[Phil]

Anyone compared two of these (or all three)?   Wondering the sound qualities each has.   Starting the search for my next DAC.  I don't currently use a preamp and don't intend to. 

Aesthetix Pandora DAC (with volume control)
EAR Acute III (actually a cd player with digital inputs)
Lampizator 4 (with volume control)

Thanks.
Phil

[wisnon]

I heard the Ear once against a Lampi 3 and it fared well, but against the L4, I expect the L4 to top it. I recently got a L4.

Never heard the Aesthetix.

[Occam]

I own the EAR Acute III and think its a wonderful product. This analog filtered (as opposed to digitally) provides me tremendous flexibility, nary a scootch of digititus, with its transformer coupled output, both single ended and balanced, and with its remote controlled volume potentiometer allows me to connect it directly to my power amps.  The transformer provides substantial current so the bass is resolving, deep and authoritative without the need for a preamp.
Its performance on standard redbook fed from a server, either via USB of SPDIF is exemplary, limited only but the quality of what its fed. I've not yet tried any high resolution files, so I can't comment on that.
Given its current sourced filament feed, it can take both PCC88s as well as ECC88s (or E88cc/6922, E188cc/7308/cca, depending on how far up the foodchain you're willing to afford) This allows you to tailor the sound to you liking. With 'warm' downstream components, you could use a CBS specified Siemens PCC88 ($40ea) for outrageously great prat, dynamics, resolution and soundstaging. With less warm kit, you can get much the same with Dutch produced Phillips production, Amperex, Valvo, etc... Between those extremes you can choose between Siemens E188cc/Cca,  French RTC or Dario, etc...

YMMV,
Paul


EDIT: spellig

[Quiet Earth]

Wow! that EAR sounds really nice. The way you describe it is very similar to my Audio Note DAC  - minus the remote volume and USB inputs. I think the transformers in the I/V conversion, plus the output transformers have a lot to do with the organic, analog like sound. All that tube gain is mighty nice for dynamics too!

16/44.1 redbook digital is really an awesome format if you can pull the music out of it this filterless way. I'm glad to see there a few more options for this kind of sound. 

[Phil]

Wisnon,

was the EAR the latest version?  just curious.  seems that the latest is much improved vs earlier ones.

Paul,
thanks.  interesting and helpful.  I should have mentioned that I'm indeed interested in hi rez since my current redbook player sounds very good.  have you found the EAR responds well to power conditioning?

Phil

[Occam]

Phil,

Yes, IMO, the Acute III responds quite well to power conditioning. Normally on the Acute, I use my higher end/cost power cord plugged into a source specific outlet on my Alchemist conditioner with strong filtering limited/fused to 3.5amps. I lent my Alchemist to a customer while I built him a customized version, and found I preferred my 'down market' HE power cord with a similar 3.5amp filter built into the cord over my upscale GS mkII power cord without conditioning, with either plugged directly into the wall.
This is quite different from my CAT SL-1 preamp which doesn't benefit from external power conditioning, but loves spendy power cords.

FWIW,
Paul

[jhm731]

Phil,

I have an Aesthetix Pandora DAC (with volume control) feed from either a networked Auraliti PK 90(Asynchronous transfer mode for USB input, licensed from Gordon Rankin / Wavelength Technologies) or a PS Audio PWT(AES). The DAC is connected directly to my amp.

I haven't heard the EAR Acute III or Lampizator 4 (with volume control).

I upgraded from a PS Audio PWD MK.II/Bridge (owned it for two years) which used a Wolfson DAC chip like the EAR Acute III, but unlike the EAR Acute III you could turn off the upsampling. I always thought CDs sounded better at their Native sample rate. I'm very happy with the Pandora's improved SQ

The build quality the on the Pandora is outstanding, separate power supplies the analog, digital and control sections with stainless steel faraday cages:


EAR Acute III:


Lampizator4:


If you're going to listen to a Pandora, make sure it has atleast 100 hours on it.

Here's some comments on it's stable mate the Romulus CD Player/DAC:

http://forums.theaudioforums.com/showthread.php?321-Aesthetix-Romulus-CD-Player-DAC

Good luck with your search.

Dan

[Phil]

Thanks, Paul.  Nice to have the knowledge and skills to build a custom power conditioner (among other things).  Must be fun to experiment.


Thanks, Dan.  Always interesting to see inside the box.  That was a good read and very similar to the reviews (professional and otherwise) for the other two players.

One comment did raise my curiosity:  How long does the player take to warm up and sound its best?

My own experience with triodes is that, when run conservatively, they can require more than one hour to sound best.

Phil

[jhm731]

Phil,

From a cold start it does take about an hour to warm up, but coming out of standby it's more like 15 minutes.

Dan

[wisnon]

Wisnon,

was the EAR the latest version?  just curious.  seems that the latest is much improved vs earlier ones.

Paul,
thanks.  interesting and helpful.  I should have mentioned that I'm indeed interested in hi rez since my current redbook player sounds very good.  have you found the EAR responds well to power conditioning?

Phil

No, it was a year or 2 ago.

[wisnon]

That is NOT what the Lampi 4 looks like now. In fact, I never saw one like that and I have seen about 7 innards.
Tubes point downwards and technically outside the box. There is also a steel separation from the power section and the digital board.
Here is an L4 with Volume control.



and without...Tubes 6h8 and 553 chipset.
Diode 6x5
L4-G4
Jensen copperfoil PIO output caps

[Phil]

Thanks for the photos, Wisnon.  I had wondered about the previous picture given the ones I have seen and the designers own preference for, among other things, not twisting wires together.

Do you find that the lampizator warms up quickly?  I read somewhere that it took about 15 minutes, but that seems short for tubes.  My interest in warm up time is inspired by the lack of time I have to listen after a late day or work. 

Phil

[James Romeyn]

2012 CES display was Aesthetix mono blocks powering Vandersteen 5A Carbon, one of the best sounds I ever heard.  I can only presume DAC was also Aesthetix.  Never was excited about any Vandersteen demo, but this was really special.  I briefly met the Aesthetix designer and was highly impressed, seemed like a no BS kind of person, professional, businesslike, an apparently great engineer. 

AFAIK never heard the other DACs. 

[wisnon]

Thanks for the photos, Wisnon.  I had wondered about the previous picture given the ones I have seen and the designers own preference for, among other things, not twisting wires together.

Do you find that the lampizator warms up quickly?  I read somewhere that it took about 15 minutes, but that seems short for tubes.  My interest in warm up time is inspired by the lack of time I have to listen after a late day or work. 

Phil

Yes, in about 10 mins as the tubes are run to just about 25% of rated capacity, though I think it continues to sound better after that. I keep mine on all the time except when I know I wont use it for several days. It only draws like 25W, so why not. excessive turning on and off reduces tube life. Tubes are expected to last 10 years.

The Lampi has unheard of heft, weight or "body". A "solid", fleshy presentation. A wonderful complement to my solid state setup.

[Phil]

The Lampi has unheard of heft, weight or "body". A "solid", fleshy presentation. A wonderful complement to my solid state setup.

Thanks.  That is what I'm looking for.  Although my solid state amp reveals what my hybrid amp obscured, a little bit of density has been lost.  Like any good audiophile, I want it all.

[wisnon]

The secret to the density is 1,000s of small design choices made. Density is one of ultimate design objectives, as that is the sound he is after and so his implementation gets there more than the rest.

I know this because I asked him directly why, given that it is the most consistent aspect of the feedback people make about his Dac.

[jostber]

You also have the EAR DACute:

http://www.hifinews.co.uk/news/article/ear-192-dacute-pound;4003-pound;4440/9636

[wisnon]

New hand built boutique tube Dac...attractive, but pricey at 6,200 british pounds.
 review at 6moons.

http://tenaudio.co/products/tad1_dac.html

[jtwrace]

New hand built boutique tube Dac...attractive, but pricey at 6,200 british pounds.
 review at 6moons.

http://tenaudio.co/products/tad1_dac.html

Complete with no upgrade path or any development.     I'd buy a Meitner DAC2X for that money or Phasure NOS1.

[wisnon]

Complete with no upgrade path or any development.     I'd buy a Meitner DAC2X for that money or Phasure NOS1.

I wonder how it would fare against the similarly priced Lampizator Level 6 (a few weeks away from being released)?

http://lampizator.eu/NEWDAC/Lampizator/LEVEL_SIX.html