutch hifi expert Hans Beehuyzen explains incredibly clearly how an R2R ladder convertor DAC actually works - in a way that even I can understand.

Check it out from around the 5 min mark ....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05bH4m-XmfA

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: New Dac

Unread post by karatestu »

Thanks for this thread and all who contribute. When I eventually experiment with digital this thread and similar ones here will be my first port of call.
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Re: New Dac

Unread post by NSNO2021 »

FWIW I am still in love with my Ares 2. I am sure there are better DACs available if you have thousands to play with but sub £1k I think it's as good as anyone could reasonably hope for.
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Re: New Dac

Unread post by Fretless »

Now that's what I want to hear! :dance:

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: New Dac

Unread post by antonio66 »

This looked a great dac, wish I'd had the spare funds to put a bid in: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lite-DAC-83- ... 4038146159
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slinger (Mon Mar 08, 2021 11:31 am)

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Re: New Dac

Unread post by antonio66 »

Came upon this yesterday on pfm, and they have now released the S5, small link towards the bottom of the page, and there is a introductory price offer for those interested (Fretless :lol: ) https://www.audialonline.com/s4/
I must admit I would be very interested to hear this one, nice to buy from these smaller manufacturers/individuals who have designed something a bit special.

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Re: New Dac

Unread post by Fretless »

Audial S4, a NOS DAC built in Serbia!

Based on the venerable TDA1541 chip (regarded by some as the best-sounding digital conversion device ever) and with special attention given to serious power supplies.

Looks nice but not cheap - about the same price as a Denafrips Pontus.

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: New Dac

Unread post by Fretless »

Email in from Vinshine to tell that the Ares II has been shipped.

:epopc:
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antonio66 (Wed Mar 10, 2021 11:34 pm)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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