Stan's New Dac - any reviews yet?

[Dougr33]

You could go one stage further and drive the power amp from the fixed output of the 7520, but you would be need to be very sure your software digital volume controls in iTunes and in Windows were not likely to mis-behave and deliver a dangerous pulse to your amp and speakers.

The output of the Airport Express would need to be well matched to the input sensitivity of the amp so that you did not need to use more than (say) 20% attenuation or you might hear some degradation in sound.

It would be safer to leave an analogue volume control in circuit - either the one in the pre-amp or that in the 7520.

A very good post, but I'd like to add my 2 cents: This just isn't worth the risk of something happening (on a reboot or crash) to the software volume setting, if matched with a superloud passage, damaging your speakers (as your amp will now be "turned up to 11"). And I think it's generally acknowledged that there's "some" degradation of quality, perhaps tiny, with the software volume use.

[China Groove]

Thanks to the replies - very hepful. I plan to leave the Ming Da pre-amp in the circuit, as i have spent a considerable time tube rolling it to get the sound I like, so will slot the 7520 in and link to the AE to play the PC based music and don't want to mess up what I have! I also have a Shanling TD 100 valve output selected played again tube rolled, but will experiment in feeding that into the 7520 to see what sonic advantages there are.
Stan tells me the unit is on the way and I'll burn it in when set up and post in a week or so.

[twelvebears]

Just to leap back to the original thread for a mo, I've spent the whole day listening to my new 7520 which Susy bought me as a B'day present (yes, she really understands me) and it's definitely brought a significant improvement over using the analogue outputs from my Apple TV.

As ATV doesn't claim any great audio credentials in the way Squeezebox does, I was expecting that bypassing the analogue section would be worthwhile but it's still nice when it actually turns out that way...

Much improved soundstage, imaging and generally just a lot more musical. :-)

[China Groove]

Stan's little marvel arrived in China in good order and record time and has been wired in to Shanling CD 100 via co-ax to give it a go. First impressions on the CD are a wider maybe brighter soundstage, with more detail and a very engaging sound - this is straight out of the box.
PC based music (apple loss less) via Aiport express has had a very quick listen, but very impressive. BUT problems with a windows based PC talking to AE have postponed further listening for the moment - if anyone has any fixes woudl be glad to hear them!
On an intial listen it looks like the 7520 will become a favourite piece of kit and great service from Stan!!!

[Covenant]

Dont know if this has been posted elsewhere but there is a review of the 7520 in June's Affordable Audio. The reviewer comments that its the best DAC he has heard under $1000 and mentions that it needs time to break in which is fair enough.
He put this comment in:

'Because the op-amps are socketed in the 7250 (like the 7150), they are easy to swap out, just as long as you don’t mind voiding your warranty in the process. While there are some very enthusiastic success stories about these modifications in the forums, I think the unit is outstanding in its stock condition. If any of my home renovation projects have taught me anything, it is that sometimes things are best left alone.'

So he has had a bad experience and tries to put others off doing what was intended in the original design-I dont agree and think Stan should fire a letter back about the design philosophy and correct the socket comment about the 7510.

[Beresford_NA]

For a review of the Beresford TC-7520, please see the June 2009 issue at:

http://www.affordableaudio.org/

According to the reviewer, Lorin Elias:

"In terms of sound quality, it is the best DAC I have heard under $1000.
... a very easy recommendation."

[China Groove]

The 7520 has now been burnt in for around 30 hours and so I'd add my impressions to those that have appeared elsewhere in this forum.
Firstly I'd like to give Stan a big thanks for being so helpful and responsive and for great shipping and service. The unit arrived here in Shanghai within three days and was pressed into service right away.
I have the 7520 wired into a Shanling CD100 via coax and optically into an airport express that is driven by a Dell PC containing my 800+ loss less burnt CD collection. The 7520 feeds into my Ming Da extensively tube rolled pre-amp which in turn drives Ming Da Valve monoblocks into Dynaudio Focus 220 floorstanders.
I have burnt the 7520 in for around 30 hours and conducted extensive listening on a variety of musical tastes with an emphasis on Jazz and Rock.
I was previously very happy with the Shanling sound - very laid back and melodic and thus the sternest test was to switch between the Shanling DAC and the 7520 fed unit.
On Van Morrison Philosophers Stone the 7520 really shines with a level of detail and top that is not there via the Shanling - this is apparent on other reference tracks I use with extended bass and sweet treble, precise instrument positioning and soundstage and a very engaging musical and non-tiring sound.
Computer fed source via the AE is equally good and I'm hard pressed to notice which is playing. Given the added convenience of controlling the music library via i-pod I now have audiophile quality PC generated music which is what it is all about.
So in short 7520 - very, very good!!

[StanleyB]

Computer fed source via the AE is equally good and I'm hard pressed to notice which is playing. Given the added convenience of controlling the music library via i-pod I now have audiophile quality PC generated music which is what it is all about.

I have mentioned on my site and in various topics that the TC-75xx was given added design consideration for PC based music reproduction. Quite a few people have questioned that any such thing was possible, but I suspect that is because no other DAC has managed to make PC music finally come to life in the way that the TC-75xx does.

Stan

[China Groove]

Stan I could not agree more!

[jandl100]

My latest attempt to ditch the silly Beresford DAC cheapo toy has failed.

A £1.9k Perpetual Technology 3-box DAC combo has bitten the dust and I have gratefully returned to a Beresford 7520.

When will I learn that the Beresford DAC just hits that spot for me?

Previous failed attempts have included a £3.5k Audio Synthesis DAX Decade and a £1.5k Musical Fidelity TriVista 21, among many others. Stan's finest beats the lot as far as I am concerned!

Honestly, how embarassing it is to have £6k speakers a £4k power amp a £2k pre-amp and a £200 DAC.