azwill

Responses from azwill

Battle of the Older DAC
@ceennison53, Possibly a PS Audio Direct Stream MkII may be available for substantial discount as preowned, but less than $2000 seems too low for current market to me.  The referenced link you provided is for a MkI, not MkII.    
Lumin X1 or dCS Bartok
I have several DACs including the X1, which I have had for several years.   It has been a very solid and good sounding piece for me.   I have not heard the Bartok.  I have thought about selling it, but have not acted on that,   Lumin has been exce... 
Esoteric K03XD
@bubinga, Have you had a bad experience with Esoteric?   I note both here and the N-01XD SE thread in this forum that you seem down on Esoteric.  In reading from users that have compared Esoteric sound of the discontinued AKM chip DAC units to th... 
Esoteric N01XD SE
Esoteric does release upgraded units, but it appears to me to be more like 3 year intervals and often trickle down upgrades based on their higher end offerings.  Sometimes audio companies make "new and improved" due to shortage or non-availability... 
Master clock generator
With the Esoteric K-03XD SE now having the Esoteric Master Sound Discrete Clock for Digital Player discrete clock module, I would suggest first evaluating the performance through break-in without an additional master clock.   I would also suggest ... 
Esoteric K03XD
While I do believe eventually the K-05XD will be upgraded to SE model, others do not believe that will be happening near term.   It came out later in the K-XD line, and reportedly already has the Master Sound Discrete Clock which is part of the SE... 
Mola Mola Tambaqui Roon vs Separate Streamers
I have the Mola Mola Makua with installed DAC (Tambaqui).  My opinion in my system is the DAC presentation does not have a bright nor aggressive top end.  I have found that cabling, including power cords, IC's, and ethernet cables do have some inf... 
New Luxman DA-06 doesnt sound so great. Will it get better?
It continually surprises me how much difference of opinion people can have over same pieces of audio equipment.   I have had a number of DACs.   One of them I still have is the Luxman DA-06.   It has not been active in my chain for some time, but ... 
Surge Protectors
I, too, had an EP2000 installed around 15  years ago.  I also added a plug-in fixed cord unit, EP2450, in audio rack for additional noise abatement from internal home sources.  My area had been experiencing power interruption with new housing and ... 
Is it still worth buying a Lumin x1 in 2023?
Congratulations and happy listening!      
Synthesis Amplifiers: One of High End's Best Kept Secrets?
Thank you and congratulations on your soon to arrive new DAC.  
Synthesis Amplifiers: One of High End's Best Kept Secrets?
@waltersalas, I may have missed it, but saw in this thread you were evaluating USB cables.  Did you come to a decision on the Muon USB?  I would be interested in your USB evaluation conclusions.   Thanks in advance    
Is it still worth buying a Lumin x1 in 2023?
I anticipate you will receive additional DAC suggestions not on your list plus suggestions to change other components in your system.   I have an X1 plus other DACs--unnecessary extravagance I know.  I have not owned nor listened to the other DACs... 
DAC Shootout Starts This Weekend
@verdantaudio, Christiaan Punter at hifi-advice.com very recently did highly favorable reviews on Playback Designs MPS-X and then later on MPD-6.  I have been a fan of his review style.  The MPD-6 in his review had the Steam-X2 option installed. ... 
Lumin X1 and Upgraded DC umbilical cord for power supply.
ozzy, It has been over 2-1/2 years since I purchased the EVP's and only a week separated getting shipment of them in for X1 and then power supply.   Your comment makes me think I should check on the X1 power supply with and without the EVP's unde...