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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
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 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.  


Post removed 
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
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
George, I agree with your statement. The digital and analogue circuits would be responsible for that. The marketing dept. probably wrote the copy.

I offered the Border Patrol as an option with an interesting design.


mapman's avatar
mapman
22,739 posts
 
Been there, done it. Not a fan.  I liked the tube that sounded the most like my similar SS NOS DAC best so I just cut to the chase. 
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