Dangerous Music Convert-2 DAC Review - Stream of Consciousness

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by purr1n, Oct 26, 2018.

  1. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    Conditioned by the following two, maybe yes
    1. I am likely a serious patient of "energy-less" disorder with weak health
    2. Annoyingly done versus tastefully done. CV2 is doubtlessly the latter.
     
  2. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I am not sure I believe in preferences anymore given the strong willed statements coming out of many mouths as of late. Or maybe a select few big mouths.

    I may also have inhaled too much exhaust from the Miata I’m trying to fix up. It certainly makes me feel better in the moment, though.
     
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Just take @Psalmanazar for what he is (same goes with me). It's like reading Christgau. I'm quite sure Slayer and Howard Jones would give Christgau a brain aneurysm; but he's still an amazing and funny read.

    There is always the ignore function. Don't be afraid to use it.
    ignore.png
     
  4. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    But but but....@purr1n, the way you have circled it, I've put currawong on ignore :D
     
  5. frenchbat

    frenchbat Almost "Made"

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    Let me get this straight. When this place became the hd650 + NOS/R2R den after moving from the hd800 + R2R place, it was ok ; but now that a part of the crew is moving from that position, it's not ok anymore?
     
  6. Scott Kramer

    Scott Kramer Friend

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    Fun setup!

    Did you give it a shot on the lyr? Also wonder how much influence your Jensen 1:1's have on the sound...

    I've been playing with ya2 > jensen > lyr/2channel myself and suspect it's more than just balanced out on the Yggdrasil changing things. There's a tinge of tube character (holographic/subtle, pleasant distortion-- could be additional detail tho)... I don't have enough experience to know for sure, lol!

    ref: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/wtb-jensen-isomax-pc-2xr.7336/#post-241557
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2019
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Transformers do color the sound. The best ones do so without commiting sins of omission. The best kind of colorations are more expansive staging and stronger attack. The system-dependent ones are added warmth. The worst ones are veil and mud (excessive distortion).
     
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    That being said, the Schiit DACs really are optimized for the balanced outs. It's a design decision. Other DACs optimize for SE outs and then add opamps for BAL out. Some people, like retired Microsoft employees with AP-555s don't understand these things.
     
  9. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    Couldn't try lyr 3. Already packed last night, and I was too lazy to unpack/repack..

    TBH the effect of jensen 1:1 is hard to know. All I can say now is that it doesn't sound shit as a whole.
    To correctly recognize transformer effect/coloration, I need an amp that can accept balanced inputs. All my amps accept unbalanced inputs only (otherwise I might not be motivated to purchase jensen transformer lol). Indeed the reason why I went for radial/jenson was largely the posted measurement.

    Btw I could quickly compare radial/jenson with much cheaper art dti .. that's not even close. Pricier and heavier transformer was definitely worth it.
     
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Art DTI didn't spec for what level until 1% distortion at 20Hz. They only provided specs at 100Hz.

    It very well could be a good performer, but I don't like that when it comes to these things. I want to know worst case too even though a 0dfFS / +18dbU signal at 20Hz is an impossibility with any kind of real content, including Transformers movies.
     
  11. Scott Kramer

    Scott Kramer Friend

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    Thanks @Vtory Bummer on the lyr.

    Yeah, I'm in the same situation– can't listen to ya2 bal without the jensen. Seems to be a step forward and interesting, very enjoyable on my 2 channel! Just saying distortion is too much, I mean barely detectable... and may even be more resolution. Soundstage is so variable on the ya2 based on song/album I don't have that nailed down either, but overall it's expanded.

    Cool re: comparing to the cheaper trans... fyi the jensons I have: http://www.jensen-transformers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/jt-11-dmpc.pdf Looks like the radial twin may have a diff trans on a quick image search.
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2019
  12. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    I love my lundahl's they add just a bit of sweetness to my Yggdrasil a1.
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    My experience was greater resolution, less constipated, less restricted, stronger attacks.

    One way to tell how the transformer is coloring is to use a balanced amp and compare direct vs transformer with untied floating secondaries.
     
  14. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    Wise senior farts said: Lundahl, Cinemag, and Jenson make good transformers. I am keeping it in mind.

    But a bit wondering.. generally for isolating purposes (which we use to connect balanced sources to unbalanced amps), only Jensen is used in commercialized products. Are there any reasons that Lundhal or Cinemag are hardly seen in such products?
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2019
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    ^ and that too.
     
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Lundahl is expensive and can be considered boutique. Audio Note and Monolith are super boutique. I have Monolith interstages and Lundahl outputs in my 45 Uber Custom.

    There is Sowter too. Cinemag is around, but they prefer to be a OEM supplier, although they will service randos. Jensen is better at marketing - this is not a negative comment. Their designs are very similar to Cinemags, but with their own spin. There is also Edcor, Hammond, Magnequest, Electraprint, and Transcendar (now dead).
     
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    P.S. Some Chinese stuff is really good, but we have no idea if we are dealing with Bruce Lee (real deal) or David Carradine.

    Sometimes a prototype might be great, but the 50 piece order turns out to be hundreds of pounds of paperweight.
     
  18. damaged-goods

    damaged-goods Acquaintance

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    What do these do in the audio chain?
     
  19. frenchbat

    frenchbat Almost "Made"

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    @purr1n are you not mentioning tribute because it's not available to diy anymore?
     
  20. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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