Print

[doug s.]

hi all,

this is an excellent piece - you can put it up against the much pricier spreads & it won't come up short.  this was modded by a hobbyist w/typical upgrades, per craig frasier's diofacts:

http://home.ca.inter.net/~cfraser/DIOFAQ.htm

please don't ask me specifics re: what exact mods were done - i dunno, as this was modded by someone else.  but, i can assure you it's as good as the one i modded myself, w/all the goodies.  (can't tell 'em apart, really...)  its power supply, actually, is better - a custom job, where mine is an upgraded wall-wart.

so, if it's so hot, then why am i selling?  well, as i said, i have one i modded myself, that i am keeping.  and, i have yust bought another one, but w/a slightly different mod topology i wanted to try, after reading about it.  my soon-to-arrive di/o will have an ina103 instrumentation opamp, as opposed to the standard op-amps used to mod the di/o.  tho some folks like it better, i actually suspect it may be more different than actually better. 

so if you want a killer dac, still competitive w/current offerings (at least as good as the benchmark dac, for example), yust send $275 this way, & it's yours!   








thanks,

doug s.

ps - don't forget to buy my four fostex fe103 speakers!   

[doug s.]

i am posting this info re: the hook-up wire between the p/s & the di/o - as someone asked me about it, i realize others might be interested:

i am using the wire that i received with the di/o when i got it - its stiff solid core twisted copper wire.  i think it's 12awg, but it might be 11awg; i am not sure.  the neutral (or is it the ground?) is connected at the p/s end, & runs to the di/o, but isn't connected.  i loaded pics to my gallery, so you can see it.  of course i will include it w/the di/o.




thanks,

doug s.

[doug s.]

for those who aren't familiar w/this over-achieving dac, here's one of the original posts that helped get this dac off the ground.  well worth reading, to give you an idea of how it fares against some of the best dacs around...

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1003098758&openfrom&2&4

doug s.

[BobM]

If anyone's looking at this I have to concur that you'd be hard pressed to find a DAC this good at this price point. I've compared my modded DI/O to several other "rage" players under $1000 and I'm still using my DI/O. it either outright beat them or was so close (minor tradeoff's both ways) that I just couldn't justify spending money for those minor differences (and not always better).

Enjoy,
Bob

[doug s.]

thanks, bob, for the plug.   

doug s.

If anyone's looking at this I have to concur that you'd be hard pressed to find a DAC this good at this price point. I've compared my modded DI/O to several other "rage" players under $1000 and I'm still using my DI/O. it either outright beat them or was so close (minor tradeoff's both ways) that I just couldn't justify spending money for those minor differences (any not always better).

Enjoy,
Bob

[doug s.]

bump.  i know this is not "flavor of the month" any more, but it will still sound as good or better than anything you can buy for $1k...

doug s.

[doug s.]

bimp...

doug s.

[woodsyi]

Bring it tomorrow and let's compare it to my Northstar to be used with Sqeezebox. 

[doug s.]

i was planning on doing yust that.   

if i could be conwinced better sound was awailable in the digital format w/o breaking the bank, i would consider doing so.  so far, electrocompaniet & resolution audio haven't done it...

doug s.

Bring it tomorrow and let's compare it to my Northstar to be used with Sqeezebox. 

[kavu]

Just to add my .02...

I still use a bolder mensa di/o with the upgraded power supply....
I've tried it up against the benchmark dac1, an electrocompaniet player (later version), a linn ikemi, a modwright top-of-the-line sacd1000, an eastsound player, and probably one or two others....Nothing has beat it yet. Hard to believe.

Sometimes when a good product is no longer the flavor of the month, or loses in some shootout for whatever reason, people forget that the product is still just as good as it was when it was in vogue....di/o fits that bill...

Good luck with the sale.
dan

[maxwalrath]

PM sent. 

[doug s.]

PM sent. 

max, pm forthcoming shortly.  fyi, in case you haven't seen my recent postings about my experience at rim's this past weekend, & a coupla other comments, go here:

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=52505.msg472496#msg472496

(note that it seems the modded art di/o may have finally been surpassed by another cheapie dac, after mods?  how's this for marketing my products?!?     ):
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=52877.msg472684#msg472684

doug s.

[doug s.]

Just to add my .02...

I still use a bolder mensa di/o with the upgraded power supply....
I've tried it up against the benchmark dac1, an electrocompaniet player (later version), a linn ikemi, a modwright top-of-the-line sacd1000, an eastsound player, and probably one or two others....Nothing has beat it yet. Hard to believe.

Sometimes when a good product is no longer the flavor of the month, or loses in some shootout for whatever reason, people forget that the product is still just as good as it was when it was in vogue....di/o fits that bill...

Good luck with the sale.
dan

hi dan,

thanks for the shill.     it really amazes me that this is still f/s, but you're right - it seems "flavor of the month" is what gets all the action.  s'ok, it's not like it's killing me to keep it.  if i didn't have two others, it wouldn't be f/s - i'd save it for that time when i have a second system.  right now, i hope to use the second one on that bargain-basement accuphase t1000 tuna i am going to find any day now, w/the digital out.   

doug s.

[BobM]

Doug - PM me if you want to know more about my Zhaolu 2.5C mods and how they compare against my modded DI/O (which I agree, has been very hard to beat over the years, and certainly by nothing less than $2000 IMO).

Bob

[doug s.]

sale pending....   

doug s.