Any Digital Impressions of the Caiman yet?

[leo]

Its good to post opinions, be boring if everybody agreed

Maybe my OPA2132P is faulty I've had it a while before things went ROHS , maybe its gone a little noisy , dunno, I may get a newer ROHS one from Farnell to see if its any different

The problem I find is that using this particular 2132 adds a layer over the sound I'm finding hard to ignore, its ok with some simple music but with a wider range and after longer listening I'm finding it a bit too fake

At least Stan fitted sockets making swapping quite quick and easy

[DaveK]

I'm with Gaz on this one. A very natural sound to my ears with the 2132 installed.

And I'm with both of you, so that makes three of us - actually it's four, but more of that later.
Swapped out op-amps and relaced both of them with today's delivery of 2132s (after managing to position one with 4 pins in their sockets and 4 tucked down the outside . Fortunately I noticed it before putting lid down 'cos it didn't sit flat).
Replaced lid and coupled everything up, switched on and got two blue LEDs - result #1. Powered everything else up and got a reassuring 'burp' from both speakers when amp cut in - result #2. Pressed 'Play' on foobar and got music from both speakers - result #3. Now to listen .
Based on 30 to 45 mins, straight out of the anti-static packing, it's different and it's better different. I'm not just reading from Jerry and Gaz's script, honest, but the bass is sharper (cleaner, less blurred edges and 'tweren't bad before, but better now). It might also be a touch louder for the same volume setting but not by much. Everything sounds clearer somehow, difficult to explain but listening to the orchestral intro to 'Zadok the Priest' the separation of the instruments was more noticeable. I suspect that vocals are slightly more distinct but that aspect is less obvious to my ears. (Added later after further listening: - don't know whether it's a recognised audiophile adjective but 'sweeter' comes to mind, sort of easier to listen to, not that it was difficult before - is 'less tiring' the proper phrase?
I think it will take a longer listen and a longer burn in to properly assess any effects on sounstage width and/or depth, but as I think I may have an amp problem on the left channel perhaps this is not surprising. I'm going to post an appeal for help on this later.
Now to the fourth vote in favour. Sue, (Bose is best), happened to be sitting in the prime listening position for the first 15 to 20 minutes after firing it up volunteered, without any prompting from me, "Sounds nice, your system" - now that's what I call a result!! .
I'll leave it running overnight for a couple of nights and report back later.
BTW Cap 5/6 snipping ain't bin dun yet so maybe there's more to come.
Cheers,

[NRG]

Yep, agreed Leo. There's no right or wrong here just personal choice which is also going to be system dependant...if the 2132 floats your boat then fine Doesn't work for me for the reasons I've stated, the 2604 came the closest to what I was looking for but I'll try the resistor mod next...

[leo]

Sod it, I'll order another to try just incase this ones dodgy

[Covenant]

Sod it, I'll order another to try just incase this ones dodgy

Thats the way Leo-hang the expense

[Gazjam]

I'm with Gaz on this one. A very natural sound to my ears with the 2132 installed. The next thing with me is to try one 2132 and one 4562.
Its all good fun (and cheap)

Thats the way I'm running mine at the moment (Previously had two 4562s in place, swapped out the Line Out one)

Never thought to try putting the other 2132 in the HPA socket....hmnnnn?


Jerry, I await your findings!


Jerry, Dave and myself all had out 7520's "Wolfsen'd" at the same time, and we all find a similar improved sound over the 4562's, so its not unreasonable to assume that if there are different versions of the Wofsen Dac chip, we have the same one?

How many more bloody permutations are there for this stuff?

[Peter Galbavy]

Hi folks, first real forum post... so "Hi!" again to anyone who doesn't read the Welcome forum.

I picked up a Caimen last night from Stan - who only lives a couple of miles away from me it turns out - and after dinner I plugged it in and had a quick listen.

In terms of initial impressions... nice.

Haven't really had time to do much more than bounce around various kinds of music and do some very basic SB3 analogue vs SB3 -> DAC tests but there is a clear and positive difference even to my 42 years old ears. The sounds is cleaner - like washing a window and giving it a good polish

For some minor background of the listening environment - this is the rear reception room / ex-dining room of my semi-detached house. The ancient door and windows were recently upgraded to a huge pair of double glazed French doors which have made a "difference" (both good and bad - very heavy curtains next on the shopping list). Until last weekend a pair of DefTech BP10's were driven by the SB3 directly into a pair of post-TAG Audiolab 8000M mono blocks and the sounds was "large". A while back I decided to treat myself and finally picked up a pair of Focal 826Ws in red and I also added an 8000C pre-amp bought from a classified in another forum (and a Pro-ject Debut in red too, but as that das little to do with using a DAC...). Still waiting for the new Rotel 1572 amp which may or may not work well in my set-up ...

Not quite finished with new speaker positioning or even the orientation of the room. Once the new amp is in I will start moving stuff around and then start some real enjoyment of the music - which is to be frank good already!

[Covenant]

Welcome Peter,
If you like the Caiman now just wait until its bedded in a while......

[Gazjam]

Hi Peter,
welcome to the crazy world of Beresford.....where we are never really happy and always looking for that next "big thing" to upgrade our Dacs.

[Codifus]

Hi Jerry, it has. I have it plugged into the prototype of the Beresford headphone amp at the moment. My hifi is disconnected right now whilst I try to complete the assembly of the first part of my new audio rack.
Then I'll try it out with the Caiman psu versus the TC-7520 psu.

Caiman psu versus the TC-7520 psu?


OK, let's start another rumour!

CD