Altmann Demo Tour

mgalusha · « **Reply #40 on:** 21 Feb 2007, 03:31 pm »

Very nice review Brad, I'm really looking forward to my time with the Altmann.

I'll be comparing it to my excessively modded SB2, a modded Transporter that's here on loan and if time allows my hot rodded Denon 2900. I'll also have a go a seeing how the Altmann sounds with a high quality 12V linear PS that Wayne from Bolder Cables is providing. Should be very interesting.

Mike

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #41 on:** 23 Feb 2007, 02:05 am »

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/outside2/outside.html .....

miklorsmith · « **Reply #42 on:** 10 Mar 2007, 12:09 am »

mgalusha's review here:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=36765.msg342501;topicseen#new

It's on to macrojack who might even have it today! Then it's going to Zu Audio, then a few stops on the East Coast.

Thanks so much, Mike. Great job. I really liked how you pulled in different folks and presented a great comparison with your excellent primary source.

Loftprojection · « **Reply #43 on:** 10 Mar 2007, 01:05 am »

Very interesting review Mike. I really like the fact that you described what you like in audio!

Too bad your SB is not modded on the digital side, I would have loved to read the difference it would have made. By your review, it looks like there wasn't a big gap between your highly modded analog section versus the non modded digital to Altmann. I'm using an RWA modded SB into a Paradisea dac and there is certainly a difference between the modded versus non modded digital section. My modded SB analog section is not equivalent at all to the output I get from the digital to Paradisea however I know that my RWA modded analog is in no way equivalent to your "Bolder" modded analog. Anyway, thanks for the review, it was really entertaining.

macrojack · « **Reply #44 on:** 11 Mar 2007, 06:28 pm »

Herr Altmann has landed in Fruita, Co. as of Saturday night, March 10, 2007. What a strange, cute little bugger. Spring break for the kids this week. They're both musicians. I'm going to try to cadge the teenage viewpoint from them. My wife has already told me it is too ugly for words with wires sticking up everywhere.
I used the temporary installation defense but she was clearly not mollified.
The DAC that I have in place is one I had built for me by Vinnie Rossi when he made my Sig 30 at the end of July. I don't know what it's name is but I suspect it was the last he built because I received it right before he restructured his website and deleted the DAC from his list of product offerings. I'll contact Vinnie to learn what I have so that comparisons might be meaningful to somebody. I think it's a Scott Nixon something. Definitely not Monica.

mgalusha · « **Reply #45 on:** 11 Mar 2007, 09:41 pm »

Loft,

I also listened to the Altmann with Wayne's SB2 that does have the digital section mods along with a silver bybee on the digital outputs. No question it sounded better driven this way vs the stock digital output. I still had an overall preference for the analog outputs of my SB2 but I like the Altmann a lot.

Tom,

Glad to hear it arrived safely. The old box was getting a bit tired so I gave it a new one that seemed pretty heavy.

mike

macrojack · « **Reply #46 on:** 23 Mar 2007, 01:20 pm »

This morning the Altmann will leave for Ogden, Utah where it will be evaluated by the Zu team. I'll provide my experiences in the review area this weekend.
Many thanks to Mike Smith for the listening opportunity and to Lonewolf42 for providing an excellent demo disc.
The sense of community at AC is remarkable even if we sometimes indulge ourselves in puerile disputes. All in all, I think we set a great example. I don't always feel understood but I do always feel welcome here.

miklorsmith · « **Reply #47 on:** 23 Mar 2007, 03:06 pm »

I hope you had enough time to listen and that the piece was informative in some way.

Thanks to you for taking part.

Mike

macrojack · « **Reply #48 on:** 23 Mar 2007, 03:42 pm »

Mike,
The only way I'll get enough time to listen to the Altmann would be to buy my own. As it was, I embarrassed myself by not letting go sooner. Very vivid presentation. Everything was in bold print. Ach du liebe!!!

miklorsmith · « **Reply #49 on:** 23 Mar 2007, 03:57 pm »

Nope, you asked about it and I said SURE. This isn't a production facility and we don't have deadlines. No worries, mate!

miklorsmith · « **Reply #50 on:** 25 Mar 2007, 04:41 pm »

Nice review, Macro! I had high hopes for the Tour and they're being exceeded.

spwal · « **Reply #51 on:** 25 Apr 2007, 02:34 am »

Hello,

I would like to audition the Altmann. I promise to write a good reivew. It may be in everyones interest to do so, as I will be comparing it to a Bel Canto DAC3-- the anti-altmann with its high-tech gadgetry etc. please pm me and let me know if this is still feasible!

thank you very much,

Spwal

spwal · « **Reply #52 on:** 25 Apr 2007, 02:37 am »

I too have a fully modded rwa sb2. and i can compare using my friends bolder sb3 as well..

please let me know!!

miklorsmith · « **Reply #53 on:** 25 Apr 2007, 02:32 pm »

At this point, the Tour is regrettably closed. The number of stops increased from my original intent from 4 to 9. Add in some bumps in the road to start things off and baby will be away from home a LONG time, like January to June.

Further, my setup has changed a bit and the TacT is gone so I'm Altmann-compatible again.

I have gotten quite a few PMs asking to extend the Tour, but I have to draw the line somewhere. I sincerely hope enough gets written about it so that others will be able to make educated decisions about whether it deserves a place in their rack.

Mike

p.s. It's left Zu and is with Launche now. From there it goes to Gordy then Mr. 7000 himself.

spwal · « **Reply #54 on:** 25 Apr 2007, 03:06 pm »

thanks for the very very quick reply! the dac3 sounded so good in my friends system (different league from the DAC2 all together and t-ball is to modded sb2 dac as barry bonds is to sb2-into->DAC3) that i started looking at fancy dacs again...

darn wish i could listen for just 1 day...

if anyone of those people are in the New England area, i would be happy enough to come by for a listening session.

Though it obviously wont be the same as home, I can at least bring by the Dac3, my sb2 though its a pain to set up in my opinion, and a few other goodies like my modded melos sha-1 preamp etc.

If you are out there, please speak up. I just need an hour with this thing!

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #55 on:** 20 May 2007, 06:53 am »

Mike...
Your Altman DAC is now in my hands....and in fine shape. Gordy drove it up form DE....he attended todays Rave at Occam's/Paul's. We did play it at the Rave....and it sounded good in Paul's system. Soon it will return...after I give it a spin here.
Thanks again for the audition tour.....

Chris

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #56 on:** 28 May 2007, 06:27 am »

I will be shipping the Altmann DAC out on Wednesday. I'm comparing how it sounds to the Paradisea DAC and my EA Modded ECD-1 in my system.

Anyone have any requests to compare anything else in the system while the Altmann is here....let me know.

So far it's doing well....and still in one piece.

(it's very light)

anubisgrau · « **Reply #57 on:** 28 May 2007, 08:26 am »

Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 28 May 2007, 06:27 am

I will be shipping the Altmann DAC out on Wednesday. I'm comparing how it sounds to the Paradisea DAC and my EA Modded ECD-1 in my system.

Looking forward to hear your impressions. It is seldom to read direct comparisons between Attraction and other interesting components in a similar or lower price range. ECD-1 - is that Electrocompaniet DAC? It used to be high on my priority list - I even bought one but the sale fell through. Instead of that, Attraction is on the way to me.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #58 on:** 28 May 2007, 08:42 am »

anubisgrau...

Quote

Looking forward to hear your impressions. It is seldom to read direct comparisons between Attraction and other interesting components in a similar or lower price range.

Thanks....Mike Smith will be doing the same in his system as well.

Quote

ECD-1 - is that Electrocompaniet DAC?

Yes....but it's not a stock model...it was modded back in 2004 by Steve at Empirical Audio....Link....

Quote

...Attraction is on the way to me.

Enjoy...it's a good Dac.

Loftprojection · « **Reply #59 on:** 28 May 2007, 12:54 pm »

Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 28 May 2007, 06:27 am

I'm comparing how it sounds to the Paradisea DAC

Really look forward to reading your comments on this. I have a Paradisea also! I hope you will be able to make a comparison with the same cables and components so that it is fair to both. Many thanks.