Another new DAC: Audio Mirror

jtcf, Right now I am using a Audioquest VDM-5 coax cable. Once I sort out the other changes I wish to make in my system I may consider a change in cabling. I am happy with the DAC however have only about 30 hrs. on it. Will have an extended listening session today.  Like you, I would have considered the Orchid also however learning the Tubedour had a tube output stage vs. buffer swayed me to the Tuba. 

When/if you decide to audition different cables,take a look at Silnote.After trying quite a few that's the one that really stands out and works well with these two components.Instruments and vocals are distinct with no smearing even with complicated music.I won't blather on about all of the things it gets right,but it's definitely one to keep in mind.

I will check into the Silnote cable when the time comes. 

I drop shipped an Orchid Dac to Grannyring for his mods this week.

I got it for a back-up to my DHT Dac behind my CEC TL 3N transport.

The AD1865 and TDA1541 NOS are holding their own after all these years, esp. with a tube or two in the box.

The aforementioned Dacs in this thread are affordable and provide good "musical" results, without putting up a house mortgage or car note.

Hello Gentlemen,

Well, I have spent around 30 hours listening to the SE Tubadour in the last three days.  Even not fully burn-in, it's a sonic "gem" across the board.

Here's the answers to some of the questions that have been asked on this thread or sent to me by readers of my reviews:

1) Is it on a higher level of performance then the Mhdlab Orchid DAC.
    
    Yes, it does everything with more finesse and performs on a higher qualitative then the Orchid DAC.  Do remember, its retail price is almost $1,500 more then the Mhdlab DAC, it "should" be better.  However, if you can afford it, with out a doubt it's worth the expense. Also, I cannot answer which is better, the basic Audio Mirror Tubadour or the Mhdlab Orchid because I have never heard the basic Tubadour Dac.  The Orchid is still a great DAC and very reasonably priced, I'm sure the basic Tubadour is very good too, but someone else will have to make the actual comparison who has both pieces.

2) Is the build quality and performance were it should be for this price range.

With out a doubt YES. This DAC competes with far more expensive Dacs, both in internal parts, and it's performance is superlative.  I'll get into all the sonic details when I write the review for Stereo Times.

3) Can you clearly hear differences by doing tube rolling in the SE version of this DAC.

Yes, I have already tried some very highly regarded NOS 6922's and 396's in the DAC.  The Tubadour is so transparent that each tube changes the overall flavor of it's presentation.  However, credit to Vlad, the 5977 tube set that he ships with is "spot on" and is my favorite for my tastes and system synergy.  Never had heard this tube before, these little suckers sound terrific in this DAC, I would like to try Vlad's 5977 tube set in some of my other pieces that use 6922's to see what would happen.

So, if you own the SE version of this DAC, congrats to you, you have a great piece, indeed.