DACs from USA ?

Audiolab 6000A Integrated Amplifier
krishpiscean said:
Ravi, if you are still in Hyd and ready to lend for an audition on some weekend 2-3 weeks from now (after my speaker stands) we can compare with M1 on my system. Blasto/Sajjad not taking you for granted but i owe u guys an invite to my place with drinks:)
Click to expand...

Sure buddy :ohyeah:

BLASTO said:
HF shy is the word.. Yeah they are not bass heavy and are smooth..
Click to expand...

I think its too early to come to a conclusion on the DAC's we tried about their sound signature considering the issues of over powering bass in the system we tried.
 
krishpiscean said:
Ravi, if you are still in Hyd and ready to lend for an audition on some weekend 2-3 weeks from now (after my speaker stands) we can compare with M1 on my system. Blasto/Sajjad not taking you for granted but i owe u guys an invite to my place with drinks:)
Click to expand...

Me too "Sure buddy":lol:
 
ravi_d said:
I think its too early to come to a conclusion on the DAC's we tried about their sound signature considering the issues of over powering bass in the system we tried.
Click to expand...

Reasonable.
Can we mate it to thiel + MF combo and check out?
I already have the MF DAC.

We can connect the optical and coax out to MF and Audio GD respectively and connect them to different inputs in the amp. That way we can do A/B switching.

Infact, we can do a A/B/C by including the CDP itself into the equation. :ohyeah:

I have already connected the DAC and CDP to the amp and have realised that each excel in different songs.

Also, Have you disconnected the volume control? This is crucial.

Let me know. :D
 
Actually, me thinks we should buy different DAC in our group. :D
That way we can keep exchanging the DAC on lending basis for a month or so and enjoy different sounds.. :ohyeah:
 
I'm ready for one more audition round at my place. The overpowering bass is now gone with good cables. May be we can test at Blasto's place too. What you say guys, this Saturday?
 
Forgot to add:

This dac is "Not" developed by college kids according to the "application notes" provided by the parts manufacturers :-)
 
krishpiscean said:
...
Anyone heard Audiolab, rega DAC which are 200 pounds above MF M1.
Click to expand...

I use the Rega DAC. It is the one purchase I will never regret (even though it cost a lot more than what I really wanted to spend at that time), and I think it will ultimately be the bit of kit I will retain the longest. I'm that happy with it.

It has a very organic yet very energetic presentation of music, and it gives quite a bit of body to the music. The flavor of sound tends quite a bit to the warm side of neutral. It throws a very deep soundstage and it gives a very holographic representation of instrument placement. Build-quality-wise, it is very solid and heavy. The only bad thing I can say about it, is that it looks ugly.

Some people have said it emphasises the lower frequencies sightly, but the Stereophile measurements say otherwise.

Those who have had experience with Rega's TTs say (anecdotal info from the 'net) that the DAC makes the music sound very much as though it the source was a Rega TT. This was exactly the kind of sound I was looking for -- music that was a bit dark, tending to the warmer side, and as organic as it could get from a digital source.

I've not had the opportunity to listen to the MF M1 or the Audiolab, so I will not be able to give you a real comparison. But from what I've read on the 'net, the MF M1 tends to emphasise the higher frequencies much more than the Rega, and sounds a bit leaner than the Rega. The Rega is said to be a bit more bass heavy than the MF M1.

The MF M1 has an AES balanced input and balanced outputs which the Rega does not have. The Rega has 2 coaxial digital inputs and 2 TOSLINK inputs (in addition to the USB input), wheras the M1 has only one each of Coaxial and TOSLINK inputs. The MF M1 (new version) has Async USB, which the Rega does not have. I think (not sure) that the MF M1 will play 24/96 over USB, which the Rega does not do.

Also, the basic philosophy between the MF M1 and the Rega DAC are diametrically opposite. The M1 upsamples everything it gets. The Rega does not upsample the input stream, and converts it exactly as it was received.
 
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krishpiscean said:
750 is well within my budget. But not sure how it sounds with my combo MA/rotel. And in particular i hate treble.

Anyone heard Audiolab, rega DAC which are 200 pounds above MF M1.
Click to expand...

What is it that you not like ?

1.The treble that you hear in the live un amplified concert. The highs in music in its natural form

2.The treble that you hear from the Rotel / MA combination ?

In general, well designed dacs will not output any bad treble. They will resolve the highs very well. But what you will eventually hear will completely depend on the rest of your chain. Any well designed DAC will clean up your highs a lot.

There are people using the EE dac with very high end systems. The designer is well respected among the circles. The Rega is also a good one. I would personally stay away from main stream brands like MF if you want value for money.
 
From stereophile review of rega DAC, I find it will fit your requirement well.
But, they have compared it to Peachtree DAC which costs around same and declared it winner..

Whatever it is, get something other than m1 DAC. Will help in exchanging and knowing about other DACs out there. :)

Check stereophiie review. They are not like whathifi.
 
There's actually a MF M1 vs. Rega DAC review by Stereophile. It is not a real "review" per se, mostly a lot of rambling by Sam Tellig. It was in the one of the print issues, and I don't think it made it to the web. I'll try and find out which issue.

EDIT: Got it. An edited version did make it to the web. The original review was in the May 2011 issue, and here's the online version: http://www.stereophile.com/content/rega-dac-da-processor
 
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BLASTO said:
Reasonable.
Can we mate it to thiel + MF combo and check out?
I already have the MF DAC.

We can connect the optical and coax out to MF and Audio GD respectively and connect them to different inputs in the amp. That way we can do A/B switching.

Infact, we can do a A/B/C by including the CDP itself into the equation. :ohyeah:

I have already connected the DAC and CDP to the amp and have realised that each excel in different songs.

Also, Have you disconnected the volume control? This is crucial.

Let me know. :D
Click to expand...

BLASTO,
The volume control is disabled already the same day.

krishpiscean said:
750 is well within my budget. But not sure how it sounds with my combo MA/rotel. And in particular i hate treble.
Click to expand...
Krish,
Is your Rotel + MA combo sounding bright with your oppo at the moment?
 
ravi_d said:
BLASTO,
The volume control is disabled already the same day.


Krish,
Is your Rotel + MA combo sounding bright with your oppo at the moment?
Click to expand...

It's too early to judge the gear as I keep the speaker on side stands for the moment, IC is a budget one and oppo is the source. With this there is boom and highs are harsh. Once the stands are ordered, get a good IC and search for DAC ends, i feel the time comes to say if it is really bright.
 
square_wave said:
What is it that you not like ?

1.The treble that you hear in the live un amplified concert. The highs in music in its natural form

2.The treble that you hear from the Rotel / MA combination ?

In general, well designed dacs will not output any bad treble. They will resolve the highs very well. But what you will eventually hear will completely depend on the rest of your chain. Any well designed DAC will clean up your highs a lot.

There are people using the EE dac with very high end systems. The designer is well respected among the circles. The Rega is also a good one. I would personally stay away from main stream brands like MF if you want value for money.
Click to expand...

I do not like the treble i hear from the current setup of rotel/MA/oppo. It could be coz of no stands and oppo in general is not a warm, neutral sounding. When we auditioned oppo along with different DACs, i didn't like the highs from oppo/CA/rdac as they are bit harsh to my ears and would easily cause fatigue in 30 mins listening.

Considering my speicific personal preference for highs and not listening to any of the DACs other than CA, Audio gd and MF, would it be a safe bet to get a EE/Rega/Audiolab etc ?
 
krishpiscean said:
I do not like the treble i hear from the current setup of rotel/MA/oppo. It could be coz of no stands and oppo in general is not a warm, neutral sounding. When we auditioned oppo along with different DACs, i didn't like the highs from oppo/CA/rdac as they are bit harsh to my ears and would easily cause fatigue in 30 mins listening.

Considering my speicific personal preference for highs and not listening to any of the DACs other than CA, Audio gd and MF, would it be a safe bet to get a EE/Rega/Audiolab etc ?
Click to expand...


From what I can understand, the Rega or EE should fit the bill very well.

Long term plan :

Since you like well resolved highs rather than sharp ones, I would suggest you look at replacing the Rotel with a slightly better amp.

Heres a good combination you could look at:

The EE dac with volume control + The swara power amp from acoustic portrait or an odyssey khartago power amp.

This will take your system to completely different level.
 
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