Grant Fidelity Tube DAC-09

eclein · « **Reply #20 on:** 21 May 2010, 08:56 pm »

Its hard to tell if any difference-I wanna say yea!.. but since I had the Mav. I changed the power supply to the SB to linear (huge sonic difference), changed the receivers default crossover settings (brought out more detail) and honestly how could I tell.

ltr317 · « **Reply #21 on:** 22 May 2010, 05:14 am »

There really shouldn't be any sound difference of the GF and Maverick since it's basically the same unit in different clothing.

Mariusz · « **Reply #22 on:** 22 May 2010, 05:36 am »

Quote from: ltr317 on 22 May 2010, 05:14 am

There really shouldn't be any sound difference of the GF and Maverick since it's basically the same unit in different clothing.

Indeed they look very similar.
You can try different opamps as well (look into Maverick thread).

Have fun with it!

Mariusz

eclein · « **Reply #23 on:** 22 May 2010, 11:38 am »

It sure does sound sweet!! Thank you guys
for including me in that tour I really had never
thought of a tube DAC adding so much before I
got to try the Mav. Beside the obvious minor cosmetic
and hardware differences does anyone know
if they use same DAC chip/circuit or what have you
and what that is??

Its all very covert I know
but has the culprit been unmasked yet??

opamps--what are they in laymans terms? Does changing them
just affect SS side or Tube and SS? My only interest in using this DAC
is for the tube sound unless you guys think the SS side offers a great benefit?

etcarroll · « **Reply #24 on:** 22 May 2010, 01:03 pm »

Ed -

I think the guts are the same, I seem to recall reading that in a thread on another board, maybe head-fi, but not sure.

I just bought myself my final component, a cd player, so done for awhile. And nothing required tubes. So I have this pair of Raytheon tubes, if you'd like I'll send you one to try out, no charge. Just post your thoughts at some future point. I'm interested in your thoughts as I think I will get some form of a tubed DAC down the road, just need my wallet to cool off at the moment.

That, and I think next step will be some form of a tubed buffer/pre, either the Dodd unit, or something on Bottlehead.com.

eclein · « **Reply #25 on:** 22 May 2010, 01:29 pm »

Gene-
Congrats on system completion or should I say money depletion!!

I'd be grateful to try the Raytheon out...was gonna take everyone's advice and wait to start swapping
tubes but the cover is already off, and well its been on constantly for almost 24 hrs, I'll probably break down by noon
and have this baby defrocked!!!

etcarroll · « **Reply #26 on:** 22 May 2010, 02:17 pm »

OK - I'm traveling on business returning from LA on the red-eye Wed morn, so I'll be a zombie all day. That's when I'll send it out.

evan1 · « **Reply #27 on:** 22 May 2010, 03:39 pm »

here is a post from head fi

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/470639/maverick-audio-tubemagic-d1-condensed-faq-and-info-thread/120

eclein · « **Reply #28 on:** 22 May 2010, 03:49 pm »

Thanks Evan
Thanks Gene!!!

eclein · « **Reply #29 on:** 22 May 2010, 08:14 pm »

I held out for 24hrs, better than I thought I would, swapped tubes-got a GE JAN 5670W, and diggin some Pat Metheny!!!

Mariusz · « **Reply #30 on:** 22 May 2010, 09:11 pm »

These opamp swapping options should apply to your DAC as well.
I am sure you've seen it but I thought it would be useful for someone considering this DAC or few who already own it.
Here we go:

DAC [U5] -------- Amp [U6] -------- Result
LT1364CN8#PBF -- LM4562NA/NOPB -- Less shrill, more detailed bass, very low DC offset.
OPA627 ---------- N/A -------------- Clean and laidback. Great for grainy/bad recordings.
N/A -------------- AD823 ----------- Forward, in your face. Good for warm 'phones. DC Offset: 120/180mV
N/A -------------- LME49720 -------- Neutral and natural. DC Offset: 120/180mV

eclein · « **Reply #31 on:** 22 May 2010, 09:29 pm »

Thanks Mariusz, I was checking it out earlier--in the picture below I circled a chip and wrote, is this the opamp? Am I correct?

MLS · « **Reply #32 on:** 22 May 2010, 09:33 pm »

That the opamp for the dac and analog outputs IIRC. Those look like they are soldered in and not in a socket like the Maverick.

Mariusz · « **Reply #33 on:** 22 May 2010, 10:12 pm »

Yes, that's a DAC opamp (circled one)
The other one is on the right side of the purple cable.
Right next to the cable "tide".
(that opamp is for headphone amp section)

Cheers
Mariusz

eclein · « **Reply #34 on:** 22 May 2010, 10:44 pm »

Thanks--

Which digital input are you guys finding you prefer?? Coax or toslink?

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #35 on:** 23 May 2010, 11:47 am »

I understand the coax cable measures better. I've done a little bit of A/B-ing between coax and toslink cables. I think toslink gets a bit of a bad rap. The coax (Syn. research Alpha II) won in the end but the Toslink (Ultralink) wasn't far behind. The most noticeable difference was a slight compression of dynamics with the toslink. It was so slight though that I wouldn't notice at all unless you switched back and forth a few times. But, better is better and decent coaxs aren't too expensive so I'd go that route.

eclein · « **Reply #36 on:** 23 May 2010, 03:53 pm »

I discovered the WE396A! Wow!!!

The stock tube was fine, the GE was better and the WE just blew the others away!!
How long do tubes last??

evan1 · « **Reply #37 on:** 23 May 2010, 06:34 pm »

Quote from: eclein on 23 May 2010, 03:53 pm

I discovered the WE396A! Wow!!!
The stock tube was fine, the GE was better and the WE just blew the others away!!
How long do tubes last??

Try a 6N3P-E. ,very close to the xpensive National 396a I was using. Clean and lots of detail ,great bass and crisp high's.Not foward sounding.

rllrll · « **Reply #38 on:** 23 May 2010, 07:45 pm »

I also have a Grant Fidelity Tube DAC-09. Appreciate recommendations for a good online seller for the above tubes. Also are these NOS tubes. New to tube audio.

Thanks.

eclein · « **Reply #39 on:** 23 May 2010, 08:36 pm »

rllrll-they pop up in the trading post here from time to time.

I'm quite surprised actually at how good everything sounds now. Pretty remarkable how one tube can change the sound of ones system so radically!! The unit has been on continuously since friday and it just gets better sounding and better sounding. Even mp3's sound good, and wav files just sound golden crisp, very dimensional as if the players were seated within feet of you while playing. Little Feat "Waiting for.." took me right back to a live show I saw them play when I was younger. Very cool stuff!!!