Space-Tech Labs Dacs

Hey SBAF,

Came across these guys while window shopping on Canuck Audio Mart and this listing popped out. In no way affiliated but really want to try given their pretty bold claims and tube integration. The fact they're also made up here in the Great White North is also a nice bonus.

Does anyone have opinions/experiences with them?

The ad that caught my initial attention:

http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/deta...be-dac-with-rectifier-tube-and-rcaxlr-output/

 

I had one on loan from a friend, and took notes comparing vs my Prism Lyra/Callia dacs. These are my scribbles...

- Space Tech has softer snaps, kinda feels like a PCM dac?
- huh better with 48kb? a bit sharper/harder; do they default to a different filter?
- separation of layers not as good, slightly closer stage/narrower
- the esses are lower in the mouth, Callia is higher up in the teeth (say "yes" with a frown vs smiling)
- but slightly better shape? at least not hazy like the Modi Multibit
- slightly longer decays?
- static pops at the start and end of songs? not sure what's causing this
- slightly fatiguing on heavier compressed songs
- softer/closer staging in the airy female vocal+instrument recordings