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https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> Dac recommendations please https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1656954141 Message started by Earthbound on 07/04/22 at 18:02:21 |
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Title: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/04/22 at 18:02:21 Im currently looking at Dacs and was wondering what you guys are using, if anything. The Primaluna Evo 100 gets phenomenal reviews but not much customer feedback. Anyone here have any experience with this model? Any benefits using a tube dac versus a solid state? Thanks in advance |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Donnie on 07/04/22 at 18:08:15 I'm a huge fan of Denafrips DAC's. My Ares II is phenomenal. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by CAJames on 07/04/22 at 18:39:36 What Donnie says. How much are you looking to spend? Any Denafrips would be a great choice at it's price point. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Kamran on 07/04/22 at 18:44:07 Love my Denafrips Ares II as well though thinking of moving up to the Pontus II eventually. I hear that’s the sweet spot of the Denafrips line. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/04/22 at 18:47:12 Thanks for the replies guys. The Denafrips has come up quite often in the forums as a good candidate. Would like to keep it below $3500. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by CAJames on 07/04/22 at 18:48:24 Any spot is the sweet spot on the Denafrips line IMO. I went back and forth and finally decided on the Terminator 2 and I'm happy I did. I later added a Gaia DDC and it is a nice upgrade as well. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/04/22 at 18:51:20 Also, I have some brightness on the high end which I was hoping the dac I choose could address. I have Zu Soul Supreme speakers which can accentuate the problem. Going to try Mullard imput and output tubes, replacing the Electro Harmonix el34’s. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/04/22 at 18:52:23 What is a Gaia ddc CAJames? |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by CAJames on 07/04/22 at 18:58:48 Short answer is: https://www.vinshineaudio.com/product-page/denafrips-gaia?currency=USD Longer answer is it is a "digital to digital converter." It takes your digital input on USB, AES/EBU, coax etc, re-clocks it with a magical high precision clock and (if you have a Denafrips or a few other lucky DACs) outputs it on I2S over HDMI. That's a lot of capital letters but basically it cleans up the digital signal and outputs to the DAC in the best way possible for optimal conversion. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/04/22 at 19:03:04 Thanks. I did see a digital to digital converter as I was on the Denafrips site. Great info CAJames! |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by CAJames on 07/04/22 at 19:08:08 FWIW one of reasons I spent the extra $$$ for a Terminator 2 is that it allows you to sync the DAC clock with the DDC clock, which is another optimization. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Joey on 07/04/22 at 21:45:20 I have a Pontus2. Quite an upgrade over my Gumby. For 3k I would look hard at the Holo Spring3. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by lazb on 07/04/22 at 22:44:04 Have to agree with Joey on the Spring 3! |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/04/22 at 23:20:38 Going to check out the HoloSPring3 right now. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by kulafu on 07/05/22 at 00:24:42 I dont think you can go wrong with either Denafrips or Holo May. For customer service and response, Alvin from Denafrips is head and shoulders above Holo May Kitsune. Bob |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Joey on 07/05/22 at 01:00:12 That may be true. Alvin was top notch as far as communication and follow up. I believe Alvin is head and shoulders over just about anybody else. As for product at the 3-4k range, it comes down to Venus or Spring3. The reviews and specs seem to favor the Holo.YMMV of course. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/05/22 at 01:40:04 I was pretty focused on the Pontus ii and thought it might be the one to go with. But, the Holo Spring 3 level 2 looks pretty sweet. I know I can’t go wrong with either but am trying to read a review that may mention making the system less bright. I think the Pontus is warmer, which to my novice brain thinks less bright. The Spring 3 seems to have greater clarity on the high end. Does greater clarity mean less bright? |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by CAJames on 07/05/22 at 02:03:35 Honestly I don't think either of them is going to help you much with "bright" unless your current digital front end is bright. The Denafrips house sound is pretty much neutral and transparent, and that is my impression of Holo as well, although it might be a little bit darker based on the reviews I've seen. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/05/22 at 02:45:04 CAJames. Would a tube change address brightness? I’ve read that the Mullards have less “sparkle” or “chiminess” at the high end. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by CAJames on 07/05/22 at 03:00:38 Quote:
If you’re talking about NOS Mullard IMO yes, in general. Mullard (and most UK tubes) tends to be at the warm/lush end of the sonic spectrum. But if you are talking specifically about in a Decware amp there is is always a synergy between the input, power and rectifier tubes so changing one tube may not give you what you are looking for until you change something else. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Audionumber3 on 07/05/22 at 03:06:19 I have a Pontus 2, and it's fantastic. The British Audiophile compared the pontus 2 to the Spring 3 KTE and he claimed that they were very close in sound, but that the spring 3 had a more neutral sound, and the pontus had a richer/warmer sound. That review pushed me to try out the pontus, as I was saving up for spring 3... But I'm already coming from an Auralic DAC that's very neutral, and I kept wishing it was a little warmer. The pontus was cheaper so, I thought it was the smarter choice to try first. I can't imagine anyone not being happy with this sound, it's really good. I have a se84UFO driving Omega super 8xrs. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by johnnycopy on 07/05/22 at 04:16:00 Earthbound What is your source component for the dac, which dac inputs will you be using? Quite a few reviews out there on denafrips vs holo, just do a search. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Dana on 07/05/22 at 09:58:29 If you're not afraid of used gear the PSAudio directstream DAC is a bargain. There seems to be a few on audiogon that could probably be had for under the mid two thousand dollar mark. This is a six thousand dollar DAC that the software was updated about a year and a half ago.. This DAC is in the same class as the Lampizator Baltic. Or the Denifrips Terminator.. You can ever tweak it further with a transformer update and being used you don't have to worry about voiding the warranty I just got one and it sounds very real. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/05/22 at 14:30:43 CAJames- I will have the MKV, csp3 with zrock sometime next year. Currently, I bought a Synthesis Roma to hold me over. Purchased it on the owners, 35 years in the business, recommendations. My first tube amp so everything is new to me. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/05/22 at 14:35:43 Thanks for sharing Aidionumber3. I’ve read excellent reviews about both models. Right now the Pontus is the same price as the Spring 3 Level 2. What amp/pre amp are you running the dac through? |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/05/22 at 14:41:45 Johnnycopy- The digital signal will be coming through a Cambridge cxn v2 then into an integrated Synthesis amp for the time being. My Decware gear will be done sometime next year and the adventure starts all over again! Honestly the dac choice would be the same. Just trying to get the best sound for the money like most people. It’s hard to choose when I’m not sure what I really like and even that changes when each new component is added. I just have to remember that this is a hobby and it’s supposed to be fun. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/05/22 at 14:43:23 Thanks Dana 😀. Another avenue I will explore today. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Tommy Freefall on 07/05/22 at 16:43:01 Earth, before you pull the trigger on anything, you might want to take a look at the Modwright modded version of Cambridge CXN v2. Some Decware owners on this forum have praised this DAC. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Audionumber3 on 07/05/22 at 16:57:25 Earthbound.....like I said, I'm using a Decware se84UFO, no preamp. The best part about getting the pontus is if you don't like it, you can sell it for almost new price. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by HockessinKid on 07/05/22 at 17:03:05 +1 what Tommy Freedall said about the ModWright CXN V2 modifcation. Dan Wright @ ModWright is running a 20% off sale on the mod now. Sounds great and saves you shelf space you'll need for a separate DAC. Add a Qobuz & Roon subscription and you'll be there. HK |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/05/22 at 17:07:01 Good to know Audionumber3 regarding resale. I want to avoid such a scenario but if it comes to that, it’s a nice option. Keep hearing warm regarding the Pontus and that may help my ears a bit. Coming from an old Rotel and B&W set up, this new equipment is so revealing. It may be that I’m listening to music much longer and louder then prior. But, softer may be easier on the ears in the fatigue department. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/05/22 at 17:08:31 Thanks Hockessinkid. Will check that out now. Would be nice to eliminate an external dac. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/05/22 at 18:25:25 Very interesting regarding the ModWright. I spoke with Dan, the owner, and he was very informative. Seems like a potentially viable option. Going to see what users have to say. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Tommy Freefall on 07/05/22 at 19:03:00 Earth, do a Decware forum search on this. IIRC, there was a detailed thread that discussed this component in greater detail |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/05/22 at 19:16:54 Thanks Tommy. Found it and am reading now. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by CAJames on 07/05/22 at 19:24:17 Quote:
Here is one more thing to think about. Pretty much all the DACs you are looking at are "fully balanced" meaning they output 4 channels of audio on the XLR connectors, but only 2 of those if you use the RCA output. I'm not going to say you're crazy to use the RCA output, but if you don't have a plan to use the XLR output (like a ZBIT) you aren't getting all the performance from your DAC that you are paying for. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/05/22 at 20:52:53 I was wondering that very thing! I believe I can ask Steve to put xlr’s in the preamp. Does anyone know if this is correct? I think I recall that possibility when I spoke with Steve |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Lon on 07/05/22 at 20:59:45 Steve doesn't offer XLR inputs as an option when ordering the CSP3. It's possible perhaps, I can really only imagine it if you were to forego the headphone capability of the amp. It's something to check with Steve about. My guess is that the cost may be very similar to a ZBIT which may be a more flexible choice. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by CAJames on 07/05/22 at 22:00:37 My impression is same as Lon FWIW. And in fact just a couple weeks ago I had a discussion with another poster who originally got XLR inputs on his amp but now wants to add a CSP3 and it is a problem because it doesn't work with his balanced source. Which is just another way of saying I think you are better off with a ZBIT than with XLR connections built into a component. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by HockessinKid on 07/05/22 at 22:07:07 Earthbound, All good information here. Should you be leaning toward the ModWright CXN V2 mod note that the modifications include upgraded RCA outputs. I believe Dan has A-B'd the stock XLR's with the upgraded RCA's extensively. I suggest a chat with Dan to gain some insights as it pertains to your system. HK |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/05/22 at 22:28:15 Thanks guys. Will talk to Dan and probably add another order to my ever growing Decware order! Good fun |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Geno on 07/06/22 at 00:47:46 I third what Tommy and HK said about the modded CXN. Thanks to HK, I have one too, and like it very much! I think that it would be awfully hard to beat in that price range. Good luck, Geno |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by JBzen on 07/06/22 at 01:27:15 Damn it HK, looks like that 20% off CXNv2 mod was over July 1st! |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by Earthbound on 07/06/22 at 01:34:21 They were kind enough to extend the offer to me today. I’m sure they would do the same for you. |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by HockessinKid on 07/06/22 at 10:02:23 JBzen, Give Dan a call and see if he'll extend you a courtesy. He's a great guy and just may give you the discount. HK |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by JBzen on 07/06/22 at 13:13:24 Thanks for the encouragement HK and Earthbound. I will give Dan a call today. Anyone try the Cryotone tubes in the mod yet? |
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Title: Re: Dac recommendations please Post by HockessinKid on 07/06/22 at 14:11:42 Yup, a pair of these and you'll be in sonic nirvana. https://www.wathenspeakers.com/store/p4/ECC83-WC.html HK |
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