Any Digital Impressions of the Caiman yet?

[Marco]

Hi Lemon,

Welcome to AOS

On your next visit could you please pop by the Welcome area and tell us what your proper first name is and also where you're from? A list of your system would also be appreciated. This is standard procedure for new members joining our forum, as AoS is a community of real people and not the usual 'faceless' Internet message board one normally encounters.

Thanks in advance!

Marco.

[Jason P]

Well mine arrived today... after ordering yesterday - top service Stan!!

Initial impressions are - physically, a well made unit, it's heavy for it's size.

So I went to plug it in to my Sony 303 ES and discovered I'd made a schoolboy error. I'd confabulated my ES with a Denon I've got in my edit suite and thought that the ES had a co-ax output. It doesn't - toslink only. So now either my loverly cable courtesy of Mike Homar or the Sony is at the moment redundant!

So I hooked up the Denon in place of the Sony and spun a disc. Now I know that the Caiman requires a significant burn-in, but even initially I can tell there's more info getting through! Bass slam and dynamics were noticeably improved. I've now got the CD on repeat to aid burn-in and I'll give it a proper go later.

Leaves me with a conundrum though... I'll have to test the ES via TOSlink and compare with the Denon via co-ax and see what wins... any ideas?

Jason

[StanleyB]

A bit of an unfair competition that. You really need something like a Naim or Linn if you are looking for a fair enough shoot out with the Caiman.

[groov]

Hi,

I´m new here. Bought a TC-7510 last year (still happy) and discovered this thread only recently.

Last year I got also new DIY LS (kind of Wilson Watt/Puppy lookalike combination with Thiel ceramic units and HiVi-research bass unit). Right now I´m thinking about replacing my old Marantz PM80mk2 integrated (OK for small jazz and acoustic bands, but not enough power with dynamic orchestral music & rock) with a power amplifier (and go directly into it from the Beresford).

Still hesitating between the new Rotel RB1572 or using DIY HYPEX UD modules. I like to switch over to class D for 2 reasons: 1. climate change and 2. I like the sound of my Nuforce Icon in one of my smaller systems.

What would the best way to go: first change the amplification and then bring the Caiman in, or the other way around. I can always use the 7510 in a smaller system.

[Jason P]

A bit of an unfair competition that. You really need something like a Naim or Linn if you are looking for a fair enough shoot out with the Caiman.

Stan, if you were referring to my post I mean comparing the TOSlink input of the Sony to the Denon's co-ax, both via the Caiman, to see which transport is better.

On that note, do individual inputs require burn-in? If I run the Caiman for say 200 hours via co-ax, will the TOSlink input need any 'bedding in' to give of it's best?

Jason

[ZebuTheOxen]

The burn-in is the capacitors settling down to their long term levels. Nothing else as far as I know?

[groov]

This year Signal Path introduced the peach tree nova, which is an integrated amp + DAC combi (http://www.signalpathint.com/index.p...cing-Nova.html). It got some rave reviews. The best part of it seems to be the Sabre Reference DAC and the preamp.

I asked the people of Signal Path if they planned to introduce also a DAC-preamp combi only and they told me that this would indeed happen (first half of 2010). Plus, they are going to use the new SABRE32 Reference audio DAC for it, which seems to be even better than the one used in the nova.

My question for Stan is:

would using the SABRE32 Reference audio DAC instead of the WM8716 DAC in the Caiman be an improvement? Are you planning to give it a try in further development plans?

¨The SABRE32 Reference audio DAC series is the world’s highest performance 32-bit audio DAC solution targeted for consumer applications such as Blu-ray player, audio pre-amplifier, A/V receiver and professional applications such as recording systems, mixer consoles and digital audio workstations. With ESS patented 32-bit Hyperstream™ DAC architecture and Time Domain Jitter Eliminator, the SABRE32 Reference Stereo DAC delivers an unprecedented DNR of up to 135dB and THD+N of -120dB, the industry’s highest performance level that will satisfy the most demanding audio enthusiasts.¨

ES9018 SABRE32 Reference 32-bit 8-Channel Audio DAC, 64LQFP, DNR 135 (mono) and 129 (8ch), THD -120

ES9012 SABRE32 Reference 32-bit Stereo Audio DAC, 64LQFP, DNR 133, THD -120

Here is the pdf with more information: http://www.esstech.com/PDF/Sabre32%2...F%20081217.pdf

http://www.esstech.com/index.php?p=products_DAC

[StanleyB]

My question for Stan is:

would using the SABRE32 Reference audio DAC instead of the WM8716 DAC in the Caiman be an improvement? Are you planning to give it a try in further development plans?

In 64LQFP package? No way. Far too complex. A good audio DAC chip should not have more than 28 pins, otherwise the PCB becomes far too complex and difficult to keep stable.

[groov]

In 64LQFP package? No way. Far too complex. A good audio DAC chip should not have more than 28 pins, otherwise the PCB becomes far too complex and difficult to keep stable.

I heard a lot of manufacturers of cd- and blueray-players and AV-receivers are going to use these dac´s next year. Is it not too complicated for them then?

[StanleyB]

I'll go my way, and they can go theirs.