Altmann Demo Tour

miklorsmith · « **on:** 20 Dec 2006, 05:42 pm »

As some of you may know, I have an Altmann Attraction DAC with great sonics that doesn't mesh perfectly with my TacT 2.2XP. I do like it so much that I probably won't be selling it. I have a Lessloss DAC that will be here any day, with the plan that it will reside in the main rig.

As a gesture for the holidays, I've decided to send the Attraction on a road trip. I would like to send it to five homes for one-week auditions. Prospective borrowers should be in good standing at AC and willing to follow two simple conditions:

1) A thorough review of the system context and experience with the DAC should be posted on AC; and

2) Shipping and insurance to the next stop will be paid by each listener, with each listener getting a week with the unit. I will pay shipping to the first stop. There will be two boxes, one with the DAC and the other with a power supply battery, so cost should be about $20 - $30 to each. I would prefer air shipping as the number of stops and opportunities for damage will be less, but we can solidify that after I figure out costs.

I paid full retail for this DAC and have no affiliation with Altmann. My reason for doing this is that I haven't been this excited about something new since I got my Zu Druids. Lots of folks seem to be interested in the Altmann and this is a good way for new datapoints with different sets of ears and systems to be created. I assume that in the future, people interested in the Altmann should be able to look at these one-week "reviews" to determine whether its sonic signature is up their alley.

I will write the first "review" and certainly would expect reviewers to write their own feelings without consideration of my opinions. If five independent folks say they don't care for the piece, I'll still like it.

Right now, I'm waiting for the Lessloss DAC to arrive, as well as a new spruce board from Altmann. The original was damaged on its return trip from TacT as a result of having the (heavy) battery in the same box as the DAC. The box was dropped and the battery crushed part of the spruce board. So, next week I should have both and would be able to start this fun little process.

If I've missed anything important, please let me know so I can update the offer if needed. Seminarian got me thinking about this idea, so he's first in line. I've sent a PM to Lonewolfny42 to see if he's interested. He'll be second if he wants. So, there are 3 or 4 spots available.

Please PM me with any requests to get in on the tour and post any other thoughts to the public forum.

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

miklorsmith · « **Reply #1 on:** 20 Dec 2006, 09:45 pm »

OK, the group is set. In no particular order:

Seminarian
Lonewolfny42
Gordy
Brad
launche
macrojack
mgalusha

Yeah yeah, I said 5 and now it's 7.

Lonewolf has offered to send 6 copies of the Rave demo disc so everyone can compare notes with the same music. Way cool. And, macrojack may pop over to Zu, a little audio company that I hold in the highest esteem.

So panel - Please send me your addresses and I'll start figuring the fewest miles this bugger will need to travel. macro - let me know the range of dates you're thinking about going to Zu and I'll try to ensure you have it then.

Thanks all! This is bound to be a lot of fun!!

Mike

mgalusha · « **Reply #2 on:** 20 Dec 2006, 10:00 pm »

Very cool. Glad I was able to sneak in just as it closed. I have one of Chris's Rave CD's, so that's one he doesn't have to send.

Looking forward to spending some time with the Altmann.

mike

Gordy · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Dec 2006, 10:00 pm »

Thank you Mike, you've definitely made the Holidays an even happier occasion

Chris, I do believe I've a copy of that cd 'round here sumplace....

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #4 on:** 21 Dec 2006, 05:33 am »

Just wanted to say thanks to Mike for running his Altmann Dac tour...way to go....

Glad to see the slots filled...its not a common item, so a tour to hear it in one's home system is a great opportunity.

Thought I'd post the link for the Altmann Dac....

Thanks again Mike.....nice to see another "loanwolf" out there......

Chris

miklorsmith · « **Reply #5 on:** 2 Jan 2007, 05:57 pm »

I probably "advertised" this too soon. Altmann graciously sent me a replacement spruce board and I was hoping to receive it before my holiday break but I did not, so I just got it in the mail now. So I need to disassemble/reassemble, plan out the route, put together some brief instructions, and send it out.

I do have copies of the NY audio rave reference CD for everyone. Thanks, Loner.

I should be able to get all this done in the next week. Sorry for the delay, but ya's gets whats ya pays for.

I'll get the order worked out ASAP and put it up here too.

Srajan Ebaen · « **Reply #6 on:** 2 Jan 2007, 07:10 pm »

This is a very cool idea. Kudos!

A friend of mine in Switzerland bought an Altmann. "Must hear" material he sez - and he owns Zanden and Peychev's top-modified Esoteric and other goodies. I'll be watching this thread unfurl. Major fun in the wings

macrojack · « **Reply #7 on:** 3 Jan 2007, 01:11 am »

I know in my heart that this is going to be like every other free thing I look at ---------- it's going to cost me money. I feel sure already that this item will be difficult to relinquish.

But I can't praise or thank you enough for putting this together and allowing me to participate. I have the last battery powered DAC from Vinnie. I want to compare the two because, like die Altmann, it is also non-oversampling. I'm eager to determine whether Vinnie should switch over to spruce for his products. You know, in case he gets board.

miklorsmith · « **Reply #8 on:** 9 Jan 2007, 03:47 pm »

Well, the engine's running, car's full of gas, dad's yelling for everyone to jump in, but Jimmy can't find his bear.

That's pretty much me. This has proven to be much more involved than I expected - not a complaint, merely explanation. I got the last bits assembled and put all the packaging together last night, the shipping order is done, and cables/operating directions are ready. The boxes are literally packed and in the car. But - I forgot the CDs! Argh!!

So, shipping will be tomorrow instead of today. First receipt will be this Friday, and here's the order:

Seminarian
Brad
Mgalusha
Macrojack
Zu
launche
Gordy
Lonewolfny42

I will post the first review to a new thread in the Critic's Circle. I hope general commentary about the reviews and the tour can stay in this thread and leave the review thread just for those. I would rather not dilute the reviews with many pages of outside commentary. I will cross-reference the two threads to make it easy to navigate between them.

Again, sorry for the delays.

Mike

mgalusha · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 Jan 2007, 04:28 am »

Awesome Mike, really looking forward to hearing this in my system.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #10 on:** 10 Jan 2007, 04:31 am »

Where was the bear Mike ???

Thanks again for the tour.....looking forward to listening....

Chris

fu_man · « **Reply #11 on:** 10 Jan 2007, 06:35 am »

Part of me doesn't want to read this... I have only just got my Empirical Audio modded Ack! Dac back from Vinnies battery mods, in Omega enclosure to match my Omega Sig 30.... but damn! good on ya for organising this!! - I have been keen to hear more about the Altman for some time. Any of the selected few (7) have a DDDAC to compare with? that would be interesting methinks. Or an Ack! dac?

miklorsmith · « **Reply #12 on:** 26 Jan 2007, 03:44 pm »

OK, we're back on track. The DAC has been at Seminarian's place for the last week undergoing no-play diagnosis. It proved to be a dead battery, which seemed unlikely but there you have it. The only bad part is that now I NEED to finish my review of the unit.

After such a sputtering start, this should actually yield something soon.

miklorsmith · « **Reply #13 on:** 5 Feb 2007, 05:49 pm »

OK, review # 1 is up. Please try to keep comments in THIS thread, as I'm trying to keep the review thread condensed to the reviews themselves.

Thanks all!

Mike

macrojack · « **Reply #14 on:** 5 Feb 2007, 08:14 pm »

Thoughtful, well-planned and well-balanced review. Personal perspective was interwoven nicely with objective considerations. Makes a guy eager to hear that thing. Where is it now?

miklorsmith · « **Reply #15 on:** 5 Feb 2007, 08:48 pm »

It's limping out of stop #1 (Seminarian) and heading to Brad today or tomorrow. We're having troubles with batteries. I don't know why because I don't have the unit - it worked fine for me. It might be a charger issue, which is a cheapie I got at the Shack. I'll be sending a different and probably better charger to Brad separately.

It seems to have worked well enough for Seminarian to hear it, though I wouldn't fault him for having a bad taste with the functioning problems.

Oh yeah, thanks!

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #16 on:** 5 Feb 2007, 09:00 pm »

Quote from: TomW16

Nice review miklorsmith. Your explanation of what is important to you sonically provides good context for readers to understand what you liked about the Altmann.

Good job.

Tom

Brad · « **Reply #17 on:** 6 Feb 2007, 01:26 am »

If it gets here by Saturday, the Houston Audio Society will get to hear it at their regular meeting

Looking forward to hearing it - thanks again for the opportunity Mike

miklorsmith · « **Reply #18 on:** 6 Feb 2007, 03:20 am »

Be ready, Brad. You may need to go battery shopping right off the bat. I'll be sending an alternate charger your way tomorrow which will be a better system than the one currently with it. Seminarian said he'd be shipping today or tomorrow, I hope via air so you should have it by the w/e. If the battery's spent, we'll work something out. Hopehopehope. I feel due for some good luck.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #19 on:** 6 Feb 2007, 03:24 am »

Which battery does the dac use ? Thanks....