[rollo]

Heard one of these modified by Oritek the other niter.$400 delivered to your door.No digital artifacts whatsoever.
     Was told to check out Citypulse as well.Anyone have experience with these units?
Rollo

[BobM]

Charles,

Check it out with the Schwartz. I'm pretty sure he has/had one. I'm also pretty sure there was some discussion on them and some demo's at one of the Rave's last year.

Bob

[BradJudy]

Do you mean Zhoulu?  If so, they've been all the rage on Head-Fi for a while now ($200-250 delivered): http://ifiaudio.com/d25.html

[rollo]

Bradjudy,
               Thank you for the correct spelling,just could not remember.The site is very helpfull.
rollo

[srayle]

I have an earlier version Zhaolu that i like very much. Had a Citypulse that I liked less and sold, it sounded too detailed and steely,
not relaxed or smooth. Currently I use an Altmann Attraction Dac that I love: its detailed but not too much, and is smooth & deep sounding.
I picked up a modded Lite Dac AH that was converted to battery power and had some V-Caps inserted right before the RCA outputs, it sounds
darn close to the Altmann. For variety, I still listen to the Zhaolu 1.3. I feel like my DAC needs are being fulfilled.

[rollo]

srayle,
       thanks for the info man.I have a Lector CDP7t which I am very happy with.However I was intrigued by the Zhaolu,especially since you can swap chip and op amps for future upgrades.To upgrade the Lector to an outboard D/A would cost $4500 and that is not happening.Since the Lector has a tubed output it is difficult to be satisfied with other D/a converters.
      The Zhaolu was the first solid state D/A that had a smooth tube like sound.For the money it seems like a great value.
       The Altman as well appears to sound this way according to the threads I have been reading.Did you opt for the full monty or a model with less features?I do not mind spending the money if warranted.
        Let me know whats the in on the Altman.
Thanks again rollo

[Loftprojection]

I picked up a modded Lite Dac AH that was converted to battery power and had some V-Caps inserted right before the RCA outputs, it sounds darn close to the Altmann.

You wouldn't have a bit more info on this one would you?  Like who is the modder or where to buy it?  I assume it is cheaper then the Altmann? 

[srayle]

I had read some of this thread on AA, where someone did the battery mod, and put in the V-caps, and said it's as good as the Altmann:

http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=digital&n=122788&highlight=Lite+DC+AH+mods+altmann&r=&session=

A few weeks after I read that, someone listed this modded DAC on Audiogon for $225 (!) and I snapped it right up. I forgot to mention that I
already had a stock Lite DAC AH, which was very very good in its stock form. The modded LITE DAC takes it to a new level, for very little money,
simple to do. I had already ordered my Altmann and was waiting delivery, so it was very easy to compare the two. I did run the modded DAC
for about 100 hours to burn in the caps.

I have the basic Altmann Attraction DAC with just the 44.1 option, didn't bother with the other rates, as they didn't apply to my set-up. I did also get the JISCO option, and I do run it off a Optima car battery, which is what Charles Altmann feels gives the best sound.

The modded Lite AH and the Altmann are similar in character and tone, I prefer the Altmann, though they are very close in sound. The Altman cost
about $1000 Euros plus shipping ($1300 approx.). If I had known what I know now, I would have just stuck with the modded Lite Dac.

[Jon L]

I have been using the Oritek modded Zhaolu DAC with discrete output stage and latest mods.  It's a great one, but IMO it achieves even more greatness with the AD1852 DAC board.  I wrote my impressions here a while back:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=215759&highlight=AD1852

[Loftprojection]

I had read some of this thread on AA, where someone did the battery mod, and put in the V-caps, and said it's as good as the Altmann:

http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=digital&n=122788&highlight=Lite+DC+AH+mods+altmann&r=&session=

A few weeks after I read that, someone listed this modded DAC on Audiogon for $225 (!) and I snapped it right up. I forgot to mention that I
already had a stock Lite DAC AH, which was very very good in its stock form. The modded LITE DAC takes it to a new level, for very little money,
simple to do. I had already ordered my Altmann and was waiting delivery, so it was very easy to compare the two. I did run the modded DAC
for about 100 hours to burn in the caps.

I have the basic Altmann Attraction DAC with just the 44.1 option, didn't bother with the other rates, as they didn't apply to my set-up. I did also get the JISCO option, and I do run it off a Optima car battery, which is what Charles Altmann feels gives the best sound.

The modded Lite AH and the Altmann are similar in character and tone, I prefer the Altmann, though they are very close in sound. The Altman cost
about $1000 Euros plus shipping ($1300 approx.). If I had known what I know now, I would have just stuck with the modded Lite Dac.

Hey thanks much for the info.  This has me thinking that if I could manage to convert my Paradisea to battery it might bring it to a new level as well.  I also have a RedWineAudio Squeezebox so I could drive both off a RedTop, would be nice!  Too bad I've got no electronics skills, maybe if I post a picture of the internals in DIY forums someone could help me do it!!! 

[rollo]

I had read some of this thread on AA, where someone did the battery mod, and put in the V-caps, and said it's as good as the Altmann:

http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=digital&n=122788&highlight=Lite+DC+AH+mods+altmann&r=&session=

A few weeks after I read that, someone listed this modded DAC on Audiogon for $225 (!) and I snapped it right up. I forgot to mention that I
already had a stock Lite DAC AH, which was very very good in its stock form. The modded LITE DAC takes it to a new level, for very little money,
simple to do. I had already ordered my Altmann and was waiting delivery, so it was very easy to compare the two. I did run the modded DAC
for about 100 hours to burn in the caps.

I have the basic Altmann Attraction DAC with just the 44.1 option, didn't bother with the other rates, as they didn't apply to my set-up. I did also get the JISCO option, and I do run it off a Optima car battery, which is what Charles Altmann feels gives the best sound.

The modded Lite AH and the Altmann are similar in character and tone, I prefer the Altmann, though they are very close in sound. The Altman cost
about $1000 Euros plus shipping ($1300 approx.). If I had known what I know now, I would have just stuck with the modded Lite Dac.

   


It just doesn't make sense to me to justify $1300 for the Altman.There is nothing to it.It may sound VG,but no enclosure or power supply.The Under $500 DACs Already modified seem more appealing to me.Value for the dollar.
  rollo

[srayle]

The Altmann is superb, but buying one on the used market is probably the way to go.

[RichardS]

I recently purchased an Oritek modded Zhaolu DAC with discrete output stage for a second system. I put it in my main system that has an Audio Logic 24mxl--just for a brief listen--and it held its own (especially given the price dif). The Audio Logic has more texture and life to it, but the Zhaolu was smooth and easy on the ears and pretty good detail, too. Easily better than the <$1K un-modded DACs and players I've heard.