Just to add spice to this my Killer DAC was just completed yesterday and I went over to hear it at the place of the person that made it for me - he posts under the name of Rawl where I am in Australia.
This is a very special hand built DAC with a cult following here in Australia. It uses the legendary Phillips TDA1541 DAC chips and all parts, even the transformer, are hand built and made specifically for the DAC. Even each piece of wire is hand selected.
This DAC was at a shootout with a number of other DAC's, but it came down to two - a DCS Stack and this DAC. The DCS was considered more Hi Fi with detail, speed etc etc - but the Killer was much more captivating and 'real' sounding - it was most peoples preference.
When I arrived Rawl had his uber heavily upgraded Wadia transport running via I2S into it playing Dianna Krall - Girl In The Other Room. Before saying anything else I want to emphasize this transport is wild - really low jitter custom modified Trichord clocks, totally battery powered, and other stuff that is quite likely even above the uber stuff in an Off-Ramp. This is no ordinary bit of gear. A number of people have compared it to an Off-Ramp and to their total shock it easily bested it - they switched over from computer audio because of that. BTW its the only transport I have heard that can do that - normally I find the Off-Ramp eats transports alive - no contest - especially my Off-Ramp which has a heavily modified power supply.
The amp was an upgraded VAC and speakers ML3 Reference, the same as mine. These speakers are fairly well known in Aus - but you guys may not know them. They are made by a guy that lives close to me and Rawl, and use 10 gauge air core inductors, the cabinet is lined with steel, and Duelund VSF Copper capacitors throughout.
Very full harmonically rich enveloping sound. This type of thing is what Rawl and other Killer DAC guys refer to as resolution - the thing that people preferred compared to the DCS. For me its a fuller richer sound - not extra resolution - I like it - but its different terminology than I use. I thought, yes it had the signature of other Killer's I had heard and I liked it right off.
Next up was via my Off-Ramp using I2S. My Off-Ramp also uses a heavily upgraded custom built power supply that makes a big difference over the switching supply Steve Nugent supplies with it. It has a switch that engages and disengages the earth - and we found one position significantly better than the other - much cleaner clearer sound so that's what we stuck with.
The difference was the Off-Ramp had greater detail, and better, tighter bass, but it lost a significant amount of the harmonic richness. It was a whiter, more bland sound. I preferred the transport, but I am not sure that would be everyone's preference. Knowing Killer DAC aficionados they would prefer the transport. Certainly Rawl much preferred it.
OK - I also took on over my Playback Designs MPD3, which, prior to the Phasure, was the best DAC I had heard via DSD. First up we played Harry Belefonte - Sylvie via PCM - OK - but to my ears the Killer was obviously better. This was expected - the PD is OK via PCM - but a number of other DAC's I pitted it against were better. Its real strength is DSD. So next was Sylvie via DSD. Immediately better - very live real and present. Now we are talking. Ok - what about the Off-Ramp via PCM into the Killer. Sorry PD guys - we have another DAC other than the Phasure that is better. It simply sounded richer and more life like.
We played a number tracks including some classical. But it was all basically the same - the Killer was clearly better than the PD - and the transport had a fuller, richer more enveloping sound - but the Off-Ramp better detail and bass.
The main hurdle is now past and the big DAC shootout with this, a PDX, a PD, and the Phasure is planned, and that should hopefully happen late January or early February. It should prove very interesting.
The speakers used in that shootout will be even above my speakers and those in this comparison - they use Duelund Cast, have external crossovers with a special star wiring scheme, and are lined with 1/4 inch copper and inch thick steel bracing all over the place - simply the best speakers I and a lot of people I know have heard - very very transparent - what you feed it it reproduces - ruthlessly.
Thanks
Bill
