SBAF DAC Talk II

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Maxx134, Jul 22, 2018.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Stuff moved to DAC Talk II thread here.

    ...

    Oh wow, we are actually able to have a discussion about DACs, comparing notes with shit we actually have in our hands, without interruption from the village idiot.
     
  2. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

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    I agree, there's not even second guessing. Metrum USB is pretty terrible from my Jade as well.
     
  3. winders

    winders boomer

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    I am pleasantly surprised at how nice the new Bifrost Multibit sounds. I have paired it with my Lyr 3 in my office nearfield setup and it replaced the original Modi Multibit and Eitr combination.

    The first thing I noticed was that it was not as strident. This is the first time I have listened to the first movement of "Scheherazade" with Fritz Reiner conducting CSO (24/176.4) on my office setup with it not sounding all congested. Jethro Tull "Thick as a Brick" sounds much cleaner in the mid range and bottom end without sounding bright.

    I am very pleased overall.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The new "A2" one right?
     
  5. allegro

    allegro Friend

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    @winders what speakers are you using in the office?
     
  6. winders

    winders boomer

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    I assume it is. I just received it new from Schiit yesterday. It’s not B stock either.
     
  7. winders

    winders boomer

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    Swan M200 Marklll powered monitors and HD650 headphones. I am using a Sylvania 6SN7GT from 1953 (a real “Bad Boy”) in the Lyr 3.
     
  8. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    Ever think of trying another DDC?
    The new Gustard U16 can be had for under $300 & has the newest USB implementation from ESS.
     
  9. winders

    winders boomer

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    A couple of people I trust say the Matrix Audio X-SPDIF 2 is better than the Gustard or the Singxer.

    https://matrix-digi.com/en/products/314.html
     
  10. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    Nice that it has AES out
     
  11. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    Was it the old or new Gustard?
    The U16 was just released 2+ months ago.
     
  12. winders

    winders boomer

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    Both, actually.
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I have little interest in USB devices. However, anyone should feel free to contact Matrix on SBAF's behalf to get a loaner or review unit. I've liked Matrix stuff in the past.
     
  14. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    I can send you a loaner for the U16 if you want to do some measurements. A lot of people on the Head-fi thread saying they're liking it over their modded Singxer SU-1. Though I only have 8 hours on it & it is not even close to being fully burned in yet.
     
  15. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Can you really get much for useful measurements from these DDCs?
     
  16. skem

    skem Friend

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    The measurement rig required would need a rubidium time source or the equivalent. I’m not sure any SBAFer has such a setup.

    EDIT: interesting article here on the limitations of external clocks. Note also the author is simply evaluating frequency response of monotones to attempt to infer jitter issues.
     
    Last edited: Feb 10, 2019
  17. nickwin

    nickwin Acquaintance

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    Ive seen comments that the Gungnir MB requires an extended warm up time (as in days) to sounds its best, does this apply to all MB DACs, like the Modi MB for example?
     
  18. bengo

    bengo Friend

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    All multi-bit DACs need time for temperature to stabilize, but the Modi Multibit warms up much quicker than Yggdrasil, probably due to the small chassis.
     
  19. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    Yes. See link for one example: DDC warm up time technical measurements

    FS725 Rubidium + LiveClock disciplining a DDC to Modi MB: System Synergy - Special Sound
     
  20. Zhanming057

    Zhanming057 Friend

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    I doubt it. Barring some truly exotic circumstances, you can run any piece of electronics at a fixed load and it reaches thermal neutral in well under an hour. We're only talking about a couple dozen watts at most on a DAC. Some pure class A amps do take a while to reach optimal working temps, and good ones will have actively "hot" components to try to reach that point sooner.
     

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