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Tube Rolling the Jolida/Black Ice dsd Dac

So I recently purchased the Jolida/Black Ice dsd dac and and a pair of Psvane 12ax7’s.  Played thru about 50 hours and while the soundstage opened up some, in my system detail seemed a little rounded off.  They probably need more hours, and  I recognize these are highly subjective impressions and system dependent, but then a friend gave me a pair of Fisher-era Telefunken’s to play with and I have tons of inner detail, imaging and a wide soundstage.  What I do find, however, is I have turn the volume up further on my passive pre-amp.  I have a pair of 50’s era RCA grey plates coming next week.  Pretty easy to go down the rabbit hole playing with tubes, but that’s half the fun of it.  Curious as to what other tubes Jolida dac owners are using. My system: NuForce STA-200 amp, Luminous Audio pre-amp with Walker mod, Bluesound Node2, and DIY LeCleach horn speakers. Mix of Cullen and Transparent Cables.
renisnceman
plaw
85 posts
 
I just purchased the Black Ice DAC - so far pretty let down.  The bass got really boomy.  Can't make the WIFI connect.  A/B'ed with my OPPO 105 - the internal Oppo DAC sounds much tighter in the bass.  Of course, no returns at Underwood HiFi.  Maybe I will try some new tubes.  I was thinking about the Denafrips too.
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@plaw

sorry you don’t like it

i have one, enjoy it quite alot... i have tried some 20-25 dacs in the last 6 months since the shelter in place started, i feel the jolida black ice unit is quite a good one

suggestions - let it break in, replace the 12ax7’s with old stock ones, like philips ecg green labels - good sounding, affordable still, and use a good power cable

also check your linestage input impedance make sure you don't have a mismatch

i would say, this dac, despite having a tube output stage, is one of the ’clearer’ ones i have tried, with excellent frequency extension and imaging, not a smoothed over, warmed up, fattened sound that many other dacs strive for, to sound ’more analog’

good luck
plaw
85 posts
 
@jjss49  

Thank you for the advice.  I am going to try some tube rolling and I just ordered a new cable - I can see how this dac would sound great with speakers like Focal / Magico / Elac - speakers that may be more analytical - but thus far it does not fit the best with Wilsons.  In all fairness, I have not given enough time for it to break in.  When you listened to the various DACs - did you listen to the Quitest, Denafrips, Yiggy, Linn or PS Audio?  What are your impressions please?  Thanks.
plaw
85 posts
 
Also @jjss49 a gentleman above suggested Mullards.  But you suggest  philips ecg green labels - I am going into an ARC tube preamp - so I am thinking maybe too much tube on tube sound - any idea which tube would be the most analytical - not even sure if that is the correct term.

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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@plaw

i have not personally tried old stock mullard 12AX7’s but i have plenty of experience with old, real Mullard 12AU7 and 6DJ8 equivalents, for small signal tubes (not power tubes)

if the sound signature holds true to 12AX7’s you are asking about, yes, they are more rounded sounding, mid bass looser and fatter, highs rolled off... a very ’tube like’ tube, if you follow my drift

sometimes too much of a good thing, depending on the circuit they are used in, but very helpful when a user is trying to tone down harshness or stridency

philips ecgs are newer tubes (made in late 70’s and early 80’s) they are more transparent and extended, less midrange heavy
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