Any others with Millennium II s ???


I've been listening to my new EVS DAC and would like to compare notes with some of the others that are intimately familiar with them. As such, i would GREATLY appreciate it if you could respond here with your thoughts on the product or, more preferably, email me directly. Either way, ANY response is good. Sean
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sean
Sean-

Thanks for the detailed review of the EVS Milleniun II. I am currently considering moving to it from my Audio Note DAC-1. It sounds like you gain the best of both worlds...SS and tube...with this dac. Hard to believe, as they say "if it sounds too good to be true...
I am waiting just a while longer to file a detailed report as I only got my M2 last week. I have been living w/ the Bel Canto DAC 1 for nearly a year now and also have a Hot Rod MSB Link DAC that was maxed out to the extreme by Dan Wright last year. I post this now to mention how finicky this M2 is to power cords, digital cables, and isolation. Funny thing is I don't seem to hear a lot of difference w/ it on Interconnects? Maybe b/c all the ICs I have thrown at it are very good? The digital cables I have tried are the HT Platinum, the Elco Ultimate, the Electra Glide Silver Signature, XLO Signature 4.1. Odly enough the M2 sounds extremley WARM w/ all but the Platinum? Nearly too warm after living w/ the other DACS? Living w/o the digital edginess takes a little getting used to? :)I think this puppy most definately wants a pure silver digital cable! Any Cd that I could not hardly listen to on the Bel Canto I now find myself searching out the old CDs I had that were too bright b/4 b/c they sound great now? I placed it temporarily on an inner tube w/ butchers block over it and on AQ Little Feet. This DAC hated Sorbathane! The mids got sort of thick and lost some sparkle on top. Soon as I pulled off the Little feet for some older Mod Squad Tip Toes all the sparkle came out but still w/o any edge to it or no hint of brightness I mean VERY warm w/o a hint of harshness. So far I have hooked up Pro Silway MK II, Cardas Golden Cross, Cardas Golden Hexlink 5-C, ZuCable Warmouth, & JPS Superconductor ICs to it. I got the extra set of outputs on the back so it is easy for me to A/B ICs on my pre amp. Through all this there is very little difference on any of these ICs? My Bel Canto was much more susceptible to ICs. However, this M2 definately will change fast w/ power cords? I have used the JPS Digital AC through a Chang Lightspeed to the best effect so far. Tried the ESP Essence, Marigo Resolution, & HT Pro 11 AC cords and I still think the power cords were more effective at changing the flavor of this DAC than the high end ICs were? The stock power cord never came out of the box.If for any reason you are trying to change the sound of this DAC just swap a power cord or easier yet change the isolation underneath it. Just ordered some Mapleshade Surefeet b/c I can tell already this DAC wants, NEEDS, very solid isolation under it! Even BDR cones are too soft! Get the thing set up wrong and the middle will thicken up in a heart beat! Keep in mind this is still kind of nit picking as the thing sounded as good as my Bel right out the gate. I think the bel may do a few things better in fleshing out natural sounding vocals, but then again I listened to Van Morrison last night and heard background singers and Van sing like I ain't never heard him before! I actually heard stuff I never heard before! But that is getting into review status and will wait for at least 300 hours to do that. I played 24 straight hours through a CDP to break it in then stuck it in the main system. Has only about 100 hours on it now IF THAT! I feed it via a Theta DB II Transport into Tube Pre and SS amp w/ Silverline Sonatina speakers. These speakers are very detailed, so for this DAC to be so warm on them is very surprising. Will post a shoot out w/ the Bel Canto in a few weeks. In the mean time I plan on trying the Sidewinder power cord on it and the MC2 digital to see how I can tweak it out a bit more.
From what i saw on my bench with the Millennium, i would assume that power cords and isolation could EASILY change some of the parameters of this DAC pretty drastically. As to the "warmth" that you've noted, it is like i said: tube-like but still has all the top end detail and extension of SS minus the glare, hard midrange and slight forwardness. You are NOW hearing what "good" digital sounds like.

If you think the Millennium is "warm", you should see what a 16 bit Cal Sigma sounds like !!!! I'm sure that you would call it "DARK" compared to the other units that you mentioned.

I ended up using an FMS digital cable from transport to DAC with the DAC feeding some Magnan Signature III's. The FMS seems relatively "neutral" and the Magnan's have very delicate highs / slightly "quick & lean" balance overall. This is probably due to the use of 36 gauge wire internally. With this specific combo and the rest of my system, I was in awe to say the least. Sean
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PS... One hint: DON'T loosen the transformers up that much. They should be SOMEWHAT snugged down to the foam for best results according to what i saw on my scope. This might also "play" with the results that your getting from your isolation devices and power cords. With the transformers "floating", the power supply became far more susceptible to external vibrations. I could actually SEE the power supply being modulated by external excitation. Snugging the transformers down "reasonably" minimized the effects of "bumps", "thuds" and "taps". Try it and see what you think. Hope this helps...