Last edited by SW1X; 02-07-2016 at 19:23.
SW1X Audio DesignTM ... Finest Audio Components ... Designed and Handcrafted in England
www.SW1XAD.co.uk
The DAC 1 Signature received a critical review by Kevin Fiske.
The review can be accessed here:
http://www.hifiwigwam.com/sw1x-audio...y-kevin-fiske/
SW1X Audio DesignTM ... Finest Audio Components ... Designed and Handcrafted in England
www.SW1XAD.co.uk
Location: Coggeshall, Essex, UK
Posts: 587
I'm chris.
I am no longer working with Slawa on SW1X but wish him the very best and remain a fan of his products
thanks
chris
We use the high grade TDA1543, TDA1541, PCM56, PCM58 – R2R stereo D to A converters without any filtering in the digital domain solely because we found them to provide a better and smoother analogue sound than the Delta Sigma noise shaping type of chips (yes, even better than the 24Bit or 32Bit versions). Higher resolution of a DAC does not guarantee a good sound in anyway. There are so many other factors of a DAC design (such as a digital filtering, quality of passive components, I/V and output stage), that affect the quality of sound. These factors can worsen the sound beyond comprehension. The fallacy is to believe that the higher the resolution, the better the sound is. This happens until audiophiles and music lovers realise that the potential of 16Bit Red Book (CD) format is far from being fulfilled.
“Music is a time continuum from start to end which when broken is irreparably damaged and no amount of clever manipulation can restore it to its original time / frequency / amplitude duration relationship”, regardless what the prevailing dogma is.
Further information can be found here:
http://sw1xad.co.uk/delta-sigma-vs-nos-r2r-dac-designs/
SW1X Audio DesignTM ... Finest Audio Components ... Designed and Handcrafted in England
www.SW1XAD.co.uk
I quite agree, but people really don't even understand the basics of digital playback and they hear better mastering and automatically assume it is due to there being more bits or a higher sampling frequency when the fact is these things make no difference at all. You've got an uphill struggle to convince the average punter, though.
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
That is OK. It is very easy to fall into the marketing trap and those traps are everywhere. Back in the days, I myself was lead to believe that higher bits are better until I discovered that actually it is the digital filter that messes up the music.
All we can do is to encourage people to try our or any filterless DAC designs. That is the only way to find out. We are not the only company who offers filterless R2R DACs.
I can highly recommend Audio Note DACs if you come across them - they were the first to take filterless idea to the market.
SW1X Audio DesignTM ... Finest Audio Components ... Designed and Handcrafted in England
www.SW1XAD.co.uk
Feel free to come over to compare our products to any product, be it Chinese or any other products from our respected competitors.
Any product from our competitors helps us and the the customer to understand where we are coming from and that quality has its price.
We tried and tested many materials and circuit designs over the years. There is plenty of evidence that any cutting cost approach is counterproductive to the quality of sound.
I always encourage our visitors to bring over any equipment or whatever they have to an audition.
You are welcome to bring your music, any product of your choice, your system and your friends if you wish.
Please feel free to contact us or our forthcoming dealers for a no strings attached audition.
Last edited by SW1X; 18-10-2016 at 12:22.
SW1X Audio DesignTM ... Finest Audio Components ... Designed and Handcrafted in England
www.SW1XAD.co.uk
Our products appear to be expensive but the musical performance they offer is also conclusive. We have no intention to sell overpriced products made of cheap materials that will not deliver our promise.
Please feel free to read here about our performance level system that use to classify and to price our products.
http://sw1xad.co.uk/product/sw1x-aud...-level-system/
In some ways the performance level system is very similar as employed by Audio Note (UK). The idea is to offer a product that maximises its musical performance at any given price level.
Should you still feel that our products are overpriced please feel free to visit ebay and check out the availability and cost of Black Gate capacitors, Allen Bradley resistors and Germanium transistors and diodes.
We also would encourage you to visit Audio Note (UK) website to see for yourself how much the Kaisei capacitors, tantalum resistors and their other components cost that we heavily employ in our designs.
http://audionote.co.uk/comp/cap_electro.shtml
SW1X Audio DesignTM ... Finest Audio Components ... Designed and Handcrafted in England
www.SW1XAD.co.uk
Location: Solihull
Posts: 716
I'm Martin.
I have watched SW1X from the start and have been a fan of the concept.
I was using an AN Dac 1 1x whicch used the AD 1855 chip and the mini valve so beloved of AN
I thought it was pretty damn good
I now use the SW1x Dac 1 and it is much more musical with space.
There were some adjustments to make and throughout it all Slawa could not have been more helpful
with advice and some practical help as well
The DAC 1 is staying.
Anyone contemplating a stand alone dac MUST listen to this
Lumley Heliosphere Audiomods 5
Voyd Valdi AN Arm 1 V2 and Denon MC
Audiomeca Talisman Highly Modded
Audiomeca Kreatura &,SW1X DAC1
Hovland HP200 MC
Hovland Radia
Ming Da 805 monos
Magnum Dynalab Etude, RWA Cassabria + LCD 3
Wilson Benesch Actors
Cables by Cardas, Hovland G3 and Yter
SW1X Audio DesignTM ... Finest Audio Components ... Designed and Handcrafted in England
www.SW1XAD.co.uk