It depends on what options you pick for the Altmann.
The model with all the bells and whistles (this is the one that I have), is about $1,700 USD.
Nilthepill,
'All things being equal', 7 is perfect for me.
The tonal balance of the Altmann sounds like live music.
The weight of the Altmann sounds like live music.
The articulation of the Zanden sounds like live music.
I hope to get the Zanden close to the Altmann in the first two categories by adding Altmann's JISCO re-clocking device.
Adding the JISCO to my Attraction DAC helped the weight, tonal balance, low frequency extension and mid-bass bloom. These same aspects improved in an older digital configuration that I had when I added the Stealth Vardig Sextet digital cable. Like the JISCO, I believe that this cable helps to keep the time signature marching along at the proper pace. I have thus come to the temporary conclusion that getting the timing right in the digital domain goes a long way to 'fleshing' out the music, especially below the midrange.
I think I could get the articulation of the Attraction close to that of the Zanden if I changed the battery that I am currently using to a much more robust one suggested by a user on another 'Altmann' thread (which for some reason has been pulled by Audiogon).
The model with all the bells and whistles (this is the one that I have), is about $1,700 USD.
Nilthepill,
'All things being equal', 7 is perfect for me.
The tonal balance of the Altmann sounds like live music.
The weight of the Altmann sounds like live music.
The articulation of the Zanden sounds like live music.
I hope to get the Zanden close to the Altmann in the first two categories by adding Altmann's JISCO re-clocking device.
Adding the JISCO to my Attraction DAC helped the weight, tonal balance, low frequency extension and mid-bass bloom. These same aspects improved in an older digital configuration that I had when I added the Stealth Vardig Sextet digital cable. Like the JISCO, I believe that this cable helps to keep the time signature marching along at the proper pace. I have thus come to the temporary conclusion that getting the timing right in the digital domain goes a long way to 'fleshing' out the music, especially below the midrange.
I think I could get the articulation of the Attraction close to that of the Zanden if I changed the battery that I am currently using to a much more robust one suggested by a user on another 'Altmann' thread (which for some reason has been pulled by Audiogon).