Maverick Audio DAC tour

Mariusz · « **Reply #460 on:** 14 Aug 2010, 03:10 pm »

Links to new website and picture links fixed.

We would love to organize another tour Ryan (in the near future)............
perhaps your new hybrid integrated amp?

Cheers
Mariusz

strateahed · « **Reply #461 on:** 10 Sep 2010, 10:11 pm »

I realize the Maverick DAC tour is over, but I wanted to share my experience. I asked Joseph Chow of Audio Horizons to look at doing a mod/upgrade for me. Check out his website, and info on that other forum (AG) about his products and services (no affiliation whatsoever). Joseph has done some custom work for me in the past with excellent results. Here's his reply:

I will suggest make basic upgrade at $ 250, main focus on digital input through tube preouts include upgrade items are,
1, Replace 2 coupling Electrolytic capacitors to film type
2, Replace 4 noisy rectifier diodes
3, Replace wiring between DAC chip output from DAC ICs to main voulume control and volume control to tube stage input wires.
4, Repalce AC inlet to power switch wires.

All this for $250. What's not to like!?! Plus it was about 10 working days turnaround - including shipping (we're both in CA). I had already tested out the DAC1 with GE 5-star 5670 and WE 396A, and preferred the GE. The only other thing was the OpAmp upgrade. Based on my research, I was undecided about the LT1364 versus the LM4562. The LM4562 was specifically designed for audio applications. There did not appear to be much in the way of direct comparisons, so I ordered two (2) of each to mix and match.

I installed the LM4562 from Nat Semi in both the DAC/U5 and headphone/U6 locations: and I must say the results were just short of spectacular! I am now much happier with the DAC post-mod. It is close to my turntable in sound quality ... very natural sounding with great tone and dynamics. The comparison was done using several titles from Miles, Coltrane, and Horace Silver - where I have both the vinyl and CD versions. Volume on the transport was adjusted to allow easy A/B-ing between TT and DAC. About the only thing missing is a bit of top end sparkle, upper extension. There is not quite as much detail in the highs with the digital front end compared to vinyl. But the bass, and mid-range is just about dead on. Timbre and instrument realism is excellent. I now feel that I have digital front end that will make me quit looking ... at least for a while.

Digital I have owned and/or auditioned in the past: Tube Research Lab Sony (wish I hadn't sold it); Sony XA5400ES (sold); MHDT Paradisea (sold); BADA Tube CDP (auditioned); ASI Tek Oppo 980H (bedroom duty); Modwright Oppo BDP-83 universal (currently used as transport w/ DAC, BluRay for movies, and SACD)

Happy listening!

MLS · « **Reply #462 on:** 11 Sep 2010, 12:07 am »

I will second the LM4562 in the( U5 ) position for the DAC. It was a nice upgrade in sound quality. I have now pulled my Jolida CD player out of my rack and it is now up for sale, and I love that cd player.

Now I got to look into the other mod mentioned above. I also prefer the GE 5670 even to the Raytheon wind mill getter.

Scott

Mariusz · « **Reply #463 on:** 11 Sep 2010, 02:05 am »

I am listening now to Maverick DAC/integrated-hybrid-tube-amp A1 combo and it sounds quite impressive for a grand total of $399 ....

!!!
.....on system costing less then $1200 LIST!!
(I'll post pics of this setup in sister thread on Ch&Ch hifi circle)

Mariusz

mytubes211 · « **Reply #464 on:** 11 Sep 2010, 02:39 am »

How this guy can do this for $199

.I wish is more companies like this around.BTW,I think I know how you come up with logo "Cheap and Cheerful": Cheep-it's me and Cheerful-it's you

Ritchie

Mariusz · « **Reply #465 on:** 11 Sep 2010, 03:50 am »

Quote from: mytubes211 on 11 Sep 2010, 02:39 am

How this guy can do this for $199 .I wish is more companies like this around.BTW,I think I know how you come up with logo "Cheap and Cheerful": Cheep-it's me and Cheerful-it's you

Ritchie

Do not know
Do not care
but enjoy it

BTW. we would have to change it to: smart, dirt cheap and cheerful hifi ......me,... just cheerful.

BYOB · « **Reply #466 on:** 12 Sep 2010, 03:02 pm »

Hello ACers, all these fun reviews make me want to spend...good for the economy.
My question; currently I run Mac mini (via optical) to old Denon 3805 to Emo XPA 2 and 5 amp. I am spending more and more time with 2 channel music (FLAC through PLEX) and wonder if the Maverick would be a good invest. Can I use digital out of Denon (optical) to Maverick then to XPA 2 amp? Not sure how good the DACs are in the Denon but the tube rolling sounds fun also. Will this even work and preserve my movie watching and give me better 2 channel listening?
Cheers!

putz · « **Reply #467 on:** 2 Oct 2010, 11:25 pm »

So I took the plunge and ordered my first DAC. I'll be using it mostly for 2 channel audio thru an old Pioneer universal player, Yamaha AVR and Outlaw amp into Salk Songtowers. No headphones.

Looking to roll some tubes, also a first. Looking at Western Electric, National and Raytheon Windmill Getter tubes on ebay. Prefer to only get one of the 3. Anyone have suggestions on which one to get based on my system.

Also would like to try replacing the Audio Opamp only. The 2 possibilities seem to be the LT1364CN8#PBF-ND thru Digi-Key and the opa627. The LT opamp is priced at $6.88 and the OPA was a lot more money. Any reason not to get the LT opamp in the spirit of Cheap and Cheerful.

Here's a link for the LT opamp. Hoping someone could confirm this is the right one for the Maverick
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=LT1364CN8%23PBF-ND

Paul

eclein · « **Reply #468 on:** 3 Oct 2010, 03:45 am »

WE396A always sounded best to me, and the GE5670 is nice...I've never heard your setup so I can't really give anything other than what sounds good in mine. My Grant Fidelity Tube DAC-09 is identical to the Maverick so fit shouldn't be an issue...enjoy

tabrink · « **Reply #469 on:** 3 Oct 2010, 04:51 am »

Had pretty good luck with the Brimar I3D5 as well.
BTW I do like the Maverick DAC /Integrated combo. Only way it could be better would be a bit more output from the integrated.

strateahed · « **Reply #470 on:** 3 Oct 2010, 05:03 am »

I prefer the GE 5-star 5670 to the WE396. To me, the WE396 is a sweet tube, but lacks low end. Actually the cheap and plentiful JAN GE 5670W is very good. I've not heard the other two you mentioned.

About the OpAmps ... again, it's a matter of taste. I got both the LT1364 and the LM4562 to compare in my system. They're pretty cheap. To my ears, the LM4562 was superior. BTW, it should be noted that the OPA627 is single channel ... meaning you need two mounted on a special adapter. There is not enough real estate in there to accommodate this - IMHO. There is a OPA2627 dual channel version; but these appear to be very hard to come by.

emac · « **Reply #471 on:** 26 Dec 2011, 08:30 pm »

Even though no one's posted on this thread for a while, I wanted to pass along what I've found with this Cheap and Cheerful DAC.

I picked up my D1 over the summer and have been using it in my computer system since. The system includes a Dell i7 desktop, a glass toslink connection (which was clearly better than the USB), a modded Tweak City Audio Gizmo (which is great once it's been modded), and a pair of Dali Mentor Menuets (terrific but not cheap). Been playing around with tubes and opamps and have recently been using the combo of a Raytheon JAN 5670 and OPA627's. I'm really enjoying this combo. The music is just so lively and crisp. Since I listen to mostly electronic music, I will sometimes listen to acid influenced tracks to see if the system can make the music sound appropriately squelchy but not hard on the ears. I find that this tests speed, detail, texture, 3-D imaging, and treble balance. Mess up any of these things, and the music falls apart and starts to sound like acid farts as opposed to acid squelches. And I can honestly say that this combo, especially w/ the addition of the OPA627 opamps, does the best I've encountered w/ this type of music.

Obviously, acid influenced electronic music is not for everyone. It's just a torture test. But everything sounds great w/ this set up. Not bad considering the DAC costs about $250 w/ the opamp and tube upgrades.

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #472 on:** 26 Dec 2011, 08:47 pm »

Emac, where did you find the OPA627's? Did you have to modify the case to fit them?

We upgraded the opamps to the recommended LM/LT OPA's but I am looking for a little more warmth and detail with improved treble. I have also purchased a good used 396a tube that I have yet to roll in place of the WE5670.

Does anyone know if you can use an OPA2604 in the D1 and what the DC offset is for this op amp?

By the way, I just purchased the new Grant Fidelity DAC-11 for another system and it blows the D1 out of the water.

Thanks,

Larry

emac · « **Reply #473 on:** 26 Dec 2011, 09:38 pm »

Got the 627's w/ the adapter off of Flea-bay. Didn't have to modify the case or anything. There are some problems since there are electrolytic caps close to the opamp socket on either side, but they bent to the side w/ a little maneuvering.

I've tried a number of other opamps in the D1 and the 627's are the best so far. The most recent was the LT1364, but there were a bunch of others.

Quote from: I.Greyhound Fan on 26 Dec 2011, 08:47 pm

Emac, where did you find the OPA627's? Did you have to modify the case to fit them?

We upgraded the opamps to the recommended LM/LT OPA's but I am looking for a little more warmth and detail with improved treble. I have also purchased a good used 396a tube that I have yet to roll in place of the WE5670.

Does anyone know if you can use an OPA2604 in the D1 and what the DC offset is for this op amp?

By the way, I just purchased the new Grant Fidelity DAC-11 for another system and it blows the D1 out of the water.

Thanks,

Larry

I.Greyhound Fan · « **Reply #474 on:** 27 Dec 2011, 01:12 am »

Thanks Emac!

Has any one used these op amps-

OP249 or the OPA2604's in the Maverick and what were the results?

Skip54 · « **Reply #475 on:** 27 Dec 2011, 02:04 am »

Will this dual opa627 work? It appears it would fit without modifying the case.

www.partsconnexion.com/product4269.html

emac · « **Reply #476 on:** 27 Dec 2011, 09:21 pm »

Quote from: Skip54 on 27 Dec 2011, 02:04 am

Will this dual opa627 work? It appears it would fit without modifying the case.

www.partsconnexion.com/product4269.html

That shouldn't be a problem.

Delta Wave · « **Reply #477 on:** 27 Dec 2011, 10:59 pm »

Anyone notice they have a new dedicated DAC model? Has anyone tried it?

http://www.mav-audio.com/base/product/tubemagic_d2

ajzepp · « **Reply #478 on:** 27 Dec 2011, 11:20 pm »

Quote from: emac on 26 Dec 2011, 08:30 pm

acid farts

I hate when that happens

tabrink · « **Reply #479 on:** 27 Dec 2011, 11:44 pm »

I am using the Maverick D2 in a photo studio wireless headphone set up right now. Sennheiser RS 180.
Squeezebox Touch to D2 DAC using tube output to Maverick A1 integrated amp out to Senn wireless receiver.
For this level of quality it is well positioned. It did not make it in my primary listening room when compared the the GF-11 tube DAC, Emotiva XDA-1 or Bifrost DACs. In my humble system all three of these DACs were at a different level than the D2. Again in my humble and polite opinion and in my modest Virtue systems. The GF-11 and the Bifrost are such high quality products for their price point.

When paired together the little Mavericks are really cute and way cool when used for recreational listening.