Caiman+Gator v Benchmark DAC1 - initial impressions

[Tim]

Well I spoke to Stan as mentioned on Tuesday afternoon and later the same day ordered a Gatorised Caiman. It arrived as promised at 9.30 this morning, nicely packaged and felt a little heavier than I was expecting.

I planned to plug it in and leave it sit warming for a few hours before doing anything, but temptation got the better of me, so I hooked it up to my PC (using only a bog-standard USB cable) and plugged in my HD650's.

Now I have nothing to compare this to, in relation to other Beresford DAC's, so cannot judge what has improved with the Gator upgrade - but straight out of the box, not even warm and I am mightily impressed. Very good build quality, which exceeded my expectations. I have only listened to Allison Moorer's 'Duel' and her acoustic version of 'Crows', now I have Eric Bibb spinning, playing 'Diamond Days' and all I can say is it's jaw droppingly good. Plenty of punch, but the detail and resolution is particularly good . . . in fact I am hearing something I have not noticed before, I can hear what sounds like Eric tapping his foot in time with the beat. It's also a much warmer sound than I was expecting, in fact at the moment I'm grinning I can't wait to burn it in and hook it up to my main system. I know I'm probably still on a bit of a high after seeing Tina Dico last night, but it's times like this, that I realise why I love music so much.

Many thanks Stan, without doubt a 5 star product and excellent service (I may have to buy another one of these for the bedroom!).

Tim

(Win7 Music Server playing 44100Hz/16 bit .flac files using foobar2000 - headphone dial at 1 o'clock)
I kept going and my first plays were extended somewhat!

Allison Moorer - Duel, acoustic Crows
Eric Bibb - Diamond Days
Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces
Blackfield - Blackfield
The Decemberists - The King is Dead
Mahler 5's adagio - Rattle BPO
Otis Taylor - Clovis People Vol. 3 (Ain't no Cowgirl is particularly good)
Joe Bonamassa - Sloe Gin
Jolie Holland - Catalpa
a selection of SIA
Diana Krall - A Night in Paris
and finally Ray LaMontagne - Trouble
. . . everyone a winner

[worrasf]

Hi Steve, i'm really currious to hear your comparison of those two linear PSUs from totally different price range. I'm now in the situation considering if to go for budget PSU or one of Teddie's PSUs for Caiman with muratas mod.

Looking forward for your review

My Teddy Pardoe 15v PSU arrived today courtesy of Mark at Audiocom (please see my post on the stunning improvement Mark made to my Wadia 170i - also with a Teddy PSU).

The question was would the extra dollar I laid out be a worthwhile (or any) difference to the cheapo linear PSU I bought earlier?

Answer: - Er let me think


Yes

Unbelievable improvement I'm just blown away now by the Wadia (upgraded) and the Caiman+Gator now both with Teddy Pardoe linear PSU's. The difference over the cheap PSU is not subtle

All the benefits I earlier reported with the linear PSU over the standard SM are there but in spades. Stan has made the point that it matters not if the Caiman is powered by a SM or linear source it's the ripple and noise that counts - well I dont know the specs of the Teddy unit but I can tell you it blows the other PSU's out of the water.

So what's the difference? Well more of everything except "noise" - silences are dark black. The entire soundsatge has opened up even more - full, musical, enjoyable, foot tapping are the words that come to mind. There is more air/space around performers, presentation is a little more forward but not in your face. A little more top end detail - Thea Gilmore's vocals are sublime but as always (IMHO) the killer is the improved bass detail/layers - notes that you swore were just single drum kick or bass string plucks turn out to be 2 or 3 hits/notes - just very fast and close together - the new PSU reveals the truth by resolving this detail

IMHO if you get a Caiman+Gator (and you really should) then get a Teddy PSU or you wont really hear what Stan's DAC can do - which is simply to make your digital source sound better than you ever heard it before.

Before anyone asks - no, I have no links/conflicts of interest with Stan Beresford or Teddy Pardoe (or anyone elso come to that) but boy they know how to make good kit.

Steve

[Tim]

Could you give a little more detail/links so I can look into this. I have found both the Teddy Pardo website and Audiocom, but not sure which actual product you are referring too?

Thanks

[chapter three]

What Teddy Pardo supply are you using? I can't find anything on his website that looks suitable. Is it something that Audiocom modify to suit the Caiman?

edit: weird, someone else just got in before me with the same question...

[worrasf]

Could you give a little more detail/links so I can look into this. I have found both the Teddy Pardo website and Audiocom, but not sure which actual product you are referring too?

Thanks

Hi - I ordered mine from Mark at Audiocom - who got it direct from Teddy in Israel - suggest you contact Mark direct (01646 650046) and I'm sure he will sort it for you.

It looks exactly the same as the TeddyDock he sent me for the Wadia 170i but is 15v not 12 v

Regards
Steve

[StanleyB]

For those of you on a more realistic budget, keep an eye out for my PSU spike and noise buster .

[Tim]

For those of you on a more realistic budget, keep an eye out for my PSU spike and noise buster .

Will do Stan, maybe you can send me one with my next Caiman

[worrasf]

For those of you on a more realistic budget, keep an eye out for my PSU spike and noise buster .

It really is very very good Stan

Steve

[StanleyB]

I am not stopping anyone from also forking out £200 for the power supply you bought.

[worrasf]

I am not stopping anyone from also forking out £200 for the power supply you bought.

I meant the Caiman+Gator is very very good

But IMHO it only realises it's true potential with a really good external PSU and of the ones I've tried the TP is brilliant - but I agree it's not cheap.

Would love to try your new "PSU product" when available



Steve