Paradisea DAC

musicman06 · « **Reply #500 on:** 31 Aug 2007, 09:21 am »

Well add me to the Paradisea DAC camp. I should have one headed my way hopefully tomorrow. I'm interested in seeing how the tubes sound compared to my all SS current setup. With it I'll be getting three extra tubes including the WE 396, and Bendix Red Bank 6385, plus a tube damper and power cable. The setup it's destined to be tried in includes a cheap DVD player, and CD changer, Nuforce AVP-16 processor with 2-ch bypass, Gemstone Blue Diamond amp, and Selah Audio speakers. The last two worth about $8k Canadian. Interconnects are a silver copper combination from Ultimate Cables and the speaker wires and bananas cheap Monoprice. My Windows Vista (eliminates k-mixer that plagued audio on older Windows versions) computer is also connected to the Nuforce processor via Coax. The comparison I'm looking forward to is this tube NOS DAC vs the highly regarded 2 channel bypass of the Nuforce. I've seen a Nuforce rep claim the AVP-16's DAC as better than a Benchmark DAC-1. So we'll see how this little guy fares, I'm expecting it to do quite well especially with the Bendix tube.

Loftprojection · « **Reply #501 on:** 31 Aug 2007, 12:42 pm »

Quote from: musicman06 on 31 Aug 2007, 09:21 am

Well add me to the Paradisea DAC camp. I should have one headed my way hopefully tomorrow. I'm interested in seeing how the tubes sound compared to my all SS current setup. With it I'll be getting three extra tubes including the WE 396, and Bendix Red Bank 6385, plus a tube damper and power cable. The setup it's destined to be tried in includes a cheap DVD player, and CD changer, Nuforce AVP-16 processor with 2-ch bypass, Gemstone Blue Diamond amp, and Selah Audio speakers. The last two worth about $8k Canadian. Interconnects are a silver copper combination from Ultimate Cables and the speaker wires and bananas cheap Monoprice. My Windows Vista (eliminates k-mixer that plagued audio on older Windows versions) computer is also connected to the Nuforce processor via Coax. The comparison I'm looking forward to is this tube NOS DAC vs the highly regarded 2 channel bypass of the Nuforce. I've seen a Nuforce rep claim the AVP-16's DAC as better than a Benchmark DAC-1. So we'll see how this little guy fares, I'm expecting it to do quite well especially with the Bendix tube.

Can't wait to read your feedback. If I had to bet on something, I'd certainly bet on the Paradisea to give you the most satisfying musical experience. I've read so many claims by home theater companies that their processor or receiver has such and such great DACs but ultimately when you compare them head to head versus a good stereo DAC you realize that it sounds ok but not up to the expectations. Make sure you give your Paradisea a good 100h of burnin before you do your little comparo and also that you use the same transport and cable. I found my Paradisea to be quite sensitive to the transport that is used to feed it. I tested with a Rotel changer, an Arcam CD23T, a Denon DVD2900, direct feed from a computer and finally the one I kept, a RWA SB2.

musicman06 · « **Reply #502 on:** 1 Sep 2007, 08:24 am »

I got the tracking number for the package today, maybe a week or more with the long weekend upon us. I picked this up as a package deal from a seller on Canuck Audiomart, says it's almost 3mth old so should already be well on its way to being broken in. I'll try and do a fair comparison sometime in the next few weeks assuming it arrives intact. I've never been blown away by the Nuforce, though in fairness I've never hooked up an even respectable source player to it. The CD changer is a about a 7 year old Technics retailed for about $150, the DVD a cheap Wal-mart purchase a few years back. I'm looking to going more to the computer as the main source. However, I did not get the USB version as I don't care for that connection unless done right which the USB Paradisea I'd dare say is not.

GHM · « **Reply #503 on:** 1 Sep 2007, 12:54 pm »

Quote from: musicman06 link=topic=33534.msg#msg date=

I got the tracking number for the package today, maybe a week or more with the long weekend upon us. I picked this up as a package deal from a seller on Canuck Audiomart, says it's almost 3mth old so should already be well on its way to being broken in. I'll try and do a fair comparison sometime in the next few weeks assuming it arrives intact. I've never been blown away by the Nuforce, though in fairness I've never hooked up an even respectable source player to it. The CD changer is a about a 7 year old Technics retailed for about $150, the DVD a cheap Wal-mart purchase a few years back. I'm looking to going more to the computer as the main source. However, I did not get the USB version as I don't care for that connection unless done right which the USB Paradisea I'd dare say is not.

I wouldn't knock it until you've tried it. You maybe surprised just how good the USB connection is..much better than given credit I can assure you. If it can smoke a $2500 Arcam CD / DVD player. I would say the USB is pretty good on a $500 Dac.

Oscillate · « **Reply #504 on:** 1 Sep 2007, 05:18 pm »

Can you connect directly from the RCA L & R channel outputs of the Paradesia+ to the RCA L & R channel inputs of an amplifier?

I currently source from a PC to a Monarchy Audio DIP 48/96 Upsampler (much better soundstage and quieter noise floor than without) to the Paradesia+, then into an Outlaw 990 pre/pro (in bypass mode) to an Outlaw 7125 amplifier. Amplifier specifications can be found on this page. Do you folks think I can connect directly to the inputs of the amplifier? Is it safe? (...I would much prefer not to cook my Paradesia or amplifier) Thanks

shahsy · « **Reply #505 on:** 2 Sep 2007, 08:21 pm »

Do any of the Paradisea users here leave their DACs powered up 24/7?
How long would the tube last with the DAC left on like this?

Thanks

s

tanchiro58 · « **Reply #506 on:** 2 Sep 2007, 09:08 pm »

Quote

Do any of the Paradisea users here leave their DACs powered up 24/7?
How long would the tube last with the DAC left on like this?

That is why you need to have a spare one. But I doubt it especially the longest life of Bendix 2C51 and WE396A. I left on my Renaissance II 24/7 without problems to the tube.

GHM · « **Reply #507 on:** 3 Sep 2007, 12:03 am »

Quote from: shahsy link=topic=33534.msg#msg date=

Do any of the Paradisea users here leave their DACs powered up 24/7?
How long would the tube last with the DAC left on like this?

Thanks

s

Mine has been on for at least 6 months straight. Original tube still working just fine.

musicman06 · « **Reply #508 on:** 9 Sep 2007, 10:10 am »

I've got the DAC here playing now. Just the stock tube so far so I'll want to experiment and switch tubes soon. So far I've hooked up the CD changer via optical (no coax out) to the DAC and of course ran the stereo cables from the DAC to the processor. So far so good. If anything it sounds a little better than the Nuforce, not much difference really, I think the bass is better, the detail likely a little worse, soundstage some better.

Oscillate you can hook a DAC direct to the amp, or a source for that matter, but you're going to need a volume control. You also need to impedence match.

Oscillate · « **Reply #509 on:** 9 Sep 2007, 07:38 pm »

musicman06, thanks for your reply.

If you wish to invest in a Bendix 6385 tube for the Paradesia you will be rewarded with a clearly detailed and authoritatively warm sound.
It will really bring out the music. Not quite as warm as the WE396A in the midrange, but with much better dynamics overall.
I found the stock GE JAN 5670 tube to be comparatively harsh and uninteresting sounding.

"I'm looking to going more to the computer as the main source. However, I did not get the USB version
as I don't care for that connection unless done right which the USB Paradisea I'd dare say is not."

...I do have the Paradesia+, but the Monarchy Audio DIP 48/96 Upsampler (see my previous post) wiil not accept USB input. I have used the Digital PCLink product for over a year now. It is passive and allows for 24 bit rates, bit-perfect passthrough and Kmixer bypass via ASIO ASIO4ALL (please see the specs). I am very happy with it. The RCA SPDIF goes to the Monarchy > Paradesia+ > analogue bypass of the Outlaw 990 pre/pro input and the TOSLink output is going to the optical input of Outlaw 990 pre/pro for Home Theater. The computer is my only source (music and HT).

musicman06 · « **Reply #510 on:** 9 Sep 2007, 08:22 pm »

Thanks for the info Oscillate. Yes, I got 3 extra tubes with the DAC including the WE and Bendix. If I get ambitious over the next few days I'd like to compare them all. More likely though since time is a premium I'll just jump right to the 6385 since it should be as good as it gets from what I've read.

shooter · « **Reply #511 on:** 9 Sep 2007, 08:33 pm »

Oscillate, Can you tell which we396a you have, is it a round, square or d getter? Thanks

Oscillate · « **Reply #512 on:** 10 Sep 2007, 06:39 am »

WE 2C51/396A date code 8-55. It looks to be a 'D' shaped getter (the two upper corners are rounded-off and the two lower corners are square).

Does anyone have experience with the RCA 5670 Command (broadcast quality) tube in the Paradesia?

tanchiro58 · « **Reply #513 on:** 10 Sep 2007, 09:35 am »

Quote

WE 2C51/396A date code 8-55. It looks to be a 'D' shaped getter (the two upper corners are rounded-off and the two lower corners are square).

This is the best tube I have ever listened in my MHDT Renaissance II and my friend's Paradisea. You can not go wrong with this unless you have a different taste.

jaspal kallar · « **Reply #514 on:** 10 Sep 2007, 11:02 am »

Hi,

I was wondering if the Paradisea dac was only MHDT dac that could handle 44.1, 48 and 96 kHz?

I sometimes watch music DVD's which output 48 Khz and my present dac can handle that, hence my question.

As a side question. If say a MHDT Dac can only handle 44.1 would that mean that if I played a DVD at 48 Khz then I would hear no sound?

jaspal.

PS. I'm not too 'techy' but hopefully you know what I mean by 44.1 and 48/96 in the above

NewBuyer · « **Reply #515 on:** 11 Sep 2007, 04:02 am »

Quote from: jaspal kallar on 10 Sep 2007, 11:02 am

...I was wondering if the Paradisea dac was only MHDT dac that could handle 44.1, 48 and 96 kHz?...

As I understand it, all the MHDT Labs DACs currently use the CS8414 digital receiver and can thus accept 44.1, 48, or 96kHz S/PDIF signals.

djdube525 · « **Reply #516 on:** 16 Sep 2007, 08:49 am »

For the modders out there...

Has anyone tried the "newish" op-amps from National? I'm wondering how they compare to the OPS2107s...
I should be getting my Paradisea next week... should have a couple 2107s early in the week, and just asked for some samples from National.

The have a dual op-amp in an 8 pin SOIC package that looks like (from very very brief look at the specs) a drop in replacement.

Here's the spec:
http://cache.national.com/ds/LM/LME49860.pdf

And here's a brief write up in Stereophile...
http://stereophile.com/news/072307national/

Thanks for any input!

Occam · « **Reply #517 on:** 16 Sep 2007, 03:54 pm »

dj,

If your Paradisea is one of recent manufacture, it already uses the National LM4562. The LM4562 is a dual like the LME49720 and LME49860, and are 'of a piece'. The 49720 is (I believe) a re-labled 4562 to make the numbering consistent, and the 49860 simply a version fabbed for higher rails. I wouldn't think the subjective or objective measures would be significantly different.
http://cache.national.com/cat/index.cgi?i=289

I'm also a great fan of the OPA2107, and I believe you'll find its sonic signature quite different that the National chips. I use this TI/BB chip along with the Nationals as my 'standards'. The 2107 is typical of the BurrBrown sound, very resolving and extended, but warm, with a 'dense' midrange. IMO, its subjectively like a dual OPA627, but easier to use and substantially less expensive.
The Nationals can be described as subjectively even more extended and detailed, neither warm or cold, but simply 'clean'.

In my Zhaolu 2.0c DAC I use OPA2107s in the filter sections and a LM4562 in the output, which strikes, for me, a happy compromise. You subjective preferences would obviouly be tempered by your choise of output CF tube.
FWIW

djdube525 · « **Reply #518 on:** 16 Sep 2007, 04:44 pm »

Thanks for the reply!

The one that is coming is one of the earlier models... I'll trying playing around a bit, but tend to prefer more warmth... although this will be feeding some Onix Strata Mini's which tend to be on the warmer side... we'll see...

Lots of fun.

Fing · « **Reply #519 on:** 13 Dec 2007, 03:55 pm »

Quote from: R Browne on 26 May 2007, 09:54 pm

I just replaced the stock output coupling caps in my Paradisea DAC with V-Cap OIMP 2.0 uF 250V caps and the change went way beyond that of upgrading the tubes. These caps reportedly take 400 hrs. to fully break in, but my initial impressions with just a few hours on them in the Paradisea are that of a more vivid, colorful and saturated sound with greater speed, dynamics and bass. Individual instruments are now easier to follow. A much more musically involving presentation than before. Time will tell as to what greater improvements will follow. As usual, YMMV, but for me a definite improvement over the stock caps. Info on the V-Cap OIMP can be found at:http://www.v-cap.com/oilcapacitors.html

Anyone with a picture can tell me which are the output caps?

Cheers!