[OzarkTom]

I had two of the Antelopes, the black and gold, but preferred the Lampizator and the AMR over those. I also had the Eximus and Weiss 202 in my system. Tube DACs is what I prefer.

And many recording engineers use tube mics only, that is what they prefer.

[James Romeyn]

I had two of the Antelopes, the black and gold, but preferred the Lampizator and the AMR over those. I also had the Eximus and Weiss 202 in my system. Tube DACs is what I prefer.

And many recording engineers use tube mics only, that is what they prefer.

Thanks for note about the Antelope DACs.  You're tube preference is worth knowing.  Overall, I tend to believe tubes more easily achieve higher levels of spatial and image qualities vs. SS, but by no means is this universal.  Three persons (including myself) of four persons present when comparing the modded EE Mini DAC's tube vs. SS output preferred the latter.  The fourth person's ear was less sensitive and heard no difference.  The fact the fourth person is a Marine Aviator and First Responder (sires/horns) might affect his perception.  There is every reason to believe the tube was not generic and picked for highest performance in that application.  The comparison was purely academic and no one present had any financial interest in the event or the outcome.

Richard Schramm and John Curl of Parasound are no slouches.  Both IIRC had a hand in design of Parasound's latest $4500 CDP, well reviewed in current Sphile.  What about Richard's comment that RCA connector impedance is wrong for digital, causing digital reflections?  He said the connectors they employ (BNC?) have correct impedance for digital, resulting in higher performance.

Not to go OT, but I'm convinced, after owning Naim gear with DIN connectors only, DIN is overall far higher performance for analog vs. most RCA.   
     

[James Romeyn]

I have not, but the AMR been compared to Dacs costing up to $25K and standalone preamps up to $8K and easily competes with those. Many manufacturers now use the AMR at the audio shows. I have compared it to many other Dacs costing up to $8K and it came out on top every time.

This is a very long review of the AMR. Also check out the review in Sterophile.

http://www.adventuresinhifiaudio.com/10/04/2013/the-abbingdon-music-research-dp777-dac-crossing-the-rubicon-or-how-i-learnt-to-love-computer-audio/

Interesting review.  Reviewer "Neil" twice posts his first name but he is cryptic about his identity/last name.  No system description that I found (sorry if it's there).  Quoting 3-5 text pages completely unverified from manufacturer they could/should otherwise post on their own site.  Major fail on these three items.
 

[OzarkTom]

Did you read the Stereophile review by Art Dudley?

http://www.stereophile.com/content/abbingdon-music-research-dp-777-da-processor

[rbbert]

I would think that one would have to consider both the Mytek DSD192 at $1500 and the ExaSound e20 at $2500.  Both have been reviewed here at AC as well as many other places.

[tdangelo]

I would think that one would have to consider both the Mytek DSD192 at $1500 and the ExaSound e20 at $2500.  Both have been reviewed here at AC as well as many other places.

I had the Mytek and now have the e20. The e20 is definitely worth the extra $$ and with an upgraded power supply it's even better. If customer service is important to you Exa is top notch.

[jeffreyfranz]

Well, my luck is that something "new and better" always comes out right after I make a big purchase. 

Such is life!

I would have thought another competitor would have surfaced by now.

Have you looked at the Matrix X-Sabre? It is a DAC that uses the, well, Sabre DAC that has not impressed you in the Oppo, but it has been described as sounding very much in the direction of the M51. It is also about half the price, processes native DSD as well as high-res PCM, has balanced outputs and can, I believe function as a preamp. Even if it cannot do the last thing, it leaves approx. $1000 left over vs. the M51 that you could put toward a preamp. Lots to consider, no?

[WGH]

Anyone hear the Antelope Audio DACs?  I've not, but TrungT prefers them, and he's heard a ton of great DACs in his system, which appears to be very nice.

I have an Antelope Zodiac+ on loan right now and have been comparing it to a Van Alstine FET Valve DAC. I prefer the FET Valve DAC, the Zodiac+ midrange is too lean using the Salk HT2-TL speakers with the RAAL tweeters.

We'll be comparing the AVA FET Valve DAC to a new PSAudio Perfect Wave DAC ($4000) on June 22nd. It should be interesting, both use the Wolfson 8742 chipset.

Wayne

[OzarkTom]

The one that I would love to try at the moment is the new SOtM SDP 1000 that 6moons is currently reviewing. This is also a pre-dac with remote and battery operated for $2900. I love battery operated equipment,

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/sotm2/1.html

6moons wound up giving this SOtM Dac a blue moon award.

[James Romeyn]

6moons wound up giving this SOtM Dac a blue moon award.

Did this So. Korean's company web monkey's battery die?  6Moons posted the link below, apparently without noticing the product is not there. 
http://sotm-audio.com/english/products/sms_1000.php

When such early version of a product is "reviewed" (even as wordy as this review) one might reasonably wonder about similarity or lack thereof to later production piece.  Best of luck with NA product support five years hence. 

[OzarkTom]

Did this So. Korean's company web monkey's battery die?  6Moons posted the link below, apparently without noticing the product is not there. 
http://sotm-audio.com/english/products/sms_1000.php

When such early version of a product is "reviewed" (even as wordy as this review) one might reasonably wonder about similarity or lack thereof to later production piece.  Best of luck with NA product support five years hence.

Sonare is the US distributor so I would not be concerned. They have a very strong reputation.

But the Dac is not currently listed on their website.

[James Romeyn]

Sonare is the US distributor so I would not be concerned. They have a very strong reputation.

But the Dac is not currently listed on their website.

I won't be concerned because, well, I wouldn't buy it.  How do you recommend a product the maker and distributor don't post at their own websites?

You can forgive Srajan for including the link but not clicking on it to notice the product he just reviewed is not there.  You'd be exhausted too after typing so many useless words with his usual and painful pedantic style.  I really do have more fun at the dentist than reading Srajan.   

Oh, also big fail supplying no Serial Number in the "review."  Oh, forgot, it's a prototype.  That whole review is worse than useless because it misleads one to thinking there is similarity to production piece.  You can wince all you want at the next statement.  No one except Consumer's Union purchases stuff they rate retail.  I wish this was audiophile norm, but reviewers would never give up the financial perks resulting from kissing manufacturer's butts.

I tend to presume manufacturers "tweak" review components.  If one does it, they all are required to do it.  It's like steroids except steroids are illegal.  If one person does it, everyone else suffers by comparison who does not do it.  All manufacturers are legally protected by the disclaimer that products are continually improved without notification.

This is the magic in CU reviews/comparisons.  They buy everything retail so no one can tweak anything.   

[OzarkTom]

I won't be concerned because, well, I wouldn't buy it.  How do you recommend a product the maker and distributor don't post at their own websites?

You can forgive Srajan for including the link but not clicking on it to notice the product he just reviewed is not there.  You'd be exhausted too after typing so many useless words with his usual and painful pedantic style.  I really do have more fun at the dentist than reading Srajan.   

Oh, also big fail supplying no Serial Number in the "review."  Oh, forgot, it's a prototype.  That whole review is worse than useless because it misleads one to thinking there is similarity to production piece.  You can wince all you want at the next statement.  No one except Consumer's Union purchases stuff they rate retail.  I wish this was audiophile norm, but reviewers would never give up the financial perks resulting from kissing manufacturer's butts.

I tend to presume manufacturers "tweak" review components.  If one does it, they all are required to do it.  It's like steroids except steroids are illegal.  If one person does it, everyone else suffers by comparison who does not do it.  All manufacturers are legally protected by the disclaimer that products are continually improved without notification.

This is the magic in CU reviews/comparisons.  They buy everything retail so no one can tweak anything.

Sorry James, i never meant to strike a nerve here. I was just following this thread with updated info.
There are many selections in the dac world today and not one dac will everybody here buy.

Maybe you can mention another dac that runs off of batteries for those that has AC problems in their home town like me. I am all ears.

[edn4x4]

But the Dac is not currently listed on their website.

http://www.sotm-audio.com.au/product/sotm-sdp-1000/

[OzarkTom]

http://www.sotm-audio.com.au/product/sotm-sdp-1000/

I guess I was on the wrong website. but I see the price is now $3299. .

But rereading that site, that is in Australia. So maybe US is lower.

[harley52]

The SOTM is just visually boring. And at the price it should have great looks.

Check out the BMC piece for $1600. Ryan or Pete at Vapor Sound carry the BMC line. But, then the NAD piece may be your best bet.
 Good luck.

[cloudbaseracer]

Thanks for all of the replies.  I have read the AMR DP-777 Dac/Pre reviews and they seem to indicate that that unit has a very similar sound to the NAD.  They are both described as having a neutral mid-range with a hint of tube like sound, strong bottom ends and highs that are clear but not overly bright.  Do you guys see the same?

The SoTM is out for me as it is too much of a boutique piece. 

Cheers,
James

[cloudbaseracer]

Have you looked at the Matrix X-Sabre? It is a DAC that uses the, well, Sabre DAC that has not impressed you in the Oppo, but it has been described as sounding very much in the direction of the M51. It is also about half the price, processes native DSD as well as high-res PCM, has balanced outputs and can, I believe function as a preamp. Even if it cannot do the last thing, it leaves approx. $1000 left over vs. the M51 that you could put toward a preamp. Lots to consider, no?

It is not necessarily the sound of the OPPO I am not in agreement with but it is the functionality.  It can perform Pre duties but they are not the most fluid AND it has timing issues with voice sync.  These are known issues but not resolved to my liking.

[nickd]

+1 for the NAD,

I personally use the P.S. Audio perfect wave (gen 1) However I borrowed a firends M2 integrated amp (all digital) for a few weeks and WOW. 

They have really come along way. I have heard the C390DD is even better with a newer DSP engine. For the money no high end company can compete with the NAD engineering team. They are now trend setting. I have owned plenty of NAD gear in the past. some good, some great some forgetable. The new digital stuff they are designing is really in a different league than their past offerings.

[James Romeyn]

Sorry James, i never meant to strike a nerve here. I was just following this thread with updated info.
There are many selections in the dac world today and not one dac will everybody here buy.

Maybe you can mention another dac that runs off of batteries for those that has AC problems in their home town like me. I am all ears.

Thanks, Tom.  I very much sympathize with the benefits resulting from battery power supplies in certain applications.  I lived in crowded Sonoma County CA till 07, home built early 70s, where sound quality was much worse mid day and much better very late in the evening.  No dedicated mains.  For some time I enjoyed the sound with an Audio Alechemy DAC powered by 12V car battery on the other side of the wall (garage).

By comparison this is a revelation in a large N. Utah basement, home built 07 above code standard, below grade basement, symmetrical except for one 5' side wall opening behind the sweet spot, concrete front wall/slab floor, dead quiet 24/7, dedicated 20A and dedicated 15A 10' from circuit breakers.  Sound quality never really changes and is always good.  Have not seen the mains sine wave but it's likely clean.

Sound escapes only through one light well.  Crank it as loud as it will play with no noise issues even at the closest house only 20' away. 

Something tells me you prefer high sensitivity speakers powered by a battery powered amplifier.