Justin & Jerry's Hifi Blog

[jandl100]

--- I have to say, though, that I've enjoyed some cheaper DACs more than their multi-£k brethren - the XiangSheng DAC-01A, SPS DAC3 and recently the DAC in an Audiolab 8200CD.

I guess I'm just cheap to please.
-- apart from speakers.

Like with amps (mentioned elsewhere), with DACs I don't at all hear the expected relationship between cost and sound quality. It's more of a scatter diagram than a 1 to 1 relationship.
Hmm, you can include cables in that viewpoint as well.

[lordmortlock]

Have you got a Meitner as well J? Or are you meaning the museatex?

[jandl100]

-- the Museatex speakers look interesting



http://www.museatex.com/planar1.htm

Specifications
Melior One
Frequency Response: 45 Hz - 20 KHz (+/- 3dB)
Sensitivity: 86 dB (2.83 V at 1 meter)
Nominal Impedance: 4 ohms resistive
Maximum Amplifier Power: 200 Watts/channel
Minimum Amplifier Power: 4 watts/channel
Type of Speaker: Point Source Planar
Frame: MDF, Mass Loadable
Finish: Lacquer Black
Dimensions: 45"; 3", 22"
Weight: 45 lb.

[montesquieu]

-- the Museatex speakers look interesting



http://www.museatex.com/planar1.htm

Specifications
Melior One
Frequency Response: 45 Hz - 20 KHz (+/- 3dB)
Sensitivity: 86 dB (2.83 V at 1 meter)
Nominal Impedance: 4 ohms resistive
Maximum Amplifier Power: 200 Watts/channel
Minimum Amplifier Power: 4 watts/channel
Type of Speaker: Point Source Planar
Frame: MDF, Mass Loadable
Finish: Lacquer Black
Dimensions: 45"; 3", 22"
Weight: 45 lb.

One found buried on the moon, the other one of the moons Saturn I presume ...

[jandl100]

Argh.
Gar.
Buggery.

A plug was a bit loose this morning so I pushed it in - KLUNK - everything turned off, must have tripped a safety doo-hickey.
Everything powered up OK -- but the Behringer no longer locks on to any digital input.
I need that to downsample my 96KHz streaming to the 48KHz that the vintage Melior DAC tops out at.
Ordered a pro re-sampler on eBay, should be here next week.

In the meantime, a revised lash-up ....



The return of the Audiolab 8200CD that pre-Melior I had been using as my main system DAC.
Actually, it's very good. It weirdly just kind of hits the spot for me, very listenable. Vastly better imo than an MDAC, which I can't bear to listen to in my main system (strangely it's OK in my lesser 2nd system).
Not as good as the Melior, though.
Drat.

[jandl100]

Just the Museatex - I meant it's a DAC designed by Ed Meitner. I guess they are two distinct brands.

[User211]

So is it a 100% Meitner design or not? Or dunno? EDIT: Jsut read above. I believe it should be very good then, Jerry

I noticed some new Xiangs on eBay today I have not seen before. Have a look-see.

Mine has gone from HK to Lantau Island to ...

https://youtu.be/KrbPlr4Wskc

FedEx shipping madness for you.

[jandl100]

So is it a 100% Meitner design or not? Or dunno? EDIT: Jsut read above. I believe it should be very good then, Jerry
.

Yes, I'm pretty sure all of the Meitner and Museatex products were Ed Meitner designs.
Museatex might have come first. Then Meitner, then EMM Labs.

Interesting article here about Museatex and the Melior DAC in particular - http://www.soundbsessive.com/museatex-bitstream-dac/

Brief thread here with some scanned adverts from the time http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showth...heck-of-a-ride

[User211]

Yes, I'm pretty sure all of the Meitner and Museatex products were Ed Meitner designs.
Museatex might have come first. Then Meitner, then EMM Labs.

Interesting article here about Museatex and the Melior DAC in particular - http://www.soundbsessive.com/museatex-bitstream-dac/

Brief thread here with some scanned adverts from the time http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showth...heck-of-a-ride

When I was running ML Ascent/Descent a chap brought his EMM Labs SACD playyer round. Now that was great disc spinner. The best solid state digital I have ever heard (in a system I have owned) to this day I think. Crazy expensive. Knockout good.

AoSer Cyclopse has a Meitner DAC I've heard. He should visit you so you can do compares, just like audiophile nerdy types like us do

[jandl100]

Lash-up as of this morning.



Clockwise, from top left ...
Schiit Saga pre
Museatex Melior DAC
LA Audio A30 el84 integrated (not hooked up)
Trigon TRE50 monoblocks
Arcam DV29 DVDP & CDT
Behringer SRC2496 (downsampler and headphone amp)