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That has to be the Macca equivalent of a jandl100 jaw dropping. :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by Macca
Here's a pic of the wee beastie that Martin has on loan. It's the bigger wee beastie, the wee-er beastie on top is a power-DAC that is also rather interesting.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/i...psuri4kdfp.jpg
And yes, I now have the latest/greatest version of the DAC and it is even better than the one Martin has.
Although not quite as good as my new NOS TDA1543 DAC! :eyebrows:
Listening to some Steely Dan ('Gold') had to check to see that I did have the tube output switched out because there is a definite hint of valve in the sound. Some slight softness and some slight euphony in the bass...weird.
seen those dac3's. seems to be a wide range of prices from same seller and no shot of the back etc. I guess there is some sort of disinformation about them. Look sweet tho.Quote:
Originally Posted by jandl100
They are sweet things. I'd been curious about the eBay listings for over a year before I finally succumbed to temptation.Quote:
Originally Posted by struth
It is curious about no rear photos on eBay - but it's fine - USB, RCA and optical inputs, 1 set stereo outputs.
Fantastic sound.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps4o1nm76i.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/i...psf7xs0cuf.jpg
Yes there is the same thing on offer in at least 3 different names. It has internal power btw so uses a proper mains lead.
Got one of those SMSL boxes doing TV sound duty with a pair of control ones, very good.Quote:
Originally Posted by jandl100
so was yours the 150£ or the £350 version. I take it they run on batteries.Quote:
Originally Posted by jandl100
They are the same thing, Grant.Quote:
Originally Posted by struth
The designer / seller sets a "RRP" of £350, but then also sells them on auction starting at £140 or so. I took the latter route!
Yes, they are battery powered, charged via the USB input. There is also a power socket for an appropriate external PSU (not supplied with the unit). I've only tried it on battery power so far.
This DAC is now on its way to the new owner so have switched back to my Parasound CD playerQuote:
Originally Posted by Macca
The Parasound in some respects sounds almost crude in comparison, although it does not have that softness in the bass that, for me, was the Achilles heel of the Xiang. Playing 'Gold' again the sound was much smoother and bass guitar notes are more solid and defined but deffo lacking some of the open, sparkly sound of the Xiang. For example on CCR's 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain' the cymbals at the end are clearly intended to sound like rain. In years of listening to this song I have never noticed that, the Xiang made it obvious.
On the flip side, bass issues apart, I found it quite hard to relax to the sound of the Xiang. There was no audible distortion but there was an overall 'edginess' to the sound that, ultimately, I couldn't live with.
This might account for the liveliness of the sound, a little low level distortion can do that. Some may argue it is a small price to pay but I like my sound to have that 'relaxability' factor and I'm happy to trade a little perceived 'rez' in order to have that. All horses for courses.
Given more time I could have tried some different transports and also using the DAC as a pre-amp direct into the power amp, perhaps that would have resolved the issues? I don't know, but I suspect they are integral to the DAC.
Thanks again to Jerry for the loan.
Never mind ... you'll have a working Technics SL-P1200 cdp tomorrow :D