Need your expertise over 2 dac choice....

3 month later feedback

(part of a message I sent to an other audiogoner...)

So, before the AMR I was using a Audiomecca Enkianthus. Late march it started having heating problem when was hooked with my mac mini and Hiface II interface connector. So I decided to send it for repair...

At that time I was already looking for a USB dac that would make me happy, a dac that might replace the Enkianthus in the worst case scenario...

So after 2 month of cross checking over the net, review and forum, and after having borrowed for some usb dac at local dealer, Berkeley, Ayre, Meitner, and listen to some more like a few DCS, Audio Aero, Hegel, I wasn't feeling like it was happening...

So from every where on the net but mostly European and Asian site, the AMR was like the new thing to listen...

Here in Canada, there is no AMR dealer, and I thing only one in the USA. It was very difficult for me to listen to one, so the next option was to buy one, so I did...

I figured out that if I don't like it I can always sell it back, and not loose too much...

So I bought a prestine one at a price that I felt good with it, and the seller was a charm to deal with....

So I recived the dac and plug it via the RCA input with my mac mini and the Hiface interface connector, because my rig was already set for this...

So I listen in that configuration for about 3 days, and I must say that I felt it was the best sound compared with the Meitner MA-1, the Berkeley dac 2 and the Ayre QB-9 with my rig at my home for a few days each...

Then after maybe 3 days I looked at the AMR box for all the booklet and bags that was there, to find a bag with a USB cable... Wow, it is already very good, Can it be better with the USB cable ????

Well, yes it is... This machine is meant to play with the USB input, and it is also there at that time that I found that the Hiface was only a $189 and worth only $189 soundwise...

So later that week I bought a Wireworld red starlight usb cable that every body rave about (forum and magazine) and again it was even better than the cable that was in the box. So after again a few week I decided to plunge for the top one at Wireworld, the silver Platinum version of the usb cable, and again even better...

Now for the Lampizator, I was like you, looking/reading every thing I could fine on the net but one night came across a post from someone saying that the lampi would dictated what kind of music it was happy with...From the poster, it was very good with jazz, new age, and all kind of mellow music : maybe a bit too syrupy...

That was something I didn't wanted, and I know this don't mean anything in audio result but : I also showed the inside of a Lampizator gen 4 and a AMR dp-777 to some of my friends, some audiophile and some not at all, and they all said at that price (around $5000 each machine) take the AMR, it fell like you have more for your money...

So i the end I never listen to a Lampizator, because there is none around where I live, but they only thing I can tell you is : you won't be deceived by the AMR...

One last thing, every where over the net people say that the AMR does it's magic after half an hour... I would say it is more like 3 hours in my case, So be patient and wait/listen at least 3 hours before making your last decision...

Happy AMR owner

danthemannn

Latest news...

Yesterday I bought AMR-DP777 I will receive it next week...

DTM

One other thing...

Today I was lucky enough to get a Meitner MA-1 and from what I have already heard, this dac is not enough involving for my taste. Ok it play fine and detailed but I had more fun with my old Enkianthus... To this day I have heard a Berkeley dac 2, way too much neutral for me, then a Ayre QB-9 that I found a bit too much digital, one Audio aero Prima, very good but lacking bass in some songs, now the Meitner...

So for those of you who own a AMR DP-777 one question : would say that this dac is involving or barely involving ?

Thank again

I listened to the AMR and the Aesthetix Pandora/Romulus and the Berkeley DAC in the same session. The AMR & Aesthetix are both tubed units. To my ear the Aesthetix sold me on it's very analogue presentation.

Hi ZD...

I know I could do the trip to hear the AMR but it is around 2000 kms.... maybe just a bit too far...
For the meitner I could make a demo near here, but I am really not shure about buying from this reseller... He make me nervous... Somekind of a flea market store that could vanish overnight kinda...

I have the DP-777 and really think that its special!
used to have the original Meitner many years back DC model cant remember
the model. Found it to obscure detail. As far as reliability no probs so far (knock on wood) had it for 3 Months. I replaced lampizator level 4 with
the AMR and never looked back. Good Luck!

Wavelenght Crimson?

I owned the dp-777 for over 2 years, it's a great sounding dac, and the built in pre section is very good as well. My first unit had to br replaced after two weeks, and the replacement had to have a board replaced as well. IMHO they are extremely sensitive to static electricity?

I replaced it with the MA-1. Love the dsd capability! The dp-777 might be a bit more organic but they are very close and both sound great IMHO.

I did s short comparison over on Audiocircle if you Google.

I don't think you are going about this the right way. $7000 is a lot of money to take a chance on. You can get all the recommendations you like, but there's no substitute for a good demo. If you don't have a local dealer, find one thats not local and take a trip. I don't know about you, but I would rather spend a day or two on the road than make a $7000 mistake. Its much easier to spend money than it is to earn it. (at least for most people.)