Opinion on audio note kit dac 5.1 or 4.1

I find that a Bendix 5852 Redbank manufacture is the primo rectifier in the ANK DAC.  Just more of everything compared to the tube supplied with the kit.  And I run Philips JAN 5687WE's, too.

I hate to say it, but the Lampi Pacific is quite a bit better than the ANK DAC - - I don't know how to characterize these things as percentages.  I've gone up the chain of Big 7, Golden Gate, and finally Pacific, and even the Big 7 clearly offers more information while staying very musical.  The others just get better and better.  That said, I have kept the ANK for my second system, rather than move the Big 7 into it, so that says something about value for the ANK.

Hi @jbrrp1 

Did you manage to listen to the dac 5.1? If you did, how does it compare to the big 7? :)

Actually am quite curious regarding the sound of the DHT tubes (eg 300B) vs the usual tubes like 12AU7. Was wondering if the sound is more open/musical/larger sound stage? Or how does it sound?

Thanks!

Regards

I have never heard the 5.1, so I can't comment on that.

Maybe it's the DHT tubes, but regardless, all Lampi's I have owned present a large, fairly 3D soundstage.  As I went up their range of DAC's, the stage got a little bigger, but the biggest difference is in the increase in musical information and details, which provide more of the "you are there" presentation and feel to the music reproduction.  I have the Pacific now paired with the Taiko Audio Extreme server, and the results are pretty great, as close to "live" as a system has sounded to me.

@jbrrp1 hahaha oic ok thanks for sharing! Would you buy the big 7 again if thats the top of your budget?

Oic nice thanks! What tubes were you using? :) KR audio 300b RK? :) haha wow your current front end costs more than twice my speakers and amp :pp haha what amp and speakers are you using? :) must sound very magnificent!

The Big 7 at its retail, I don't know.  I sold mine for only half of what I paid after two years, as digital depreciates fast.  Now, used, sure!

I am running the RK 300B's, and have PX4's, Psvane WE101D "replicas", and KR T-100's to try, as well.  My system needs the robust and warmer sonic tilt of the 300B's to be right.  I am running the D'Ag S250 amp and HD pre into some TAD CR-1's (the TAD's needing the "warming"!).  Kids all through college, house paid off, I have been indulging in my audio passion pretty strongly in the last few years...and enjoying it very, very much!