Valve digital (Duet) Transport

[macvisual]

Ok, I take no credit for this (home-made) Digital Valve Transport streamer, it's a hi-fi (guru) friend of mine called Mike who's designed these products as a hobby/interest, he lives in Bangor, N-Ireland. Mike's been making his own audio bits & pieces for a few years, nothing serious. Only focusing on a digital valve Transport and two versions of a valve DAC.
This Digital streamer I'm chatting about here is solely based on the 'Squeezebox Duet'. This all-new digital Transport has a valve output stage and paper in oils, beefy power supplies, it's also been clocked, a perspex top plate with vents for cooling.
I'm not well up on audio d.i.y. skills or have the knowhow/knowledge either, but I recently took possession of Mike's new Digital Valve Transport last week and thought I'd share my thoughts with you all. Mike got the boat over last week and stayed with us for a few days here in Scotland and hand delivered his Valve Transport, a true gent indeed.

Up to this point I'd been using a bog standard Squeezebox Duet with good audio results, but when we installed his digital Valve Transport the sound transformed to be nothing short of stunning, especially in the lower bass regions, wow, I was amazed at the control of the bottom end and generally 'more information' everywhere. Beautiful full rounded notes and very musical indeed, I'm impressed. The connection used from Transport to DAC was RCA only.

Mike has two Valve DAC's, one is nicknamed 'Baby DAC' and the other is a full-size DAC, he brought me over his Baby valve DAC version. I'd been using a Musical Fidelity M1 DAC for just under 2 years and very happy with it, but with the Baby Valve DAC was attached to the valve Transport I/we was/were literally gob-smacked at the results, so natural and neutral sounding with lovely attack and delicate bite when needed, not tiring or fatigueing either, we looked at each other in utter amazement and laughed..............lots!

The rest of my hi-fi system is this;
Audioplan Kontrast Mk2 floorstanding speaks - Arcam Alpha integrated amp - Netbook laptop running Squeezebox server - 3 terabyte hard drive to access my music library, that's it, quite a simple audio set-up.
We played a varied selection of music like these; John Martyn - Love & Money - David Sylvian - Fourplay - Frank Zappa - Peter Cincotti - Fink - Yello Magic Orchestra - Pink Floyd - Thomas Dolby - Niacin - Kraftwerk - James Grant - Tommy Smith - Lou Donaldson - Art Petter - Scott Hamilton -

So pleased/impressed with the overall sound I'm hearing I've now ordered the full-size valve DAC from Mike which may take a few weeks to build, can't wait!
Mike's given a name to his personal (home made) audio products, called 'Reverse Audio', here's a few photo's of his soldering skills and build quality;

http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo268/macvisual/5228_1_zps2a13f516.jpg


http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo268/macvisual/5134_1_zps85dc65c9.jpg


http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo268/macvisual/5123_1_zpsbf970e74.jpg


http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo268/macvisual/5108_1_zps94270552.jpg


http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo268/macvisual/IMG_5523_zps9612aa31.jpg


http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo268/macvisual/IMG_5578_zps6d2fec2b.jpg


http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo268/macvisual/IMG_5561_zps0a2aae89.jpg


http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo268/macvisual/5216_1_zps112a37fa.jpg

[realysm42]

Cool looking bit of kit there. Did he take a lampizator apart or can you buy the bits?

[macvisual]

Mike bought some of the bits from Lukas in Poland (Lampizator fame), and sourced the tiny valve and power supplies elsewhere I believe.

[Sovereign]

How much does he charge for these two dads

[macvisual]

You might want to contact Mike direct regards prices for both his valve 'baby DAC' and valve Full-Size DAC;

madmikedane @ aol.com

[Yomanze]

Mike has two Valve DAC's, one is nicknamed 'Baby DAC' and the other is a full-size DAC, he brought me over his Baby valve DAC version. I'd been using a Musical Fidelity M1 DAC for just under 2 years and very happy with it, but with the Baby Valve DAC was attached to the valve Transport I/we was/were literally gob-smacked at the results, so natural and neutral sounding with lovely attack and delicate bite when needed, not tiring or fatigueing either, we looked at each other in utter amazement and laughed..............lots!


A lot of people seem to underestimate digital source components, sounds like this could be one of those that actually makes a real improvement. Interesting post, cheers.