Any Digital Impressions of the Caiman yet?

[webby]

Do you need any racks Brian?

[Labarum]

I don't understand the question, or why you put it, Lee.

I am trying to avoid rack-mounted studio equipment!

[webby]

Sorry Brian, I hadn't learned what setup you going for, just that you were setting up new gear in a new flat. I have 2 rack units, so I just thought I'd ask if you needed one.

Never mind.

[worrasf]

Stan has done it again

My Caiman arrived a couple of days ago so left it on over night before sitting down to have a listen.

I have owned both the 7510 and latterly 7520 with uprated PSU so that is what I am using by way of comparison.

Initial listening was to Thea Gilmore's Harpo's Ghost an album I have come to know and love very much over the last week or so.

The first thing that strikes you is the way the soundstage "blooms" - difficult to put into words but I usd to use the term "euphonic" to try and describe the essential quality of vinyl over CD - well the Caiman imparts that bloom and almost a warmth - not that the 7520 was harsh. The music wells up and flows effortlessly to create a more coherent 3d soundtage - the presentation is a little more forward than the 7520 but not "in your face". All the nuances and inflections, breaths and phrasing of Thea's voice are revealed in far more detail giving far more emotion and "intimacy" to her lyrics.

Bass goes lower - much lower and is tight and tuneful and never overpowers the rest. Acoustic and electric guitars are clearer - harmonics from the electric guitar shimmer and add so much more to the whole. Percussion - snare drum, tambourine etc are much clearer - previously I struggled to decide if something was a shaking bell or shaking tambourine - no longer the difference is obvious.

So I guess what we have is a significant improvement in overall clarity across the entire audio spectrum which goes several more steps to making the recorded music nearer the real thing and more believeable and enjoyable

I am very pleased and as its only 48 hours in I gues it can only get better.


Very interested to hear views of other Caiman users

Regards to all
Steve

[StanleyB]

The first thing that strikes you is the way the soundstage "blooms" - difficult to put into words but I usd to use the term "euphonic" to try and describe the essential quality of vinyl over CD - well the Caiman imparts that bloom and almost a warmth -

With the Caiman it is the closest I have so far managed to get to the original analogue sound many of us would recognize from our vinyl collection. The only thing I left out from the vinyl is Rumble and Feedback.

[Labarum]

I swapped my 7510 6/4 back into the main system so I could experiment in another room with the Caiman driving my new Sony F1 headphones through USB from a laptop. (Bit perfect playback using Foobar in either ASIO and WASAPI modes.) The F1s are very revealing, open and comfortable to wear. They are not rated by my wife because they spill so much noise!

I can live with the sound of either DAC on both the new headphones and the main speakers. The 7510 seem to give more bass, but it has very sloppy bass in comparison to the Caiman. Both sounds are very pleasant, and when listening as background the only difference I hear is the over blown bass of the 7510. When concentrating I can hear the extra detail of the Caiman.

Those used to mid-fi and home cinema setups might actually prefer the less accurate sound of the 7510!

How do these observations rest with others?

[worrasf]

Stanley - I'm gratified that your post concerning striving for nearest thing to vinyl confirms my subjective experience of the Caiman and that I wasn't talking complete tosh

Regards
Steve

[Labarum]

With the Caiman it is the closest I have so far managed to get to the original analogue sound many of us would recognize from our vinyl collection. The only thing I left out from the vinyl is Rumble and Feedback.

In part is that down to the up-sampling DAC chip? The up-sampling doesn't make the jagged digital edges smoother, but it means the output is less messed about by filtering.

[StanleyB]

Stanley - I'm gratified that your post concerning striving for nearest thing to vinyl confirms my subjective experience of the Caiman and that I wasn't talking complete tosh.

I would quite happily swap my titles for yours. It's always a pleasure to read the observations of a learned friend.

Stan

[worrasf]

I would quite happily swap my titles for yours. It's always a pleasure to read the observations of a learned friend.

Stan

Gosh Stan now you've gone and made me blush

Regards
Steve