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Audio Note DAC 5 Special / Signature v the rest of high end?

http://www.incredibledesign.co.uk/DAC5_2.jpeg

http://www.incredibledesign.co.uk/DAC5_1.jpeg
I have long been a fanboy of Audio Note UK digital products, and also used to own some of their SET and Pre-Amplifiers as well. I have the DAC 5 Special which in V2 form Audio Note has almost left unchanged for the last 6-8 years i.e. very close to the current unit. This is not a bad thing as it does sound fantastic. But the digital world moves on apace so:

My question
Has anyone out there compared the DAC 5 to a current (more modern) alternative such as MSB, dCS, Lampizator or TotalDAC (for example)? The DAC 5 is R-2R and non oversampling so I guess it makes sense to try and compare to that type of DAC architecture.

Any insight would be great guys!
sunseekerespana
ahendler
416 posts
 
Not heard the Dac5. Owned the  Audionote Dac 2.1b. Liked it a lot. Bought another R2R nos dac, the Audio-GD Master 7 which is much better than the Audio Note
Alan
sunseekerespana OP
12 posts
 
I have heard the Audio GD M7, to was nice and great for the money, incredible for the money. It was not my style, but I can see why many like it.

The Audio Note Kit 2.1b is not sold now, I think it is updated and improved to be the 3.1 SE or 4.1? The 4.1 Kit I had was really good and had tonnes of potential with a few extra parts thrown into it.
jbrrp1
423 posts
 
I built the Audio Note Kit 4.1 LE and subbed in some VH Audio CuTf caps on the output, plus rolled all of the tubes a fair bit.  It is a great DAC for the money IME, and it easily displaced my EAR Acute with greater body and "feel" of all instruments, more completely realized timbre, and a greater 3D soundstage.  I still use this DAC in my second system.

In my principal system I use a Lampizator Golden Gate, and it is just so much better than the AN piece - - "shake your head real" many times.  The Lampi gear has all of the strengths of the AN, just more so.  The Lampi Big 7 I used before this was also clearly superior to the AN in my system (and it teased me into reaching for the GG).  It might be worth your while giving the latest Lampi product a spin.
sunseekerespana OP
12 posts
 
I built the Audio Note Kit 4.1 LE and subbed in some VH Audio CuTf caps on the output, plus rolled all of the tubes a fair bit. It is a great DAC for the money IME, and it easily displaced my EAR Acute with greater body and "feel" of all instruments, more completely realized timbre, and a greater 3D soundstage. I still use this DAC in my second system.

In my principal system I use a Lampizator Golden Gate, and it is just so much better than the AN piece - - "shake your head real" many times. The Lampi gear has all of the strengths of the AN, just more so. The Lampi Big 7 I used before this was also clearly superior to the AN in my system (and it teased me into reaching for the GG). It might be worth your while giving the latest Lampi product a spin.


Interesting. I had a maxed out DAC 4.1 Kit as well and it was great. The DAC 5 Special is better of course. I am still in the process of replacing the tubes and swopping out the copper caps, so will get an idea of how much better in a few weeks, and report back.
Yes, I do find the Lampizator Golden Gate interesting. I had an option to buy a GG recently but it was the earlier unit without the discrete PCM board which upgraded the Redbook. I haven't heard one yet, and read it is very good on up sampled PCM to DSD.
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