Sweet Sounding DAC

@mdrone Great News that you have been able to receive a demo' of a DAC. Carrying out the footwork and experiencing the sonic being created with ones own ears and evaluating the sonic as a result of perceptions being created is a extremely Valuable  use of ones time, in relation to learning about audio set ups. 

Out of interest the model demo'd being the Synthesis Audio Roma 69 DAC, does not seem to have appeared anywhere in this Thread. How did you discover this model? I see it is with a proportion of the circuit being a design as a Tube Circuit.

Did this get demo'd in a Dealership Premises or the Home System?

I own a Valve DAC with E88CC Tubes and have experiences of it compared to SS DAC's.

I feel very confident in stating this DAC does not create a perception of being overbearing, it has airiness and a voluminous room filling presence, that is always commented on for the attraction it creates.

The sonic trait being described by yourself, after extending listening could become a detractor, as like a overwhelming Bass Bloom, and become a repellent, where listening experiences develop into something to be endured.

Caveat Emptor is always ones friend, try not to pull the Trigger on a purchase prematurely. 

Are you suggesting that your E88CC DAC becomes overwhelming over time?

Are you suggesting that your E88CC DAC becomes overwhelming over time?

I am not suggesting this, or is it a experience I have had.

I have experienced E88CC / 6922 Tubes from a desirable vintage during Tube Rolling that can screech and is an immediate repellent when compared to other Tubes during the rolling experience. 

In relation to your post sharing the info' about the demo' you have had.

I'm suggesting your demo' received has left you having perceived a sonic trait.

I do not know if this was as a result of using the DAC in your own system or on another.

It is hard to determine if a demo' is not carried out in the home system, if a detected trait will become more noticeable, maintained to a similar presence, or blended to a lesser presence. The buyer has to live with their decisions made, the musical encounter that is able to be created, is for the best one that is able to be experienced for long periods, not feeling the need to shorten the experience as a result of a sonic being produce by a particular device prematurely causing a listening fatigue. 

Hence I suggest that now the trait is known, it might be for the best, if an experience is had with a few others models to see how these leave an impression.

Hence, Caveat Emptor, or Buy in Haste, Repent at Leisure. 

Got it, thanks for the clarification.

No worries I have been sampling DACs whilst reading these online suggestions.

To date have heard - at home for at least one week at a time- the Wattson Madison, Merason Frerot, Lab 12,  Konus 2000 and most recently the Synthesis. Not to mention my earlier Linn Akurate and Heed ( previously in a second home system)

Like many decision this one will be based on several attributes including sound       ( most important), footprint, connectivity, price and how the results of the sale of my current Bricasti.

I appreciate your concern regarding a hasty decision.  Believe me, this has not been a hasty process.

Older thread, but happy to come to the defense of the Gold Note DS-10. I use this Dac with its external power supply and really enjoy it. Running it with a Luxman 590axii Class A amp and Buchardt s400 mkii speakers in my second system in my office. 

The Gold Note DS-10 has some settings which allow one to adjust the sound, but I find it’s default setting is great. I suspect there are Dacs which dig for more information. I would consider the Gold Note dac to be musical vs. analytical.

IMHO its a keeper.