Audio Sector NON OS Dac 1 and Integrated have arrived !

GHM · « **on:** 26 Sep 2005, 02:47 pm »

I'm curious if anyone has tested the waters with this Dac or something similar. I've never experienced a Non OS Dac before. So any comments or experiences are welcomed.

TIA

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randytsuch · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 Sep 2005, 11:22 pm »

I built one. It is not in a case, so it looks just like the bottom two pictures.

I was actually thinking about selling it, as I have been listening to more vinyl lately.

But, I was listening to it the other night, I connect it to my PC through a USB convertor. With the setup I had, sounds pretty good. Decided I would probably keep it, at least for now.

But, I don't have another dac to compare it to, and no transport other than my PC.

Randy

GHM · « **Reply #2 on:** 27 Sep 2005, 12:18 am »

Thanks Randy for the feedback.I decided to try one out. It will be built on a wood platform with an acrylic chassis. Just want to hear what the hoopla was about. I will be using my Ram modded Pioneer 578 with the Super Clock 3 as a transport. I'm going to see how it compares against the players outputs. If the Pioneer player out performs it. I will just use the Dac with my Denon player as a transport for the second system. If the combo works good together I will keep it and the Pioneer 578 SC3 together. Hopefully using the Super clock 3 in the transport..will allow the Dac to work more efficiently.

GHM · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Oct 2005, 10:30 pm »

Well here's some pics of the finished Audio Sector Premium Dac 1. It's kinda of Retro cool

to me. Definitely different.The top is clear acrylic with perforated aluminum underneath. The board mounts loosely on the standoffs (I was told it sounds better this way), and the top cover assembly just slides on top of that. The bottom plate is made out of maple.

randytsuch · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Oct 2005, 10:53 pm »

With all the blackgates, it will take a while to break in.

Will be curious what you think of the sound after break in.

I may steal Peter's idea for a "chassis", and do my dac like that. I know Peter said it sounded better if it is not enclosed in a conventional chassis.

Randy

GHM · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Oct 2005, 12:00 am »

Hi Randy,
Between the blackgates in the Dac and the Integrated . It does look like I'm in for a long haul on breakin. I've read it would be several weeks. Once everythings powered up, I don't intend to turn it off unless going out of town more than a few days. I will post a few impressions once I get it up and running and burned in a little.

Cheers!

GHM · « **Reply #6 on:** 8 Oct 2005, 01:37 pm »

OK the new units are burning in nicely. From communicating with the designer looks like 3 good days should yield improvement. Honestly at the moment I'm satisfied with what I'm hearing now.

This Non OS Dac gear is the cat's meow .
All this time I had no idea what I was missing using oversampling and upsampling. Unlike what some describe of NON OS Dacs. I don't hear rolled off highs or a lose in dynamics of any kind. This Dac is unbelievable transparent! Seperation of piano strikes is startling. Every little nuance is heard without a false sense of realism. This is with a passive volume control..sounds more like active. No thinning or blurring of string plucks or notes. The AS combo lets the big trunks(FTAs) just disappear.

No glare ,no grain of any kind. The combo just allows the music to flow. Unimpeded with dynamics and speed. There's absolutely no noise from the combo either. I can put my ear on the driver and still not hear a peep.

There's something special about simplicity and extremely short circuit paths as I'm learning. Peter Daniels is definitely on to something!
There are no tubes in the signal path. So far I do not see or hear the need to add them. I'm afraid it will only polute the sound I'm getting now.
The Dac's not bad for $350..nor would it be bad for $1500 when you hear one!

The integrated I had upgraded with Blackgate N type caps over the Panasonics in the base model. This was only an additional $60.

Both components are built extremely well. Do not let the size fool you.
The integrated is like a chunk of lead. I didn't ask till after the units shipped about the warranty. Since I was told if it didn't work out I could ship them back for a refund. So after they shipped I ask Peter. To my surprise his reply was "The amp, and DAC, come with lifetime warranty. So as long as I'm around, I will repair them free of charge. It also includes any adjustements you might need initially".

Fellows from where I'm sitting it just doesn't get much better on a $1400.00 purchase! I haven't heard it all..but for me this is the most musically satisfying setup I've experienced in my house or any where else from memory. I've definitley owned more expensive equipment...it cannot hold candle to this simple but very classy combo.

I hope others get a chance to hear the units. The tough part is the only way to hear the AS gear is to buy it or have a friend to buy it

.

Good listening!

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #7 on:** 8 Oct 2005, 02:54 pm »

GHM,

Chris[/list:u]

GHM · « **Reply #8 on:** 8 Oct 2005, 03:11 pm »

Sure Chris! Here's a link http://www.audiosector.com/
I'll post some pics of the gear in the cabinet some time today.
Did I mention these amps have bass depth from hell!
With a Frequency response: 5Hz - 250kHz (-3dB)...it's no surprise!

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #9 on:** 8 Oct 2005, 03:15 pm »

Quote from: GHM

Sure Chris! Here's a link http://www.audiosector.com/
I'll post some pics of the gear in the cabinet some time today.

Thanks !!!

(can't believe i couldn't find that...

)

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #10 on:** 8 Oct 2005, 05:45 pm »

Congrats on the double hit!

As far as my "trunks" go, they are simply there along with the chip amps, the preamp and the non OS DAC. After baby Marcus came home about 3 weeks ago, the set up has not seen much action.

Now, about Randysuch's system, I have a secondary headphone amp system that runs off a 47 Lab input selector to...a Final Music 6 OP Chip amplifier, with EVS Ultimate Attenuators and into an AKG-1000 head Speaker. That system is ravishing, to say the least.

GH, tell me how the break in goes as the system cooks with the help of the "trunks" you have got there.

A question, if I am not misreading, how much did you pay for the DAC? If it was less than $400, then, it is a KILLAH. Wow. Let us know.

GHM · « **Reply #11 on:** 8 Oct 2005, 07:22 pm »

Hi ,
and Thanks
Bemopti123....that is correct. The Dac cost me $350.00. The reason it was so inexpensive compared to most. Is the fact the chassis is half the building cost of the unit. The designer claims the Dac sounds better without a conventional chassis and runs his own without it. So why pay another $350 for a chassis ? I can use the money else where.

This is the latest version as Peter has been improving and tweaking the design over the last year or so. Once you check the components list on the little unit. You find it is of very high quality as far as Dacs go.Gold plated board with all gold traces, two different types of blackgates used in the design, signal paths only millimeters in length, extremely low parts count. It uses the exact or similar Dac chip and reciever found in several much higher priced Dacs that retail over $1000. Like Audio Note for example.

I ask the designer to un-invert polarity as the unit inverts absolute polarity in it's normal setting. I've only had experience with one other Dac /transport combo at home. Which was made by Meridian . The Pioneer 578A /Audio Sector Dac eat it for breakfast from memory. The Meridian stuff was pretty fatiguing and lifeless IMO. I sold the Meridian gear within days of buying it.

GHM · « **Reply #12 on:** 9 Oct 2005, 02:01 pm »

Here's a few pics in the cabinet.

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #13 on:** 9 Oct 2005, 02:22 pm »

GHM, and I thought that the cabinet you posted before was luxurious, the actual unit is the same. It is the best "budget" or non cabinet I have ever seen. Not that the cabinet really presents what the sound is all about, but that cab makes other manufacturer cabinets simply "wanna be" excellent product makers. The cabinet makes all other budget and even hi end equipment maker boxes seem crude (remember all the Chinese gear that is overbuilt, but placed in Garish chrome and golden boxes, with a smattering of blue leds here and there? The Audio Mirror DAC also seems to follow the same line, the Scott Nixon DAC gear boxes look downright rough.)

The only DAC that does not give much or is not as embarassed by the AS non box is the 47 Labs Shigaraki DAC in small, unique Shigaraki ceramic casings (maybe this is because I own it

.)

but seriously, $350 is nothing in the audio game.

The only concern I see on your set up is that the DAC is fed through a regualr, black PC power cable....maybe it is also by a secret manufacturer that makes their gear look ordinary?

Looking good, very good. If you can send a shot of your entire set up, it would be great.

Paul K

peakrchau · « **Reply #14 on:** 9 Oct 2005, 02:24 pm »

Quote from: GHM

I'm curious if anyone has tested the waters with this Dac or something similar. I've never experienced a Non OS Dac before. So any comments or experiences are welcomed...

Enjoy your purchase. Similar products have come from Audio Note and Scott Nixon. One unit that I have is the Ack! dAck that has now evolved into a second generation unit called the dAck 2.0.

PeAK

GHM · « **Reply #15 on:** 9 Oct 2005, 03:08 pm »

Thanks guys for the comments.
Actually Paul..I have the Dac powered from a transformer based Powervar 2.0 amp power conditioner. It's the only component hooked to the little unit. The DAC has a 48 volt transformer. So the current draw ain't much

. I've tried some expensive powercords in the past. Made a difference in some cases ..not for the best in others.

I've noticed as the BG N caps burn in. The stage is becoming larger and more open. I'm hearing more ambience of the recordering venue now. Cymbals and top hats have more of a life like shimmer. The palpability factor has increased times ten. For exapmle Cassandra Wilson's voice no longer sounds like just a head. It's got a real body and breath behind it.
The images also seem more locked in as the soundstage appears to have more depth. I feel the the kick drums and bass strums softly vibrate my couch as I listen. Everything occupies it's own space. There's not a spot light on certain frequencies as I've heard in the past. Everything is more woven.

I've seen a lot on the Ack! dack. Looks like good stuff also.This NON OS/ Op chip amp stuff is off the chain!

Paul_Bui · « **Reply #16 on:** 9 Oct 2005, 03:10 pm »

Thanks for posting the great looking pictures, Gymane. I am sure the components will continue to improve over the time.

GHM · « **Reply #17 on:** 9 Oct 2005, 03:32 pm »

Paul_Bui,

I can't wait to read your impressions of your new toy... Once it arrives and burns in. Hope it's not much longer as I'm as excited as you are ..and I'm not the one getting it!

randytsuch · « **Reply #18 on:** 10 Oct 2005, 02:18 am »

Quote from: Bemopti123

Congrats on the double hit!

As far as my "trunks" go, they are simply there along with the chip amps, the preamp and the non OS DAC. After baby Marcus came home about 3 weeks ago, the set up has not seen much action.

Now, about Randysuch's system, I have a secondary headphone amp system that runs off a 47 Lab input selector to...a Final Music 6 OP Chip amplifier, with EVS Ultimate Attenuators and into an AKG-1000 head Speaker. That system is ravishing, to say the least.

GH, tell me how the br ...

Cool. My signature is actually outdated, need to figure out how to link to something I can keep current.

Am actually now using a TT I built using an empire 208 for parts, a hagtech cornet to a Response modded Jolida 102B.
I preferred to tube 102b to my chip amp, and I got a good deal on it. I also like vinyl for a source for the K1000's, they work well together for me.

I was checking what I paid, and it was $285, for a kit, shipped. This kit included all the parts, but it was a kit.

Greg, did Peter give you a better price since you were buying an amp? I paid some markup for the board, but I am surprised Peter would sell the DAC for $350 when he sells the parts for almost $300. He was talking a $1000 price through his retail partnership.

Also, he has an even better version now, using teflon caps and more expensive BG's. but he is not selling that version. Parts cost is $500 more than what he sells. He talked about it at diyaudio.

Randy

cjr888 · « **Reply #19 on:** 10 Oct 2005, 02:44 am »

I've owned two of Peter's designs -- essentially the same amplifier in prototype form, but basically as good looking, and an Audio Zone non-OS DAC in a wood chassis which I still own....which really is terrific.

His commercial offerings are great, but if you browse through the diyaudio.com forums, you would be amazed at some of his personal creations, and also how quickly he can 'throw together' chassis and layouts that make most commercial designs look pathetic. Really artful, really amazing. Just has a knack for it...as well as the skills and ideas.

) Sort of reminds me of the solid state version of Josh Stippich in some respects...