Comfy Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Finally got my Mini-DAC, which directly replaces my old Lavry DA10. The change was based mostly on a single recommendation by grawk. He didn't adorn his recommendation with audiophile jargon or any other verbal acrobatics for that matter. It was quite blunt, along the lines of "the Lavry sounds like shit, the Mini-DAC sounds good". Somehow that convinced me. And now that I'm here listening to my new setup: Beck - Sea Change to Mini-DAC to SRM-T1S to LNS... I'm really happy that I took grawk's word. The Mini-DAC sounds like the notes have been covered with alternating layers of candy coating and heroin. The soundstage is tighter, more realistic, more intimate. The bass extends much, much lower and has a lot more body to it. The music moves me in much the same way as the first glass of good red wine on an empty stomach, on that third date with your new love in a fancy restaurant. It goes straight to my head and my head loves it. Some will contend that the DA10 is more detailed. Well, I'm hearing detail I hadn't heard before. And the detail I hear makes sense in the musical context too. Perhaps the DA10 is just so boring in its presentation, that even if the detail is present, your brain doesn't really care? All in all, my system is finally where I wanted it to be, and my search for emotion through technology has reached a new high mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherwood Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Good album choice. I don't actually know the whole album well, though, because I just keep repeating "paper tiger" over and over. In any case, congratulations on your plateau, which will eventually be revealed as a sort of deceleration lane on the steady, corkscrew-like descent into audiophilia nervosa (read hell). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpelg Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Congrats. I agree the Mini-DAC is a great source, not to mention a bargain. I just wish that Apogee had not stopped Windows development. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comfy Posted September 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Good album choice. I don't actually know the whole album well, though, because I just keep repeating "paper tiger" over and over. It's a very solid album from start to finish. Every song is a gem. It's also the saddest album I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swt61 Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Ha! Grawk is having fun again. Who'll ever forget the time he talked Tyrion into buying that Turbocharged Yugo. Good times...good times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitz Posted September 17, 2009 Report Share Posted September 17, 2009 Or when he insisted that the girl he got me really was a woman. He was right though that it was a night I wouldn't forget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swt61 Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 Or what about the time he sold Ari one of Vicki's bras, and told him it was a new MarkL creation. Even though Ari completely fell for it, wasn't it ironic how it ended up holding private body parts again. That Grawk is one funny guy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atothex Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 Name-dropping will get you everywhere round these parts. Hi Grawk! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boomana Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 Or what about the time he sold Ari one of Vicki's bras, and told him it was a new MarkL creation. Even though Ari completely fell for it, wasn't it ironic how it ended up holding private body parts again. That Grawk is one funny guy! Ironic or entirely predictable? That said, I do like both the Apogee Mini-DAC and Beck, and someone owes me a new bra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catscratch Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 I hear that in the industry the Apogee is nicknamed "the Apology..." I wonder what that says about its reputation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 where did you hear that? There are an AWFUL lot of apogee converters used in "the industry" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catscratch Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 From my friend who works for Doug Sax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeadphoneAddict Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 I've had my mini-DAC since Peter (Iron_Dreamer) sold it to me in Feb 2008, and I am still pretty happy with it. So, I hope you get many years of happiness from yours. However, the O2 Mk2 are a good example of a phone that sounded better with plaidplatypus's DA10 than it did with my Mini-DAC (using maxed Woo GES). They were just too forward and rolled off sounding with the Apogee, even after rolling in some brighter tubes. My PS Audio DLIII and Pico DAC-only also work better with the Stax O2 rig than the mini-DAC. For everything else I have been very pleased with the Apogee as my source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swt61 Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 I didn't think the DA-10 was bad, though I can't really remember what other gear I had in the chain back then. I do remember the zhaulooser101 tearing it up pretty good though. I also like the Apogee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamwhisper Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 I didn't think the DA10 was bad either, I just didn't think it was at all good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 My standards for $1000 dacs is pretty high. And the DA10 was beaten soundly by my $110 denon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TC_Shadow Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 My standards for $1000 dacs is pretty high. And the DA10 was beaten soundly by my $110 denon. Between DA10 and DAC1, DAC1, to my ears, sounds better than DA10. DA10 is too detailed and cold, and not musical at all. I am not surprised that your denon sounds more musical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grawk Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 The dac1 is also high on my list of dacs never to purchase... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Monkey Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 The DAC1 often sounds like glass breaking. Other than that it's great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TC_Shadow Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 The DAC1 often sounds like glass breaking. Other than that it's great. not sure...my DAC1 sounds nothing like glass breaking, and I am one of those high frequency sensitive types. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comfy Posted September 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Doug Sax. Now that I've googled Doug Sax, I'm afraid his standards are a bit higher than mine. Still unapologetic about liking the Mini-DAC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Monkey Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 not sure...my DAC1 sounds nothing like glass breaking, and I am one of those high frequency sensitive types. No, it sounds like glass breaking. Listen again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swt61 Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 not sure...my DAC1 sounds nothing like glass breaking, and I am one of those high frequency sensitive types. Monkey really meant to say it sounds like Baccarat crystal breaking. He just doesn't like to be snobbish though. I'd suggest breaking a big piece of Baccarat, and see if he's not correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Monkey Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Yes, thanks for the elaboration. Although, if he's using the HD650, he's allowed to wrap the Baccarat in a paper towel before smashing it--synergy and such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swt61 Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Or when he insisted that the girl he got me really was a woman. He was right though that it was a night I wouldn't forget. Or what about that time I ran across Grawk in his cabin in the Alaskan wilderness. I invited him to a party, told him there'd most likely be some drinkin', fightin' and even fuckin'. He asked who'd be there, and I told him just he and I. He thought for a minute and then said sure. He asked me to have all the lights off...said he was a bit on the shy side. When he came in the door I greeted him with a beer and a big hug. Man he was a hairy SOB! It wasn't 'til the fuckin' started that the practical joke became clear. There were a few scars and a little blood, but that Grizzly bear sure new how to hit my G-spot! I never laughed so hard in my life! Come to think of it, I never did see Dan after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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