Uprgrading my Metrum Octave DAC

I did see the 6moons review and from that, it appears (by photos and deduction) to primarily be two Octaves in parallel, with additional logic for the new inputs provided.

Also, I don't like how the single ended outputs now require a transformer. Technically speaking, transformers are not where it's at. But I realize that the sum of all parts could be something special. (maybe I read that wrong, it seems crazy) (unless that's effectively the low pass filter in this output)

I do like that Cees is not using the same old topologies, chips and methodologies that all the other vendors seem to be permutating through.

I've had my Octave, driven by the AP directly connected to the SPDIF RCA input (wish it was a BNC) for about a year now.

Can't find anything that can touch it. Don't like the surreal sound of upsampling..

BTW, in case you have not discovered it yet, driving a TUBE preamp with the Octave sounds unbelievable. In this config, the tube preamp acts like the perfect low pass filter for the filterless Octave.

I'm using a SP17.

RM

Forgot to mention the perfect wave MKII as another potential. I realize the ayre and brick are a few years old now, but from what I've read, they still hold their own with modern DACs.

Forgot to mention the perfect wave MKII as another potential. I realize the ayre and brick are a few years old now, but from what I've read, they still hold their own with modern DACs.

Mccance,

I hear you: I have my Octave connected to a Lamm LL2, into a McIntosh MC275 and I'm pretty happy. I, too, wish the Octave had BNC instead of RCA.

What's your source, before the AP? I have a Squeezebox Touch, with software mods, and I'm looking at adding an AP2 in between to reduce jitter. Maybe a dedicated server later on to replace the SBT.

The Octave DAC is hard to beat, but the source is actually more important. There are two things to consider:

1) drive the Octave with a lower jitter source like Off-Ramp 5, Diverter HR or Synergistic

2) sell it and use a Wired 4 Sound DAC2 driven with I2S from an Off-Ramp 5 - this is a world class sound

Other than that, consider more expensive DACs that enable you to eliminate your preamp. The steps to good digital sound are:

1) reduce source jitter
2) eliminate or reduce the effects of digital filtering in the DAC
3) eliminate active preamp and drive the amps directly
4) couple to the amps directly using a good transformer and balanced cables

Steve N.
Empirical Audio