This Item is Sold!
The Overdrive SE DAC restored my enjoyment of music to the analog era.
Up for sale is less than 1 year old and updated with all current options and modifications is the Empirical Audio Overdrive SE. This unit is in mint condition. I am selling to purchase Steve Nugent's newest incarnation the Overdrive SX. The SE as bested my: John Wright Modded Museatex with EMM powersupply; EMM dac 2x; and presents better inner detail, and decay than the Allnic D5000 DHT.
"Empirical Audio Overdrive SE (ODSE) is my current reference dac. This unit is fully loaded with all available options offered by Empirical. Like the ODSE, the D5000 naturally envelops me in the music. While they both are excellent dacs, they truly are a different flavor. The D5000 provides more stage presence, as if you were at a nice outdoor venue sitting in a lawn chair somewhere in front of the soundboard. Empirical has more delicacy, revealing the fingertip-friction sounds on an instrumental string, better voice articulation and over all inner detail creating an ambience of a small studio session. I remain to find a dac that re-creates this level of timbre with such realism that naturally differentiates the uniqueness of each individual instrument when simultaneously playing the same note."
Paid over $8600. Lowest selling price is $5000 + Paypal + Shipping. This dac is in perfect condition.
This dac can be used without a preamp and I found that the ODSE in combination with the Empirical Audio Final Drive Transformers bested my Allnic L3000 DHT ($12,900). I do prefer the sound of the Allnic L5000 DHT with Kron Tubes but this unit retails for $22,000!
I believe the ODSE and Final Drive will best most everything out there at a fraction of the cost.
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1398132150This is a nugget from the lengthy thread:
"At this moment in time, I am STILL enjoying the absolutely beguiling ODSE. It does not have the complexity of the Aeris, nor the masterful recreation of tone and texture that the Aeris is starting to display. The Aeris will, when fully broken in, clearly control lower frequencies more definitively and have a wonderful, expansive soundstage. But the ODSE is a black hole - you can't turn it on and start listening and not get sucked in. It's like getting hugged by the right girl, you don't feel the arms or the body or the breath on your neck (although they are all there and rather enjoyable), you just close your eyes and sink into the utter magic of the moment. IF the Aeris blossoms and develops this quality, then it will be the best DAC I have ever heard. Guido, Csmsart, and many others are telling me it will. We shall see….."
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1398132150&openflup&357&4#357***This unit of the Overdrive SE is the current production configuration and is fully loaded with all available options and modifications.***
Measurements (Measured at 24/96):
THD+N (1kHz @ 0dBFS): -100dB
THD+N (1kHz @ -20dBFS): -105dB
Crosstalk (typical @0dBFS): -118dB
Crosstalk (@ 20kHz 0dBFS): -110dB
Frequency Response (-10Hz to 20kHz): -0.6dB
IMD (with 100K ohm load): -106dB
Dynamic Range (A-weighted 1kHz): 106dB
RCA Output Level: 1VRMS or 2.3VRMS
XLR Output Level: 2VRMS or 4.5VRMS
These links show the impulse response of the Overdrive DAC at 24/96 and 24/192. Hardly any pre-ring and the pulse gets almost to 1.5V (the input level). Pulse on the 24/96 reaches 1.233V. Other DACs have more pre-ring and never get anywhere near the amplitude of the input signal. This demonstrates the fast slew-rate of this DAC and the grip that it has on transients.
Impulse Response @ 24/96
Impulse Response @ 24/192
Inputs:
USB 2.0, Mac or PC, up to 5 meter USB cable – up to 24/192 supported
S/PDIF coax – BNC (RCA adapter included) – 44.1, 88.2, 96 and 192 supported at 16 and 24-bits
I2S (Empirical standard RJ-45) – 44.1, 88.2, 96 and 192 supported at 16 and 24-bits
DC power (+12VDC, -18VDC, +18VDC) from included Substation AC"
Outputs:
RCA left and right channels
XLR left and right channels
Controls:
Input Select
De-emphasis Select
Digital Filter Select – High, Medium, Low
Line/Volume Select – recessed
High/Low gain Select – recessed
Volume knob
Internal jumpers for 3 volume ranges
Included:
Overdrive SE DAC
Substation AC power supply
DC power supply umbilical cable
5 meter USB cable
BNC to RCA adapter
CDROM with PC/Mac installation software
RCA to Phone-jack Headphone adapter – only high-impedance headphones supported
Located in Portland, Oregon, USA.
Smoke-free, pet-free environment.
The unit will be safely DOUBLE-BOXED and INSURED with lots of packing.
NOTE: Seller reserves the right not to sell to buyers with less than excellent feedback.
Buyer will pay for shipping including insurance. 3.5% fee will be added for Paypal U.S., 4% for Canadian Paypal. I wlll also take Cashier’s Checks or Money Order. I will ship out ASAP when funds clear (that’s up to 14 days for a Cashier’s Check). I have an established Fedex account and get very reasonable rates.
Legitimate offers will be considered; low-ballers will be politely ignored.
I will ship outside of the US or Canada after wire transfer is completed. This unit is 110-120V, 60 Hz AC. It is too expensive to re-task for another standard as it would need to be re-sent to KS Park in South Korea.
Thanks for looking!
