Printable View
That's interesting because the music through my Caiman/Gator combo lacks emotion with my Beyerdynamics DT 990 pro's. I listen to my headphones instead of the music. My setup does make my Chario's sing though.
Downside is that with the BM I have yet to purchase another linear psu as well.
I'm no great headphone listener, Steven, but I think we all acknowledge that the BM gives the Caiman a beating with their respective headphone outputs.
DT990 are considered bass heavy phones when compared to DT880. DT990s bass despite going deep does not exude the most control being at times a bit wooly. The BM has gobs of bass... so maybe too much of a "good" thing?Quote:
Originally Posted by Fi-Wi
I consider the BM phone out to be quite exceptional for high impedance cans. Just another added plus? :eek:
I never read that before but it would be dissapointing if the BM wouldn't work well with the DT990. Maybe I'll just stick to my Caiman setup then.
Xavel, have you tested them separately?Quote:
Originally Posted by Xaval
I ask because if the sbooster does 80% of the benefit with 20% of the cost then perhaps that is good enough ?
However if the opposite is true then better to buy the linear PSU
Any thoughts?
In the same way that you can't polish a turd, I would always go with a good linear PSU first and foremost.
I can't comment on the Caiman's phone out as I have 0 experience with it. I've read here how much better the BM is on this respect.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fi-Wi
I'm a previous owner of DT990. Like it has happened with my Senns - at some point I owned both HD600 and HD650 - I preferred the HD600 and sold the HD650. With the DT990 it was a similar event as I preferred the DT880 600ohm.
I won't delve too much on the whys and buts re my preferences, but as far as both Beyers go, like the Senns, they share more common characteristics than differences. Overall, both Beyers have a U shaped sound signature - great sweet and extended highs and deep bottom end. The DT990s do it in a more accentuated tone (recessed mids).
Now about the BM. It's great. It's more the headphone fault than the BM as this DAC has exceptional bass performance: it extends deep and snaps tigth and the Beyers are an excellent pair of headphones to show it off. It just happens that the Beyers bass is far from perfect - I've owned loads of headphones along the years so maybe I have a lot of background on what to make my assessments and a less favorable comment could come out as too hard. On they're own the Beyers have stood the test of time and are quite good for the asking price.
Given this reasoning and assuming that the BM indeed has a better headphone out, as well is a better DAC, I see little reason not to "upgrade".
I'm sorry but I have no way to evaluate the sbooster alone as it's not detachable. I can't even quantify if the effect is really 80/20 or anything else. The BM keeps getting better as the days go by. This is a fact.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stubies
Listening to Harry Belafonte & Lena Horne on Porgy&Bess (Living Stereo) as I type. I should go to bed but it's still about half way 'till the end of the recording. Oh, the horns on this recording and the voices... I'm melting.
Martin and Xaval!
I will probably go with the linear PSU after all - just waiting for the Bushmaster to burn in, then make a final call.
Thanks for your help!
Once I have all the parts I need I will document the building of a good linear PSU using Paul Hynes' PR3iEHD module.
I'm running my BM on a DIY PSU using PH regulation. It's sounding sweet through my recently acquired Croft Micro 25. :)
Nice one, Bernie. Are you using the PR3 module or a variant of?
Yes Martin. Sorted my own transformer, rectifier diodes and smoothing caps.
I've just received most of the parts so I guess I'll get drilling tonight...
Good stuff. Let's see some pics of the building process :)Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
been reading the thread. Does the bushmaster need all these different mods/psu's etc to sound good?
I just want a dac to use with my squeezebox classic that will sound better out of the box as im not really into modding my kit or anything
In standard form it will sound great! We just like to make improvements. :eyebrows:
No :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by skimminstones
The mods are designed to raise the DAC's performance way above its original capability, or to customize one of more aspect of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by skimminstones
Even the Squeezebox Classic has numerous mods available.
Carrying on from my earlier review of the Bushmaster but now with a psu from Mark Grant + S-Booster...
Having removed the ferrite clamps from the Bushmaster, the sound quality was reduced. I then attached the linear PSU from Mark Grant and the great sound I was used to earlier had returned, but now to an even higher level. Smoother detail with less digital nasties,a much more well defined bass with vocals sounding more focussed due to better imaging. With this PSU attached it was much easier to hear what Stanley has been stating about the bass-yes it does go very low with definition. I would definitely be keeping this PSU. It's suprisingly large compared to the one supplied in the Bushmaster box and is not one you'd have on show, say like the MCRU one.
From Mark Grant I'd received the linear psu with S-Booster and a separate S-Booster. I tested the S-Booster by itself with the original Beresford PSU and it definitely made an improvement, however the extra outlay for the linear psu with S-Booster is definitely worthwhile.
With the linear PSU in place I began to wonder how it would sound with an extra S-Booster. So I plugged the S-Booster in as well - double boost! In fact that is what the result was. In my system the linear PSU sounds better with 2 S-Boosters! The benefits that the linear PSU brought had been raised to an even higher level. Bass was now even more well defined and the overall sound cleaner and detailed. With this quieter background finer subtle details could be heard.
Having heard this set up, these power ugprades need to stay in place so are definitely recommended. For those who want to start with just the S-Booster can do with the confidence that it can be used with the linear psu as well, should you buy it later. i.e. it won't become an idle part or something you'll need to sell.
Being that the power supply is affecting the sound of the Bushmaster to such an extent I was thinking about the MCRU option, however at £200, scaling up to £370 with the optional extras, this is not something I am not willing to do with a £200 DAC. Yes I do wonder if the MCRU option would sound better in my system but I am very happy with the sound I currently have.
Oh and I even put my ferrite clamps back onto the Mark Grant set up!
Stubies, so my advice is to buy the psu from Mark Grant with an additional S-Booster. If needed, you can always return any of the parts with their money back guarantee. I also noticed that you have a NAD C340. I know they were well reviewed but in my opinion it is not a very revealing amp. In fact I sold the superior C370 in order to move back to my Pioneer A-400!
Update...I no longer have the Bushmaster..
From new I'd been using it in sleep mode to keep the bright LEDs out of view so one day I thought I'd switch sleep mode off just to try but it didn't happen. The LEDs stayed off and it would not come out of sleep mode. I wonder if any of you have had trouble with this or tried taking your unit out of sleep mode?
After a bit of discussion Stan sent me a new IC control chip to fit rather than the long winded approach of having to send the unit back to him for repair. This new IC allowed the LEDs to light and work as expected but the DAC would now not enter sleep mode correctly - in fact it would just hang where the only way back to normal operation was to switch it off and back on again. This was no digital sync issue as the select button would not even change the input/led by this stage. Following the 'reset' option listed in the manual(rev 1.4) made no effect.
Stan suspects that I may have some main electrical issue causing this problem but I very much doubt this as apart from the sleep mode the DAC operated perfectly and no other AV device in my house has ever suffered a fault. If it is my system then the Bushmaster is clearly oversensitive and easily upset.
So sadly this has been quite a short lived romance. As you can see from my earlier posts, I was very happy with the sound, especially when coupled with the Mark Grant linear PSU+extra S Booster. Both have now been returned for a refund.
However I am now picking up an Audiolab M-DAC this weekend! I managed to get it as part of a promotion at £500. As most will know it has had excellent reviews most notable I think being the Editor's Choice in H-Fi Choice June'12.
The Bushmaster+linear PSU came to £300 so it will be interesting to what this extra money brings. In my view the Bushmaster needs a better PSU to bring out its performance.
As a previous Bushmaster owner and soon to be M-DAC I will report back with my findings...
Heard the Bushmaster without PSU and it sounded extremely good. Best Dac in its sector imo.
Nope... I won't... I really mustn't... I shall desist.... :eyebrows:
You are correct of course Gaz... ;)
Yeah good sound out the box - probably nothing better for £200 but so much better with uprated psu... However my Bushmaster days are over. Now to M-DAC and its endless software tweaks!
So are you selling your Bushmaster Dav?Quote:
Originally Posted by mudan
No it's been sent back for a refund. Despite how good it sounded I couldn't live with something that didn't quite do what it said on the box. Yes of course the audio quality is what I bought it for however a failed sleep function that apparently I could not get to work or wouldn't work in my system is not acceptable.
Not just me then,i tried to get my Bushmaster out of sleep mode last week.Can't get the LED's back on whatever i do,still works ok otherwise.Guess i will just have to live with it,wasn't thinking of selling it anyway..:hmm:
Well you'd rather have it in sleep mode than those bright LEDs glaring at you! Glad it's not just me then with sleep mode trouble - I wonder who else is affected...
Didn't even know it had a 'sleep mode', how does that work then? (or not in this instance...)Quote:
Originally Posted by mudan
From what I recall, you ensure the Auto light is on then hold down the Select button till the Auto light flashes on/off, then let go. You should find that the lights are now off and the DAC still works but with no distracting lights. Full correct details are in the supplied manual.
Thanks for that Dav, I'll check if mine works (didn't get a manual, purchased second hand)Quote:
Originally Posted by mudan
Thanks Dav.Quote:
Originally Posted by mudan
If anyone is looking sell their Bushmaster I'd be interested. I have one on my second system and am very pleased with it. Looking for another one to sit next to my armchair and use as a Headphone amp.
Cheers
John
Yes I think if you can put up with a defective sleep function then it can also make a nice headphone amp. If you see my review earlier I was quite impressed at how good my HD650 sounded through it. I'm expecting even better from my soon arriving M-DAC.
all things being equal of course... ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by synsei
I am confused about this so-called "defective" sleep function. Mine works exactly as I expect. The lights are off unless I press a button but the DAC works perfectly.
Peter it seems yours is working as expected but how about if you try to deactivate sleepmode? i. e. Hold down the Select button in order to bring the LEDs on permanently? N. B. You may need to be in Auto mode to do this.
Seems that so far that only Alan47 and myself have had trouble. My first IC behaved like Alan's whereas my 2nd IC wouldn't enter sleep mode
I had sleep mode problems with mine too although I believe it was linked to another issue. What is not in dispute is that the BM sounds fabulous.
Don't want sleep mode, don't need it and don't care.
What I did want was no auto mode and that works fine.
The BM does sound very good indeed, especially from a source like the Logitech Touch playing Spotify (much better sound than I had expected), Sky HD (superb with all kinds of broadcasts) and Blu-ray.
I need to look into getting an SB sometime after reading all the great things on here about it ;)
I had the problem of not being able to get out of Sleep Mode too. At the same time I also lost the ability to select different inputs. I spoke to Stan and he sent me a replacement chip. I fitted the chip and reset sleep mode and all was well gain.
After a month or so of flawless operation I had the same problem again - cannot get out of sleep mode and no ability to change input. Again I spoke to Stan who expressed surprise that I had the problem again. Stan asked about my power arrangements and I told him I had the Bushmaster plugged into a Tacima Power Conditioner strip. Stan felt the Tacima might be causing problems and recommended that I buy an S-Booster. I asked Stan if I should avoid Sleep mode in future and he said that if it was causing me problems then yes. Stan also sent me another chip.
So I have now fitted an S-Booster to the Bushmaster and whilst I was at it fitted another to my Squeezebox Touch. I have fitted the new chip to the Bushmaster and this time NOT programmed Sleep mode. I now always switch off the DAC after use to avoid the over bright Blue LED shining all the time.
Now been operating in Non-Sleep Mode for a few weeks. No further problems and I must say the sound just keeps getting better and better.
No dispute about the sound at all - I was very happy with that aspect. I don't see how anything external can stop the sleep mode from operating when all it's doing is controlling the LEDs
Theadmans I just read your post after my reply. Seems you've had a similar experience to me. I was almost about to accept a 2nd chip but then through my contact with Stan lost cconfidence in the product. Yes it sounded great but if I was going to run into issues this early on that couldn't be solved which were wrongly directed at the rest of my system then this was not something I could live with. To be honest this puts me off buying a Beresford product again.
I was gutted at first but at least now I have the Mdac to look forward to.
I can't help thinking that the problems might be temperature related. When you are in sleep mode it is easy to forget that you have left the DAC on. Maybe it is not a good idea to leave it on all the time.
Now I don't have sleep mode set it is obvious that the DAC is on with the very bright blue LED on. So I always switch it off - otherwise the lounge starts to look like some kind of science lab!
I haven't had any problems since I stopped using Sleep Mode. I would be interested to know if anyone with the Bushmaster had a problem with source selection with Sleep mode was not set ?
Mudan - Interestingly I notice from your equipment list that you also use a Tacima power block. Was your Bushmaster plugged into the Tacima like mine ?
This is difficult because I do not want to open up old wounds. I also think it is a little unfair to tar all Stans products with the same brush due to one potential issue with just one of his products. I owned a Caiman DAC for just over two years and it was, and still is, a fantastic product for the money.
I do believe there is is an issue with some BM's however and I also believe it revolves around the firmware. I should state that I am in no way technically qualified to diagnose what is actually going on and being the designer, Stan is the acknowledged expert on his own products. I am speaking from experience however and with the BM I had in my possession there was most certainly an issue with source selection.
Theadmans, yes I have a Tacima power bar with an Isotek IsoPlug and Russ Andrews Silencer. Into the Tacima power I have a basic Russ Andrews distribution block and this is what the DAC was plugged in to. So a fair bit of mains filtering as you can see..
I only owned my DAC for a few weeks and initially left it switched on for a couple of days running in with CD being kept on repeat as the source. So yes maybe some component has overheated in the DAC but who knows! Replacing the IC did not resolve the problem entirely either. In fact it fixed one problem but brought another so seems it's more control IC related.
synsei, naturally any designer wants to protect the reputation of their products and I know that the Caiman has been popular. I believe it also won a What Hi-Fi award or was given 5 stars. I wonder if WHF are planning to review the Bushmaster...
I totally agree that just because of one problematic product does not mean that all others will be similar but what I don't appreciate is there being no clear solution to my issue or admittance of the problem. Stan was always too ready to give my money back rather than provide a fix. When my DAC was received back he said there was no fault with it so clearly I am not 'suitable' for a Bushmaster. If the LEDs weren't so bright I may have kept it in a 'faulty' state.
What did Stan say to you that permanently put you off buying his products? And how do you know that the issues you had were wrongly directed at the rest of your system? Maybe, as you suggest yourself a few posts back, the BM is more sensitive than the rest of your equipment. :scratch:Quote:
Originally Posted by mudan
Oh, and please post your presumably outstanding experiences with the Mdac in a designated thread. ;)
I don't think it's fair for me to reveal my full contact here with Stan, however rather than provide a fix for the sleep function, on more than one occassion the response has been towards a refund. Yes it's always great to have your money back if you're not totally happy but all I wanted was a fully working DAC. I thought the DAC sounded great and wanted to keep it. A finger was pointed at my mains supply that may be creating spikes. If you read earlier, Theadmans has had the same response.
Well I've not bought the MDAC yet. As a previous Bushmaster owner I'm sure many would be interested in my experience with the MDAC and how it compares to the Bushmaster.
This seems a little disingenuous, unless I'm missing something. So you didn't actually give Stan a chance to fix the problem (a minor problem at that, just involving the LEDs)? In which case, the negative vibes are a little unwarranted. I have owned three of Stan's devices and his customer service has always been exemplary. The devices (including my Bushmaster) have never gone wrong and are left switched on all the time - there is no heat problem as they generate precious little heat in the first place. Power glitches can be a menace and this may well be the source of your problems.Quote:
Originally Posted by mudan
I would encourage Stan to comment on recent posts, mine included, to defend his position and his products. As well as carving out a fairly unique niche for his products, he consistently delivers a product that performs well above its station. Apart from the few regrettable issues some have experienced with their BM's I stand by what I have said about it many times before, the BM performs at least as well as other DAC's which retail for far more. I hope Stan can diagnose what is at the root of this issue and fix it as it would seem it isn't an isolated one. I am confident however that he will do so and that the BM will be even more successful as a result. I wish Stan every success in this :)
Agree with this.Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinT
I've owned 4(!) of Stans Dacs over the years and have always had great satisfaction from them.
You will find that Stan is one of the good guys on here, always had good service from him.