Maverick Audio DAC tour

firedog · « **Reply #340 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 07:19 am »

anyone compared it to the Valab Dac?

goldlizsts · « **Reply #341 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 10:18 am »

OK, taxes being out of the way, I had my 1st session with the Mav. First impression was that it's pretty good. It has a similar soundstage feel like the EE DAC. The EE, however, seems sharper, defines the sound(s) better. With the stock tube, I am not sure I like its (Mav) tonality. For the money it's got its virtues. Can't beat it!

Mariusz · « **Reply #342 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 01:57 pm »

Quote

With the stock tube, I am not sure I like its (Mav) tonality.

Does it mean that you have tried another tube with it???

Mariusz

goldlizsts · « **Reply #343 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 02:45 pm »

Quote from: Mariusz on 16 Apr 2010, 01:57 pm

Does it mean that you have tried another tube with it???

Mariusz

No. Don't have any other tube. Anyone suppose to get the Mav next?

etcarroll · « **Reply #344 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 03:08 pm »

I have the other unit, and tomorrow I'll be tube-rolling. Been using it last 2/3 days with stock tubes.

When Shadowlight sent it on, he included add'l tubes, and I had already bought Raytheon Windmill getters NOS tubes for this test.

Mariusz · « **Reply #345 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 03:29 pm »

Quote from: goldlizsts on 16 Apr 2010, 02:45 pm

No. Don't have any other tube. Anyone suppose to get the Mav next?

Yes, me.

PM me when you're done.
I can pick-up Sat. or Tue.

Mariusz

eclein · « **Reply #346 on:** 16 Apr 2010, 03:59 pm »

Is the general consensus among those who have listened to the Maverick so far that its worth the investment??

ltr317 · « **Reply #347 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 06:24 pm »

Quote from: eclein on 16 Apr 2010, 03:59 pm

Is the general consensus among those who have listened to the Maverick so far that its worth the investment??

It is for me, since I don't have a headphone amp, plus it can be use as a spare preamp. I'm just waiting for one more candidate for the group buy.

eclein · « **Reply #348 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 06:47 pm »

I may be interested in group buy if you need another body, I'm picking up the D1 from Gene next Friday to try out, I'm in Allentown/Bethlehem PA area just north of Phila. Let me know

etcarroll · « **Reply #349 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 07:23 pm »

After listening to the MAV 1 as a DAC for my PC based music in my office, today I pulled it out to experiment with it as a true pre. Right now it's connected to Pumpkinman's classD amp, being fed by a Sony CD player via optical cable. Output is a pair of AV123 X-LS bookshelf monitors with no-rez and the Budo xover upgrade from Danny/Skiing Ninja. The speakers are in the arch between dining room and living room, and the living room is open to the second floor, a lot of space to fill here. I always thought this would be a good music space, just never tried it before. I'm warming things up for awhile, then starting critical listening.

Next, tube rolling.

Then, during the week, it will be replacing the classD amp with the Bryston 4B I just bought, (this thing has to be 30 years old, but sounds great), and the X-LS with the Onix Reference 3s.

Then re-do the tube rolling.

Shadowlight sent along op-amps for rolling, but as I don't actually own the Mav 1, I don't feel good about mucking around with them.

Right now have Shostakovich's 3rd String Quartet playing for warm up, it sounds very good in the background. But it will be piano sonatas for critical listening.

One negative, I never got USB connection from my PC to work, and this was built by me with a media-centric motherboard. Maybe it's a driver issue, I really didn't spend a lot of time diagnosing it.

Gene

MLS · « **Reply #350 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 08:13 pm »

ETCarrol

There is a driver specifically for the Maverick D1 over at headfi. I believe it is in the condensed Mav. D1 thread. It made my combo sound even better. I am no good at linking things like this otherwise I would.

Scott

etcarroll · « **Reply #351 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 08:20 pm »

Thanks Scott - that's interesting as the Mav 1 literature specifically states the usb should work w/o any driver changes/upgrades.

Anyway, I'm done using it for digital music DAC work, but eclein is next in line to get this, maybe he'll need that driver.

Sitting here with a glass of Port listening to Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, it's all good!

eclein · « **Reply #352 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 08:25 pm »

Just got the driver and was checking out Headfi, interesting stuff over there.

Mariusz · « **Reply #353 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 09:29 pm »

Quote from: eclein on 17 Apr 2010, 08:25 pm

Just got the driver and was checking out Headfi, interesting stuff over there.

Any links?

Quote from: etcarroll on 17 Apr 2010, 07:23 pm

After listening to the MAV 1 as a DAC for my PC based music in my office, today I pulled it out to experiment with it as a true pre. Right now it's connected to Pumpkinman's classD amp, being fed by a Sony CD player via optical cable. Output is a pair of AV123 X-LS bookshelf monitors with no-rez and the Budo xover upgrade from Danny/Skiing Ninja. The speakers are in the arch between dining room and living room, and the living room is open to the second floor, a lot of space to fill here. I always thought this would be a good music space, just never tried it before. I'm warming things up for awhile, then starting critical listening.

Next, tube rolling.

Then, during the week, it will be replacing the classD amp with the Bryston 4B I just bought, (this thing has to be 30 years old, but sounds great), and the X-LS with the Onix Reference 3s.

Then re-do the tube rolling.

Shadowlight sent along op-amps for rolling, but as I don't actually own the Mav 1, I don't feel good about mucking around with them.

Right now have Shostakovich's 3rd String Quartet playing for warm up, it sounds very good in the background. But it will be piano sonatas for critical listening.

One negative, I never got USB connection from my PC to work, and this was built by me with a media-centric motherboard. Maybe it's a driver issue, I really didn't spend a lot of time diagnosing it.

Gene

Gene

Opamp swaping is easy.
I use long nose pliers and old fashion finger tips.

Just got back my banged up unit from the tour and managed to swap opamps and tube in 60 seconds flat.
Didn't have a chance to listen tho.
Maybe tomorrow or Monday.

Cheers
Mariusz

shadowlight · « **Reply #354 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 09:46 pm »

Quote from: etcarroll on 17 Apr 2010, 07:23 pm

Shadowlight sent along op-amps for rolling, but as I don't actually own the Mav 1, I don't feel good about mucking around with them.

Feel free to swap the opamp's

eclein · « **Reply #355 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 09:47 pm »

The head-fi thread with the link to driver,PDF instr.,etc..

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/maverick-audio-tubemagic-d1-condensed-faq-info-thread-470639/

evan1 · « **Reply #356 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 11:01 pm »

Guys I want to hear your impressions. Most of you are just saying your using it but not posting anything about how you like the sound

eclein · « **Reply #357 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 11:06 pm »

+1 on that request

Mariusz · « **Reply #358 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 11:16 pm »

Evan
you know how I feel about Mav D1 and that was accomplished in only few hours, with stock tube and opamps.

Since its return I haven't had a chance to listen but you can be sure to hear some impressions as soon as time permits for serious listening sessions.

Mariusz

mjosef · « **Reply #359 on:** 17 Apr 2010, 11:18 pm »

Sound was comparable with my Zhaolu DAC using a WE tube(thanks Joe, got it here for you)...did a couple things mellower, just not enough better to make me wanna spent mulla...I thought the SS output was just as good as the tube output with slightly better micro details.
I was not able to recreate what I thought I heard one time on the tube output...a loss of detail, muffled/dull sound...who knows maybe my head was in another dimension that night, wouldn't be the first time for that.
Overall I think its a good value for the price, and I am sure it can benefit from inexpensive tweaks.
It does need some kind of conditioning on the power line to sound its best. Tried it direct into the wall and it was ...blah. This has been my experience with most Digital components.