OK, so my AMR DP777 has had the Duelund VSF Black Cast Caps installed by the importer about 5 months ago. At this point I can report that it is a worthy upgrade. The sound is slightly more refined. Not earth shattering as the unit was already amongst the best I have ever heard but they did add a touch more (or should I say less between the performer and listener). Yes they are expensive but we all know how that last 5 or 2% in high-end always ALWAYS costs more money.
The real shocker was the built in volume control (attenuator). This is not related to the caps, but rather purely time. I own and use the Music First Audio Ref and Baby Ref TVC Attenuators, and I love those units. They are simply the finest attenuators I have ever laid ears on. Consequently I have been slow, VERY VERY VERY slow to break in the analog volume control on the DP777. I always thought it was spectacularly transparent.., as transparent (and I mean this) at controlling the volume as is Pure Musics 64 bit digital volume system (which handily whipped the Allnic L3000 which formerly took up residence in my home). But I felt that in the areas of body and fullness it lacked a little and this is where I felt the built in volume control of the Ayon CD5s beat the DP777.
Well, it looks like that was my fault as I broke it in over spurts here and there by mainly bypassing the internal volume control and using my TVC's. Now that the internal volume control has approx 1000 hours on it the story is quite different. The incredible transparency is still there in spades but now it is accompanied by real body and fullness and with just a hint of sweetness. It is not euphonic or colored, but it is full and supremely musical. At this point I would say it beats the Ayon CD5s internal preamp. If you remember my former posts I thought the Ayon CD5s sounded best with my MFA Ref AND the Halcyonics Silencer. The DP777 does sound better with the MFA Ref as well, but as it has run in I found that the Silencer became a hindrance (thus I sold both of them) and I found that the DP777 now had the body and fullness without the slight opaqueness (or heat) engendered by the Ayon CD5s.
The AMR DP777 once fully broken in and that means the line-stage as well will simply beat (badly I might add) most standalone active preamps I have been privy to.., that's a lot of preamps.
This is really cool, it is becoming less expensive all the time to enjoy really really world class audio w/o taking a second mortgage on your home.
Regards...
The real shocker was the built in volume control (attenuator). This is not related to the caps, but rather purely time. I own and use the Music First Audio Ref and Baby Ref TVC Attenuators, and I love those units. They are simply the finest attenuators I have ever laid ears on. Consequently I have been slow, VERY VERY VERY slow to break in the analog volume control on the DP777. I always thought it was spectacularly transparent.., as transparent (and I mean this) at controlling the volume as is Pure Musics 64 bit digital volume system (which handily whipped the Allnic L3000 which formerly took up residence in my home). But I felt that in the areas of body and fullness it lacked a little and this is where I felt the built in volume control of the Ayon CD5s beat the DP777.
Well, it looks like that was my fault as I broke it in over spurts here and there by mainly bypassing the internal volume control and using my TVC's. Now that the internal volume control has approx 1000 hours on it the story is quite different. The incredible transparency is still there in spades but now it is accompanied by real body and fullness and with just a hint of sweetness. It is not euphonic or colored, but it is full and supremely musical. At this point I would say it beats the Ayon CD5s internal preamp. If you remember my former posts I thought the Ayon CD5s sounded best with my MFA Ref AND the Halcyonics Silencer. The DP777 does sound better with the MFA Ref as well, but as it has run in I found that the Silencer became a hindrance (thus I sold both of them) and I found that the DP777 now had the body and fullness without the slight opaqueness (or heat) engendered by the Ayon CD5s.
The AMR DP777 once fully broken in and that means the line-stage as well will simply beat (badly I might add) most standalone active preamps I have been privy to.., that's a lot of preamps.
This is really cool, it is becoming less expensive all the time to enjoy really really world class audio w/o taking a second mortgage on your home.
Regards...
