Mhdt-Laboratory-Havana Dac ?

kbuzz3 · « **on:** 23 Jun 2008, 02:18 am »

OK....anyone heard it yet. Any idea how it differs from the paradisea+ ?

http://cgi.ebay.com/PCM56P-Non-Oversampling-DAC-by-Mhdt-Laboratory-Havana_W0QQitemZ120275049282QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item120275049282&_trkparms=72%3A552%7C39%3A1%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14

aljordan · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Jun 2008, 08:58 pm »

I just recently purchased the Havana and have been listening for a week. I replaced the tube with a NOS Western Electric. I also have a Benchmark DAC-1 and a Lynx Studio 2B that I have been comparing it to.

This is the first non over sampling DAC I have tried, but not the first tube based DAC ( I used to have an Audio Aero Prima MK II SE DAC / Preamp, but sold it last year). I recently changed to more transparent speakers, and with the new speakers, both the Lynx and the Benchmark became a bit thin sounding, and somewhat fatiguing in the upper mids - to the point where I removed my PC as a source and went back to my Marantz SACD player.

The Havana is very, very nice sounding. It has levels of resolution similar to the Benchmark and Lynx, but more palpable instrumental textures in the midrange and not a hint of edge nor glare in the upper mids (unless the recording is bad). Bass is good, and free from the mid-bass thickness that can come with some tube gear. It also appears to be nicely constructed. I think it is the best all around stand alone DAC I've heard in my system, even though it is also one of the least expensive.

Thus far I have driven it with my PC via spdif, my laptop via USB, and my Marantz player via spdif. Each sound slightly different, probably due to jitter from the source output or EMI / RFI from the PC, but all sound quite good as well.

Hope this helps,
Alan

mca · « **Reply #2 on:** 6 Jul 2008, 01:45 am »

Still curious how if differs from the Paradisea? According to the latest review of the Paradisea, it's a top performer. If the Havana is a step up, it could be something really special!

http://positive-feedback.com/Issue38/mhdt_paradisea.htm

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #3 on:** 6 Jul 2008, 05:51 am »

Quote from: mca on 6 Jul 2008, 01:45 am

Still curious how if differs from the Paradisea? According to the latest review of the Paradisea, it's a top performer. If the Havana is a step up, it could be something really special!

http://positive-feedback.com/Issue38/mhdt_paradisea.htm

HAVANA.....

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #4 on:** 6 Jul 2008, 05:52 am »

Paradisea+ .......

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #5 on:** 6 Jul 2008, 05:58 am »

"All original Paradisea were sold out and will not be available any more."

"Paradisea is the same as Paradisea+ but less USB section."

denjo · « **Reply #6 on:** 6 Jul 2008, 08:05 am »

Chris

I notice from the helpful photos of the Paradisea that the one featured has a toroidal transformer whilst my stock Paradisea has a square-looking transformer. I think there are also variations/iterations within each of the models, probably suggesting Mhdt upgrades along the way. The stock Paradisea still sounds amazingly good for the price. It has performed flawlessly and simply does its job without fuss!

Best Regards
Dennis

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #7 on:** 6 Jul 2008, 08:22 am »

Thanks Dennis....

I too own the stock Paradisea....an old eBay purchase. Some have modded them...I just changed the tube. Its a good bargain Dac.

Mhdt Lab....Link...

Another interesting thread....USB Dac's...

Turnandcough · « **Reply #8 on:** 6 Jul 2008, 01:14 pm »

Quote from: lonewolfny42 on 6 Jul 2008, 08:22 am

Thanks Dennis....

I too own the stock Paradisea....an old eBay purchase. Some have modded them...I just changed the tube. Its a good bargain Dac.

I owned a Paradisea but eventually sold it after a while(reluctantly). It was nice but, in my system, I found little or no improvement over a Beresford DAC that I had previously bought for <$200 . Strangely I know of at least one person who preferred the sound of the Paradisea after having bypassed the tube buffer stage. If that's true you'd probably be better off picking up a Constantine for $359.

Abby356 · « **Reply #9 on:** 6 Jul 2008, 02:48 pm »

The Paradisea+ "uses the legendary 16 bit/44.1KHz NOS Phillips TDA1545A non-oversampling DAC chip, has no digital filters, uses the award winning National Semiconductor LM4562 operational amplifier for active I/V conversion...".

The Havana "no Op-amp, utilize legendary R-2R multi-bits Burr Brown PCM56P (16 bits) DAC chip, metal case, with silk brushing aluminum plates , acrylic front panel."

So it appears to be a difference of DAC chips and the opamps(or lack there of) as well as the case. The type of opamp was something that was changed with various revisions of the Paradisea (probably due to the DIY community experimentation)

Daniel.

Scott F. · « **Reply #10 on:** 6 Jul 2008, 03:22 pm »

I don't want to reveal too much because I'll be writing about the Havana at ETM in the coming months (likely Sept or Oct) but it is definitely a step up from the Paradisea. I will say that the removal of the opamp from the output and substitution of the DAC has made a fairly healthy difference. The one I have here is still burning in. I've got maybe 80 or 90 hours on it so far. The DAC will need at least another 150 to 200 before it settles down completely. So far, it is a very welcome addition to my system.

anubisgrau · « **Reply #11 on:** 11 Jul 2008, 10:53 am »

Quote from: Scott F. on 6 Jul 2008, 03:22 pm

I don't want to reveal too much because I'll be writing about the Havana at ETM in the coming months (likely Sept or Oct) but it is definitely a step up from the Paradisea. I will say that the removal of the opamp from the output and substitution of the DAC has made a fairly healthy difference. The one I have here is still burning in. I've got maybe 80 or 90 hours on it so far. The DAC will need at least another 150 to 200 before it settles down completely. So far, it is a very welcome addition to my system.

What is the rest of your system - especially a front end?

kbuzz3 · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 Jul 2008, 01:12 pm »

Quote from: Scott F. on 6 Jul 2008, 03:22 pm

I don't want to reveal too much because I'll be writing about the Havana at ETM in the coming months (likely Sept or Oct) but it is definitely a step up from the Paradisea. I will say that the removal of the opamp from the output and substitution of the DAC has made a fairly healthy difference. The one I have here is still burning in. I've got maybe 80 or 90 hours on it so far. The DAC will need at least another 150 to 200 before it settles down completely. So far, it is a very welcome addition to my system.

Scott F, i think it would be great for ETM readers and the audio community in general for you to have a paradisea along with the havanna .....not a head to head per se but some general observations about the similarities or differences. Heck ill lend you mine if you need.....

Scott F. · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Jul 2008, 10:31 pm »

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the offer to loan me your Paradisea but I've still got mine

I'll definitely be doing comparisons. I haven't thought too much about it but I'll probably do a head to head with some sort of grading system to quantify the differences and then an overall assessment of the Havana.

When it comes to my front end gear, just click on the link to "My Reference Systems" in my signature line below this post. You can peruse the different systems and rooms I use for evaluating gear when it comes in. I really need to update a few of those photos as they don't quite reflect the way the system are currently laid out (they're close). The Havana will get its major write up done in the Blue Room though its getting daily use right now in the Office System and will soon get transfered into the Home Theater as in another month or so I'll start writing about the updated version of the Aperion Audio 633T tower speakers (they need a fair amount more break in time).

pardales · « **Reply #14 on:** 15 Jul 2008, 02:14 am »

Is the Havana replacing the Paradisea + -- sorry if this has already been discussed.

DSK · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 Jul 2008, 03:06 am »

It's a pity the Zout is so high. Looks interesting though.

NewBuyer · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 Jul 2008, 06:22 am »

Quote from: DSK on 15 Jul 2008, 03:06 am

It's a pity the Zout is so high...

I was thinking the same thing...

anubisgrau · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 Jul 2008, 02:32 pm »

Quote from: DSK on 15 Jul 2008, 03:06 am

It's a pity the Zout is so high. Looks interesting though.

it won't work with the TVCs? blah, that's a massive downer.

DSK · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 Jul 2008, 09:37 pm »

Quote from: anubisgrau on 15 Jul 2008, 02:32 pm

Quote from: DSK on 15 Jul 2008, 03:06 am
It's a pity the Zout is so high. Looks interesting though.

it won't work with the TVCs? blah, that's a massive downer.

Huh? I like to keep my interfaces up around 100x if I can. An 800ohm Zout into a 47k Zin pre-amp = only 58x
Doesn't necessarily mean there will be audible downside... but there might be.

anubisgrau · « **Reply #19 on:** 16 Jul 2008, 11:34 am »

well my concern is running it into a TVC. transformers in general like to deal with low imp sources better than high ones. i'm currently having F3 power amp which is (i think) 10k ohm input so running a TVC with anything higher than 100 ohm doesn't look very promising. it may sound slower and less dynamic in low registers and F3 anyway doesnt have the best bass outhere.