Forums - The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE!

Lon

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Philip K. D*ck

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Re: The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE!
Reply #30 - 04/12/10 at 20:56:45

wd,

At the end of January Steve talked about developing and offering a tubed power stage in a ZBox style case for use along with the Z-DAC. He didn't mention it, but perhaps he could add a variable output to that stage. . . .(?)

From this page, post 39

http://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1249180404/41

"Bottom line is that I have actually been enjoying the upsampling dac by itself with similar satisfaction to what I was getting from the NOS dac with at least both additional stages activated.

So I continue to move forward. Chassis will be here in another 4 weeks with any luck and then I'll be able to take pictures and make the web page.

I've changed my mind on the BLOCK1, BLOCK2, BLOCK3 naming scheme. The dac performs so well on it's own, that I don't want to indicate a need for more with it's name. I called it the ZDAC-1. This way I can also leave the name of the ZBOX alone. I'll just do the gain stage and call it the .... something... I'll figure that out at the last minute like I always do.

The thing is, all three components will be the same size and visually match each other. The ZBOX and the Gain Stage will be optional. Using the gain stage will simply add a touch of tube joy to the sound and give you control over the dynamics. The ZBOX will have little effect on dynamics but will relax the presentation and make the system as a whole more forgiving of less than top notch recordings.

-Steve"

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« Last Edit: 04/12/10 at 21:08:52 by Lon »

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Randy in Caintuck Seasoned Member Tube be ... or not tube be ... it's a no-brainer. Posts: 369	Re: The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE! Reply #31 - 04/16/10 at 18:43:20 Has anyone else received their ZDAC-1 yet ..... ? From what I understand, at least 9 have been ordered. Anticipation ..... Randy
Back to top	CEC TL-2 belt drive CD transport Camelot Uther / Anagram DAC Decware Model SE84C+ amplifier Greenvalve Audio Type 10 amplifier The Horns Parker Audio Troll Magnus speakers Open baffle towers - Hawthorne Augies, Visaton B200s and Heil Air Motion Transformers IP Logged

Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. D*ck Posts: 5268	Re: The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE! Reply #32 - 04/18/10 at 00:32:19 :) Still seems early for a lot of units to be out there yet to me Randy but I'd LOVE to see some reports.
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Lon

Seasoned Member

"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. D*ck

Posts: 5268

Re: The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE!
Reply #33 - 04/24/10 at 14:54:21

I'm excited to try this product out.

I'm sitting here listening to the best sound I've ever heard in my home. The Sony SCD-XA5400ES is really surprising me week after week as the Torii Mark III broke in, giving out truly dynamic and detailed and yet warm sound. It will be very interesting to compare the analog out of this player with the ZDAC-1 output! (Which should be easy to do as I can set it up so that all I need to do is toggle back and forth between the two on my Zbox with the two input option).

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« Last Edit: 04/24/10 at 14:58:43 by Lon »

Decware:ERR,HR-1,Styx,ZP3,CSP2+(2),Torii Mk III
PS Audio PWT and PWD Mk II,PowerBase (2), PPP,AC-12 pc
Sony BPD-S5000ES
Denon DCD-A100
Rega RP3+TTPSU,white belt and Exact2
Cryoset, VooDoo AudioICs
Mapleshade Samson v2+v3 and 4"platforms
Herbie's Audio Lab p

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Lon

Seasoned Member

"Love without
guts is
worthless!"
Philip K. D*ck

Posts: 5268

Re: The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE!
Reply #34 - 04/26/10 at 15:37:14

There's been a thread about the ZDAC-1 on the headfi board since the DAC was announced.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f7/decware-has-released-dac-zdac-1-a-480855/index5...

At first they were going all in the wrong direction about the machine due to the board being sourced from China, but they seem to have been straightened out.

Hopefully there will be some reviews soon!

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Decware:ERR,HR-1,Styx,ZP3,CSP2+(2),Torii Mk III
PS Audio PWT and PWD Mk II,PowerBase (2), PPP,AC-12 pc
Sony BPD-S5000ES
Denon DCD-A100
Rega RP3+TTPSU,white belt and Exact2
Cryoset, VooDoo AudioICs
Mapleshade Samson v2+v3 and 4"platforms
Herbie's Audio Lab p

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Randy in Caintuck Seasoned Member Tube be ... or not tube be ... it's a no-brainer. Posts: 369	Re: The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE! Reply #35 - 04/26/10 at 18:18:25 Yep ..... I am heading out for the HornFest on Thursday and then driving up to Michigan for the AK Fest for Saturday and Sunday. I was hoping to take the DAC-1 for "show and tell" ..... Steve really needs to crawl under the hollow tree and kick his elves in the butt to get them moving a little faster ..... Randy
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rmt Seasoned Member NIbbelin NFX Posts: 230	Re: The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE! Reply #36 - 04/27/10 at 02:25:53 Randy, what is the AK fest in Michigan?
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opnly_bafld Ex Member	Re: The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE! Reply #37 - 04/27/10 at 02:28:46 http://www.akfest.com/
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Randy in Caintuck Seasoned Member Tube be ... or not tube be ... it's a no-brainer. Posts: 369	Re: The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE! Reply #38 - 04/27/10 at 04:05:20 Yep ..... that would be it ..... Randy
Back to top	CEC TL-2 belt drive CD transport Camelot Uther / Anagram DAC Decware Model SE84C+ amplifier Greenvalve Audio Type 10 amplifier The Horns Parker Audio Troll Magnus speakers Open baffle towers - Hawthorne Augies, Visaton B200s and Heil Air Motion Transformers IP Logged

rmt Seasoned Member NIbbelin NFX Posts: 230	Re: The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE! Reply #39 - 04/28/10 at 00:19:59 Notice from UPS that my Zdac is on the way. I will have to find a way to take back my listening space from my kids. Been awhile since I have had the amps cookin! Is a Playstation 3 a good digital source?
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Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. D*ck Posts: 5268	Re: The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE! Reply #40 - 04/28/10 at 12:05:43 I got a shipping notice, but it may be the power cord I ordered? I didn't get any other notification. I've no experience with Playstations (would you believe I've never played a videogame or computer game?) but thy have a good reputation as a cd player.
Back to top	« Last Edit: 04/28/10 at 12:07:21 by Lon » Decware:ERR,HR-1,Styx,ZP3,CSP2+(2),Torii Mk III PS Audio PWT and PWD Mk II,PowerBase (2), PPP,AC-12 pc Sony BPD-S5000ES Denon DCD-A100 Rega RP3+TTPSU,white belt and Exact2 Cryoset, VooDoo AudioICs Mapleshade Samson v2+v3 and 4"platforms Herbie's Audio Lab p IP Logged

Randy in Caintuck Seasoned Member Tube be ... or not tube be ... it's a no-brainer. Posts: 369	Re: The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE! Reply #41 - 04/28/10 at 13:24:01 It looks like several shipping notifications have gone out ..... Let the fun begin ..... Randy
Back to top	CEC TL-2 belt drive CD transport Camelot Uther / Anagram DAC Decware Model SE84C+ amplifier Greenvalve Audio Type 10 amplifier The Horns Parker Audio Troll Magnus speakers Open baffle towers - Hawthorne Augies, Visaton B200s and Heil Air Motion Transformers IP Logged

Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. D*ck Posts: 5268	Re: The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE! Reply #42 - 04/28/10 at 14:02:33 Yeah, I notice I have to sign for this package due Friday, so it must include the ZDAC-1!
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waveydavey

Verified Member

Posts: 14

Re: The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE!
Reply #43 - 04/28/10 at 21:32:31

I totally would have gotten on board on that initial price for the first so many units sold etc, but I was really hoping for a variable output voltage like the ZCD .. I really don't want a preamp, and just want to keep things real simple.. Guess that's my fault for getting the Taboo that needs more to drive it than the others, although it's a great amp and I love it:)

So many systems I see seem to be so complicated with all sorts of cables and interconnects hooking various pieces together, it's just not how I want to go with my system etc..

All that said, it will be really interesting to read all your reports and impressions !! Exciting indeed!! :)

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« Last Edit: 04/28/10 at 21:34:42 by waveydavey »

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Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. D*ck Posts: 5268	Re: The DECWARE ZEN DAC-1 is HERE! Reply #44 - 04/30/10 at 15:15:35 WD, hopefully Steve will weigh in on the possibility of a stiffer output. I wonder if we'll see a Decware coaxial digital cable. Steve, do you recommend leaving the ZDAC-1 powered when not in use?
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