[usaman]

Out of curiosity, my amp sits on the floor between my main speakers and to get the 2nd best sound behind balanced, I can sit the new DAC upon my amp and just plug into the amp when i want streaming but if i run another long IC to the DAC from my cd transport, will its limited volume control work for my cd playback ? Im going first for Franks to be here in a couple of weeks after i get back from out of town.  In-home demo it is.  Thank you everyone,, can't wait.
Frank A.

[AllanS]

AllanS, I did not find the AVA DAC or PSA DSD in your face or first row in my system or my son's.  I actually found the PSA polite but it has so many different software packages that can change the sound.

I’ve not had the pleasure of hearing a PSA DSD (or the AVA). I had a Stellar GCD/Sabre DAC playing through M1200.  The M1200 may have had as much to do with the presentation as the DAC. 
I’ve been tempted by a refurbed MK1 and was seriously considering the AVA but was presented a DMP 8A offer I couldn’t refuse.  Happy so far.

[Tone Depth]

I've had the AVA DVA DAC/preamp in my system for over three years since I purchased it in November 2021, and have it heard in one other system. Compared with my preceding AVA Vision Hybrid EC DAC, the sound opened up in clarity and smoothness. The Vision DAC, however, was connected to an AVA Insight+ solid state preamp, which was connected to my power amp.

The DVA DAC/preamp has always been enjoyable for me to listen to since I've had it, regardless of one professional reviewer's review comment that it might have a sterile sound. I'm not swayed by reviewer comments, although I will always critically listen to see if I agree or not with their review. My DAC sounded as good to me in the other system as in mine.

[Rusty Jefferson]

Out of curiosity, my amp sits on the floor between my main speakers and to get the 2nd best sound behind balanced, I can sit the new DAC upon my amp and just plug into the amp when i want streaming but if i run another long IC to the DAC from my cd transport, will its limited volume control work for my cd playback?.......

Again, the DVA only has digital inputs. You will need an s/pdif (coax) cable from your transport to the DVA. Best to keep that cable shorter and run longer balanced cables to your amplifier(s) from the DVA output.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Again, the DVA only has digital inputs. You will need an s/pdif (coax) cable from your transport to the DVA. Best to keep that cable shorter and run longer balanced cables to your amplifier(s) from the DVA output.

It also has Optical inputs besides coax.

[usaman]

It looks like ill have a direct digital setup on the floor between my main speakers.  My Audiolab 6000cdt stacked on the DVA DAC sitting next to my Amp running no more than 4' to my speakers.  Easy enough. Thanks again.

[Rusty Jefferson]

It also has Optical inputs besides coax.

Sure, but that would be a digital input too, not analog. It only has digital inputs. That was my point.

FWIW at this point, I spoke with someone at PS Audio (Chris) yesterday and asked if he'd ever compared the SE and balanced outputs of the Stellar Gold dac to one another.  He said he had during development and the balanced outputs did sound better subjectively to the team working on it. It may or may not be for the same reasons that Frank talked about, I don't know, but Frank was emphatic the balanced outputs were superior and I couldn't help but agree after comparing them.

Good luck with your comparisons there usaman.

[usaman]

Thanks.  My audiolab has a dig out coax so all is good. Maybe next year ill go for Frank's M225 monoblock's .

[usaman]

I'm about 8 hrs into AVA's DAC preamp and very happy with it.

Both, the DAC and my transport are atop and feed directly into my FET Ultra 550 on the floor between my mains.  To play records, I swap out the amps input IC's and flip on my T7.

A big improvement on the noise floor made everything more prominent.  This was a unexpected surprise as I thought my noise floor was already dark.  Perhaps bypassing my T7 had more of an effect that I anticipated.  Percussion instruments,  especially the piano, have more authority and a more succinct attack. This DAC far exceeds the performance of my Vision EC DAC.

My Soundstage is a bit taller with the depth having a markedly improved detail and the center Soundstage is definitely different.  My center Soundstage, I imagine, seems more open which was a head-scratcher for me.  One reviewer mentioned a less congested image.  Maybe, thats what I'm hearing but most definitely, I hear more distance between instruments.

I'm not going to bother with the PS Audio.  This DAC was AVA's demo and is well broken in and i expect much happiness from this piece.  As a side note, I think the first several hours of listening to this wonderful DAC, I was ending every song early just to play another familiar cut to ensure that all the good stuff i was hearing was indeed from his new DAC.  To my ears, this DVA preamp DAC is superb.

Thanks for all your advise, Frank A.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

I'm about 8 hrs into AVA's DAC preamp and very happy with it.

Both, the DAC and my transport are atop and feed directly into my FET Ultra 550 on the floor between my mains.  To play records, I swap out the amps input IC's and flip on my T7.

A big improvement on the noise floor made everything more prominent.  This was a unexpected surprise as I thought my noise floor was already dark.  Perhaps bypassing my T7 had more of an effect that I anticipated.  Percussion instruments,  especially the piano, have more authority and a more succinct attack. This DAC far exceeds the performance of my Vision EC DAC.

My Soundstage is a bit taller with the depth having a markedly improved detail and the center Soundstage is definitely different.  My center Soundstage, I imagine, seems more open which was a head-scratcher for me.  One reviewer mentioned a less congested image.  Maybe, thats what I'm hearing but most definitely, I hear more distance between instruments.

I'm not going to bother with the PS Audio.  This DAC was AVA's demo and is well broken in and i expect much happiness from this piece.  As a side note, I think the first several hours of listening to this wonderful DAC, I was ending every song early just to play another familiar cut to ensure that all the good stuff i was hearing was indeed from his new DAC.  To my ears, this DVA preamp DAC is superb.

Thanks for all your advise, Frank A.

I reviewed this preamp/dac for Frank and what you are hearing is what this dac does.  It is holographic with a huge sound stage and space between instruments which is a good thing.

[usaman]

I've always enjoyed my systems imaging, having good localization and rock-solid positioning but this new DAC does it better, little did I know.  Additionally the trailing end of vocal breadths (consonants and vowels) and woodwind breathing and flutter have much more detail and actually seem more sustained.  Quite remarkable.