I am very late on this review and should have gotten it in before briang but I have been swamped with work. Sorry about that!
I do not feel I have much experience or qualification for a review in any other regard than that I have an opinion. And although I have read quite a few, I have never done a review of my own.
My system consists of Squeezebox Touch - Mytek DSD 192 - Ncore Dual Mono Amps - Gedlee Abbey. I use the volume control on the Mytek to send the signal via XLR to the Ncore amps and also use the RCA outputs into a Behringer DCX that processes the signal for 4 Gedlee Bandpass subs.
I have read comments where people claim to want to have the cleanest signal and what is essentially a straight wire with gain. This made me think that I would be best served using a DAC that has volume (preamp) capability. After all, why clutter the system with added circuits and boxes?
Well, I must say.... I was wrong. Very soon after putting the LDR into the chain I was rewarded with a noticeably better system in every way. I didn't switch back to the Mytek until it was time to return the demo unit so there was no jumping back and forth to make head to head comparisons. I simply did not have to!
I feel like I went from:
-being with Gisele Bundchen to Jessica Biel
-looking through lenses to no lens at all
-shaving with a 3 day old razor to a brand new 5 blade
-driving a Nissan Maxima to a Mercedes S-Class
-the city to a mountain top on a beautiful spring day
Nothing is really bad about the previous versions of each of these and some are quite excellent - that is until you have the new reference.
I mean, both of these women are fine but to me the latter is the total package and has an appropriate fullness to her. She is not thin in any way. She is not bloated. She is healthy and "right". If the greatest artist in the world were to paint the female form it would come out as she is. The proportions are there and they are as they should be. One wants for nothing more.
Some lenses are great for seeing deeper but it is when you can see and experience something without that slight bit of material in between that you realize how clear it can be. Lenses will still allow you to see where the musicians are upon the stage but perfect vision allows a delineation that you may not have known existed. The LDR cleared out something that I did not even realize was there.
I keep my razors for a week or so and they will give a close shave but it is instantly recognizable when I put in a new blade. That closeness and fine level of precision you get with the new one is what we all want - every time. How smooth it is. So smooth.
Cars these days are great and I doubt there are really any bad ones. The quality level at Nissan is such that one could get behind the wheel and have a truly solid time. There would be absolutely no issues or problems one would experience. Everything needed, requested, required or hoped for is there.... but then you get into a Mercedes and you are just engulfed in a level of quality, styling and thoughtfulness that is evident without even thinking about it. It is just emanating from the product, it is not strained or over the top. It is exquisite in a way that does not draw attention to itself yet it is fully apparent. The solidity when closing the doors and the lack of outside distracting noise all contribute to a comfortable environment that has no associated strain - no matter how fast you want to go.
Cities are a fun and exciting place to be. There is a lot going on and a lot to see, but it takes getting into the great outdoors to breathe that crisp, clean, fine air that is free from the smog and pollution to realize how much really is there. Sure, it does not jump out at you and scream look at me! Over here! Over there! No, it just is.... everything is in the proper place with the proper size and the proper amount. There is everything and yet seemingly nothing. Admittedly, cities have trees and grass and even animals - but somehow, we all know that they are just not really proper. Yet, it is never questioned when in the mountains. It fits!
Is the LDR perfect? Probably not. Does it have issues that I wish it didn't? Yes. I would like to see a better remote, to have a digital readout so I know the volume level, to have multiple inputs and balanced connections. In fact, I had to use some XLR to RCA converters that I picked up at Guitar Center since my amps are XLR only. This caused an issue with a little hum out of the right channel but this problem was over shadowed by the quality of sound that was coming through the unit. So much good was going on that I did not notice this at the levels I usually listen.
All in all, I was surprised at how much of an improvement the LDR made in my system and I have begun the search for a pre to integrate. Perhaps it will be the new upcoming balanced unit from Tortuga. I have heard from Morten that the new unit will be larger that the one I auditioned and although that is a minor issue, I still would like to see the unit remain at the same size. It is neat to be able to put the pre on the same shelf as the Touch and Mytek. I guess you can't have it all.
Thanks Morten for the opportunity to check out your awesome LDR and please do not confuse my highly, non related comparative as an indication that it is not a serious piece of equipment. It is only an indication that I do not know how to write a proper review!
