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Tube-based DACS: Positive? Negative? 

Tube-based DACS: Positive? Negative?


I’ve been desiring to interject some of the desirable characteristics of vacuum tubes into a fully SS system.

Are there users out there who have positive experiences with tube-based DACs in this regard?

Such offerings by Lampizator, Prima Luna, and others seem to present some interesting solutions. Would love to hear your feedback.


Thanks :)


davkobza
jl35
3,966 posts
 
I had great sounds from the Aesthetix Romulus CD Player. I believe their Pandora is the identical DAC,,,
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
davkobza
Tube-based DACS: Positive? Negative?

Negative,
If you want to color the sound, do it with a tube pre or buffer, that way you can take them out if you feel you want no coloration.
Even better get a Schiit Freya pre that way you have 3 sounds in one "passive" "tube" or "solid state"

Cheers George
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,411 posts
 
Border Patrol makes a Dac which has been getting some good buzz. It is R2R NOS solid state with no digital filters. 
Tube rectification is used which presents some great options such as a smooth presentation with the ability to 
change the attack and decay by tube rolling.  


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georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Your correct it does use tube rectifiers in the dac
The BorderPatrol DAC uses a R2R DAC chip with no over-sampling and no digital filtering fed from a very sophisticated choke input, tube rectified power supply to produce one of the most natural, ’un-digital’ sounds it is possible to hear.
But to me it’s a very strange thing to say, that it’s the reason "why" it’s got "un-digital" sound.

Cheers George
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