Paradisea DAC

JDUBS · « **Reply #60 on:** 19 Nov 2006, 04:46 am »

Quote from: GHM on 19 Nov 2006, 03:31 am

Quote from: JDUBS on 19 Nov 2006, 03:28 am
Hmmm...so both the Altmann and the Paradisea NOS DACs can accept up to a 24 / 96 signal?

-Jim

Yup..The Constantine can also accept the same signals. The Altmann can accept up to 192 kHz. Most transports output 16 bit / 44.1 or 48kHz..this is oversampled not upsampled like the de-jitters that do 24 bit /48 or 96 kHz.

Very interesting. I may consider one of these options for use with my computer outputing a 24/96 signal from Foobar upsampling with Secret Rabbit Code.

-Jim

NewBuyer · « **Reply #61 on:** 19 Nov 2006, 05:49 am »

In fact all the Mhdt Labs DAC units (Dialogue II and Renaissance II included) can accept up to 96kHz.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #62 on:** 19 Nov 2006, 08:44 pm »

From Taiwan to NY....3 days with Global Express Mail.....nice !!

My Paradisea has arrived in fine shape. After hearing one at the last Rave, and enjoying what I heard, I was compelled to get one.....

I've not owned a tube dac before...heard a few...Scott Nixon Tube Dac, and a good one that George had owned (forgot the name

).....so this will be interesting.

.....I remembered....Audio Logic.

tdangelo · « **Reply #63 on:** 19 Nov 2006, 09:10 pm »

I recieved my Bendix Red Bank tubes yesterday and took some time comparing them. They are certainly different than my reference 1950's Tung-Sol 2c51. Better? Hmm - not sure yet. The Bendix is a little more detailed and smoother than my reference. The Tung-sol is a little edgier but in a good way(slightly more dynamic sounding). I'm not certain which I prefer yet. I like both better than the WE396A which is just a little too smooth in my system

I also got a 1950's Tung-sol as a backup - it sounds the same as my reference so thats a good thing

Tony

brashgordon · « **Reply #64 on:** 19 Nov 2006, 09:42 pm »

Interested to hear more about this unit....and the ....tubes ...

You're fortunate to aquire some Bendix tubes ... lots of opinions ...

but they're built to last ... but so was my first ex-wife's contract .... LOL

She just won't go away ... and the divorce judgement from her Father ...

a county judge in the state we exchanged probabilities ....

was written in stone ...

I'll be paying her.... long after I'm dead ....

I'm determined ... to out live her ... and our offspring ...

So , it's normal for me to look for long life tubes ....
ROTF... but not ...as eagerly as I once did ....

GGGGGGGGGGGGGG

slugworth · « **Reply #65 on:** 20 Nov 2006, 01:34 am »

The Bendix is a definite improvement over the stock tubes, but the DAC really seemed to put up a fight swapping tubes so I'm done experimenting. I tried SRC 24/96--> Off Ramp --> Paradisea. There was more "apparent" clarity, but the sound had no meat on it's bones. Similar to when I bypassed the preamp using the Foobar volume controls. Maybe I was doing something wrong?

ryno · « **Reply #66 on:** 20 Nov 2006, 01:57 am »

lonewolfny42
Did you get any communication from MHDTlab after you ordered?
I think I ordered to one following yours.
Ryan

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #67 on:** 20 Nov 2006, 02:00 am »

Quote from: ryno on 20 Nov 2006, 01:57 am

lonewolfny42
Did you get any communication from MHDTlab after you ordered?
I think I ordered to one following yours.
Ryan

No.....Just waited for its arrival....no contact.
3 to 4 days from date of sale....maybe tomorrow yours will come.....

95bcwh · « **Reply #68 on:** 20 Nov 2006, 02:20 am »

Wow..Chris, even you are jumping on the bandwagon?

let me know how you like this DAC.. aa

Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 20 Nov 2006, 02:00 am

Quote from: ryno on 20 Nov 2006, 01:57 am
lonewolfny42
Did you get any communication from MHDTlab after you ordered?
I think I ordered to one following yours.
Ryan
No.....Just waited for its arrival....no contact.
3 to 4 days from date of sale....maybe tomorrow yours will come.....

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #69 on:** 20 Nov 2006, 02:28 am »

Barry :

Quote

Wow..Chris, even you are jumping on the bandwagon?

Crap....I thought I was bidding on a Moscode......

Well Barry....I heard it at the last Rave....sounded very natural. In the system were my Butlers, and the Mapletree....so I knew it would work.
So far....I like it.

I have another amp coming tomorrow....will make it easy to get a better handle on "how it sounds".....after their run for a bit. I'll post how it works out.....

Chris

Hogg · « **Reply #70 on:** 20 Nov 2006, 03:44 am »

Quote

Well Barry....I heard it at the last Rave....sounded very natural. In the system were my Butlers, and the Mapletree....so I knew it would work.
So far....I like it.

Chris, glad to hear you bough the Paradisea. We can compare notes at next month's rave.

Jim

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #71 on:** 20 Nov 2006, 03:47 am »

Quote from: Hogg on 20 Nov 2006, 03:44 am

Quote
Well Barry....I heard it at the last Rave....sounded very natural. In the system were my Butlers, and the Mapletree....so I knew it would work.
So far....I like it.

Chris, glad to hear you bough the Paradisea. We can compare notes at next month's rave.

Jim

Yes Jim....I'm glad you brought it to the Rave.....thanks !!!

Chris

Jim N. · « **Reply #72 on:** 20 Nov 2006, 05:25 am »

Getting caught up on this thread...

I use the Monarchy 24/96 DIP, not the upsampler. I had e-mailed Monarchy and CC Poon was not completely sure that the Upsampler would work with the Paradisea but it appears from the experience of others that it does. I burn .wav files to 24/96 DVD-A discs so I doubt the Upsampler would do a lot of good in my set up. However, the DIP does improve the output from the Pioneer 59.

I have a RAM modded Bel Canto DAC2 and the Paradisea is clearly better IMO and that's not meant as a knock against Doug Jesse's work in any way.

GHM · « **Reply #73 on:** 20 Nov 2006, 08:07 am »

Quote from: slugworth on 20 Nov 2006, 01:34 am

The Bendix is a definite improvement over the stock tubes, but the DAC really seemed to put up a fight swapping tubes so I'm done experimenting. I tried SRC 24/96--> Off Ramp --> Paradisea. There was more "apparent" clarity, but the sound had no meat on it's bones. Similar to when I bypassed the preamp using the Foobar volume controls. Maybe I was doing something wrong?

I tried the 24/96 mode of the upsampler ..I prefer the 24/48..just sounds more balanced too me. The 24/96 mode sounds a little thin to me as well. Heard the same differences when changing the Arcam from 96 down to 48..better balance. Hey Jim you maybe surprised at the difference in the DIPs. I thought they would sound similar also. After trying two different models..the differences were very obvious.

legarem · « **Reply #74 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 01:00 am »

I bought this DAC six months ago when someone came at home with his homebrew non oversampling Dac and when I read Scott Faller report.

I really like this dac but in stock form, it lacks a little definition and soundstaging. I replaced the tube with a 396A. I began to draw the circuit and took some measuremnents. V+ and V- for the OPA2604 is +17V and -17V. This means that the op amp is feed with more voltage that specified by the company. First, I don't like the OPA2606 very much. It is a dark sounding chip and lacks definition. Finally, I decided to place a 8 pin socket at the place of the SOIC chip installed in the Paradisea. I used a socket because I wanted to try many op amps. First with +17 and -17V, these supply voltages are too high. The V+ and V- come from two TL431 shunt regulators that feed the tube cathode follower. Yes, you read correctly, the cathode follower has a 100 ohm for RP and another 100 ohms for RK. only +19V feeds the 100 ohm RP and only -19V feeds 100 ohms RK. This means that the tube operates with only 38V (I made a drawing but can't insert it with my message). From the +19V and -19V, there's 100 ohm resistors for decoupling and lower the voltage to the OPA 2604. The op amp is not decoupled with any capacitors at all. I replaced the two 100 ohms feeding the op amp with 330 ohms resistors and got _+14.5V and -14.5V. Near the op amp, I placed from V+ and gnd and V- and gnd 10mfd tantalum caps paralled with .01 mfd ceramic caps. These caps are placed aside the op amps. (I took some picts). Here are the op amps tried: AD826 = too much high mid, too hard. Two OPA627 placed on a Browndog adaptor = Mellow sound, very good soundstage, too much laidback sounding for my taste but WAY better than OPA2604. The surprise came from the newcomer National LM4562 specially designed for audio. When I got samples from National this new chip was on market since only two days. Soundstage and image are very good. Definition is excellent. At first there was not too much bass but things were correct after about 100 hours of playing time.

Placing this op amp in the paradisea with good decoupling caps across it means a new dac. BIG LEAGUE name dacs simply can't stand with the Paradisea about sound quality when modified. More on that later

Legarem

JDUBS · « **Reply #75 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 01:27 am »

Does anyone know if this DAC can take a 24-bit signal at full resolution or is it discarding 8 bits to get to 16-bit?

-Jim

rajacat · « **Reply #76 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 01:39 am »

Hey don't forget about the Mhdt "Constantine"!

It uses the same dac chip but doesn't have the tube buffer. The builder claims it has slightly better resolution than the Paradisea.

Raja

legarem · « **Reply #77 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 01:59 am »

Quote from: tvad4 on 21 Nov 2006, 01:05 am

Methinks I smell a new member sniffing out some modification business...

Personally, I find the Paradisea's slightly soft definition charming. For me, it's a refreshing change from the uber-resolving digital I've been listening to for the last 3 years.

Through its website, MHDT Lab provides a PDF of the Paradisea schematic including a complete parts list.

Oh no !!!

I don't have the time to mod anything. Two of my friends bouhgt Paradisea dacs since I bought mine. They want it modified by my but are waiting since 1 month.

in the MHDT web site, there is a Paradisea parts list but no schematic.

I discovered by hazard this Paradisea topic and just wanted to share with you what I tried.

Modified units have more soundstage and definitiion and are really as smooth sounding as original. They don't have razor sound like MOSt dacs I heard.

Legarem

legarem · « **Reply #78 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 02:18 am »

Quote from: tvad4 on 21 Nov 2006, 02:03 am

Quote
In the MHDT web site, there is a Paradisea parts list but no schematic.

Not true. I downloaded the schematic and parts list two days ago.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Nothing wrong with modding as a business, BTW. I just found the timing of your post and its contents to be too on the mark to be coincidental, and I'm a cynical prick by nature. Please accept my apology.

There is a parts list and you can see the stuffed board with part numbers but no electrical schematic.

If you have it, please could you send it to my email. I contacted Mr.Wu from Mhdt labs 3 times and he doesn't want to show this schematic diagram.

Legarem

95bcwh · « **Reply #79 on:** 21 Nov 2006, 02:21 am »

Legarem
You seems to have the "modding talent"..

can you tell me how easy it is to convert the power input of the the Paradisea DAC from 120V/60Hz to 240V/50Hz?

Thanks

barry