The Altman Attraction DAC

vman71 · « **Reply #80 on:** 20 Mar 2007, 01:17 pm »

Rcv'd the Bel Canto DAC2 and hooked it up last night. Listened to just three songs at lower listening levels and heard a little more detail, some better separation between vocals and instruments and a wider soundstage.

I'm letting it settle in for 24hrs and will do some more critical listening.

anubisgrau · « **Reply #81 on:** 4 Apr 2007, 12:27 pm »

Re Altmann DAC, I need thoughts on the following:

1) JISCO

How would the sound with and without JISCO compare?

My transport options are: a cheap Pioneer DVD (375 if i remember it correctly), modded Arcam Alpha 5 (by Avondale Audio, so-called AAA5) and Thule CD-150B. Maybe CEC TL51XR later this year, and a HD server one day

Should I buy it or not?

2) BATTERY SAFETY

I have pets at home. Three cats, not with the best manners - if there's a trouble possibility in the room, they will use the best out it:). I am a bit scared they may sit on the battery and short + and -. Would this fry them

? Any other danger during re-charging? Open wires? Please feel free to comment

Cheers G.

rodge827 · « **Reply #82 on:** 5 Apr 2007, 12:06 am »

Hello G,

Purchasing the Jisco would be a good idea if you are using an inexpensive trasnsport. As you upgrade transports the Jisco's effect may be less noticeable. At what point the Jisco is no longer needed I'm not sure. That would depend on what transport you use and your ears.

Only metal to metal will short out the battery, and cause trouble. The cats are not very good electrical conductors. I would be more concerned of one chewing on the terminals or wires, or damaging the DAC in some way. The Altmann is completly exposed to the elements and can damage easily if knocked around or gets wet somehow. I have mine with the battery locked in a cabinet to keep my lovely wonderful and very curious 15 month old grand daughter at bay.

Hope this helps a little,

Rodge

anubisgrau · « **Reply #83 on:** 5 Apr 2007, 06:55 am »

Rodge,
Thanks for the answer, especially for important info on how actually a battery can be damaged. I've never thought of chewing terminals but that's a good remark to think about - although my cats hasn't chewed any cables or wires so far. I am in a way glad there are people like you who has (a kind of) a cause for trouble at home (such as a baby) who don't give up on this product just because it is inconvenient.
Cheers Gordan

rodge827 · « **Reply #84 on:** 5 Apr 2007, 12:31 pm »

Gordon,

Your welcome. The use of this DAC does require a little more attention than most others, but is well worth it.

The use and care are explained on the Altmann website, here is the link.

Enjoy,

Rodge

http://www.altmann.haan.de/default.htm

doggie · « **Reply #85 on:** 7 Apr 2007, 02:48 am »

Quote from: denjo on 16 Feb 2007, 01:59 am

I have been looking at alternative ways of powering the Altmann other than with a SLA battery. At the moment I am using a cheap convertor which I know is less than ideal. An audio engineer in England, Paul Hynes (www.paulhynesdesign.com) has been making audiophile quality power supplies for many years and seems to be an expert in this field. I will very likely go with his shunt regulator power supply which I hope to use to power the Altmann and SB3.

How is it going with trying non-battery power?

Anyone else trying a linear or smps supply? How about plain old SLA batteries?

Best,

Paul

pardales · « **Reply #86 on:** 7 Apr 2007, 03:30 am »

I did not even know this thread was still alive. Good news.

I look forward to hearing reports on those experimenting with linear power supplies. I have had my Attraction DAC and BYOB amp for many months now and still have not heard anything that I enjoy more.

There were some interesting comments on the Bolder Cable thread (Squeezebox listening sessions) about the Attraction DAC with different power supplies.

I bought and Optima Red Top 34 for $120 when I first go my BYOB set-up and it has sat in my rack quietly powering my gear; no problems at all. I charge maybe once or twice in a normal week.

denjo · « **Reply #87 on:** 7 Apr 2007, 05:58 am »

Hi Paul
Paul Hynes emailed me to say that he is awaiting some component parts for the shunt regulated PS. I am still awaiting the arrival of the PS.
Best regards
Dennis

audiotone · « **Reply #88 on:** 21 Apr 2007, 10:51 pm »

Quote from: pardales on 7 Apr 2007, 03:30 am

I did not even know this thread was still alive. Good news.

I look forward to hearing reports on those experimenting with linear power supplies. I have had my Attraction DAC and BYOB amp for many months now and still have not heard anything that I enjoy more.

There were some interesting comments on the Bolder Cable thread (Squeezebox listening sessions) about the Attraction DAC with different power supplies.

I bought and Optima Red Top 34 for $120 when I first go my BYOB set-up and it has sat in my rack quietly powering my gear; no problems at all. I charge maybe once or twice in a normal week.

I also use the red top for many months now...no problem at all.
I use an intelligent loader and keep it on all the time...(Ctek multi XS 7000)
I also have connected a Black Gate FK 10.000µF/63V across the PSU input connectors of the DAC and Byob amp...nothing left to be desired...

jaspal kallar · « **Reply #89 on:** 1 May 2007, 12:34 am »

Quote from: audiotone on 21 Apr 2007, 10:51 pm

I also use the red top for many months now...no problem at all.
I use an intelligent loader and keep it on all the time...(Ctek multi XS 7000)

So with the Ctek multi XS 7000, if I've understood correctly, you never have to worry about charging since it caters for that automatically?

If so, I'm curious how it hooks onto the battery with also battery cable for both the amp and the dac on the battery. I mean do you hook up the Ctek multi XS 7000 first to the battery and then the battery cables for the dac and amp afterwards?

I found a picture of it:

So do the small rings hook onto the battery or do use the prongs?

I gather there are other versions (cheaper) but for lower powered batteries.

- jaspal.

audiotone · « **Reply #90 on:** 1 May 2007, 09:22 am »

So do the small rings hook onto the battery or do use the prongs?

I gather there are other versions (cheaper) but for lower powered batteries.

- jaspal.
[/quote]

I use the prongs...

picture is here:

http://tonydelobelle.spaces.live.com/photos/

in the album fine things in life...

jaspal kallar · « **Reply #91 on:** 1 May 2007, 12:50 pm »

Quote

I use the prongs...

picture is here:

http://tonydelobelle.spaces.live.com/photos/

in the album fine things in life...

Thanks for the info and I was thinking a picture would be nice

You must have read my mind!

- jaspal.

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #92 on:** 1 May 2007, 05:06 pm »

Audiotone - do you mean to refer to a CTEK multi XS 3600? I looked up the 7000 and it seems to be a much bigger device.

audiotone · « **Reply #93 on:** 1 May 2007, 10:44 pm »

Quote from: Russell Dawkins on 1 May 2007, 05:06 pm

Audiotone - do you mean to refer to a CTEK multi XS 3600? I looked up the 7000 and it seems to be a much bigger device.

Russell,

XS 7000 is the one...

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #94 on:** 1 May 2007, 11:03 pm »

Sorry, I was thrown off by the picture in this link:

http://tinyurl.com/yqahvn

(the picture was of a DC powered portable cooler!)

I have since found pictures of the 7000 which looks the same in size as the 3600.

What are you using for a sub with your Jordan Watts?

Why do you use the 10,000 uf caps across the battery? Can you hear the difference with and without?

Thanks.

audiotone · « **Reply #95 on:** 1 May 2007, 11:27 pm »

Quote from: Russell Dawkins on 1 May 2007, 11:03 pm

Sorry, I was thrown off by the picture in this link:

http://tinyurl.com/yqahvn

(the picture was of a DC powered portable cooler!)

I have since found pictures of the 7000 which looks the same in size as the 3600.

What are you using for a sub with your Jordan Watts?

Why do you use the 10,000 uf caps across the battery? Can you hear the difference with and without?

Thanks.

I am not shure it will work with the cooler...

A simple Yamaha...but I took care of the PSU...works great, but I think a Velodyne or REL or MJ aucoustics could be even better.

about the caps:
only Black Gate adds more detail IMHO...(have not heard it with any other cap)
but some prefer it without the BG's.
As the BYOB gets more mileage (about 750 hours now) I think they play good enough without the BG's...
Today I have made a new set of cables without the BG's and I will play some music for a few days...
The best cap is no cap...but if the BG's give me more detail, they will stay in.

alphinmike · « **Reply #96 on:** 3 May 2007, 02:13 pm »

There's a guy over here in the UK that is making a power supply for the Altmann (and anything else that runs @ 12 volts). His company is called Paul Hynes Design and his web address is paulhynes.com - apparently his specialality is pre amps phono stages and power supplies.

miklorsmith · « **Reply #97 on:** 3 May 2007, 02:20 pm »

Welcome aboard! Have you sampled his wares? Is he set up for international business?

http://www.paulhynesdesign.com/

Prices look decent, I don't see a self-contained p/s there, maybe a custom order?

alphinmike · « **Reply #98 on:** 3 May 2007, 02:29 pm »

Sorry new to all this - but yes I think a custom order.This guy did much work for an audio company called Russ Andrews- he imports Kimber into the uk amongst other things.

doug s. · « **Reply #99 on:** 3 May 2007, 02:43 pm »

Quote from: alphinmike on 3 May 2007, 02:13 pm

There's a guy over here in the UK that is making a power supply for the Altmann (and anything else that runs @ 12 volts). His company is called Paul Hynes Design and his web address is paulhynes.com - apparently his specialality is pre amps phono stages and power supplies.

why bother? why not just source an ultra high quality lab-grade dc power supply for pennies on the dollar, on ebay? something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270116347358

doug s.