Do tube DAC's exist?

[corElement]

At first thought it seems like it would defeat the purpose but on the other what if it gives the sound a tubelike signature if there is such a thing?

Thoughts?

 

[iaudio]

Lyrita had a tube output dac based on the DD dac ( with a Philips tda1541 chip).

 

[corElement]

Really? do you have a link to it? any idea how much it's been priced at?

 

[captrajesh]

I have an Acoustic Portrait DAC with dual Philips 1541 chips and tube output stage with all possible connectivity options.

I also have the AP PM1 and AM1 pre power combo which I was using with Marantz CD6003 to drive Cadence Arista speakers.

Compared to the CDP directly playing through the pre-amp, when I introduced the DAC in the chain to bypass the CDP's onboard DAC, the sound changed dramatically.

The midbass hump and a certain chestiness to the vocals have completely gone and the sound has acquired a palpable naturalness in tone.

 

[jai1611]

There are some very good tube DACs. This site has a fair bit of information on tube output stages for DACs/CDPs : Lukasz Fikus Lampizator

 

[magma]

many tube dacs

check the Ayon Audio - Skylla
one of the very high regarded tube dacs
i hope to have it someday - once passed up a good deal on it

then there are some dacs that add a tube buffer too ( or a tubed OP stage)
A lampized buffalo im working with has one

this is not a new concept
its quite old now
search around you will find many
There are some budget tube dacs by MHDT labs too

 

[corElement]

Are they available here?

 

[cha_indian]

I have tube DAC assembled from components sent by a company called HiFiDiY. Sounds good to my ears !! Definitely better than Beresford Caiman, MF VDAC...

 

[corElement]

i wonder if any tube dac has usb imput O_O

 

[cha_indian]

My DAC has USB, Optical and Coaxial inputs....

Till today i havent checked the SQ without the tube buffer. Someone was saying that it sounds even better without tube buffer.

 

[iaudio]

Really? do you have a link to it? any idea how much it's been priced at?

corelements, http://www.hifivision.com/av-lounge/10272-alert-iaudio-chennai-weekend-8.html

 

[magma]

there are many tube DACs availble in India
Sridhar probably has the Skylla for demo ( not entirely sure)

MHDT - i think i saw Lakozy with some MHDT

Khushroo can also probably get you some stuff

 

[captrajesh]

i wonder if any tube dac has usb imput O_O

I can deduce reasonable certainty that you haven't noticed my post

 

[mekr]

I have tube DAC assembled from components sent by a company called HiFiDiY. Sounds good to my ears !! Definitely better than Beresford Caiman, MF VDAC...

many equipment from DIYhifisupply,hong kong is designed by Toerston Loesch,,who happens to be designer and director on board of AMR Cd players and DAC,s

 

[marsilians]

MHDT labs Canary (successor to Paradisea) and Stockholm (succ to Havana) are tube DACs and very, very good. They have an ebay store that sell direct as well.

 

[corElement]

Damn, they're both above 800 usd >.<

 

[gvenu]

At first thought it seems like it would defeat the purpose but on the other what if it gives the sound a tubelike signature if there is such a thing?

Thoughts?

Did you mean DAC with tube output stage?

What I understand is that the DAC itself is solid state chip and most of them have a current output (after converting the digita 0's and 1's to continuous analog). The output is converted by either a passive IV (current to voltage) or an active IV stage with discrete transistors/FETS or tubes.

Regards,
Venu

 

[jls001]

Did you mean DAC with tube output stage?

What I understand is that the DAC itself is solid state chip and most of them have a current output (after converting the digita 0's and 1's to continuous analog). The output is converted by either a passive IV (current to voltage) or an active IV stage with discrete transistors/FETS or tubes.

I think the above is a very apt description of "tube" DAC. Basically, the analog output stage uses a tube amplification (and may be buffering) circuitry instead of chip or transistor circuitry.

And you will find el cheapos to real pricey ones. At the bare minimum, they will support digital coax input and perhaps optical input also. Some may support AES/EBU input. The new-fangled ones now have USB input since USB seems to be what consumers are most interested in now.

 

[marsilians]

Damn, they're both above 800 usd >.<

Yeah, word of mouth started pushing the prices up about 2-3 yrs ago as demand picked up considerably. I remember the first set of DACs were priced around 100+ and 200+. Still hard to find on the used market though.