Denafrips Ares II is in.
Believe the hype.
More later.
New Dac
- Fretless
- Posts: 9365
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Re: New Dac
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 + LS6+ Sabaj A10a (2) + Little Bear MC2
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 (phono)Aiyima A07 MAX (2) + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
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Re: New Dac
Topping D90MQA for me. Best I’ve heard, fantastic detail and imagery. I turn all the Pre amp stuff off, sound better that way, and I don’t bother with the Pre amp gubbins
Modded Belles A150 MK2, P90SA, & NVA SSP cables, and LS5.
Leak Stereo 20 & First Audio Classic Copper V2
Modded Lenco GL75 with Saturn arm, heavy custom plinth. Nagaoka MP500.
Nottingham Audio Hyperspace + heavy kit, + Origin Live Conqueror + Koetsu Black
Tom Evans Micro Grove MK2 MC phono
Bluesound Node2i (x2) both with latest power upgrades.
Topping D90MQA and Topping D90SE
Audiolab 6000 CDT transport.
All NVA cables
Leak Stereo 20 & First Audio Classic Copper V2
Modded Lenco GL75 with Saturn arm, heavy custom plinth. Nagaoka MP500.
Nottingham Audio Hyperspace + heavy kit, + Origin Live Conqueror + Koetsu Black
Tom Evans Micro Grove MK2 MC phono
Bluesound Node2i (x2) both with latest power upgrades.
Topping D90MQA and Topping D90SE
Audiolab 6000 CDT transport.
All NVA cables
- karatestu
- Posts: 5993
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- Posts: 1747
- Joined: Tue Apr 02, 2019 4:43 pm
- Location: London-ish, or thereabouts
- Has thanked: 635 times
- Been thanked: 2182 times
Re: New Dac
I turn the knobs my my P90SA, same as any other source.
To better explain what I mean....., there are Pre amp controls on the Topping D90. Plus Bluetooth. It’s a complicated unit with lots of features, but I just need it to be a DAC, that’s all. My Node 2i can take any Bluetooth or Airplay duties (very rarely used), don’t need that on the DAC. So I turn all those unnecessary features off (D90). It sounds way better for it.
It then exits an analogue signal to my P90SA, and out via my power amp and speakers.
To better explain what I mean....., there are Pre amp controls on the Topping D90. Plus Bluetooth. It’s a complicated unit with lots of features, but I just need it to be a DAC, that’s all. My Node 2i can take any Bluetooth or Airplay duties (very rarely used), don’t need that on the DAC. So I turn all those unnecessary features off (D90). It sounds way better for it.
It then exits an analogue signal to my P90SA, and out via my power amp and speakers.
Modded Belles A150 MK2, P90SA, & NVA SSP cables, and LS5.
Leak Stereo 20 & First Audio Classic Copper V2
Modded Lenco GL75 with Saturn arm, heavy custom plinth. Nagaoka MP500.
Nottingham Audio Hyperspace + heavy kit, + Origin Live Conqueror + Koetsu Black
Tom Evans Micro Grove MK2 MC phono
Bluesound Node2i (x2) both with latest power upgrades.
Topping D90MQA and Topping D90SE
Audiolab 6000 CDT transport.
All NVA cables
Leak Stereo 20 & First Audio Classic Copper V2
Modded Lenco GL75 with Saturn arm, heavy custom plinth. Nagaoka MP500.
Nottingham Audio Hyperspace + heavy kit, + Origin Live Conqueror + Koetsu Black
Tom Evans Micro Grove MK2 MC phono
Bluesound Node2i (x2) both with latest power upgrades.
Topping D90MQA and Topping D90SE
Audiolab 6000 CDT transport.
All NVA cables
- Neonknight
- Posts: 467
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Re: New Dac
I don't know if this is going to help my cause with the Purestream DAC or not. But I like the immediacy and focus of the DAC, it just does not get tone right. Now a lot of my cabling seems to be a bit forward and vibrant sounding, so a friend of mine brought over some Analysis Plus interconnects and it moved the sound closer to what I want. So I was able to get a trial on some of the darkest and richest cabling I have experienced which is Wireworld. So I have a pair of the Silver Eclipse XLR interconnects coming and the Silver Electra power cord. They are scheduled to deliver Monday, which makes it a better kind of Monday than most since I get to play with audio gear after work.
- Fretless
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Re: New Dac
I've had good experiences with DH Labs cables. Also American-made.
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 + LS6+ Sabaj A10a (2) + Little Bear MC2
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 (phono)Aiyima A07 MAX (2) + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
- Neonknight
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Re: New Dac
I will keep an eye out for some DH Labs. With just needing one set I can shop the used market and get a fair price on some.
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Re: New Dac
DH Labs Cables - aren't they on the forward side? well that's what I've read anyway.
Analysis Plus is a cable I would like to try, I don't mean their top of the range, but here's some used https://www.usedcable.com/speaker-cable ... ables.html
Analysis Plus is a cable I would like to try, I don't mean their top of the range, but here's some used https://www.usedcable.com/speaker-cable ... ables.html
- Fretless
- Posts: 9365
- Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 12:15 pm
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Re: New Dac
There is another forum member who found DH Labs to be too bright for his system.
I think they are highly transparent but retain a smoothness that doesn't turn clarity into edginess.
(Now that's what I call proper Hifi jargon!)
I think they are highly transparent but retain a smoothness that doesn't turn clarity into edginess.
(Now that's what I call proper Hifi jargon!)
Upstairs:
VinylPro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: Cube2 + LS6+ Sabaj A10a (2) + Little Bear MC2
Downstairs:
VinylLogic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 (phono)Aiyima A07 MAX (2) + Arcam One
HP: Allo DigiOne + Sabaj A10d + AQ NightOwl
Office: Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith 887 + German Maestro GMP 450
- CN211276
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Re: New Dac
+1
There are three types of DH Labs cables in my digitjal chain and their tranparity is the ideal match for the transparancy ofn the NVA kit and cables in the rest of the system.
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Lindy cat 6 US ethernet cable
Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ
Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat
RIP Doc