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Anyone know what the warranty is for the Tranquility DAC? Can't find any information on the website about this.
On the spec page at the bottom:"Three year unlimited warranty, fully transferable."
I'm new to the game here...and don't have time to read the entire thread, but I feel quite strongly about adding my two cents.I heard this DAC fed by Hider's MacMini through a very carefully constructed high-end rig, which I can get specifics on if anyone cares...but I've enjoyed this system before, mostly with vinyl.I knew I was going to hear something new, but didn't have the specifics. After some time setting up, which I didn't care to see...Hider can be very particular about his procedures and there was good beer to drink and conversation to be had in the next room...we finally commenced to listening.It wasn't blind, with either or both eyes (heh), but my initial reaction was palatable.I simply couldn't believe it was coming from the computer. Even though it was right in front of me, it was tough to believe the fluidity and decay and staging width and depth were from iTunes fed through USB. I couldn't reconcile what I was hearing with what I saw.This was a paradigm change for me, but I've not kept up on computer audio...like the old Home Theater PC pioneering days, every demo was a disappointment...until this one.Next time Eric is through Detroit, we can setup a demo using some recordings I've done live...and we can also play with my MIT Z-box and cables (thanks for that report, btw, killer experimenting) and a few other line conditioners that I've grown very fond of over the years. I would be curious to hear comparisons to competing product, and then we can do the double-confusion testing.So, in short...this thing holds promise. It has me excited over computer handling of music now, and that is a HUGE deal to me.Cheers,JohnP.S.: In full disclosure, I've known Eric for over ten years...since I met him through a very early ISF calibration on his Sony RP Television...and consider him a man of high integrity, honesty, and good intent. He's been turning me onto cheap tweaks and such for high-end gear seemingly forever, but this device is absolutely the most groundbreaking item he's ever brought to my attention. It is as if his quest for perfection is closer to completion, and if you knew the guy like I do...that is the largest compliment I can make to him. He is one of the most fastidiously detail-oriented people I've ever met...and almost NEVER obviously happy. With this product, he is obviously pleased, and seems eager to share it.
Eric...I'm a prospective customer that will wait until you introduce a model with SPDIF and perhaps I2S inputs. Do you have an idea for a time line on the SPDIF version? Will you use RCA or BNC (or both)? If you implement I2S as an input, what connection format would you use? (Such as the Empirical Audio RJ45 or PS Audio HDMI formats.) It would be nice if manufacturers would get around to a standard on I2S interconnects.
We have been working our "R & D tails off" attempting to develop a SPDIF connectable dac that comes close or equals the sonics of our Tranquility USB dac. As Newzooreview correctly pointed out, SPDIF is a mess when compared to a USB dac (done right). SPDIF pales in comparison to a USB connection, how it elegantly transfers it's data and the error corrected bit perfect sound that a computer offers us. Jitter is on so many more nodes throughout the SPDIF process too, it's not even funny. We like to call SPDIF "an ugly tangled mess". With the SPDIF format, you end up "interleaving" the clock signal with the digital music signal. ARGH! It then has to be all "untangled". USB is elegantly simple without this "tangled mess" comparably. We are still quite surprised that the audio reviewer community still does not seem to understand this basic principal regarding how SPDIF can't really hold a candle to USB done right. Unless perhaps you use Esoteric's $15,000 Rubidium clock "fixer", and even then, it is NOT a better interface even with $15K "fixer" when compared to a USB solution done correctly! Of course, not every USB dac is "done right" either. And then there's the overtly simplistic idea of comparing the different inputs on a dac that has both USB and SPDIF connections. Multiple digital inputs affect each other negatively. Each one has to be optimized to sound great. And you can NOT achieve multiple different digital inputs that all sound great without a huge cost to the consumer. Each digital input circuit would need to be separated from the other with tons of costly circuitry. Otherwise, the USB input on a multiple input dac can sound abysmal. Is this why so many audiophiles and reviewers think SPDIF is superior?Ever wonder why the Tranquility dac has only one solitary USB digital input? Now you know aaSo, where do we personally stand on our upcoming SPDIF dac? We are still in the R & D phase. We have many more challenges to properly address all of SPDIF's inherent weaknesses but we are finding some promising results. There are some new IC's that we are testing along with some newfound proprietary optimizations that we discovered. In the end though, we will NOT release a SPDIF dac until we can find the same elusive analog like harmonic structure we found for the Tranquility USB dac design. Look for an upcoming announcement regarding our SPDIF dac late this winter. Sorry we can't give a firm timeline here. We will not offer another "typical sounding" SPDIF dac. It will have to be special.
From page 5 of this thread:
I'm thinking of getting the Tranquility in for a trial. It's in my price range and seems like a promising DAC for a computer music server I'm building. The DAC being the last piece of the puzzle. So far I have auditioned at home a Metric Halo ULN2 and the Ayre QB9 and I do like the QB9 the most so far. I also have a temporary DAC, the HRT Streamer, which will go to a family room system once I finalize the DAC for this system.I'm curious if anyone reading this thread has compared the Tranquility to the Ayre. Or knows of someone who has. I'm interested in what the differences are. Not necessarily which was better, but how are they different, how are they similar.Bryan
Hey guys,Some have asked if an engineer named Larry Moore is working with db Audio Labs. The answer is yes, he is one of our contract for hire designers that we chose for the Tranquility design. His design expertise in digital was proven to me and our staff by his prior work on his own company’s Ultra-fi “iRoc” and “Musicstream” DAC designs.Personally, I've known Larry for about five years now. In the past, I’ve helped him get published online, with a reviewer’s digital Q & A blog on the net. I’ve also spoken highly of Ultra-fi products along with many other Ultra-fi customers alike. However, I’ve never worked for Ultra-fi, been paid in any way nor have I profited from the sale of an Ultra-fi product. A little over a year ago, Larry told me that he was having major difficulties with a customer who wanted a refund after an agreed audition period. That customer had subsequently threatened Larry, called many of his prior Ultra-fi customers, called a reviewer, and even called one of Larry's neighbors telling them; Larry is a shady guy. I offered to be a Good Will Ambassador between this customer and Larry to see if I could smooth things over. I contacted the guy and he told me straight up - “I am going to make it my mission in life to ruin Larry Moore”. I didn’t take sides in this matter, as I figured he just needed to get rid of some built up steam. Weeks later, I helped him find a new home for his Ultra-fi dac. His dac got sold. He got the money. The new owner of the Ultra-fi dac is a very happy customer. What did I get for being a Good Will Ambassador to this guy? He posted a venomous thread on another forum throwing anyone and everyone under the bus. That thread got locked down almost immediately. No one can say anything to refute the guy’s posted rants. So, dear readers, there is one solitary pissed off customer, that bought an Ultra-fi product from Larry Moore. I attempted to be a Good Will Ambassador and helped him. His dac is now sold. And his rants are locked in infamy. As a final note, db Audio Labs' contracted designers have no say in our customer relation policies. We strive to offer a level of customer satisfaction that is beyond reproach! Excellent customer support and service are our top priorities! Cheers,Eric H
I got my Tranquility DAC on Friday and have been burning it in since then. Unfortunately I'll be travelling for the next 10 days, but when I return I will compare the Tranquility to my Pico DAC, Benchmark DAC1 Pre, and my Oppo BDP-83 SE. Eric was *very* helpful during the purchase process -- probably the best customer service I've had with audio gear.
