[I.Greyhound Fan]

Well, I finally was able to listen to the DVA preamp/DAC in my system.  I only am reviewing the DAC at this time. 

My gear-
Pass X250 amp
BAT VK51se preamp
Luxman DA-06 DAC
Magnepan 1.6 speakers
Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo subwoofers.
Music Player is Audirvana
USB cable is a  WW Starlight Platinum
Music server is my Custom Built Computer using a JCat USB card.

The DVA's DAC is awesome sounding and it betters my $6000 Luxman.  The sound stage is huge.  It is wide, tall and deep.  It sounds holographic in my system.  The only DAC that I have reviewed that sounded more holographic was the Exogal Comet but the DVA has more depth and heft to it. It has excellent air and transparency without sounding thin.  There is great separation among instruments and it never sounds congested. It has excellent texture and it is sooo smooth sounding.  It has just a hint of warmth otherwise it is neutral sounding.  It has excellent decay on piano which I love.  Eva Cassidy's voice was just sublime.  Another strength is that the DAC sounds very good at low volumes like a lot of AVA gear.  And as you turn the volume up the depth of the sound stage increases.  It also has a completely black background.  Detail and resolution are very good.

If I had to nit pick, it would be the treble which is slightly recessed but it is very smooth and non fatiguing.  It would be a great match for a system that is treble forward.  Otherwise I can not find any fault with the DAC. 

My son who just moved back home after graduating Nuclear Medicine school listened to the DAC with me and he was blown away.  He wants to try it in his system and we will do that later today and I will post my thoughts on how it sounds.   He has a Chord Qutest DAC with an upgraded linear power supply and he is thinking about selling it so he can buy this DAC.

Well done, AVA!

Best Regards,

Larry

[floresjc]

Great review. I’ve been a long time owner of the RME ADI-2 DAC/pre on my computer setup and I thought that was a fantastic piece for the price. I was very curious to see how franks digital preamp would perform knowing his past performance bar with analog products. He really hit a home run with the digital preamp. Stupid simple to operate and sounds fantastic. Does the job of two boxes so just one less component in my living room.

My system does everything, tv movies video games music and it all performs up to par. I’m not sure if the treble is recessed but it is a nice smooth sound. I’m able to hear all the cymbal work that I’m used to as a drummer . I have mine paired with Salk song3 Encores and it’s just sublime.

I want to pick up a second one for my basement system but I’m also curious to try the top end Fet valve preamp as well.

[AllanS]

Definitely a welcomed review Larry.  Many thanks! 
It might be just the ticket in my system that has plenty of depth but is lacking some layering and leans a bit too bright.  I’d just have to give up on the black on black motif.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Definitely a welcomed review Larry.  Many thanks! 
It might be just the ticket in my system that has plenty of depth but is lacking some layering and leans a bit too bright.  I’d just have to give up on the black on black motif.

I would definitely consider the DVA.  It will tame the brightness a little bit with the treble being a little pushed back.  My Luxman is not bright, but the DVA was less bright than my Luxman.

For the price, I don't see a DAC coming close except for the Yggy.  And you get a preamp to boot.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I just got done listening to the DAC in my sons system. 

He has a Cary Audio SI 300.2d integrated amp that retailed for $6K.  His DAC is a Chord Qutest with an upgraded linear power supply that greatly improved the sound.  He is also using a JCat usb card.  Speakers are Wharfedale Evo 4.4's with a Rythmik F12se sub.

The DVA blew away the Chord and it was not even close.  The sound stage was larger and deeper.  The background was blacker and there was much more micro detail.   Textures were better and more layered. The treble was not as pushed back in his system.  Separation between instruments were also better as the Chord can sound a little congested when the music gets complex. And again, this dac sounded so smooth.  It is so listenable without any fatigue, glare, grain and the like.  The DVA took the sound to a higher level of refinement.

He is going to save up some money and probably buy the DAC.

[morganc]

I bought one and had the same impressions.  It’s a very nice DAC.   I preferred it to the revered Holo Spring DAC that I owned at the time.

[TomBo]

Wow! Thank you Larry and son. Excellent feedback. Will you get a chance to try the DVA Digital Preamp with the AVA NP1 amp? One thing I also noticed with the SET 120 control amp is its ability to listen to music at really low "background music" levels and still enjoy the experience immensely. Holographic is also something that jumped out at me with the SET 120 and the Vision Q+ phono Preamp...I like that 3D effect quality a lot. I like it when the speakers disappear. Is the disappearing act happening with the AVA gear you are reviewing? Thanks again, Tom

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Wow! Thank you Larry and son. Excellent feedback. Will you get a chance to try the DVA Digital Preamp with the AVA NP1 amp? One thing I also noticed with the SET 120 control amp is its ability to listen to music at really low "background music" levels and still enjoy the experience immensely. Holographic is also something that jumped out at me with the SET 120 and the Vision Q+ phono Preamp...I like that 3D effect quality a lot. I like it when the speakers disappear. Is the disappearing act happening with the AVA gear you are reviewing? Thanks again, Tom

I will be trying it with the CA-1 this week and possibly with the NP-1.  We are also going to try it as a preamp as my son's Cary has a preamp in.  The Cary is a beast of an Integrated with 450 wpc Class AB.  I would like to try it with my Pass amp but there is too much to unhook from my BAT having to reach around behind it.

Tom, the speakers do disappear with this DAC and the music seems to be hanging in air between the speakers.  And  then it expands from there beyond the side walls.

By the way, I am eventually going to buy this DAC as some point in the next year.

[AllanS]

For the price, I don't see a DAC coming close except for the Yggy.  And you get a preamp to boot.

Thanks much for adding that comment as I was wondering what you might have thought about the Yggy in comparison.  The other DVA digital pre difference, for those that care, is DSD over USB.

[jandrews]

can you comment if the center display screen can be fully turned off while the dac is in use?
thanks
JS

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Thanks much for adding that comment as I was wondering what you might have thought about the Yggy in comparison.  The other DVA digital pre difference, for those that care, is DSD over USB.

The Yggy sounds similar from my memory but it does not have the holographic sound that the DVA has.  I can't stress enough how great the sound stage is and how stress free this dac sounds. The Yggy does not sound as good but its kick drum hits are a little more powerful.  Also,  the DVA sounds very good at low volumes which is great.  That is one thing that AVA gear does that always impresses me.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

can you comment if the center display screen can be fully turned off while the dac is in use?
thanks
JS

No you cannot. It is not that bright though and it is an excellent display and it reminds me of Anthems displays.

[mr_bill]

Good job and keep it coming Larry - your reviews are great. Looking forward to the DSV CA1 and DVA NP1 combos.

[Mary]

can you comment if the center display screen can be fully turned off while the dac is in use?
thanks
JS

The display does have a "brightness" feature. You can adjust it from being reasonably bright to very dim. This can be adjusted by the remote control.

Mary

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I bought one and had the same impressions.  It’s a very nice DAC.   I preferred it to the revered Holo Spring DAC that I owned at the time.

I agree.  I heard a holo may DAC and it is nice sounding but this DAC sounds better.

[Dart87]

Well, I finally was able to listen to the DVA preamp/DAC in my system.  I only am reviewing the DAC at this time. 

Hi Larry,

I am curious as to how you were able to test just the DAC?  Is there an option for a fixed output/DAC bypass on the preamp or do you set the volume at a certain level so as to reduce the effects of the preamp gain circuitry?

Thanks!

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Hi Larry,

I am curious as to how you were able to test just the DAC?  Is there an option for a fixed output/DAC bypass on the preamp or do you set the volume at a certain level so as to reduce the effects of the preamp gain circuitry?

Thanks!

The owner's manual addresses this.  All you do is set the DVA's volume to max output.  It works just fine.

[ArthurDent]

Nice review Larry, Thanks. Can't remember if you mentioned it somewhere already, but how would you compare/contrast the Digital Pre/DAC DAC to the earlier DAC 5 ? Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Nice review Larry, Thanks. Can't remember if you mentioned it somewhere already, but how would you compare/contrast the Digital Pre/DAC DAC to the earlier DAC 5 ? Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Hi AD, the DVA sounds way better than the DAC 5.  It is not even close. The DVA is more musical, has a larger sound stage and it is smoother.  When I reviewed the DAC 5 it sounded very nice but it was not better than the Yggy and my Luxman.  The DVA to me is on par with the PSA Direct Stream and it is more holographic than the PSA.  The PSA has more detail and resolution though.  The DVA is so natural and smooth sounding with no fatigue at all.  I could listen to it all day.  I think it is the best sounding piece of electronics that I have reviewed from AVA.  The only other DAC that I could say this about is the Aqua La Scala MKII.  It is my favorite DAC, especially with the LinQ. I have 2 friends that own the Aqua.  The DVA comes close. But the Aqua is not as holographic sounding.  And the Aqua cost around $8K and the LinQ is another few thousand.

[jandrews]

Can anyone comment on if the DVA preamplifier can run both RCA and XLR outputs simultaneously ?
thanks