Wtd - xiangsheng dac-01a

[philv]

As per title.

Cheers

[lordmortlock]

Just buy one new. They cost next to nothing.

[philv]

Just buy one new. They cost next to nothing.


Expensive holiday very soon, and feelng guilty.

Did this compare well to your modded jolida fx dac?

[philv]

Bump and a question.

Has anyone bought one of these recently off ebay.

There is a seller in belgium.
But not sure ifhe ships from belgium or china.
The listing mentions import charges which does not correspond with being in belgium, but may be avgeneric listing he uses.

So, has anyone used bim, and were there import charges?

Thanks

[struth]

Bump and a question.

Has anyone bought one of these recently off ebay.

There is a seller in belgium.
But not sure ifhe ships from belgium or china.
The listing mentions import charges which does not correspond with being in belgium, but may be avgeneric listing he uses.

So, has anyone used bim, and were there import charges?

Thanks

It will depend on who you get it from. If it comes from belguim then no import tax so obviously its coming from china or he is at it.
I never paid any for mine from china snail mail.

[jandl100]

I bought mine from a Belgian seller - it came in a few days from .... Belgium! So no import charges or VAT added.
Not sure who the seller was, it was over 60 days ago so not visible any more in my eBay purchase listing.

[Intenso]

I bought one from Hong Kong via ebay.

I got hit for customs and the DAC had a channel imbalance that I needed to repair as the cost of a return to HK was too much.

Still, we got it going in the end by replacing a few of the dodgy no name caps and it sounds really good via the SS output.

I would def buy from the seller in Belgium...

[User211]

I think it sounds better with a Western Electric 396A in the valve output section.

I'm not selling mine. Keeping it as a backup.

[struth]

I think it sounds better with a Western Electric 396A in the valve output section.

I'm not selling mine. Keeping it as a backup.

got the same valve in mine... not cheap but very good

[philv]

Thanks for tne replies much appreciated.
Where did you guys source the western electric valve?

[struth]

Thanks for tne replies much appreciated.
Where did you guys source the western electric valve?

USA [emoji631]. They seem to have all the nice valves. Think they were about 45£ each bought as a pair. Between me and Brian

[User211]

The USA (eBay).

It's expensive with import taxes I am afraid. But it is a really good valve in that DAC. There are four of us using it that I know of.

[philv]

Just about to order.

Is there a difference between the one’s marked as
Dac01 and dac01a?

Tne belgium one states it is rhe latest, and is marked dac01.
Slightly confused.

[walpurgis]

There's a DAC 01b as well.

[philv]

There's a DAC 01b as well.
Thank heavens it looks completely different:

[struth]

Probably just not added the a. Think they are on version 9 or 10. Just the decoding chip that changes I think

[User211]

Get the DAC-05B and send it here cos I am intrigued if it is significantly better than the DAC-01A it'd be an achievement, even for the extra dosh.

I am joking but I really would like to hear an 05B. I'll probably buy one at some stage.

[Johnny nocash]

Get the DAC-05B and send it here ..........

I am joking but I really would like to hear an 05B. I'll probably buy one at some stage.



When you do, send it here Justin:lol:
I've got the 01A & I'm really interested too

[Lawrence001]

The 02 is much closer in price to the 01 has anyone heard that?

[Johnny nocash]

To help (hopefully) Phil with his search .... I posted this on the Wam. Mind you that was in March 2017 so things have probably moved on again.


It seems there are different versions of the Xiangsheng 01A

1. Samples up to 96khz with TE7022 daughter board. Don't know main chip.

2. Samples up to 96khz with XMOS-U8. don't know main chip.

3. Samples up to 192khz with cirrus cs8416 receiver chip & CS4398 decoder chip.


I don't know which is the best version, the techo's might be able to help with that

[Lawrence001]

One version didn't have a valve output so check first if you want that (didn't think much of the SS output on that either, that one had the cheaper rival to the ESS dac chip I forget the name).

[Johnny nocash]

This was also posted on the same thread so maybe of note if anyone is looking further up the chain


I wanted a new dac for my pc (headphone listening) and after reading Jerrys opinions on this dac (and trusting them) I bought the upgraded Xiang Sheng DA-03A. I actually think you would be better of with the cheaper DA-01A because the DA-03A uses Solen coupling caps and Is a bit harsh. The DA-01A uses polyester coupling caps that although 'technically' Inferior should sound more balanced In my opinion (I've tried almost every coupling cap known to man In various amplifiers/cd players).

I upgraded the coupling caps to Mundorf Supreme and It sounds much better but still a touch bright. Not sure whether to try some polyesters (I like Evox MMK) or put these HUGE Mundorf Supreme Silver/Gold/Oil on top with trailing leads.

[User211]

FWIW insider9 on the Wam says DAC-05B is good.

I think you should get one Jerry:) Then do a direct compare between the two.

I'm broke I just spent a fortune on two valves.

[jandl100]

I'm broke I just spent a fortune on two valves.

:lol:
Flog your Porsche, that should cover it. ;)


FWIW insider9 on the Wam says DAC-05B is good.

I think you should get one Jerry:) Then do a direct compare between the two.

Oh, Xiang Sheng.
That is so last week.
I've moved on - check out my signature. :cheers:

[User211]

I'm betting the newbie isn't as good.

[jandl100]

It's pretty good, definitely in the same league - and a new PSU is on the way from one of Prez Xi's chaps, and who knows where that will take it.
Actually, you're probably better off with the XS, I suspect it does the slammy-slam thing that is further up your priority list than it is mine a bit better.
Both the 01A and the M8 are great DACs imo - it's nice to have both.
.... and Matt's views (quoted above) on the XS 03 make me a bit wary of the 05. I am curious about it, though - I nearly pulled the trigger on one a few days ago, but bottled it at the last moment!

Good review that ties in with my thoughts on the SMSL M8 - https://www.musicservertips.com/product-reviews/smsl-m8-dac/

[User211]

I won't like it if you can't plug a valve in it to mess with it.

Reads well. 2016. So two years ago!:D:wink:

[jandl100]

I think I bought my first XS 01A back in 2015. :ner:

[User211]

I only copied you cos I was desperate.:ner::)

[Johnny nocash]

Apologies because it's not exactly helping the OP's wanted thread.
I will be selling my Xiang Sheng 01A but not at a hugely discounted price purely because it has more worth to me than gaining a few £'s which would just end up being splash back off a pub's urinal.
I think it's clear by the many reports on various forums that it is really good for the money. I've seen a couple sold recently for £70/80. It's a bit ridiculous because in my set up the Xiang had more about it than a few more 'highly acclaimed named' DACs (Bel Canto 2.5, Chord Hugo, Metrum octave, Chevron, Jolida III, plus quite a few more etc).
I used the solid state output because I have valve pre & power valves & thought the synergy was better. Maybe because I have a predominantly valve based system that I found tube & NOS DACS extremely dull. With a different set up this could have been completely different.
I only compared using a cd transport ( no computer files) & I'm not saying that it's better but I certainly couldn't justify the extra expense of the so called 'superior' DACs.
I heard my friends pink triangle da capo & a Theta gen 5 which were better to my ears but I wouldn't be in a rush to pay a shit load for a bit of kit that might could go tits up next week.
There are more refined DACs out there of course, but even at full price I think the 01A is a great buy.

Apologies to owners of the other DACs I've mentioned..... It's only an opinion.

[philv]

Bump

[Johnny nocash]

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?59349-For-Sale-Xiang-Sheng-DAC-01

[Idlewithnodrive]

I now have a super condition Silver DAC-01A, fitted with a GE valve that you can have for £75 delivered Phil. Only thing to say is that the power LED doesn't work. Everything else is spot on.

[philv]

Hi.
Thanks for the offer. But i am sorted now.

Sorted. Thank you.

[andyrlb]

I now have a super condition Silver DAC-01A, fitted with a GE valve that you can have for £75 delivered Phil. Only thing to say is that the power LED doesn't work. Everything else is spot on.

I might be interested?


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[Idlewithnodrive]

I might be interested?


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That'd be fine Andy :)

[andyrlb]

Pm sent [emoji1303]


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