Stan's New Dac - any reviews yet?

[Labarum]

Maybe that's because, as a musician, your brain can successfully fill in the gaps in the musical message

Some musicians don't care what they listen on. It is only a memory prompt for them - they are hearing their own ideal performance in their head.

Some hear the music just as successfully by reading the score.

Yet others get very picky about HiFi, because they know what the instruments should sound like.

[tfarney]

no audio equipment can alter the actual timing of the musical performance recorded onto the disc or record; this is an impossibility

Then we agree.

What a strange character I must be, though, to be so black and white and yet so capable of filling in the blanks and turning a recording into the music I hear in my head.

Tim

[kbuech]

While this a very interesting discussion, I'd love some comments on the topic of the thread. I'm yet to receive my 7520 and wonder. ....

1. Anyone compared it to Cambridge DAC Magic? Or Zero DAC? Or to any NOS DAC?

2. Has anyone compared the performance of 16 bit/44.1 input to the 7520 via USB vs. SPDIF?

Thanks folks,

Kurt

[Marco]

What a strange character I must be, though, to be so black and white and yet so capable of filling in the blanks and turning a recording into the music I hear in my head.

I guess you're just a talented chap, Tim!

Marco.

[Labarum]

I think the whole PRAT thing, and I say Pace, Rhythm, Attack, Timing is try to address the question: is the whole system capable of singing the recorded music, or is it singing its own tune?

In the end its a matter of accuracy, neutrality and transparency.

"The closest approach to the original sound."

[Marco]

Indeed, Brian. I also agree with Tim, here:

Where I'm stumbling, I'm afraid, is on the term PRaT, and the over-zealous descriptions I've read from time to time over the years...

Some of the diehard Naim/Linn 'flat-earthers' are rather guilty of 'over-romanticising' the term.

Marco.

[ReachtheSky]

Stan, thanks for the clarification on the 7520 USB inputs and also the headphone amp and line output circuits.
Granville

[Dougr33]

I think the whole PRAT thing, and I say Pace, Rhythm, Attack, Timing is try to address the question: is the whole system capable of singing the recorded music, or is it singing its own tune?

In the end its a matter of accuracy, neutrality and transparency.

"The closest approach to the original sound."

From the west side of the pond, I think this is it. Your equipment can't "improve/make-more-pleasant" the sound of the master-tape on the original device and still be hi-fidelity. I think PRAT is achieved from simply fast, accurate and adequately powerful electronics moving fast, accurate, nondistorting full-range speakers to mimic the PRAT of the artists recorded on the tape. NO easy task, mind you!

[kalozois100]

Indeed, Brian. I also agree with Tim, here:



Some of the diehard Naim/Linn 'flat-earthers' are rather guilty of 'over-romanticising' the term.

Marco.

Im not sure what past unpleasant experiences you've had with linn/naim products or their listeners in the past but would be interesting to hear them. As I have said before I stuck with my linn system not because it is flawless but for cost reasons. If it sounds good to others that have heard it it is from owners of 400 pound midi stereo systems and not the the high end equipment aos members have here. It gets expensive changing hifi components to gain a few percent improvement in sound. Brian was spot on when he said that top sound could be had from a dac like Stans at a fraction of the cost compared to the cost of turntable upgrades. To get the same ratio of improvement in the LP12 I would have had to have spent over a 1000 pounds in upgrades but It only cost me 50 pounds for the modifications to the tc-7510. i don't think this is the behaviour of a flat earther in my case. but Marco I've known linn/naim owners that were so narrow and obsessed that they wouldn't even audition another brand even If their life depended on it! I did alot of research before buying the tc-7510 by reading around on forums and reviews and I"M very pleased with the outcome. Yet I did not hear it before buying! This is the beauty of a forum that being able to trust others' experiences on hifi matters can help you achieve great sound without a second mortgage. If I sounded over romantic when referring to the discussions on Prat then so be it im guilty as charged lock me up and throw away the key!!
P.s. talking about being romantic Don't forget the ladies in our lives(or men for any gay aos members- to be politically correct) its Valentimes Day today. Id open a thread "what are you playing for the love in your life " but don't know how to open new threads.

[Beechwoods]

Hi Kalozois - to start a new thread, you go to the forum you want - say, Abstract Chat, and click the 'New Thread' blue button at the top left