203 replies to this topic

[Elprior]

Here :

http://jplay.eu/foru........s-gallery/

 

Can't wait to see the pictures

[kiskaprince]

I have try it and did not wok for me It says that image was uploaded but actually there is no image Thank you

[Elprior]

Yes,

 

see my reply on the other thread.

Or you could ask Marcin here : http://jplay.eu/forum/hydepark.....es-upload/

 

Guillaume

[Melon Head]

I would like some new opinions as new DACs are coming out all the time.

I espescially like the look of the jkdac32, has many great reviews. I wish it had balanced outputs though.

http://www.6moons.co........ny2/1.html

 

I don't want to spend more than $1000

 

At the moment I have a cheap emotiva xda-1 which does have balanced output, if I stuck with that then I could just purchase an hiface evo.

 

Anyway interested in your guys experience/opinions. Balanced and RCA output is a high priority for me

Edited by Melon Head, 19 October 2012 - 09:46 PM.

[Adrian]

Hello Melon Head,

 

Take a look here:

 

http://www.audio-gd.com/

 

Regards,

Adrian

[Quest]

While specs look nice for audio-gd, I'd not recommend a blind purchase for the <$1k category if you can help it.

[Adrian]

Ok, I understand, I've bought mine in a blind purchase but the end result was way more than I expected! From Audio-GD, I didn't point any specific model because I feel all they are great buys! Before knowing Audio-GD I've had the now extinct Dacmagic (U$550,00) by Michael Mardis who now works for Virtue Audio:

http://www.head-fi.o........is-new-dac

Then I've discovered Audio-GD and bought the NFB-2 (U$450,00) and now the Ref-5 (U$1.000,00) and found all of them to be very well constructed, very solid, and great sounding. A friend of mine had the NFB-11 (U$275,00) and was very satisfied with it either. You can read about these older models on "discontinued products page". All of these three dacs use different chips. NFB-2 uses Wolfson WM8741, Ref-5 uses 4 PCM1704UK chips and the NFB-11 Sabre ES9018. In spite of the fact that the chips are different, they have a somewhat similar sound, and the more you are able to pay, the most refined and not fatiguing sound you'll get. After buying REF-5 I've bought their integrated amp, Master-10 (U$1.880,00) to use them connected trough ACSS. This is the connection which me and many reviews found to sounds the best on Audio-GD gear.

My next purchase will be their top dac, Master-7.

So, after all this talking, if you want to purchase one in the <$1k range you could try this one, wich is the upgrade from my model:

http://www.audio-gd.........E5.2EN.htm

The one thing you must confirm with Audio-GD, by sending an email is if you use the usb input it will work without issues with Jplay. My dac I use trough coaxial input and with a SOTM DX-USB HD and it works great with Jplay on all modes on win7, win8 and win8 to go wich is by far the best sounding on Jplaymini:). I've tried Jriver+Webremote, but found mini to be better.

Hope this helps,

Adrian

[Quest]

Adrian, I know you'll be very enamoured by Audio-GD as an owner, but there are a lot of options out there. For their <$1k range, honestly I wasn't that impressed and personally don't find it very far off from the Emotiva XDA-1 which is also very good value for money. I think what Melon Head himself suggested - about buying a usb/spdif converter, is worth considering.   For <$1k I chose a musica dac for my gf.. similar to what marcin is using. It's not fancy in terms of specs and wasn't even in my initial list (I went to audition all the async stuff like wavelength proton first), but my gf chose it immediately after hearing one time. But I also realise marcin and I seem to have similar thinking on some items.. this was my first time reading this post and I agree on some of the above comments on the few DACs that I have heard as well.

[Melon Head]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

This sucker (reference 7.1) looks bloody impressive. As soon as I saw 3 x R core transformers, I knew straight away this is a very serious DAC. I would have to raise my budget but it looks extremely good value even at its price point

http://www.audio-gd.........E7.1EN.htm

They also have the equivalent quality using the Sabre ES9018.

 

I will check out the musica DAC.

 

I think I will start out with a Stello U3 (I need AES/EBU) usb-spdif then upgrade the DAC maybe in a few months time.

 

Any further suggestions would be greatly appreciated keeping in mind I want both balanced xlr and rca output

[kyrill]

Ithink if you would like a world class dac for minimum money  google  review the Dutch  Metrum dac.  is worth the 100 dollar extra in multitudes/ I s also Marcinc's current DAC.

[Melon Head]

Yeah I did check out the Metrum and it looks great but it does not have balanced output at the present time. I build my own amps and don't want to be limited to rca output.   The musica ibuki looks like it could be right up my alley also but their website is bloody confusing as to what the product consists of. Does it have a tube buffer stage or not? I will try and find more info. Does it have xlr output?

[kyrill]

maybe the Metrum with rca sounds better than any other with balanced out at the input of the preamp,  what then? 

Edited by kyrill, 24 October 2012 - 01:31 PM.

[Melon Head]

The DAC sounds like nothing without an amp and speakers. It is only one part of the chain. I will guarantee you if Metrum adds a dedicated balanced output stage, then connected to an amp with a circlotron output stage biased in Class A, you guys would freak out if you heard it (connected to good speakers of course). Anyway I agree with the point you make. The ear wants to hear what the ear wants to hear. If the Musica had the ability to also do high res music as well as xlr output or the Metrum had XLR I would have flipped a coin and placed an order immediately. I think the closest product to what I want is probably the Lampizator product. I would like to hear an independant review of it. However probably also way above $1000

Edited by Melon Head, 24 October 2012 - 01:47 PM.

[kyrill]

3x-5x way out of 'league'

[Melon Head]

Aaah One more possibility is twisted pear audio. Although requires a bit of diy. Not sure if I want to take on anymore diy projects.

[Melon Head]

I reckon I can live with the Stello U3 connected to a cheap xda-1 for at least 6 months, and hopefully someone is listening to this and updates their product in the next 6 to 12 months

[Melon Head]

Has anyone heard MHDT Stockholm? Seems to have just about everything I want at a fair price. But does it sound any good?

[Marcin_gps]

kyrill said:

Ithink if you would like a world class dac for minimum money  google  review the Dutch  Metrum dac.  is worth the 100 dollar extra in multitudes/ I s also Marcinc's current DAC.

Yes, metrum is excellent. One of the best DACs I've heard, but it needs supreme usb-s/pdif imho

Anyway, one of the best (?) currently available DACs is coming to me: Totaldac Reference-d1. Will report what I think once I get it

[Marcin_gps]

Melon Head said:

Yeah I did check out the Metrum and it looks great but it does not have balanced output at the present time.

I build my own amps and don't want to be limited to rca output.

 

The musica ibuki looks like it could be right up my alley also but their website is bloody confusing as to what the product consists of. Does it have a tube buffer stage or not? I will try and find more info.

Does it have xlr output?

Ibuki has tube buffer, only one iput (USB) and a pair of RCA outputs. I have one brand new for sale only without the granit base. Send me PM if you're interested

[Melon Head]

Well this absolutely meets my requirements http://www.nosminida........glish.html .

It looks like I might just raise my budget to possibly $2500

 

Just found out today that they sell Audio GD very close to home, so I am going to go have a listen to this baby http://www.audio-gd.........7/M7EN.htm on Saturday