Okay, this is my 1st impressions of my new DAC. Remember, this is out the box, with no burn in time, which is probably even more vital when considering the tube stage.
Please note that the source was an £18 CD player connected via coaxial SPDIF, using a standard free cheap as chips RCA cable. The same cheap cables were used to connect to my G&W TW-J9 headphone amp (analogue RCA) and I was using Beyer DT770 Pro's to monitor.
I will be testing the DAC with a better transport and my PC, with good cables via my headphone amp and also my friend's nice Hi-Fi. I will test the balanced connections then. I will also be using this DAC into a passive volume control and my active monitors at a later date and will update this thread then.
Okay, on with the mini review. I will start with the summary, as up to now, it's not clear if there is an overall winner with regards to which output and up-sampling frequency sounds best. I found that it is program dependant and probably system dependant as well. However, I will say that I was smiling throughout the audition and am definitely please with my purchase. I paid just over £200 inc shipping, which is a real bargain!
On some dirty Tech-House stuff (Mixmag free CD mixed by Tieffswartz), using the transistor output, I preferred 192KHz, but via the tube output (Upgraded Tesla military spec tube), I preferred the 96Khz!
Via the tranny output (NOT balanced XLR's – will try them soon), I'd describe the 96Khz sound as dry, and focused. With the 192Khz up-sampling engaged, the soundstage seemed wider and there was more “sheen” to the sound. Overall more lively, but slightly leaner.
Via the tube output differences are much more noticeable, but not necessarily the same results are found as with the tranny. Overall, the 96Khz was my fav. It had more slam and weight and excitement, which for this sort of music worked a treat. There was still enough detail and space.
When I moved on to The Evolution of Robin Thicke, I found that the tranny output produced very close results at 96KHz and 192KHz. One track would sound better with one setting and the next with the other setting. I'd say the 96KHz does add more body to the sound, which can be good on some tracks and cause others to sound a little too thick (pardon the pun).
Via the tube output, again the 96KHz setting gave more bass and slam, but overall, I preferred the 192Khz setting on all tracks listened too (4 tracks only). The separation and space in the mix was very nice and the overall mix seemed just right to me.
I am hoping that the tube stage will sound lovely once burnt in. It has already impressed me. The transistor output seems the most detailed, but there is not much in it. I can't yet say which output is my fav, as I need more time. The balanced XLR outputs is what I intend to use for my main monitors when making music and I will use the other two outputs to my Hi-Fi amp and headphone amp. Which will go to which will be seen when I can test it all out.
Hope this has been of some interest to someone?
