Step up from Lavry DAC?

santacore · « **on:** 22 Dec 2007, 03:47 pm »

I'm in the process of selling my Lavry to step up to something better. Any suggestions on units to check out? I would consider anything under 2K.

Why am I selling? Well, recently I swapped out the Lavry for my Apogee rosetta converter that I use in my work rig. I've had some time off so I figured why not play. The Apogee was a bit harder and more upfront sounding initially. After a week or so of getting used to it I realized how much better the bass was. Tighter, faster, and punchier. I also feel like the Apogee on the whole is a bit faster and has a bit high frequency info. In comparison the Lavry seemed a little dull and rolled off. Now, I never felt the Lavry was lacking before switching in the Apogee, but now I'm feeling like I can't go back to the Lavry. It's extremely musical but I can't shake the feeling of the soft low end and relaxed high end. The problem is I can't keep using the Apogee for my hi-fi system because I use it for work. Plus I don't need the A/D converter and other goodies that the Apogee has for my hi-fi rig.

I'm hoping to find something that will bridge the gap between the musicality of the Lavry and the speed and range of the Apogee. Any suggestions on where to go from here?

flintstone · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 Dec 2007, 04:41 pm »

Try a Monarchy M24 or NM24 at around $1,100 new...get a 30 day trial.

Dave

Bigfish · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 Dec 2007, 04:47 pm »

IMHO it is ugly (reminds me of a kid's toy), you have to deal with a 12 volt battery but the Altmann DAC is something very, very special. If you can get over the looks and the battery, you will be hard pressed to find a better sounding DAC.

Ken

Jon L · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Dec 2007, 06:18 pm »

Quote from: santacore on 22 Dec 2007, 03:47 pm

Iextremely musical but I can't shake the feeling of the soft low end and relaxed high end. The problem is I can't keep using the Apogee for my hi-fi system because I use it for work. Plus I don't need the A/D converter and other goodies that the Apogee has for my hi-fi rig.

I'm hoping to find something that will bridge the gap between the musicality of the Lavry and the speed and range of the Apogee. Any suggestions on where to go from here?

Yeah, that's how Lavry sounds. Very smooth, "musical," but somewhat boring and unspecial.

You're going to have tough time upgrading. Apogee's own mini DAC sounds just as unspecial as Lavry, and don't even think about tubed DAC's mentioned.

If I were you, I would pick up another Rosetta, maybe 200, or one of Apogee's older discontinued DAC's like 1000, or old Cello DAC, which was Apogee digital plus Cello analogue/PS..

santacore · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Dec 2007, 06:55 pm »

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I used to own the Monarchy NM24 which I liked a lot but I felt it was lacking a little high freq. detail and air. I wouldn't mind revisiting it now that I know better.

JonL, do you have any other suggestions on things you've liked more then the Lavyr and why? I have the Rosetta 200 in my work rig, which is what I've been listening to the last week or so. Like I said, it opened my eyes(or ears) to what I was missing. A few days ago I also switched over to a more powerful amp with better bass which is probably why I'm hearing bigger differences between the DAC's.

Jon L · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 Dec 2007, 07:38 pm »

Quote from: santacore on 22 Dec 2007, 06:55 pm

JonL, do you have any other suggestions on things you've liked more then the Lavyr and why? I have the Rosetta 200 in my work rig, which is what I've been listening to the last week or so. Like I said, it opened my eyes(or ears) to what I was missing. A few days ago I also switched over to a more powerful amp with better bass which is probably why I'm hearing bigger differences between the DAC's.

That's the problem. There's a huge, gaping, bleeding hole in the digital world bet. $1000-200 market and >$10,000 market. If you are lucky enough to find something that you like, it's better to stick with it than to waste a bunch of money "trying out" many flavor-of-month type DAC's.

To clearly and unquestionably step up from the Lavry, Benchmark, etc, you would need stuff like EMM SE, APL NWO, Esoteric P-03/D-03, etc.

Rich Carlson · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 Dec 2007, 10:19 pm »

You might want to consider the Bel Canto DAC3 - a little more than $2K new, but available for less than that used. I have not heard the Lavry at length, but the Bel Canto was for me a definite step up from the Benchmark or the Monarchy, both of which I've owned.

The Computer Audiophile · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 Dec 2007, 10:49 pm »

Bel Canto is going to release a 24/96 version of the DAC3 very soon.

pardales · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Dec 2007, 10:50 pm »

You owe it to yourself to give the Altmann Attraction DAC a try. If you haven't you might want to try a NOS DAC.

tanchiro58 · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Dec 2007, 11:29 pm »

Santacore,

I had the Lavry DA10 before and sold it in a couple months later and replace with an Attraction DAC. But you should get the a fully loaded one (<2K). I also heard the Lossless DAC 2004 but you need to pair up with some CDP and >2K too.

santacore · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Dec 2007, 11:51 pm »

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, keep them coming. I'm going to start keeping an eye out for an Altmann, that seems like a sweet unit.

Any comments on the Bel Canto DAC 2? A local seller has one for sale.

ajzepp · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Dec 2007, 02:42 am »

I haven't heard it, but the Birdland stuff seems to be pretty well received.

NewBuyer · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Dec 2007, 03:11 am »

Have you thought about the newest PS Audio DAC? Seems well executed to me (not an "expert" though). That new Bel Canto DAC looks really nice too...

EDS_ · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 Dec 2007, 03:32 am »

I tried a number of DACs before settling on the on the Musical Fidelity X-DAC-V8. It's about $1.5K. I'm a big PS Audio fan, to me the MF smokes the PS Link DAC by a wide margin.

It's fair to point out the MF costs $500 or so more than the PS.

NewBuyer · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 Dec 2007, 03:36 am »

Quote from: EDS_ on 23 Dec 2007, 03:32 am

I tried a number of DACs before settling on the on the Musical Fidelity X-DAC-V8. It's about $1.5K. I'm a big PS Audio fan, to me the MF smokes the PS Link DAC by a wide margin.

It's fair to point out the MF costs $500 or so more than the PS.

Hi EDS_

Do the MF DACs still use an optional external power supply, and if so, did you use it?
Also did you use/prefer the tube or transistor output of the MF DAC (or both)?

EDS_ · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 Dec 2007, 03:45 am »

Quote from: NewBuyer on 23 Dec 2007, 03:36 am

Quote from: EDS_ on 23 Dec 2007, 03:32 am
I tried a number of DACs before settling on the on the Musical Fidelity X-DAC-V8. It's about $1.5K. I'm a big PS Audio fan, to me the MF smokes the PS Link DAC by a wide margin.

It's fair to point out the MF costs $500 or so more than the PS.

Hi EDS_

Do the MF DACs still use an optional external power supply, and if so, did you use it?

No. The X-DAC-V8 plugs straight into the wall. Actually, I'll have to read the manual to see if it can be powered via an external supply.

The coolest feature is the ability to turn the tube buffer on or off at will.

Sorry I missed your second question. I listen to the tube output 80 or 85% of the time.

flintstone · « **Reply #16 on:** 23 Dec 2007, 07:12 pm »

Quote from: santacore on 22 Dec 2007, 06:55 pm

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I used to own the Monarchy NM24 which I liked a lot but I felt it was lacking a little high freq. detail and air. I wouldn't mind revisiting it now that I know better.

JonL, do you have any other suggestions on things you've liked more then the Lavyr and why? I have the Rosetta 200 in my work rig, which is what I've been listening to the last week or so. Like I said, it opened my eyes(or ears) to what I was missing. A few days ago I also switched over to a more powerful amp with better bass which is probably why I'm hearing bigger differences between the DAC's.

Should you revisit the Monarchy, try some Amperex tubes...I like Amperex USN-CEP 7308's in mine. If you like a little more Bloom, and less pinpoint vocals...the Amperex 6dj8's are nice.

Really, it's all about system synergy, and of course sound (or at least, how we like our sound...to sound)

My last DAC was an old, but upgraded Counterpoint DA-10...I found it "very" hard to replace this DAC because it sounded almost (vinyl like?). I could have (and almost did) send it to "AltaVista Audio" for the latest upgrade DAC card install....but did not. (maybe a mistake?)

In any case, the Monarchy with Amperex tubes does surpass the sound quality of Counterpoint DAC I did own, and love.

Dave

myself · « **Reply #17 on:** 9 May 2008, 01:49 am »

Quote from: EDS_ on 23 Dec 2007, 03:32 am

I tried a number of DACs before settling on the on the Musical Fidelity X-DAC-V8. It's about $1.5K. I'm a big PS Audio fan, to me the MF smokes the PS Link DAC by a wide margin.

It's fair to point out the MF costs $500 or so more than the PS.

hi eds,
1 according to the stereophile, x-dacv8 is one of the best buy...however, would you please list out what dacs have tried before you settling on it...did you compare to benchmark, levy etc
2 by the way, i think the best 6dj8 tube for x-dac is the 1965 amperex PQ7308
3 it looks to me that the x-dac-v8 can be hooked to an external power supply which will improve the sound, is that truth?
thanks!

jon_010101 · « **Reply #18 on:** 9 May 2008, 02:24 am »

What transport do you use now? I would consider a Cambridge Audio 840C cd player, and then use it as a DAC for other components (Squeezebox, PC audio, etc.). I have not heard it, so I am judging entirely by specs and chipset (digital gear is something I'd prefer to buy by numbers).

mcullinan · « **Reply #19 on:** 9 May 2008, 03:18 am »

Im looking into the Bryston DAC, I think its 1995.00 I think it will be a month before I get to hear it though.
Mike