Thread about best tube dacs.
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1327298125&openfrom&1&4#1
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1327298125&openfrom&1&4#1
Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD
Thread about best tube dacs. http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1327298125&openfrom&1&4#1 |
Charles - my last reference DAC was a tubeDAC, the Spoiler. Do a search and you will find it was excellent. The problem was that the bass was never as tight as I can get with SS, even using Siemens CCA grey-plates. It is very musical, but leaves some parts of the music lacking. I still have yet to hear a tubeDAC that does everything right, top to bottom. I think the ultimate tube just does not exist. The new Chinese Psvane tubes are impressive however. I have monoblocks with these in them. Steve N. Empirical Audio |
I love true "accuracy". But I will give up "accuracy" to be engaged. If you want to call being emotionally involved and lost in the music - colored, then feel free to take my Audiophiles of America card away! There are many components that are accurate and engaging. I don't think it's too much to ask for both. I didn't mean to imply that "accurate" meant lean or detached. But there is a style or voicing that emphasizes pure accuracy and detail that some people love. All I am saying is that is not my taste. We all know what I'm talking about. I want a DAC that will make me forget I'm listening and just get lost in the music. The rest of my system gets me there. I want to find my toes tapping or hands conducting when I intended to critically listen. My new Rowland Criterion pre-amp arrived today. My DirectStream will be arriving early June. I am trying to arrange for some other DAC's to be available to me for audition when my DirectStream comes in. From a tubed standpoint, the Accustic Arts Tube DAC II mark 2 and the Concert Fidelity DAC-040 seam to be the two that come up frequently at the top of the game. From a solid state standpoint I'm going to focus on 3; the Empirical Audio Overdrive SE, the Rowland Aeris and the new PS Audio Direct Stream. If I can get in an EMM Labs DAC2x for the shoutout I would be thrilled. |