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Post by Clive on Jul 16, 2020 8:47:58 GMT
I think the DAC / preamp issue is where the more expensive Gustard A22 will win out if you want a DAC/Preamp all-in-one. A proper comparison would be interesting..
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Post by MartinT on Jul 16, 2020 8:56:47 GMT
I have to say I'm really surprised that so few buffers are available for the purposes of using DACs direct with power amps. My lovely Burson is no longer in production and all I can find are Chinese ones, which may or may not perform well.
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Post by bigman80 on Jul 16, 2020 9:35:27 GMT
I have to say I'm really surprised that so few buffers are available for the purposes of using DACs direct with power amps. My lovely Burson is no longer in production and all I can find are Chinese ones, which may or may not perform well. What kind of buffer? |
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Post by MartinT on Jul 16, 2020 9:36:15 GMT
Unity gain line buffers, as discussed earlier.
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Post by bigman80 on Jul 16, 2020 9:37:07 GMT
Unity gain line buffers, as discussed earlier. Sorry, late to the party.... You mean like this one I'm using for a preamp? Unity gain, 0.00002%THD at 1kHz, PCB currently being designed.....built in a biscuit tin 🤣  |
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Post by MartinT on Jul 16, 2020 9:49:36 GMT
Nice! Not sure about the biscuit tin, though. Was it McVities, do they sound better?
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Post by Clive on Jul 16, 2020 9:55:50 GMT
Looks like a shortbread tin. Shame it's analogue otherwise the biscuits would have been good one byte at a time.
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Post by bigman80 on Jul 16, 2020 10:19:19 GMT
Looks like a shortbread tin. Shame it's analogue otherwise the biscuits would have been good one byte at a time. Hoho! Thats brilliant 👏 😀 |
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Post by bigman80 on Jul 16, 2020 10:20:53 GMT
Nice! Not sure about the biscuit tin, though. Was it McVities, do they sound better? Its a "proof of concept" so its didnt matter what the guts went in, I just needed to keep little fingers out of there. The biscuit tin with the lid on does an effective job, if a little quirky. |
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Post by julesd68 on Jul 16, 2020 11:37:33 GMT
Nice one bigman - always like to see your builds dude!
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Post by bigman80 on Jul 16, 2020 11:40:57 GMT
Nice one bigman - always like to see your builds dude! Thanks Jules. Its actually a stunningly good preamp. I started laughing when I first switched it on as I didn't expect it to be so good. Its only got better since and once the PCB files are done, ill make a proper one. I love the biscuit tin build. Its so unassuming and folk can't believe the sound quality coning from the biscuit tin lol...i might just build another one in a different tin...quirky |
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Post by julesd68 on Jul 16, 2020 11:48:10 GMT
Please keep us posted on this and any other of your projects, sounds really interesting.
Will remote control be possible with this pre?
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Post by MartinT on Jul 16, 2020 11:48:47 GMT
A buffer-only version (without volume control) might be the perfect solution for those wishing to drive a power amp from a DAC.
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Post by bigman80 on Jul 16, 2020 11:51:38 GMT
Please keep us posted on this and any other of your projects, sounds really interesting. Will remote control be possible with this pre? Yes. Its all entirely customisable. Unity gain or a factor of 4, by changing 2 resistors. Can fit any Volume pot, or stepped attenuator. Its very versatile. |
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Post by bigman80 on Jul 16, 2020 11:54:34 GMT
A buffer-only version (without volume control) might be the perfect solution for those wishing to drive a power amp from a DAC. Yes, can do that to. Just add some jumper wires where the volume controller would be and it'll be good to go. |
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Post by julesd68 on Jul 16, 2020 12:08:11 GMT
Please keep us posted on this and any other of your projects, sounds really interesting. Will remote control be possible with this pre? Yes. Its all entirely customisable. Unity gain or a factor of 4, by changing 2 resistors. Can fit any Volume pot, or stepped attenuator. Its very versatile. Have you had one of the Chinese RVC's that a few of us have tried to compare it to? It works very well indeed in my system and is great VFM but of course that doesn't stop me thinking about whether even great transparency can be achieved for sensible money. |
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Post by bigman80 on Jul 16, 2020 12:15:44 GMT
Yes. Its all entirely customisable. Unity gain or a factor of 4, by changing 2 resistors. Can fit any Volume pot, or stepped attenuator. Its very versatile. Have you had one of the Chinese RVC's that a few of us have tried to compare it to? It works very well indeed in my system and is great VFM but of course that doesn't stop me thinking about whether even great transparency can be achieved for sensible money. I have, and I loaned Alans modded one too. It left a crystalline sheen on everything and seemed to lack some involvement and soul. Inherently neutral but kind of sterile with it. I have alway felt like that about gear with relays in. I went for the Khozmo 64 step relay volume control and at £400 rrp, expected it to be much better, but it wasn't and it exhibited all the same 'tells' Digital to Analogue chip based Chinese units are very similar in their presentation but far more palatable tonally. Alan had a couple he modded and they were better than the RVC. More space in the soundstage. More believable tonally and vocals were very soulful. Wasnt totally convinced on Bass detail or control though. HOWEVER..imo, the resistor based stepped attenuator seems to provide better fluidity and delivers music with a naturally occurring radiance. I bought one of the very last Tesla resistor based stepped attenuators from Stoyan at Audiopills, and its one of the finest stepped attenuator I have ever heard. I think there is a slight bass emphasis, in all honesty, so at some point I will be going all out on a Top Class stepped attenuator. The RVC is ridiculous VFM though. Just wasn't for me. |
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Post by julesd68 on Jul 16, 2020 12:30:37 GMT
All very interesting!
'Crystalline sheen' - yes I can relate to that, it's not offensive, but it's definitely there.
So you also tried Alan's modded PGA2311?
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Post by MartinT on Jul 16, 2020 12:44:30 GMT
Very interesting, Oliver. It confirms my conviction that if you have a DAC with a properly implemented chipset-based digital volume control, you're better off using that with a simple unity gain buffer rather than an analogue implemented external volume control.
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Post by bigman80 on Jul 16, 2020 12:44:42 GMT
All very interesting! 'Crystalline sheen' - yes I can relate to that, it's not offensive, but it's definitely there. So you also tried Alan's modded PGA2311? Yes, non offensive, but I couldn't live with it. Yes, tried the PGA over a good 15hrs. Its a fantastic unit for the money, once Alan modded it and totally recommended for a budget system....but there are levels in this game The new buffer preamp I am using seems to just allow everything to have more space and time to develop. Its in a different league and yes, i known its mine, but I didn't design the buffer, I have only acquired the rights to use it under my name. I take no credit for its performance. |
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