They were the very first people to get a Caiman power supply. I reckon I better rush out and get a copy:).Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex_UK
Printable View
They were the very first people to get a Caiman power supply. I reckon I better rush out and get a copy:).Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex_UK
Could we have a hard copy of the test, somewhere (for these not in the UK?) ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by StanleyB
Hmm - I'd like to see it too, if anyone can post it up here..
Thanks Alex !
Much appreciated
No probs - just realised its a bit blurred - so don't panic anyone, you don't need to go to Specsavers!
Well done Stan.
Congrats:smoking:
Maybe time to tackle that comment about the reduced foot tapping experience:scratch:. I'll see if I can sort that out in an easy way.
I hate when critics talk about "system-matching" when they review dacs. :steam:
It's absurd, I don't even dare to imagine what they're talking about...:(
It's the "damning with faint praise" aspect of the review, Themis. It's a budget product so only match it to other budget products.Quote:
Originally Posted by Themis
They cannot unequivocally recommend a Standac because it's from a small firm that will not pay them to advertise; and they must reserve their best words for top price goods from companies that do pay them to advertise.
(Labarum is always a cynic)
Neverthless, Stan, it's an excellent review of a fine product.
Still, they claim "fitting into a price- and tonally-appropriate system..."
I understand the "Price-" stuff : they want to keep some illusions still alive.
... but the "tonally-appropriate" what the heck can it be ? :o
Themis, we don''t have tone controls any more. We just chose cables with the right capacitance and inductance to manage the EQ.
(Said I was a cynic!)
Tonally appropriate?
Agreed!Quote:
Originally Posted by Labarum
It maybe budget priced but I think most would agree that it would take something over three times its retail price to better it, some then may feel the performance boost would not be worth the expense.
:doh:Quote:
Originally Posted by Labarum
(no, I won't comment further ! :lol: )
Nice One !!! I got mine about four weeks ago and am very pleased with it.
I use it via USB to my laptop and into a valve amp. Just need to workout how to stream (maybe via a squuebox) without the computor being powered on.
Terry - A total beginner here, but it seems that the squeezebox touch might be the thing, as it works with a USB hard drive, so no need for the pc to be on, just a hard drive in a caddy from what I understand..
Not yet available, but plenty of chat about them on the internet...
True. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by steveinspain
Why? A hi-fi system is essentially synergistic and relies on all its components gelling together. Why exclude the DAC?Quote:
Originally Posted by Themis
Great info there Steve - Thanks a lot !! This seems to be exatcly what i have been waiting for. Will be seeking more info on this one.Quote:
Originally Posted by steveinspain
Hah !
Only been a member here for about 2 weeks and already I am qualified to offer a tiny bit of advice AND it seems to have been good !
(also spent way too much as I have already bought a Caiman and some headphones..)
Glad to have been able to help Terry - I too am keeping my eyes well peeled for more info on this.
Officially available from logitech since 15/10/2009Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry
The Squeezebox Classic streams internet radio without the PC being switched on. I have found that I am listening to the radio more than Cd's at the moment. Some really great Jazz stations available and I tend to use the higher bitrate ones as they sound really good. SB / Caiman / A260 / Speakers - what more does a man need!
Regards
Chris
The Logitech Squeezebox Touch is currently estimated to be available on December 1st.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Stockwell
This date is dependent on finishing the software in time.
Well, a dac's role in a system is mainly neutral. Far more neutral than an amp, a preamp, a speaker, an amp/speaker relation, a room, a listening position, a room/listening position relation, a speaker/room placement, and so on.Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
As regards to all that, the "synergistic" part of the dac in the system represents less than -about- 1% of the overall "tonal color" of the system.
So, when I need to tune my system's tonal balance, choosing a dac, seems to me an inappropriate solution to a real problem. ;)
Consequently, if I don't have a "tonal problem" to solve, then, again, whatever the dac it won't really change anything. So, the "tonally appropriate" phrase used in the review sounds inappropriate.
It's as if they were saying that this dac should have an "ac-outlet-appropriate" association...
I don't mean that all-dacs-sound-the-same, far from that. I mean that their differences are not "tonal" ones.
Well done Stan.
Yes, I must have misunderstood the logitech website, it looked like I could order one, when I looked last thursday. I see on amazon.com that it's status is pre-order.Quote:
Originally Posted by technobear
The DAC is a preamp as well. :/Quote:
Well, a dac's role in a system is mainly neutral. Far more neutral than an amp, a preamp, a speaker, an amp/speaker relation, a room, a listening position, a room/listening position relation, a speaker/room placement, and so on.
As regards to all that, the "synergistic" part of the dac in the system represents less than -about- 1% of the overall "tonal color" of the system.
Also my Caimen is on its way :D, do you guys think I`ll notice much improvement over the 7520 that I currently have, it is modded mind you.
A DAC is a source component, just like a CD player, tuner or turntable. If you accept that a CD player is synergistic and requires careful matching to a system - I do and so do most hi-fi professionals - then a DAC is no less so. it isn't just tonal quality, it's micro- and macro-dynamics, frequency extension, noise, transparency and a whole raft of other parameters that are hard to measure but easily heard.Quote:
Originally Posted by Themis
Now, you can buy a tonally fairly neutral DAC like the Beresford and build a system around it, but you must still carefully match the whole to the sound you prefer.
You will certainly notice an improvement in clarity. Depending on the source material, this can be a good or a bad thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shanedudddy2
Well done Stan!
You are, in the words of the 60s NASA astronauts, a steely eyed missile man. :smoking:
-deleted-
-deleted-
Bummer, my slow DSL.
There's no need to do so, Stan.Quote:
Originally Posted by StanleyB
I guess the Caiman is doing very very fine in the sound department.
I'm twitching and wobbling my Elvis legs everytime I play music thru your DAC.
Those WHF people are in dire need for more work outs at the gym.
C'mon....move your lethargic legs.
The 36k mod will probably find it's way into the next iteration of the Caiman.
I was sat listening to Glamour Of The Kill's EP last night and was completely away with the fairies for the duration. Good stuff.
Does the 36k mod make a significant improvement over the base caimen than it does with the 7520??
I tried it on the 7520 and did not like it at all, just made the monotonic bass worse and more prominant.
The Caiman has a different DAC chip entirely, plus some other different circuitry.
The 7520 has different capacitors already in place (MCL 5 / 6).
Zebu,
other circuitry apart from the analogue output stage
(Where the mlc5/6 caps are?)
On the 7520? Whatever is related to the power that needs modding for the Caiman PSU to work.
I have no idea besides that! Presumably some changes to make the 4562 perform better?
Uh huh.
Thanks for that! ;)
Having read many peoples views who have heard both, it seems apparent that the Dac Magic has more bass weight which some people deem overblown, others love it. I think that this was a very positive review from what hi fi though so well done. I still haven't bought one yet and the creeping price is putting me off at the moment. I know it's to do with the tumbling exchange prices so it's not a dig but will need to get my hands on one soon!
Having measured my system as flat down to 20Hz (notwithstanding the usual bass hump at the room resonance), I can assure you that Stan has tuned the Caiman just right - plenty of detailed bass down to subsonics, neither too much nor too little. I have some organ recordings using 64ft pipes and the system reproduces their trouser-flapping subsonics quite impressively.
Agreed. Stan's Caiman is one of the best sounding DAC's around and I also think the bass is spot on through my old JM Labs 926 floorstanders.
Internet radio via Squeezebox playing the blues through Stan's Caiman is one of the great joys in life!
Regards
Chris
Those not happy with the 36k+100nf mod, what type of capacitor you using? if your using a film type (polyester or polypropylene) may want to try ceramic instead, I often find certain types of film caps add a muddiness to base, they also tend to be much more inductive.
This is not to say a ceramic WILL sound better, some hate the things as most tend to be ringy, its just a thought it maybe worth a try and only costs pence
I tend to try as many alternatives as possible just incase:mental:
Thanks for bringing me so much ear candy Stan
:mex:
After a few :cool: tonight with some nice music I got sentimental and have to say, I love u man.
Couldn't agree more with everyone else here that Caiman is one of the best sounding DACs around. And I'm still keeping the old 6/4 as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by chrism
Bass is spot on through my Epos M12.2, and thunderous coming out of the Audio Technica ATH-50 headphone. A bit more bass, it would be overkilled via the phones already I reckon.
Great headphones ! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by aBe
Just want to let the world know my Caiman has arrived, as have some slightly used HD650 phones.
Guess who will be busy for a little while !
Many thanks to all who have got me here, and especially to Stan for his patience with me.
Got to go - stuff to listen to...
I imagine that you're one very happy bunny Steve.Quote:
Originally Posted by steveinspain
Enjoy your new toys.
Chris:)
Hi Steve,
You are in for a treat!
Regards
Chris