humanflyz

There are several things which the DAC3 have that make it more appealing to me than the Lavry. 1) USB input: not a make or break thing, but nice to have 2) Single-ended AND balanced output: Sometimes I am too lazy to switch cables for the Lavry if I want to switch amps. 3) Fixed AND variable output: This would make it easier to integrate if I ever change the rest of my gear. 4) Remote control: Yes, I'm lazy If the DAC3 manage to sound just as good as my Lavry, I feel the rest of the features will give it an edge over the Lavry.

Fuck, posted in the wrong forum Please move this to the impressions sub-forum.

1) Stax Omega 2: I really liked these headphones; they have IMO the bigggest soundstage in a headphone other than the K1000s. I didn't find it to be too bassy out of the ES-1, although the impact was not up to the level that I would consider satisfactory for hard rock. But these have very good timbre, and the tonality is a little bit dark, but nothing to really complain about. I would not hesistate to build an O2 system if not for the fact that I just can't get them to fit right. I tried rotating the cups and the cushions every way, but just never found a good fit. 2) Orpheus: Between the Orpheus and the O2, I'd say it's a toss up when both are amped out of an ES-1. I could easily live with both. Compared to the O2, the Orpheus had a brighter tonality and a more upfront presentation. It's lively and very fluid. But, I was not really blown away so to speak. On some tracks I actually preferred my K1000s because of its very airy nature. But I have no problem calling the Orpheus the best headphone ever made, because it does give you the best headphone presentation there is, whereas the K1000s give you more of a speaker-like presentation. 3) Grado PS-1: Along with the HP series, the PS-1 is my favorite Grado. I think of it as the ultimate RS-1 experience: it is extremely fun, has deep, controlled, and really powerful bass while not masking the mids and the highs. Whereas the RS-1s can sometimes get a little shouty, the PS-1s preserve the excitement of the RS-1s and take the whole refinement thing up to another level. I would love to own a pair some day if I can. 4) EMM Labs CDSD and DCC2 stack: This is by far, without a doubt, the single most impressive component in the entire meet to me. Digital has never sounded any better. I was having major, major, major gear lust when I heard this combo. It is digital to die for. Undoubtedly the best source I have ever heard. I would probably sell a kidney if it means that I can afford this combo. Listening to SACDs via direct DSD is amazing on this combo, and it is extremely revealing and transparent, which appeals to the resolution freak in me. I'm totally envious of neilvg for possessing this incredible digital source. I swear, I could've listened for hours on this setup. This is all the stuff that stood out for me at the meet. The rest I either didn't have enough listening-time to say anything meaningful, or I have heard so many times before that I didn't bother listening to them again. One thing I've learned though is that I'm actually really satisfied with my current setup. I was expecting my set-up to be blown out of the water by the likes of the Omega 2s and the HE90s, but I actually didn't not feel bad at all going back to my K1000s. Yeah, I realize that the Omge 2/HE90 does more things better than my K1000s, but that recognition didn't bother me at all. I guess I've reached a place where I'm comfortable with what I have and will upgrade my K1000 setup to the best that I can afford. So that means a FirstWatt F1 is incoming my way, and hopefully a source upgrade as well. But man, that EMM Labs combo...mmmm....it is just incredible.

So I was reading the manufacture's literatue on the DAC3 when I came across this: "100 dB of digital level control in accurate 0.5 dB steps" Does that mean the volume is digitally controlled? And if so, does this mean that a lower volume will result in a loss of resolution? Wait, then I came across this: "The noise floor of this DAC/processor is so low and so clean that the Dac3 is optimally used as a complete DAC/Preamplifier with a digital level control. Because of dither applied to the 24bit word there is no loss of effective resolution." I am not really a technical-minded person, so I was hoping someone can tell me if what Bel Canto is saying is true, or if it's just marketing.

I don't want to speak for Tkam directly, so if anything I say is wrong, he can correct me. From the conversation I had with Earl a while back, he said all you need to run the 6BLTGT/A tubes in a PPX is to upgrade the transformer and have Mikhail use octal tube sockets. Also, Earl suggested upping the voltage and bias on the PPX. I was planning on getting that setup, but I found a pair of K1000s and have been in a rebuilding mode ever since. I will ask Mikhail how much this config will cost. Also, I think Tkam's amp runs the tubes at a higher voltage and higher bias than the stock PPX, is that correct?

I have the feeling that the bid that drove it up to $1025 is a shill-bid, I mean, no feedback, hmm...

Man, that's awesome. the HP series are my favorite Grados, but it took me long enough to find a K1000s, so I'm too lazy to search for another pair of out of production headphones. RS-1 it is.

Well, any meet with neilvg is going to have some fucking nice equipment. Ha, my K1000 setup will probably look mid-fi next to his.

Well, you have until before Saturday morning, and if the meeting location has wireless net access, I'll post something.

Actually Mikhail has been confirmed for this Saturday's Nor-Cal meet. Is there anything specific you want to know J-Pak? I can just ask him at the meet

Lol, naw, that's not flaming. I just can't take it seriously when people get all hyperbolic about it. Is it possible that it's better than an Estoeric transport/DAC stack? Maybe, since I haven't heard it, so anything is possible. But is it likely? Probably not.

One thing I'm curious about for those who have had Bel Canto digital sources in the past: does Bel Canto have a "house" sound so to speak?

I guess one reason is that when you are spending that much, most people are getting one-box CDPs. But I am tied to my computer, so a one-box player is very impractical for me.

That's because they are all using Zhaolu, which is the BEST EVAR!!!!1111

Yeah, $2500 is a bit steep, although Todd sells at about ~$2200. One of these days I'll take the plunge and compare it to my Lavry, and if I don't like it, I'll sell it/return it. But the lack of any user impression and the pro-review is kind of weird.

Has anyone heard it? Looks pretty good on paper, but so far, no real word-of-mouth impressions I can find around the net.

Yeah, I know it's not hyped, but I'm just wondering why...usually when a new balanced amp is announced and released, it usually goes through a round of hype and make the meets-circuit.

All I remember was seeing a MOT thread in Head-Fi several months back. It looks like it's been released, but I can't seem to find anything about it. So I take it no one has heard this anything anywhere?

Yeah I have, I heard a RA-1+RS-1 combo at a meet. While it was decent, it's nothing really to get excited about. I guess I should've phrased what I said more modestly. What I meant to say was that I heard better amps for the RS-1 at the RA-1's price range.

No, I think it's a limited production run, not just a single amp.

Love the wood

How much would it be to implement the bias switch. I'm getting ready to order one in the upcoming weeks, so I'm trying to figure out the total. 1) MPX3 SLAM SE: $2200 2) Pre-amp: $120 3) Bias-switch: ? 4) 12v option: ?

Is the voltage switch standard on the MPX SLAM SE?

Earl, basically I want to know if the configuration I've laid out in the first post is essentially the same thing as getting a MPX SLAM SE.

Earl, I would love some of your input, so if you are out there, get in here!