Stone, I'll buy your NT offa you for $400. You know, since it sucks so bad.  ;)

LOL

Seriously though, come November, give or take a week or two....if it is not floating my boat with ZBIT.....of course, the ZBIT stays with me for future use.....I'll cut you a deal for the NT, to fund my Zen Switch Box with (Remote) ALPS Volume control.

I don't think it is going to happen.....but, you never know.  

Stone, what sample rates/formats can it take via the Network input?

If it works with Roon, and can do at least DSD128 via network, I'd give Roon a try for a quick and easy setup. Hell, with all the upconverting the DAC does,  you might not even need to upconvert at the PC.

Yeah, it's going to be a learning curve for me as mentioned in our earlier posts. However, at the end of the Day(s)......if it is not for me......I will give you first dibs on it LR, before I put in the Classifieds here, then AudiogoN and/or USAudioMart.

A subscription to Deezer or Spotify for a year, could prove to be fun too, though.  

My ZBIT stays with me and my hot rod KS1030 XLR's.

Quote:


Do it!!!

I'm still shocked at how loud my 2.5watt Zen amp is!

Yes, Stone, you can never have too much Decware!  Even for Decware... having all the amps you see on the site along with everything else, every time I rotate from one amp or speaker to the next there is always that "ahhhhh moment" where your senses remember a certain flavor and are excited to experience it again.  It's ear candy : )

Steve

Every time I purchased from Mass Drop shipping has always taken a while.  I think the main reason being that the manufacturer sends the product from their warehouse to Mass Drop and then MD ships to you.  The prices are really good but not for those who want/need something right away.

Steve,

If you move forward with the TEAC NT-503 product offering, would it be helpful to request some firm early buyer purchase commitments from forum members? My thought is that this would allow you to do an initial competitively priced bulk buy of stock units, perhaps passing on some of the savings to your loyal forum customers through a one-time discount (maybe 10% off?).

I think this would ramp up product interest, incentivize us to spread the word to audio interested friends, and help you establish a solid foundation for your new product.  Please give this some thought.  This might not fit your build to order business model, but maybe its worth consideration for a new product offering like a DAC/streamer.

Cheers,

HK

I have tried about seven different coaxial digital cables and have two favorites, the "Reference" from VooDoo Cable and the Take Five Audio "Deluxe" Neotech cable. Both are similar in construction and sound, both are excellent transferrers of digital data.

I've also used the Creative Concept Black Knight and a WireWorld (not sure what model this is) with success. Even a Monster Cable was a decent link. The VooDoo and Take Five however seem clearly superior in my system to the others I've used. I would recommend these for the TEAC knowing they'll give you an accurate and great sounding connection.

HK - I'm working on posting my thoughts and experiences with the NT-503 I just picked up in the Digital section of the Decware forums - Go ask there, and that will actually give me a springboard of things to look into while I play with my unit.

I'm really happy with it so far, even though it gets overshadowed by my DirectStream DAC (which also costs more than 4x the price of the NT DAC)

I think the key is the NT-503 WITH the ZBIT mod (or external unit).  So far it has only been tested/reviewed stock, out of the box, which certainly will not be the same as the Decware modified unit.  

I just picked up a used Directstream DAC to test the Huron against my ZDSD.  There is an advantage for me with the Directstream since it now supports MQA and Tidal natively which I recently had to add a $500 Bluesound Node 2 in order to accomplish.  I can now return the Node and stream directly to the Directstream DAC for my Tidal/MQA needs.  One less component in my chain and a far better quality MQA capable DAC in the DS.  It also came with the Powerbase but since I also recently snatched a P10, it seems redundant.  I may put the Powerbase up for sale.

Jeff, if you don't have a PowerBase under your P10, try that out (don't plug the Power Base in, just use it passively as an isolation platform). I found that the PowerBase makes a great platform for the P10 and for turntables.

Lon, that's funny you mentioned that.  The Directstream I picked up included a Powerbase.  I wasn't sure what I was going to do with the Powerbase.  Was considering under my TT, Tape tube playback amp, the Directstream, or now the P10.  So many options

Thanks for the low down on these Powerbases Lon. I'm actually glad to hear they have greater potential than I originally presumed. I have quite a few devices that would qualify based on your last reply. Sounds like I may have to do some Base rolling.

I already planned to run everything out of the P10 direct and not daisy chain the base in any way, so glad to hear your experience with P10 direct is peachy.  I was considering selling it but I will keep it around to see what it can do for my system.

I will say, this Perfectwave P10 is one heck of an appliance!  Really impressive.

So, when will the Decware modified NT-503 be available?  Any idea on the time frame Steve?

HK

HK, best to reach out to Steve directly on this for a quicker answer.

No, it's full steam ahead.  I'm almost done with the web page now. I'm really impressed with the DAC and the up sampling algorithms of this unit.  Of course I have never heard it stock for more than an hour or two.  

That said, I am very partial to old school Burr Brown chip sets which are used in the ZDSD and tend to shy away from the more hyper detailed Sabre chipsets which trade density for a more clinical presentation.  

This new Chipset and FPGA captures the earthy organic sound of the burr brown DAC chipsets and the super detail of a hyper fast chipset without any fatigue. Nicely done for sure. The imaging is a touch more delineated and has a bit tighter focus. This is evident by the difference in recording techniques being magnified.

Steve

Yes, I want it back with built in ZBIT. Now that Steve has made it official that it is the ZDSD's match (see his Decfest post). I get the great algorithm up sampling choices and can use the variable output for remote volume control or use fixed, running the gain input on my ZMA.

Folks, I have owned Steve's ZDSD for 2.5 years .....stellar musical performance with his output transformer topology. Having had the 503 stock for 56 days of Listening.....I know I'm in for quite the performance with his enhancement.

Getting the (Z)NT-503 this winter, will put a dent in my budget for the 6C33C Mono's next summer.

However, I have a plan for the 6C33C's. I will arrange next summer to bring/visit a few things to Decware, to hear a seasoned pair of the new Mono's with my: Adagio's, my input & inverter tube favorites, Kimber Select, Shunyata Digital cord for ZDSD & 503 on premises and my P3. (In other words, it is easy for me to bring the things in my System Decware would not have and hook up with Decware, on premises).

Maybe, I leave sticking with my ZMA only....or I put on order....something different?

This is not a quest to replace my ZMA (not for sale). But simply, a chance to visit and hear a few things and make a decision or two on maybe a ZROCK2 or the 6C33C Mono's, for example. Prearranged visit four weeks in advance.... . Grab a local room close.

....and pssst, I will bring my inexpensive Sony Transport. ....it is that good....upon my discovery....or obviously, I would not use it in my 25k System for Redbook.





Listening Room:



Room Treatments from Michael Green & Home Brew


Sony as Transport (DVP-NS57P)


Illuminati D-60 Digital Coax IC ~.5 meter


Shunyata Research Zitron Alpha Digital Power Cord to ZDSD {Significant}


Decware ZDSD DAC / Recorder ++
***************************************************************
W/Steve's Output Transformer's/kicking to the Curb quite a few superb DAC'S
***************************************************************
(@ -20 Ref Level, 0.0 Input volume and @ 16/192)


WBT RCA Kimber Select KS1030 ~.5 meter


Audio Research Pre w/remote volume & mute LS-2B MkII
NOS Platinum/Mullard 7308/E188CC / Cryogenic

(ARC Pre rotated in and out...approx. in, only 25-30% of the time)


WBT-0102Ag RCA Kimber Select KS1030 ~.75 meter


{ Tungsram PCC88/7DJ8.....in inputs right now~stellar}!
Decware Zen Mystery Amplifier
~BIASED at *56* mA~
NOS/Platinum/Mullard E188CC/7308's in my A12 an B12 Input positions Cryogenic~NOS/Platinum/Telefunken E88CC/6922 for Inverter Tubes~NOS RCA 0A3's & matched Quad/Tung-Sol KT66's

ZMA adjusted at 20% to 30-40% max ~ from 0 Gain ~ w/ZDSD Direct
ZMA adjusted at  80-90% or 100% gain ~ w/ARC Line Stage, running via Remote Volume Control



***************************************************
Kimber Select KS6063 Speaker Cable 8ft WBT-0681-Ag Spades
***************************************************
Kimber 8TC new/white & clear jacket/to remind me of how fluid/timbre correct and good the KS6063 are



Acoustic Zen Adagio - Black Pearl (Modified)
.....enjoying from 8 ohm ZMA Taps


Caintuck Audio Eminence Alpha 15" OB BASS Unit
at 53Hz, with my Velodyne CHT 130 watt plate amp and 0 degree phase.....at 1/4 volume on plate
Plate Amp....regen'd clean ~ plugged into P3

(Open Baffle 15", not in use all the time....approx. 50% of the time.....the best integrated bass)!







Acoustic Zen Adagio's x-over's Modified/Full Range with Mundorf MCap Supremes-single Cap to each Tweeter/4.5k cross
(Gutted: 3kHz/18dB/Octave, Linkwitz/Riley Crossovers....with all crappy parts = gone)


XLO Pro Power Cord to ZMA
PS Audio P3 Power Plant / Pangea AC-9SE from wall to P3
(Transport, ARC Pre, and ZDSD, Regenerated/*120*~ Multiwave off...ZMA on High Current Output).

++ ZDSD DAC, kicked to the Curb: Auralic Vega, PS Audio PWT & PWD, PS Audio Direct Stream DAC, Chord Qute, NAD M51 (twice) & Schiit Yggdrasil.


~All NOS Platinum Tubes from Upscale Audio/Kevin:

(Great Britain) Mullard 7308/E188CC ~  2 pair (both pair Cryogenic)
(Germany) Telefunken E88CC/6922 ~ 1 pair (painfully expensive/worth it)
(US/Great Britain) Ediswan CV2492/6922 ~ 2 pair (one pair Cryogenic)
(Hungary) Tungsram 6922/E88CC ~ 1 pair
(Hungary) Tungsram PCC88/7DJ8 ~ 1 pair.

From Cryoset:
(Russia) 6N23N/P-EB ~ 2 pair

(Russia) 6N23P's ~ 2 pair/came with ZMA.        

The ZDAC2 is now available.

https://www.decware.com/newsite/ZDAC.html


We are not getting special pricing on these units and are leery of open box specials based on past experiences. Since our modifications would void the factory warranty from Teac, we are offering a one year warranty on the units ourselves. Naturally since we can't actually fix one, we want to go into this with the best possible odds by purchasing from know reliable suppliers.

That said, if you see an opportunity to get an NT-503 at a high discount, we recommend you do it, and then purchase our ZBIT. You'll have the same end result, and should the DAC itself ever fail, you'll have a ZBIT ready to hook to the next thing you buy.

-Steve

Well, Lonely Raven loaned me his NT 503 because he is currently working on its eventual home - the Lonely Raven "Mini" Multi-Media Lair.

I am listening to it "bone stock" via the RCAs to my Rachael.  None of Steve's magic going on.

I am fairly impressed with this unit.  My comments are in comparison to my Chord dac (which nobody has probably heard except CDApS).

Very large soundstage.  Not a lot of additional detail in the instruments by themselves, but tons of transients and room spatial clues.  Also, it must be putting out 2V+ because I had to back it off about 1/4 to put it at listening volume in my room.  The best DAC I have heard so far for capturing the sense of the room.

The only area where it does not best my current DAC is bass.  A little less crisp and lower impact.  Wonder what the transformers would do here?

Easy to listen to and I ran it through my torture tracks to know just what it could do.   Also keep in mind that I am listening to single drivers so that's saying something.

You do need to fiddle with it a bit.  On the initial settings I had, I didn't like it.  

But when I set Audirvana for no upsampling and the right DSD filter on the TEAC, is was very nice.  I am going to download and read the manual so I can explore more settings.  Also, I'll put a better power cord on it.  Right now it has my cheapest DIY.

So that's my mini review.  Definitely good bang for the buck and it does a lot of things I like very well.

It is not to shabby of a unit for just Redbook. I might get a another one of these. I did return to Crutchfield.  I am looking at other units too.

Currently, I am making another Jensen output transformer stage. I so dig the one coming out of my ZDSD.....I want another bread boarded, for other use with any unit.

LR, you doing the ZBIT or Jensen output tranny stage?

I'm sticking with Jensen.....proven 2.5 year's and counting.....winner for me/Redbook.

My Parker Crusader's are being picked up today! .....funding for this project is at hand.

I'm proud of myself. I went from owning thirteen pairs of Speaker's.....now down to two (modified Adagio's & Polk SRS SDA 1.2's). A whole lot less to move out of here, in a year from now.

True.