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KillerDac => Testimonials => Topic started by: tuyen on September 20, 2010, 04:18:16 PM

Title: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: tuyen on September 20, 2010, 04:18:16 PM
I brought my killerDAC and transport over to Martin Sneddon's house (Mr Azurahorn) on Sunday and Martin invited his audiophile friend over (Steve Brooks, used to run a hifi club back in the UK. Currently owns about 20 cd players).   Below are his words via an email I have just received.


Your DAC is the best I have heard for air and space without harshness.  In fact its the most non digital sounding DAC I have ever heard, quite a find and it should suit the Goto / Azura horns very well indeed.
Look forward to having the opportunity of hearing the combo when done, should be a very musical system indeed.
 
I will investigate the NOS drop in chip as its not too expensive and apply in turn to three separate TDA players I have and report back.
 
Best regards
 
Steve Brooks | Director       
 
INTEGRA
Glen Forrest
Perth  
Western Australia 6071

Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: crazikid on September 20, 2010, 05:00:35 PM
20 cd players.... wow..
Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: kajak12 on September 20, 2010, 06:58:16 PM
20 cd players.... wow..
any cd94 i collect them :D
Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: tuyen on September 20, 2010, 10:02:21 PM
Following extract from another email I got from Steve Brooks.

I have contacted the HiFi critic back in UK and told them how good the DAC and mod's were, think I have several people now thinking of buying an older TDA player!
 
It would be great if we organised a like minded HiFi club at some point as I used to run the Waveney HiFi society with two mates back in the UK, it was great fun.


I guess he sort of liked the killerDAC/transport combo?  ;D

He has Phillips CD960
Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: tuyen on September 21, 2010, 06:32:15 PM
Further praise from Steve.

Yes interesting comment regarding HiFi shops, not too much music to be had there, most of them exist for the boom and ting brigade.
Audio fanaticism is not new to me, I have been 'at it' for more than 35 years!  Your player and DAC are the finest I have ever heard and I will be pursuing this further.


 :)
Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: ozmillsy on September 21, 2010, 08:13:18 PM
Your player and DAC are the finest I have ever heard and I will be pursuing this further.

Sounds like it is time to take Steve over to Mario's.
Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: 3bm on September 21, 2010, 09:45:33 PM
high praise indeed. Nice one Tuy
Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: vitavoxdude on November 02, 2010, 02:37:22 PM
Well guys, just logged onto your site using my usual Vitavoxdude monika so I am not hiding.  Its great that you have put up a site dedicated to the 'killer DAC' well done. ;D

I visited Azura last night to listen to the Goto's; fed via the Audio Note 2.1 DAC kit, not too bad. ;)  I particulally liked the EL34 design driving M's bass horns; the swing your pant's factor was certainly there but dynamics in the MF and HF were squashed giving it a less than live feel.  After around 3 hours listening I liked the stage depth and detail but feel the 'KillerDac' of Tuyens fed into a simpler system was ahead by a fair margin.

I am a Vitavox / Altec / JBL fan and anything which allows me to hear real music complete with most of the dynamics in place is a winner for me.  My audioholicism goes way back to when I heard my dad's valve radiogram, via a 3' high external speaker with 2 10 x 6" drivers it would fill the entire house, I was hooked,,,,,,,,,,,,I now have some serious speakers and can fill a football field.

M is giving me grief to get the big shed converted into a music room, hmmmmm convincing her indoors its more important than her LIST is the hard bit..... ??? Any one got a Killer DAC for sale with the I2s direct feed?
Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: kajak12 on November 02, 2010, 03:09:29 PM
Well guys, just logged onto your site using my usual Vitavoxdude monika so I am not hiding.  Its great that you have put up a site dedicated to the 'killer DAC' well done. ;D

I visited Azura last night to listen to the Goto's; fed via the Audio Note 2.1 DAC kit, not too bad. ;)  I particulally liked the EL34 design driving M's bass horns; the swing your pant's factor was certainly there but dynamics in the MF and HF were squashed giving it a less than live feel.  After around 3 hours listening I liked the stage depth and detail but feel the 'KillerDac' of Tuyens fed into a simpler system was ahead by a fair margin.

I am a Vitavox / Altec / JBL fan and anything which allows me to hear real music complete with most of the dynamics in place is a winner for me.  My audioholicism goes way back to when I heard my dad's valve radiogram, via a 3' high external speaker with 2 10 x 6" drivers it would fill the entire house, I was hooked,,,,,,,,,,,,I now have some serious speakers and can fill a football field.

M is giving me grief to get the big shed converted into a music room, hmmmmm convincing her indoors its more important than her LIST is the hard bit..... ??? Any one got a Killer DAC for sale with the I2s direct feed?

i sent you a pm looking forward to hearing from you
Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: Hens on November 02, 2010, 11:32:10 PM
Well guys, just logged onto your site using my usual Vitavoxdude monika so I am not hiding.  Its great that you have put up a site dedicated to the 'killer DAC' well done. ;D

I visited Azura last night to listen to the Goto's; fed via the Audio Note 2.1 DAC kit, not too bad. ;)  I particulally liked the EL34 design driving M's bass horns; the swing your pant's factor was certainly there but dynamics in the MF and HF were squashed giving it a less than live feel.  After around 3 hours listening I liked the stage depth and detail but feel the 'KillerDac' of Tuyens fed into a simpler system was ahead by a fair margin.

I am a Vitavox / Altec / JBL fan and anything which allows me to hear real music complete with most of the dynamics in place is a winner for me.  My audioholicism goes way back to when I heard my dad's valve radiogram, via a 3' high external speaker with 2 10 x 6" drivers it would fill the entire house, I was hooked,,,,,,,,,,,,I now have some serious speakers and can fill a football field.

M is giving me grief to get the big shed converted into a music room, hmmmmm convincing her indoors its more important than her LIST is the hard bit..... ??? Any one got a Killer DAC for sale with the I2s direct feed?

I agree, as the owner of the an2.1 I feel that the kdac is a lot more open and overall lovely sounding :)
Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: tuyen on November 03, 2010, 10:54:59 AM
Welcome vitavoxdude, or should i say S :)

Thanks for sharing your opinions on the setup! I do understand what you mean by the sound being a bit too polite for your taste. That's the beauty of hifi, people have different tastes in sound and how they want their music to be like to their ears!

Very interested to hear your setup when your music room 'sorted'.  Their are plenty of enthusiastic Perth guys on here that would be interested in fun enjoyable GTGs if you were to hold one.

Enjoy listening to Mario's setup on sunday. Be interested to know what you think pairing with your vast past experience in hifi around the world.

Please do stick around and share your experiences and advice.. very greatly appreciated.

Best,
Tuyen
Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: yoshio on November 03, 2010, 12:15:43 PM
Well guys, just logged onto your site using my usual Vitavoxdude monika so I am not hiding.  Its great that you have put up a site dedicated to the 'killer DAC' well done. ;D

I visited Azura last night to listen to the Goto's; fed via the Audio Note 2.1 DAC kit, not too bad. ;)  I particulally liked the EL34 design driving M's bass horns; the swing your pant's factor was certainly there but dynamics in the MF and HF were squashed giving it a less than live feel.  After around 3 hours listening I liked the stage depth and detail but feel the 'KillerDac' of Tuyens fed into a simpler system was ahead by a fair margin.

I am a Vitavox / Altec / JBL fan and anything which allows me to hear real music complete with most of the dynamics in place is a winner for me.  My audioholicism goes way back to when I heard my dad's valve radiogram, via a 3' high external speaker with 2 10 x 6" drivers it would fill the entire house, I was hooked,,,,,,,,,,,,I now have some serious speakers and can fill a football field.

M is giving me grief to get the big shed converted into a music room, hmmmmm convincing her indoors its more important than her LIST is the hard bit..... ??? Any one got a Killer DAC for sale with the I2s direct feed?

Hi vitavoxdude

I am kind of surprise to hear the the GOTO MF and HF frequency lacking in dynamic, this really is my first time  ;) I am guessing that the bass driver has something to do with the overall dynamic feel.

Cheers,
Jayden
Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: vitavoxdude on November 03, 2010, 02:23:57 PM
Jayden, Bass is only a small part of the overall result, dynamics come from all the drivers but more so the mid and highs.  Goto's should be capable of being really fast as most compression drivers are.  Its more a sum of the parts that determines the overall sound. :o

Looks like the 'jazz setting' is popular with many here, i.e. rolled off top end, different strokes for different folks but a cymbal should sound metallic with a real hard edge when struck, not like its in behind several blankets, a sax can rip your ears off when played loud as can many instruments, alas many tune their audio and throw the baby out with the bathwater.

I do have old ears which are measured anually so I know exactly what my ears are sensitive too frequency wise and a dull top is not to my 'taste musically' your milage may vary.

rgds  Vitavoxdude
Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: yoshio on November 03, 2010, 02:33:46 PM
Hi vitavoxdude

Yes I used to own TAD-4001 and heard Altec, JBL drivers alike on many many occasion being it a shootout or GTG.
And I know exactly what sort of  voicing you are aiming at.
GOTO design their driver with the lowest possible distortion, I think if the front end changes, the sound will change accordingly.
May I ask what current system you have now?

Cheers,
Jayden
Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: vitavoxdude on November 04, 2010, 01:57:06 AM
Yes you may.
I have several systems.
The biggest one consists of VOT loaded with Vitavox bass drivers with various horns from Azura JBL, Altec and Vitavox with a selection of CD's from Altec, Vitavox, JBL, RCF.  Front end varies but analouge supplied by garrod 401 with hadcock and decca london or if feeling lazy a Revox parallel tracker shure v15, CD, too many to choose from but usually an Orelle which some times feeds a dac with or without oversampling.  All valve pre and power amps with zero feedback.  GE211 outputs SE which provides the sunshine in the sound.  Until you've heard a rim shot through these you are just dreaming.  Oh yes and a pair of 24" PD's driven by a > 1KW amp in each cab just to flap the trousers on occasion or when the mood takes these can drive down to 6hz at around 100db + so I CAN CALL THESE SUBWOOFERS, unlike all those lovely ill informed people who refer to anything from plastic fantastics c/w 4" 100watt subs?!?!?!? go figure. :o

Secondary plus more systems is the likes of NS1000's, M100 meridian actives blah blah blah but this is sounding like a bragging session so I'll stop there. ;) I don't want the undesireables to know where I live, mind you the 120KG of dogs is a deterrant.  I could have filled 4 x 40 foot containers a few years ago but have trimmed down a lot.  When and if I get the music room done I will have at least 6 major cabs driving the room, 5 to 10 watts ought to do it reasonably well per cab.  OK pissing session over. ::)
Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: tuyen on November 08, 2010, 05:45:33 PM
Hi vitavoxdude,

How did your listening session go at Mario's on Sunday?

Cheers
Tuyen
Title: Re: KillerDAC session on the weekend (19 September 2010)
Post by: vitavoxdude on November 09, 2010, 01:18:24 AM
;D yes, an interesting session of around 3 hours.  Mario is enthuiastic. ;)  I was exposed to some new music which is always good.  The World of Cello sounded  full with more harmonic richness than what it does here at home.  The small 2 ways done a very good job of imaging particularly as they were pulled far into the room which assists. The stands were well made too and the ribbon cable all boded well.  The eight x EL34 power amp had enough juice on tap to drive the speakers to a comfortable mid 90's dB but the inevitable physics dictated the roll over point where the bass mid drivers could not give any more. 

The fashion for having almost as many components on the outside of the DAC case was repeated here again, all those stray wires and caps indicating a work in progress.  And the sound, well I was focusing on what makes the DAC tick more than the rest of the system. So far I have heard two implementations of a DAC built around a common theme and without a direct A-B comparison through the same 'system' its a difficult call as to which was better (which is purely a subjective observation based on an individuals preferences).  I would say Mario's has more harmonic richness but believe the EL34's were partly responsible, Tuyens round Martins had a tad more space, both had an ease in the sound which was very welcome compared to the multi bit competition..

Yes it was a musical experience and listener fatigue was low.  PRAT was good if not the best I have ever heard sufficient to keep a listener informed and lots of foot tapping was enjoyed.  The big thing about these implementations of the 16 bit chips is their space and mid tone and colour, dynamics and treble extension were OK but not outstanding but this was with tiny bookshelfs which done very well given their bijou size and reminded me of Linn Cans of times gone by.  I would love to hear the DAC through a big pair of horns or JBL / Altec monitors.
 :o  Voicing