Just a little update.
"Mouse" sent me a Havana DAC for review at the recent Houston Head-fi.org meet.
And, I have to say ... though begrudgingly ... it's better than the Paradisea+ ... (though you folks who have not heard it will never know the difference, so enjoy your very fine sounding Paradiseas!)
Anyway ...
The Havana, as some of you may already know, is the "OPAMPless" version of the Paradisea ... a true "R2R" DAC, according to MHDT's own Jiun-Hsien.
Anyway ... I've still got my beloved Paradisea+ ... and this post is not meant to chastise anyone (since I must, ultimately, send the Havana back to Taiwan) ...
But rather ... I post this so you all might know/consider that there really *is* a higher order of DAC from MHDT that you should consider purchasing (if, like me ... you are on a Grail Quest(tM) to find the best sound for the least money and all).
Anyway ...
Here's a few shots of my loaner Havana that MHDT sent me:
...
With a Bendix 6385:
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With my Grado RS1's and my Stello HP100
...
And, a generic shot...
...
Anyway ...
To be fair ...
I'll just say this: The Paradisea+, though not
"technically" as fine sounding as the Havana DAC pictured above ... is still ...
VERY VERY close in character and sound quality.
Again ...
It's something you'd never miss if you didn't have a Havana DAC sitting on your desk for comparison.
But then again ...
If you want the ultimate DAC from MHDT Labs ... then email them *NOW* ... because, according to "Mouse" (aka Jiun-Hsien) ... MHDT Labs is going to discontinue the Havana due to high manufacturing costs.
So, in the spirit of sharing information ... and since I'm going to end up keeping this loaner Havana (even if I have to sell my body)
...
I thought I might share my private message (from yesterday, no less) with Jiun-Hsien and regarding the Havana...
I got this email from him while attending the Houston head-fi.org meet yesterday.
(I've edited out some of the expected taiwanese to english translation problems)
...
Hi Joel,
During the development and "trial testing" of the Havana DAC, many considerations needed to be taken into account.
To us, the source of real digital music ... the center of the DAC world, is the Havana DAC ...
So, we arrived at the name, "Havana."
Meaning that this DAC was all encompassing enough ... all inclusive enough of a DAC ... that it could perform well with any kind of music produced nowadays, ... jazz, classic, rap, rock, electric ... etc.
Some of the more important and essential aspects of the Havana DAC?:
It's more detailed and refined, all the while remaining musical and natural... the same general characteristics that are hallmarks of all of our NOS DACs.
AND ... a surprising fact ... though being a digital DAC, ... the Havana produces "REAL and NATURAL SOUND"
Find yourself an instrument player such as a pianist, violinist, drummer...etc..., and let them listen to the Havana DAC ... then, let them comment on what they hear ... and you will know what I mean.
Real instruments play real sound.
It could be smooth, sharp, loose, edged, harmonic...
Whatever the originally recorded and musical qualities were/are ... that's what you get from the Havana DAC.
The Havana uses dual PCM56P DAC chips; it is a true R2R DAC.
FYI: We will be stopping production of the Havana within the next year due to its expensive manufacturing cost (when compared to other delta-sigma DACS).
...
Otherwise ... and regarding your questions/comments ...
There are many secrets to the Havana DAC, however, I am to busy at the moment to discuss them (I haven't even been able to post new Ebay ads!).
If I have time later, I shall talk more of these "secrets" with you ...
Best Regards,
Jiun-Hsien
Mhdt Labs"...
Have fun!!!
aa
