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A DAC that crushes price vs. performance ratio

I felt strongly that I wanted to inform the Gon members about a new DAC that ranks with the very best on the market regarding performance, but costs around $2,000.00.  The Lab12 DAC1 SE was compared to three reference level DACS that retail for over $12.000.00 in my review for hometheaterreview.com and was at least on the same level sonicly, if not better.  This DAC from Greece is not just "good for the money" but competes with virtually anything on the market regardless of price!

For all the details about the Lab12 DAC1 SE performance and what other DACS it was compared to take a look at the review.  If you are shopping/looking for a new digital front end to drive your system, you owe it to yourself to check this DAC out, unless you like to spend tons of more $ without getting better performance.
teajay
tweak1
3,680 posts
 
For anyone interested in the Lab 12 Dac1 SE, here's a review 

https://www.monoandstereo.com/2013/04/lab12-dac1-special-edition-test-and.html
tweak1
3,680 posts
 
Just skimmed te review. WTF? It only has coax or usb
lula
213 posts
 
How does one get to the tubes?
simna
165 posts
 
@lula 

There is only one tube, so you have to be sure that it is balanced and you have to screw the lid off to replace the tube.
teajay OP
1,703 posts
 
Just wanted to share an amazing experience with the LAB 12 DAC concerning rolling tubes.

The type of tube the Lab 12 DAC normally uses is a 6922.  When I rolled 6922 tubes it definitely improved the performance compared to the stock tube that Lab 12 ships with the unit.  A NOS CCA Siemens gold pin was my favorite of all the 6922's I tried in my system.

Now, because of a different piece of gear that I'm reviewing that uses a 396 type tube I learned that a 396 can be used in place of a 6922 by using a very inexpensive (around 20 dollars) tube socket adapter.  The 396 that I rolled in is a WE396A D getter JW Military version which for my ears offers some of the best timbres/colors, transparency, 3D images, and overall space/air around individual players. These tubes are easy to obtain and are not very expensive (around 50 to 80 dollars).

This tube modification took the LAB 12 DAC to even a higher level of  musicality and the illusion of real music through my system.  This change of tube type added what I would describe as a SET quality to the sound, rich timbres, "meat on the bones" images, and a liquidity that allows you to relax into the music.  I would assume if your system is very warm and somewhat "slow" to begin with, this could be to much of a good thing.  It always comes down to synergy with your other gear and of course personal taste.  If you own the Lab 12 DAC you owe it to yourself to run this experiment, it costs pennies and gives a totally new sound with this DAC.  
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