[Turnandcough]

Yeah I know - another one of those "VS" threads you're saying.
But has anyone had a chance to listen to both of these DACs. I'd really appreciate your opinions.

[95bcwh]

yes! We did a shoot out between the two DACs, there're 15 people in the room, 6 people choose Paradisea, 5 people choose Stello, the rest can live with either, how does that help??  Are you going to buy a DAC based on "consensus"

[Turnandcough]

yes! We did a shoot out between the two DACs, there're 15 people in the room, 6 people choose Paradisea, 5 people choose Stello, the rest can live with either, how does that help??  Are you going to buy a DAC based on "consensus"

Well it helps a bit - since I can't audition either one.  It's all part of the information gathering process until I pull the trigger.  Unless you were to have told me it was a wash and that all 15 people preferred either one...
If I factor in the price then I'm one step closer to getting the Paradisea

[tvyankee]

hello

i am dealer for stello and this might mean anything to you but,

i have heard both and the paradisea is like all tube dacs i have heard and its not like i don't like the tube sound but i just like the attack of the SS better.its faster and it has more control i feel.the paradisea has that warm and slightly rolled off sound to me and less control over the bass.

although it has a very nice mid-range and is very good for the money as far as dac's go,its just not my cup of tea.




hope this helps.

[bpape]

I've not heard the Stello.  I will only say that you can change the sound of the Paradesia considerably with different tubes.

Bryan

[1000a]

"I've not heard the Stello.  I will only say that you can change the sound of the Paradesia considerably with different tubes.

Bryan"

  I do really like what Bryan said here and I think its an excellent point, infact I just switched the Teflon Halo tube dampers on my input tubes (on my amp) to Herbies most revealing dampers yet the Blackbery and the improvement was staggering X the board .  and I have not even tryed any on the driver tubes, so there is more on the table to be had .  Knowing this staggering improvement has really strongly pointed me in the direction of Tube DACs, I love the ability to further improve the presentation (or change it for low $$) keeping me away from the endless parade of gear swapping, I hate that pursuit it does not work for me.  I think it can be a huge mistake never allowing anyone to truely get a handel on a system (the important word is system) So my current feeling is I want the Promi Tube DAC w the transformers (ala AN) but the Paradisa is cheaper and I have a whole system to consider.  I am also in a holding pattern cause now Nick is starting to use C Core transformers, considered nearly the top of the ladder .  and this whole SS does bass better I do not buy it, not if one puts effort into the system as a whole the bass I currently enjoy would stagger most SS gurus. some SS being better yes maybe, but as a blanket statement thats not right, not even close! its a stereo typical comment on tube sound. everything audio is give and take, seek balance in the whole, I will never scarafice air and 3d for a 5% bass improvement, especially the way mine is delivering now, no way! sorry i ranted its just MO, the SS comment is just to simplistic for me.

To further complicate matters I am also strongly interested in trying a GW labs DSP, or possibly (the Big Ben digital word clock-this will have to wait- years I want to see the nxt gen and wait for better pricing).  In addition I am just starting to get a handel on the almost completely unavoidable  impedience mismatches in the digital domain. see

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue14/spdif.htm

this is interesting cause in sourse to pre or amp connections impedance mismatching also is the reason for bad sound according to many (realtive of course) hence all the excitment about the Promitheus TVC and others.  If I have this right they help to correct impedance or get matchs much closer = better sound for most.  Could impedance issues be be the primary curse of seperate components or just economics.

the above entry came last (so consider the below in context) it came first I hope its deciferable.and still has some use.

have heard neither, but I have been shopping a new one myself.  not having $$ to audition 2 at a time, I am forced to gather info.  one could audition 1 at a time, but for me by the time I am to the next one, I will not have good enough recall cause so many of todays DACs are playing in the big leagues and for less money than say 5 yrs ago its a buyers paradise.

all I have derived so far is my Birland DAC circa 2000 was often said to sound very similar to Bel Canto 1, then the revs of the BC2 and the nxt Bird were similar again.
both very very well recieved (BC) sold far more.  last night I read about a modded Lite DAC 60 killing a BC2, I believe Charlie Chaukins said this.  so where does that leave me, I am guessing mine could be out done for 500-600 dollars.

the only other way I size up things is the one I try it needs 30 day trail period, but i really like gathering tons of info first.  some are more revealing and some are less so, so much really deepeneds on where MS is at at the time I get one and how well I know it, I feel there are many was to improve a system, ie magwire ICs and SCs and room traetments will all deliever tons more deatail better bass better air and so on.  Halos (newest are Blackberries- incredible) on all pre tubes do the same.

where I am I have a strong interest in the Paradisa, but the Prometheus DAC has really caught my intetest because I really like the feed back on his gear and his way of thinking.  i study as much as i can the people i percieve to enjoy the same kind of sound i do.  as of late I have gained so much detail and air, with out loosing tube 3d or liquid, I am sold and want every once I can get without killing the tube sound.  so now the Paradisa does not hold my interest nearly as much. the stello and others considered revealing I am a little hesitant.  in short I want it all Nick has a DAC for 340 intro plus shipping desighed with transformers ala Audio Note and a tube DAC at about 750.

so I am still considering:

altman's DAC
Paradisia
modded lite dac60
Promi DAC tube or strait (I am most excited about these)

I do not require the best, I do require myself to not spend stupid money and stay focussed and put effort into the system as a whole.  room treatments are just as important as the stereo and many completely eqnore them.  So I do not want to think any one piece or area IMS will be the Holy Grail cause it will not.

[Oscillate]

"I do not require the best, I do require myself to not spend stupid money and stay focussed and put effort into the system as a whole.  room treatments are just as important as the stereo and many completely eqnore them.  So I do not want to think any one piece or area IMS will be the Holy Grail cause it will not"

...Amen to that!

[Turnandcough]

I do not require the best, I do require myself to not spend stupid money and stay focussed and put effort into the system as a whole.  room treatments are just as important as the stereo and many completely eqnore them.  So I do not want to think any one piece or area IMS will be the Holy Grail cause it will not.

I think that part of the fun/challenge with this hobby/disease is to be able to put together a well balanced system that will give you satisfaction without having spent a sh**load of cash. There's real satisfaction in that. I've owned a few really high end($$$) systems years ago, when I could afford it but now it's a different story. It's that "diminishing returns" thing. I'm not willing to spend twice as much on big ass gear  just to achieve a marginal improvement. I'd rather take the road less traveled. I've been tweaking my modest system for about a year now and am generally quite satisfied with the results however there's still a bit roughness that needs to be worked out. Unfortunately room treatment is not an option for now(WAF) so the next step will probably be a DAC upgrade or a GW labs DSP or both and some good speaker stands.
 

   

[1000a]

I agree it is a lot of fun for me anyway trying to get a serious bang for the $$ (and I am constantly learning lots of new things and being rewarded for doing so.  its nice to hear when people who had big time stuff down size and are still able to achieve a high level of sound, there is a ton of creativity in that alone.

I hope you can negotiate the room treatments a little they have taken MS to a whole new level.  it was good before like having the players come to my house now I am getting closer to visiting the recording venue, totally mind blowing.  I still have a few rough spots I am working on to.  To the WAF well that can be a really good thing, living alone you get to make your living room a test lab, but my stereo will not keep me warm at night. 

Flip side of that quarter is if 1000a's life were more forfilling at this time he would not be constantly posting "Tomes" on AC.  addictions know no balance, I'll probably OD here shortly and obsess about other things.  but any effert to bring music or teleport to it in all its beauty is an enriching experience for the soul.